Life Hope

Why Suffering?

Ian Denness — Tue, 18 Oct 2022 10:33:29 +0000

Possible causes of suffering…

1. We don’t know everything.
2. A higher purpose – a wake-up call from God, to get our attention. God’s megaphone to a deaf world, being allowed by God to bring us to our own end and to repent for our higher eternal good.
3. We are all in this together – overall, our own human fault, as we have free will. If all life was only from evolution, our suffering would be far more, so it is better than would be expected.
4. There is suffering greater than any on this earth – Hell forever.
5. Jesus suffered the most, by taking our penalty for our rebellion against God, even though he was perfect. Jesus suffered to bring some of us to God, and so we could avoid further suffering…
6. Discipline for our straying sometimes – God treating those who love him as his children.
7. An early judgement – Sodom and Gomorrah as an example.
8. Satan was described as the ‘prince of this world’ and the ‘father of lies’ by Jesus. He messes things up supremely, and must be laughing how many people don’t even believe that he exists!
9. God made everything perfectly at creation – no death or suffering initially.

10. God will bring complete justice in the end.

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What has God given you?

Ian Denness — Sun, 02 Oct 2022 11:18:57 +0000

God has given us so much!

Many couldn’t think of anything… A few said, “Not much!”

What about sunsets, sunrises, flowers, life itself, love and friendships, as well as hope!

Certainly our own human weaknesses can destroy much happiness. There are also storms, floods, earthquakes and all other events that used to be called ‘acts of God’ in the insurance small print.

However, mostly we enjoy life, when we are able to thank God for all his goodness to us.

He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.
Acts 14:17 (www.laridian.com)

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Should we say “Sorry” – to others, and to God?

Ian Denness — Sat, 24 Sep 2022 11:42:39 +0000

“Sorry” is not so easy to say…

Probably because it hurts our pride!

Some said that saying “sorry” would go against their personal self-image, and that would hurt their self-confidence and self-respect. So, they wouldn’t say it.

Most thought it was a good thing to say to others when needed.

Many complained that God wasn’t in the picture for them, and so there was no need to say “sorry” to him.

The Bible verse used was:

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord…
Acts 3:19 (NIV)(http://www.laridian.com)

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Ignorance is Bliss – True, Depends, or False?

Ian Denness — Sat, 17 Sep 2022 09:39:40 +0000

The “depends” won the day!

It depends on whether the issue in question is trivial or big, some people thought.

I don’t want to have full knowledge about all the dark doings on the streets of the centre of our city at night, like the police would know. Those terrors would rob me of sleep! I am happy to be ignorant of them.

However, seeking answers for the big questions of life is another thing.

Questions like “What happens after we die?” I want to find out what is reality and truth about that!

For that question, many seem to especially use the “Ignorance is bliss” idiom instead.

Let’s seek for truth and reality!

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Can God forgive your wrongs?

Ian Denness — Sat, 10 Sep 2022 08:04:46 +0000

“Yes” and “No”!

How does that work? Surely one or the other, or the most popular choice, “No God”!

Well, it depends on whether we try to get forgiveness for our wrongs from the ‘system’ God himself has put in place, or the way we think it is, or should be.

Pretty much everyone today admitted they had done something wrong.

The difference came with what God’s ‘system’ was for forgiving. The Bible says that God the Father had God the Son come to earth, and as a perfect human, as well as being God, be punished for our wrongs in our place. The ultimate substitute completely!

If one accepts that with all one’s heart and soul, then forgiveness is yours. We do need to change to live according to God’s principles, otherwise we would be big hypocrites!

If we don’t like God’s ‘system’, but just try to be good, then no forgiveness.

The verse with it was:

“He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness…”
1 Peter 2:24 (NIV) (http://www.laridian.com)

Great news, if we go with it!

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“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other…” Will we do it?

Ian Denness — Sun, 21 Aug 2022 08:00:59 +0000

“Yes” was the answer!

