That is an awesome question!!! Although the Book of Genesis never actually refers to the snake, or serpent, as Satan, we can determine who this serpent was (or rather who was controlling and speaking through this serpent) from other passages of the Bible.
In Ezekiel 28:13, it indicates that Satan was in the Garden of Eden. The only other people that were in the garden were God, Adam and Eve. The snake spoke to Eve and we know that no other animals spoke to Adam or Eve. So, someone was speaking through the snake. And since the Bible shows that there were only four people in the garden, it stands to reason that Satan had possessed the snake.
Next, we can see from Revelation 12:9, 12:15 and 20:2 that the serpent is called “the devil and Satan” not once, but three times! When we combine those passages with what the Apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 11:3, the identification of the serpent in the Garden of Eden with Satan is unmistakable.
Also, in Genesis 3:14-15 we see God cursing the snake. And in that passage it says that God will put “enmity” (which is hatred and warfare) between the seeds (future generations) of the snake and the woman. This makes no sense if the snake were simply a physical animal.
Finally, although the snake wasn’t actually the devil, the devil was working through the snake and had assumed the snake’s identity. Remember, this is very close to the time of creation or the beginning of time. And it says in 1 John 3:8, “He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.” Here it shows that Satan was around near the beginning of time, which further supports that he was in the Garden of Eden.
Additional Scripture Citations:
“You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: ruby, topaz and emerald … Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared.” Ezekiel 28:13
“The great dragon was hurled down – that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.” Revelation 12:9
“Then from his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river, to overtake the woman and sweep her away with the torrent.” Revelation 12:15
“He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.” Revelation 20:2
“But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 11:3
Thursday 28 July 2011
Wednesday 27 July 2011
How did Jonah live without food and water in the fish, and why wasn't he digested?
When Jonah got swallowed by the fish, how did he live without food or water? And after three days, wouldn’t he have already been digested?
These are awesome questions!!! The truth is that this is one of the great mysteries of the Bible and that we may never know the answer until we get to Heaven. There are lots of theories from many respected Bible scholars (people who study the Bible and Bible history) on what happened to Jonah. But we really don’t know how Jonah lived without food or water or why he wasn’t digested.
One of the most interesting theories is that Jonah was actually dead or in the process of dying when he was in the fish’s belly and that he was resurrected by God after three days. The Bible scholars use several parts of the story to support this theory:
• In Jonah 2:2, it says that Jonah cried out from the depths of the grave, or Sheol. Sheol is a Hebrew word for the “place of the dead” and is sometimes referred to as Hades. Bible scholars believe Jonah had drowned and was in Sheol.
• Jonah 2:3-7 makes it sound like he was drowning, especially where it says that seaweed was wrapped around his head and he was sinking to the roots of the mountains.
• Finally in Matthew 12:40, Jesus compares His death and resurrection to that of Jonah when Jesus says, “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”
Now, is that a possible explanation? Yes. Could it also be that God performed a miracle and supernaturally kept Jonah alive in the belly of the fish because God had a bigger plan for Jonah? Yes.
Can we say for sure which is explanation is correct? No, we cannot. BUT, we can say with certainty that the event did happen and that God had a purpose for telling us that story.
The more important aspects of this story are that: 1) You can’t run and hide from God; and 2) God can redeem and restore you even if you try and run and hide from Him. Isn’t it great to know that we have a God who loves us so much that He’s willing to forgive us and give us a second chance?
These are awesome questions!!! The truth is that this is one of the great mysteries of the Bible and that we may never know the answer until we get to Heaven. There are lots of theories from many respected Bible scholars (people who study the Bible and Bible history) on what happened to Jonah. But we really don’t know how Jonah lived without food or water or why he wasn’t digested.
