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Fourthstream

King, Kingdom & Community

ROMANS 1.2 THE ROOTS OF GRACE

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It is truly difficult to make sense out of our human history regarding philosophy, science, and theology. Philosophy in essence is our reflections upon what makes us tick – for better and for worse. Science is supposed to be “conclusions based upon weighing facts to prove what is irrefutable.” Theology is man’s organization of what is perceived to be true about God. Obviously there are many philosophies and theologies – and even views of “science.”

If God has spoken (and I think He has) – then Romans is the big picture on what the God Story means for the heart of mankind. When we encounter, wrestle with, and master the themes of this book – we are well on our way to understanding not only the mind of God, but how to make sense of our lives as well.

Above is a useful outline for the book of Romans. This post will encompass a reading of the first two movements of the book (1.0-2.0) and provide an understanding of both the flow and the foundations of the heart message contained in Paul’s letter.

Search your current beliefs as you begin. Your worldview. Is there a God? Where do we fit in? What was God’s purpose for mankind? What went wrong? What is going right? Why is every human ever born “without excuse?” What do you think are the “secrets of men?” Where do the Jews fit in? What constitutes a “true Jew?” What weight is placed upon personal faith?

These are deep waters my friend – we are up to our knees!

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. 

And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”  – Romans 5:1-5

WHAT DOES THEOLOGY BRING TO ME?

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There is SCIENCE. Because God is the Father of knowledge, science inevitably reveals a magnificent Designer. There is PHILOSOPHY. Unparalleled as an Intellect and Thinker, God’s philosophy is perfect, clean, and powerful, merciful, and above all: true. Both science and philosophy are corruptible regarding interpretation and application.

THEOLOGY involves our human attempts to define God. Some of this is Who God says He is, some is Who we want Him to be – usually to serve our own purposes. Yet while theology is essentially God-focused, it is corruptible as well.

I have been blessed to be exposed to primarily honest theology, both systematic and biblical. But what I have found is a quagmire as I have tried to discern what is right and true within the religious culture. Too often the theology of the world’s religions is unfaithful to God’s revelation about Himself. This is where the God Story comes in for me. By taking any subject of theology (the study of God) and observing it throughout the revelation of nature and the Bible, I have learned it is possible to discover the clear, woven threads throughout God’s Word which help me in finding authentic faith.

The straw man “that’s just your interpretation” is a cheap excuse for either not knowing the woven teachings of the Word, or a ruse for believing what we want to believe so we may reject the King’s authority over our lives. It is really amazing there is so much confusion within the world’s religious philosophies – including historic Christianity. We simply have chosen to reject or discredit one or many of the clear, woven teachings of the God Story.

By not taking note of God’s admonitions about His revelation, we have made ourselves vulnerable to the “teachings of men,” in lieu of finding the truth. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Psalm 19; Psalm 119:9,11; Jeremiah 15:16; John 8:31-32;  2 Timothy 2:15; Hebrews 4:12-13; 2 Peter 1:20-21; and Revelation 19:13 are just a portion of the woven thread concerning the presence and power of God’s Word in our lives – follow it!).

If we search in the right places (the wonder of the macro and micro of science – the longings of the hearts of mankind – the face of Jesus – and in the proven God Story – – – we can find authentic teaching that will propel our lives of faith through this world, and into the one to come!

See you soon our God Story friends!

Dave & Burnadette

Finding Honest Theology
A Relational Systematic Theology
Bible Book Song for Kids (and adults 🙂
Teaching Song
Teaching Song Passages

 

WHAT DOES PHILOSOPHY BRING TO ME?

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There are almost as many philosophers as there have been human beings. Our thoughts, experiences, convictions, and ideologies serve to form our world views, and philosophy is the result of making conclusions based upon where we come down on what we observe in life. While we may choose to associate with WHO we may regard as a great thinker: Aristotle, Siddhartha, Kant, or the rock band Queen – the thoughts of others are melded with our own to produce our personal philosophies.

Just as cannot escape our personal world views and the way they have been shaped in our lives, the same is true with our philosophy of life. We are acting upon our core beliefs to form our philosophies – which then dictate our choices.

