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For every problem you face, God has already created the solution

Our pastor, Anton Homann, was preaching such an anointed message last night! The title of this post is a statement from his sermon:

For every problem you face, God has already created the solution.

It really struck me and Anton drew a great analogy for it from the book of Genesis:

When God created the world, He first made the ocean and then the fish, who would need the sea water to swim in. Just so He created the earth and the plants before He created the creatures who would need to live on the earth and eat the plants.

In this way God created the solution to the need before He created the situation for the need.

Whatever you're facing, whatever your need, know that God has the answer and the solution ready for just the moment you ask Him.

The Temple Together

There is value in the church.

There is protection in the church.

There is reward in the church.

We are the church.

1 Corinthians 3:10-17

Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have — Jesus Christ.

Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials — gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.

Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in (among) you? God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

What value do you place on the church?

Living Water

"I said 'Water', expecting the word would satisfy my thirst."
- mewithoutYou, My Exit, Unfair

We all need God, but just talking about Him or ticking the "Christian" box on forms isn't going to satisfy our hunger for Him.

We need to seek Him in His Word and in prayer.

Prayer is like turning on the tap to the only water that will satisfy your thirst for God.

Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’”
- John 7:38


Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water."
- John 4:10


For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
- Luke 11:10

I can't get Tyler Clementi off my mind

In case you don't know, Tyler Clementi, an 18-year-old university student committed suicide on 22 September. This was after his roommate posted footage on the internet of him making out with another man, resulting in great mockery.





What gets me is how hopeless and isolated Tyler must have felt - to jump off a bridge to his death. And even worse is some of the hate messages left on the Tyler Clementi Memorial Facebook page. A sample:

"God says very clearly that homosexuality and suicide are mortal sins. TONIGHT TYLER DINES IN HELL."

When there are many other things God defines as "mortal sins" as well and Jesus said no-one can judge another unless that person is blameless themself.


The point is that God loves us inspite of our sin. That He offers a life of freedom from sin. And that is the only hope any of us have.


What makes it worse is the episode of Glee that (coincidentally) aired a few days later, with Kurt Hummel declaring, "God’s kind of a jerk, isn’t he? I mean, he makes me gay, then has his followers going around telling me it’s something that I chose. As if someone would choose to be mocked every single day of their life."





People need to get an understanding of God's goodness.


I don't know how or why anyone is who they are and why we feel the things we do. But I do know that God's dreams for you are greater even than your own.


I know that He wants you to live a fulfilled life and that that comes from knowing Him.


God's followers disappoint Him all the time - probably more than those who don't follow Him. But He still loves us. Just like He loves you, no matter who you are, what you've done or what you feel.


If you're gay and think that God might be real, but don't know how to get the two to match up, talk to someone who's been there.


Trust me:


God is good. And He made you for Him to love you.

Promises, Promises

What does it mean to respond to God's promises?

Is it building your life as though God's promises are just facts? Rather than hoping that God might one day be in a good enough mood to maybe keep His word?

Read Yep, There’s One For That, a blog post by Mark Altrogge of The Blazing Center, which explains why God's promises are better than iPhone apps.

Growing Restless

A sure sign that I'm becoming restless is the need to change the CD every time I get into the car.

What do you do when you get restive?