One of the most interesting theories is that Jonah was actually dead or in the process of dying when he was in the fish’s belly and that he was resurrected by God after three days. The Bible scholars use several parts of the story to support this theory:
• In Jonah 2:2, it says that Jonah cried out from the depths of the grave, or Sheol. Sheol is a Hebrew word for the “place of the dead” and is sometimes referred to as Hades. Bible scholars believe Jonah had drowned and was in Sheol.
• Jonah 2:3-7 makes it sound like he was drowning, especially where it says that seaweed was wrapped around his head and he was sinking to the roots of the mountains.
• Finally in Matthew 12:40, Jesus compares His death and resurrection to that of Jonah when Jesus says, “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”
Now, is that a possible explanation? Yes. Could it also be that God performed a miracle and supernaturally kept Jonah alive in the belly of the fish because God had a bigger plan for Jonah? Yes.
Can we say for sure which is explanation is correct? No, we cannot. BUT, we can say with certainty that the event did happen and that God had a purpose for telling us that story.
The more important aspects of this story are that: 1) You can’t run and hide from God; and 2) God can redeem and restore you even if you try and run and hide from Him. Isn’t it great to know that we have a God who loves us so much that He’s willing to forgive us and give us a second chance?
Thursday 14 July 2011
When you get to Heaven, do you come as a … baby, kid, teen, grown up, old person?
That is a very interesting question! And, it’s also a very hard question to answer because we really don’t know! We can get an idea from reading the Holy Bible, but even then it is hard to know for sure.
Here’s what we do know: According to Paul, in the book of 1 Corinthians, chapter 15, our heavenly bodies will be very different from our natural earthly bodies. Our earthly bodies eventually die but our resurrected bodies cannot die. Also, our earthly bodies get old and weak but our resurrected bodies will be perfect!
Another big difference is that we will have a spiritual body rather than a natural body. That doesn’t mean we’ll be like ghosts just floating around; it means we will have a body like Jesus’ resurrected body (1 John 3:2). If you remember, after Jesus’ resurrection, He showed that He could be touched and that He could eat (Luke 24:37-43). We get a little bit of a glimpse of what our bodies will look like when we read Luke 9:28-36. Jesus went with three of His disciples up to a mountain. There he changed incredibly as His divine nature shone through His human nature. Moses and Elijah came from Heaven to talk to Him and their appearance was just as wonderful! In fact, the Bible says they, “appeared in glorious splendor” (Luke 9:30).
The Bible also says we will know each other. This tells us that somehow we will be recognizable. The Bible clearly shows that Jesus was recognizable after His resurrection (John 20:16, 20; John 21:12; 1 Corinthians 15:4-7) so that would lead us to believe we will somehow be recognizable in our new bodies. How that will be is uncertain. We may just know or we might look like our old selves; the Bible doesn’t really say.
Whatever our bodies look like and however we will able to recognize each other is an amazing mystery of Heaven. But, remember, Heaven is far more about God and far less about us, so maybe it won’t really matter anyway!
Here’s what we do know: According to Paul, in the book of 1 Corinthians, chapter 15, our heavenly bodies will be very different from our natural earthly bodies. Our earthly bodies eventually die but our resurrected bodies cannot die. Also, our earthly bodies get old and weak but our resurrected bodies will be perfect!
Another big difference is that we will have a spiritual body rather than a natural body. That doesn’t mean we’ll be like ghosts just floating around; it means we will have a body like Jesus’ resurrected body (1 John 3:2). If you remember, after Jesus’ resurrection, He showed that He could be touched and that He could eat (Luke 24:37-43). We get a little bit of a glimpse of what our bodies will look like when we read Luke 9:28-36. Jesus went with three of His disciples up to a mountain. There he changed incredibly as His divine nature shone through His human nature. Moses and Elijah came from Heaven to talk to Him and their appearance was just as wonderful! In fact, the Bible says they, “appeared in glorious splendor” (Luke 9:30).