Philosophies should be tested by what we know to be true if we are to avoid those which are detrimental to the soul. Perhaps if people had thought through the implications of Hitler’s philosophies and beliefs – history would have been written differently.

It is not as though God’s Word does not reflect philosophies (He IS the Great Intellect and Creator of thought), it holds all human philosophy up to the principles of Truth revealed about God BY God. But it is clear that our Creator has a philosophy not only totally consistent with what He believes, but WHO He is as well.

KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON PHILOSOPHIES WE EMBRACE

“See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.”  – Colossians 2.8 in the NASB

“Watch out for people who try to dazzle you with big words and intellectual double-talk. They want to drag you off into endless arguments that never amount to anything. They spread their ideas through the empty traditions of human beings and the empty superstitions of spirit beings. But that’s not the way of Christ.”   – Colossians 2:8 in the Message

See you soon!
Dave & Burnadette

What About Philosophy?
Deeper in the Book of Ecclesiastes
A Philosophical Song

WHAT DOES SCIENCE BRING TO ME?

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In my lifetime of learning, science and the Bible have been presented as being antithetical. God-deniers appeal to science for proof that there is no God. Philosophers try to convince me to reject or discredit faith as lesser or even foolish. And “God-defenders” explain that true faith trumps science on any and every level.

I think there are really probably more philosophers among theologians and scientists than many would like to admit. Pointing to “proven data” and “true experts” has exploded to where we are left with a tricky mixture when trying to discern what is true. We are left with the age-old statement of the one who was staring Truth in the face when he said “what is truth?” (John 18:38)

So here is where I have landed: if true science is “the intellectual and practical activity encompassing the systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment” and if solid theology is established by the God Who revealed it (this is why scripture must interpret scripture) then I must see science and faith as allies, not as enemies. After all, the God of the God Story very clearly reveals One Who is the Greatest Intellect, the Amazing Designer, the Unlimited Power, and the most Magnificent heart of Grace.

God has woven a Story that has everything in it for a person like you or me to find our connection to the One Who made us. The faith arena is enlarged by science because science can only comment on the physical and natural world. I have found deep catharsis for my spiritual heart by searching the depths of expanding knowledge. The Universe is pouring out macro information like a fountain. And micro-biology is alive with the spiritual beauty of intricate, planned design. There is is literally NO GOOD REASON for me to see faith and science as antithetical. It is simply not a logical beginning point.

Dear Friend – drink deeply from the wealth of information that is pouring out at this – the end of the age. Guard yourself from would-be theologians and scientists who school you in their own personal philosophies. Hold everything up to the litmus test of the Forever God Story, and you will discover rivers of wonder for your earth-bound soul!

“For so says the LORD, who created the heavens (He is the God who formed the earth and made it, He established it and did not create it an empty place, but formed it to be inhabited), “I am the LORD, and there is none else.”     –  Isaiah 45.18

Enjoy your pursuit, our scientific, philosophical, God Story friend!

Dave & Burnadette

Live & Learn
What Does Science Bring to Me?
Psalm 19/The Science and the Voice
A Good Outpouring of Wisdom Song
A Good Knowledge Song

 

 

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K4: TIME LAPSED

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To not be impacted by the existence of time is difficult to imagine. And yet this is exactly where the Creator of Time lives. He is above it. He is beyond it. Yet He is totally involved within it.

When we try to make sense of our lives we draw from science, philosophy, and theology to form our personal world views. The God Story was given to us as an anchor to interpret what is true when it comes to our perceptions and beliefs.

The “did you know” resource below provides a fun conversation with your kids/students. Take the time to review the “search” pdf below and do your own eval of how you (and your friends) construct your world views.

“But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.” – 2 Peter 3:8-10

It is also good to stay connected on how to unlock the God Story. Both the 8 and 15 minute overviews below can help you in your process. You will find these periodically throughout your Fourthstream.com experience.

Did you know pdf for conversation
Watching Stars video
The Search Conversation
The God Story in 8 Minutes Link
The Bible in 15 Minutes Link
The Teaching Song