That is, we will be kind and compassionate to each other. Great! We are all made in the image of God, so all of us have the capacity to be kind and compassionate. No one group has the sole copyright or monopoly on this ability.

However, the back narrative is seen in the picture from the market with the Bible verse: “… just as in Christ, God forgave you.”

That really is the ultimate in kindness and compassion – Jesus coming to love us and give himself for us, so that we can be restored and reconciled to God.

This is through God forgiving those who have accepted Jesus as their substitute. Forgiven for their ignoring and previous rejection of God. And then changing, because they want to please their wonderfully kind and gracious God!

Great news!

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Why are nature and the universe so ordered and rational?

Ian Denness — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 08:59:15 +0000

“The Origin of Species…”?

With the mention of nature and the universe, most people would think of Evolution and the Big Bang Theory.

Not surprising, since we have had those 2 hypotheses ‘rammed down our throats’ since primary school. They are very stong belief systems in our society!

However, neither should encourage order and rationality by their nature. If true, both should be intrinsically random and chaotic.

Darwin’s book in the title promises revelation as to the origin of life. However, the book mostly speaks of Natural Selection, something which almost no-one would disagree about. As for origin of life, there still is no evidence of a living organism, no matter how simple, ever being produced from non-life, even up to this day.

For me, the only feasible explanation is that God created nature and the universe with order and rationality, just as he himself is.

God also, in the process, created Science. Nowadays it is as if we have taken over Science as if it is our own creation, giving no credit to God.

What do you think?

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Who do you most want to forgive you?

Ian Denness — Mon, 08 Aug 2022 02:56:13 +0000

God?

Other people?

Yourself?

They were the 3 choices!

Which would you choose?

On the day, the last was by far the most popular!

I chose the first. It is to do with the most important person I strongly believe I have most offended. Offending God is far worse for me than the way I have offended other people, as serious as that is.

As for myself, I don’t always forgive myself easily or quickly. We all have regrets!

However, offending God by ignoring him, even rejecting him previously in my life, and not always obeying him – that is the basis for my wanting to be forgiven by him.

That’s why I voted the way I did. When I was younger, there came a time when I found I could be forgiven completely by God. It was from what Jesus did, coming to live on this earth as a real human being as well as the Son of God. He willingly became our substitute by completely taking the penalty and shame we deserve ourselves from God, and thereby allowing us to be fully forgiven. I wasn’t looking for it, but it happened anyway. I am eternally grateful!

As for other people that I have offended? I try to ask forgiveness from them as necessary…

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Is this life all there is?

Ian Denness — Mon, 01 Aug 2022 04:33:46 +0000

It was a surprise to me that in a secular stronghold, most people voted for “No”, “this life is not all there is”…

It was easy to explain why that happened.

Most people in that area are either Atheists, or Western Buddhists/Pantheists. The latter were the ones who voted for recycling/reincarnation.

In the Bible, Paul’s words were clear, that if there is no resurrection for Christians, the whole structure should fall.

Jesus was clear in his recorded words too.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

“Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

John 11:25 (NIV) (http://www.laridian.com)

Jesus was clear in his coming back to life too, showing himself to many over 40 days, including about 500 people on one day, most of whom were still alive when the gospels were published starting about 25 years later.

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What don’t you like about Christianity?

Ian Denness — Mon, 25 Jul 2022 06:22:51 +0000

Most people looked like they had lots of thoughts as to why they didn’t like Christianity. However, they were reluctant to write them down!

Some said they didn’t like the authority and control. Others that they didn’t like any religion.

Nobody addressed the issue of “what is true?”

It was my question, and I am open to other’s thoughts and criticisms. However, I don’t get it as to why they would reject the evidence of Jesus’ life, miracles, substitutionary death for us and then the evidence of his coming back to life again.

Normally, we all love getting something for free. Forgiveness from God offered for free pretty much summarises the good news of Jesus. But most people don’t see that as valuable.

I love the Bible, Jesus and the forgiveness of God! I am sorry that most others in the market don’t want that.

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