The Bible also says we will know each other. This tells us that somehow we will be recognizable. The Bible clearly shows that Jesus was recognizable after His resurrection (John 20:16, 20; John 21:12; 1 Corinthians 15:4-7) so that would lead us to believe we will somehow be recognizable in our new bodies. How that will be is uncertain. We may just know or we might look like our old selves; the Bible doesn’t really say.
Whatever our bodies look like and however we will able to recognize each other is an amazing mystery of Heaven. But, remember, Heaven is far more about God and far less about us, so maybe it won’t really matter anyway!
Tuesday 12 July 2011
How did God make the world?
That is an awesome question!!! The truth is God spoke the world into existence. He didn’t use some elaborate machine or create some fantastic formula … He simply spoke it and it became true. Look at all the different passages in the Book of Genesis where it says, “And God said…”
Let’s start with the very first passage in the Bible, which is Genesis 1:1. It reads, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” Then after that sentence the Bible describes what the earth was like by telling us it was formless and empty and that darkness was over the surface of the deep. (Genesis 1:2)
Then, what happens? God says, “Let there be light.” And guess what? There was light! And God sees that the light is good and separates it from the darkness. God then decides to call the light day and the darkness, night. (Genesis 1:3-5)
The rest of the first chapter of Genesis is God speaking the rest of the world into existence and creating the plants and animals and, finally, creating man. And look what He says about man! God says, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness…” (Genesis 1:26) So, not only did God speak us into existence, we are representations of Him! You and I and everyone else in this world are image-bearers of the Lord God!!! Isn’t that cool?
Let’s start with the very first passage in the Bible, which is Genesis 1:1. It reads, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” Then after that sentence the Bible describes what the earth was like by telling us it was formless and empty and that darkness was over the surface of the deep. (Genesis 1:2)
Then, what happens? God says, “Let there be light.” And guess what? There was light! And God sees that the light is good and separates it from the darkness. God then decides to call the light day and the darkness, night. (Genesis 1:3-5)
The rest of the first chapter of Genesis is God speaking the rest of the world into existence and creating the plants and animals and, finally, creating man. And look what He says about man! God says, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness…” (Genesis 1:26) So, not only did God speak us into existence, we are representations of Him! You and I and everyone else in this world are image-bearers of the Lord God!!! Isn’t that cool?
Monday 11 July 2011
If you bring someone into TRACK who has never been here before but has been to JAM, do you still get candy for it?
Well, my goodness,that is an interesting question! I had to look up the answer in the top secret T.R.A.C.K. Rule Book and the answer is … YES!
Anytime you bring a someone to T.R.A.C.K., who has never been there before, they get a candy bar for coming and you get a candy bar for bringing them!
Anytime you bring a someone to T.R.A.C.K., who has never been there before, they get a candy bar for coming and you get a candy bar for bringing them!
Sunday 10 July 2011
How is it possible that God has been here forever because it seems like everything should have a beginning?
Yahoo! I love that question because friends ask me that question all the time! I could easily give them the standard Biblical answer that “God has always been here and He has no beginning and no end and He will always be here because He is eternal.” But, I usually get that deer-in-the-headlights look when I say that.
So, here’s my way of explaining it: Imagine being able to go back in time to the days of the pilgrims as they were colonizing this country and trying to explain to them how a helicopter works or how an iPod works. Remember, there’s no such thing as electricity, gas engines, batteries, etc. So, how do you explain how those things work to people that have never seen stuff like that? You see, we’ve grown up with so much technology that we just accept what is there without really trying to understand how it works. But trying to explain something so difficult that we casually accept to someone who’s never experienced would be very challenging.
Let’s apply that thinking to the idea of God being eternal. Truth: God’s eternal power is clearly seen in the creation of our universe but our brains have a hard time wrapping around that idea. And we kind of know what eternity is but we don’t fully understand it. So, what do we do? We try to explain it in terms we can see and understand. But how do we explain eternity to people (all of us) who are stuck in the passage of time? We usually start by trying to simplify the idea!
The Bible is our place to start. The Bible simply says God “is.” Remember Moses? When he asked the Lord God what His name was, do you remember what God said? He said, “Tell them I AM” Exodus 3:14). Revelation 1:8 and 4:8 says that God is, God was and God is to come.
We know tht time is a measurement of physical change. Time, though, has only existed since the creation of the universe. Genesis 1:1, the very first book and chapter of the Bible, says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” God created everything, so time started at creation.
We also know from Genesis 1:1 that God was BEFORE the creation of the heavens and the earth becuse He was there to create it. That makes God timeless (eternal) because He created time! So, to answer your question in the simplest of terms, God has been here for all eternity and will be here for all eternity.
Thank you for a great and challenging question!
So, here’s my way of explaining it: Imagine being able to go back in time to the days of the pilgrims as they were colonizing this country and trying to explain to them how a helicopter works or how an iPod works. Remember, there’s no such thing as electricity, gas engines, batteries, etc. So, how do you explain how those things work to people that have never seen stuff like that? You see, we’ve grown up with so much technology that we just accept what is there without really trying to understand how it works. But trying to explain something so difficult that we casually accept to someone who’s never experienced would be very challenging.
Let’s apply that thinking to the idea of God being eternal. Truth: God’s eternal power is clearly seen in the creation of our universe but our brains have a hard time wrapping around that idea. And we kind of know what eternity is but we don’t fully understand it. So, what do we do? We try to explain it in terms we can see and understand. But how do we explain eternity to people (all of us) who are stuck in the passage of time? We usually start by trying to simplify the idea!
The Bible is our place to start. The Bible simply says God “is.” Remember Moses? When he asked the Lord God what His name was, do you remember what God said? He said, “Tell them I AM” Exodus 3:14). Revelation 1:8 and 4:8 says that God is, God was and God is to come.
We know tht time is a measurement of physical change. Time, though, has only existed since the creation of the universe. Genesis 1:1, the very first book and chapter of the Bible, says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” God created everything, so time started at creation.
We also know from Genesis 1:1 that God was BEFORE the creation of the heavens and the earth becuse He was there to create it. That makes God timeless (eternal) because He created time! So, to answer your question in the simplest of terms, God has been here for all eternity and will be here for all eternity.
Thank you for a great and challenging question!
Friday 8 July 2011
Why is it called the Apple Box?
Years ago I brought home a gift for my wife, a beautiful little tissue box with apples pictured on the side. I purchased the little box at the Washington State History Museum in Tacoma. The problem was, standard-sized tissues didn't fit into it!! SO ... the box was kind of useless.
Then I thought, "This little box would make a great box to collect the questions we were encouraging TRACK kids to ask!" So ... the little tissue box found a new job as TRACK's amazing Apple Box!
And yours is the 209th question to find its way into the Apple Box!
Enjoy this blog – there are lots of cool questions and answers about all kinds of things!
Then I thought, "This little box would make a great box to collect the questions we were encouraging TRACK kids to ask!" So ... the little tissue box found a new job as TRACK's amazing Apple Box!
And yours is the 209th question to find its way into the Apple Box!
Enjoy this blog – there are lots of cool questions and answers about all kinds of things!
Thursday 7 July 2011
Do we play outside sometimes?
What an awesome question!!! The truth is, while we won’t necessarily “play” outside, we will sometimes do our Large Group Teach and Small Group Breakouts outside when the weather is nice. Some of the activities involved in the Small Group Breakouts may involve physical activity or games. But, for the most part, we are here to teach you more about God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ) and God the Holy Spirit.
As you continue on into the Junior High and High School Ministries, they don’t have a play time either. We don’t get a lot of time with you; it’s just about an hour and twenty minutes. So, in that time, we spend our time with worship, teaching God's Word, and in small group breakouts.
Now, having said that, there is a separate group just for the boys that starts later in the year called G.A.N.G. (God’s Active Next Generation) that does do fun "active" things both inside and outside. There’s also a Girl’s G.A.N.G. The G.A.N.G.s start in September and go through May, the whole school year.
As you continue on into the Junior High and High School Ministries, they don’t have a play time either. We don’t get a lot of time with you; it’s just about an hour and twenty minutes. So, in that time, we spend our time with worship, teaching God's Word, and in small group breakouts.
Now, having said that, there is a separate group just for the boys that starts later in the year called G.A.N.G. (God’s Active Next Generation) that does do fun "active" things both inside and outside. There’s also a Girl’s G.A.N.G. The G.A.N.G.s start in September and go through May, the whole school year.
Wednesday 6 July 2011
Do we ever get to go to the Junior High / High School service?
That is very good question! And the simple answer is no. The way our church is set up, we have specific lesson plans for each of the different age groups designed to grow you as Christ Followers at a level you can understand. In addition, we try and keep all of you that are the same age or close to the same age together so that you can relate to each other as friends.
The only time we leave T.R.A.C.K. and go to Big Church is during Baptisms or if we have a Family Service and there is no T.R.A.C.K. We do a fun service in the summer, though, where the little kids, from Kid’s Kingdom, come and visit us and we play games outside and eat popsicles. But, other than that, we stay with T.R.A.C.K., learn some awesome lessons, and get to sing cool worship songs!
The only time we leave T.R.A.C.K. and go to Big Church is during Baptisms or if we have a Family Service and there is no T.R.A.C.K. We do a fun service in the summer, though, where the little kids, from Kid’s Kingdom, come and visit us and we play games outside and eat popsicles. But, other than that, we stay with T.R.A.C.K., learn some awesome lessons, and get to sing cool worship songs!
Tuesday 5 July 2011
What’s the difference between all the religions?
What an awesome question!!! But, it’s also a very complicated question because there are so many different religions out there. It would be impossible to discuss every individual religion and show you the various differences of each belief in a short post.
So, instead, I think I’d like to tell you about our religion: Christianity. Let me first start by saying that there are a lot of different religious beliefs that use words that sound like they are Christians when, in fact, they are not. For example, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints are the Mormons. They do not believe the same thing we do. The Jehovah’s Witnesses use a name of God for their religion but they do not believe that Jesus is God. There are Buddhists, Muslims, Taoists, Shintoists and a whole bunch of other religions that have their own belief system that may recognize Jesus as a teacher or a prophet but not as God. There are groups that use names that sound official, like Scientologists, that make them sound like they use scientific methods to prove God’s existence. There are even certain denominations of Christian-based religions that may have different rituals or beliefs than our church. Names such as Seventh Day Adventists, Presbyterians, Lutherans, Catholics and a whole host of others believe that Jesus is the Son of God but may differ in their beliefs on certain parts of the Bible.
The important thing for us to remember and to be able to tell people is what we believe in and that is: Jesus Christ, is the Son of God and is God and died an atoning death on the cross so that we could be saved. He is the only person in history or any other religious belief system who overcame death, being resurrected three days after His crucifixion. We believe that the only way to Heaven and God, the Father, is through the salvation offered to us by Jesus Christ through the forgiveness of sins. (John 14:6) We believe in one God, who reveals himself in three separate persons: God, the Father; God, the Son; and God, the Holy Spirit. That is a very difficult concept to grasp but it’s true. Did you know that no other religion can make the claim that, “It is by grace, you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves but it is the gift of God – not by works so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9) This means we can’t earn God’s grace. We can’t work our way to Heaven by doing good things! God saves us through grace and He gives it to us freely. All we have to do is accept it.
And how do we do that? “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) By confessing our sins and accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you are saved! “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.“ (John 1:12)
And why would God do this? “For God so loved the world that He gave his One and Only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) It’s because God loves us. No other religion can make that boast either. Our God loves us so much, He freely sacrificed His Son for us and all we have to do is accept Jesus as our Savior and repent, or turn away, from our sins and we become saved. We become God’s children. Isn’t that awesome?
So, instead, I think I’d like to tell you about our religion: Christianity. Let me first start by saying that there are a lot of different religious beliefs that use words that sound like they are Christians when, in fact, they are not. For example, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints are the Mormons. They do not believe the same thing we do. The Jehovah’s Witnesses use a name of God for their religion but they do not believe that Jesus is God. There are Buddhists, Muslims, Taoists, Shintoists and a whole bunch of other religions that have their own belief system that may recognize Jesus as a teacher or a prophet but not as God. There are groups that use names that sound official, like Scientologists, that make them sound like they use scientific methods to prove God’s existence. There are even certain denominations of Christian-based religions that may have different rituals or beliefs than our church. Names such as Seventh Day Adventists, Presbyterians, Lutherans, Catholics and a whole host of others believe that Jesus is the Son of God but may differ in their beliefs on certain parts of the Bible.
The important thing for us to remember and to be able to tell people is what we believe in and that is: Jesus Christ, is the Son of God and is God and died an atoning death on the cross so that we could be saved. He is the only person in history or any other religious belief system who overcame death, being resurrected three days after His crucifixion. We believe that the only way to Heaven and God, the Father, is through the salvation offered to us by Jesus Christ through the forgiveness of sins. (John 14:6) We believe in one God, who reveals himself in three separate persons: God, the Father; God, the Son; and God, the Holy Spirit. That is a very difficult concept to grasp but it’s true. Did you know that no other religion can make the claim that, “It is by grace, you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves but it is the gift of God – not by works so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9) This means we can’t earn God’s grace. We can’t work our way to Heaven by doing good things! God saves us through grace and He gives it to us freely. All we have to do is accept it.
And how do we do that? “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) By confessing our sins and accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you are saved! “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.“ (John 1:12)
And why would God do this? “For God so loved the world that He gave his One and Only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) It’s because God loves us. No other religion can make that boast either. Our God loves us so much, He freely sacrificed His Son for us and all we have to do is accept Jesus as our Savior and repent, or turn away, from our sins and we become saved. We become God’s children. Isn’t that awesome?
Monday 4 July 2011
Did God play any sports?
That is very interesting question! So, let’s look at this from what the Bible tells us. If you are referring to God, the Father, there is nothing in the Bible to indicate He played sports. Same thing goes for Holy Spirit.
However, let’s look at God, the Son, who we know better as Jesus Christ. While there is no certain proof that he played sports, we do know that He was born as a child and grew up into a man. We know that He had a childhood because in the Book of Luke, chapter 2, there is a passage that starts at verse 41 that indicates that every year, per Jewish custom, His earthly parents, Mary and Joseph, took him to Jerusalem for the Festival of Passover. In fact, verse 42 says, “When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom.” (Luke 2:42) This is the only time we hear about Jesus as a boy in the whole Bible.
So, we know Jesus had a childhood so he most likely played games with other children his age. Probably not organized sports as we know them but he probably ran or played other games of that day. Again, the Bible does not specifically tell us this, but we can assume that Jesus grew up like any other child during that time period.
However, let’s look at God, the Son, who we know better as Jesus Christ. While there is no certain proof that he played sports, we do know that He was born as a child and grew up into a man. We know that He had a childhood because in the Book of Luke, chapter 2, there is a passage that starts at verse 41 that indicates that every year, per Jewish custom, His earthly parents, Mary and Joseph, took him to Jerusalem for the Festival of Passover. In fact, verse 42 says, “When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom.” (Luke 2:42) This is the only time we hear about Jesus as a boy in the whole Bible.
So, we know Jesus had a childhood so he most likely played games with other children his age. Probably not organized sports as we know them but he probably ran or played other games of that day. Again, the Bible does not specifically tell us this, but we can assume that Jesus grew up like any other child during that time period.
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