Feb
13
2010
The Lord has blessed me with a new job at WinCo grocery store working on the Freight crew. I pray that I will do well and serve God diligently in this area also.
Jan
30
2010
This is just part of a conversation I recently had on Facebook. Names other than mine have been redacted. Re-posted without permission. I have corrected some spelling and grammar errors.
K***: Johannes quick question, are you in the military? You must not understand how hated gays are in any branch of the military, its just unacceptable, its just how it has always been and will continue to be. Just because Christians abhor homosexuality and those who practice it means we adhere to what is good and right morally. Being gay is a sin its in the bible. Not to mention all the diseases caused from being a fag, it harms society so much more than any other sexual sin. I dont hate gays in general I hate what they practice.
M*****: i have to agree on kyle with this one. Johannes if you have not been in the military you will not nor can not understand what it would be like to have gays in the military…we are all family. we live together, eat, and drink together. we’re all brothers here. i don’t think anyone in their right mind would want to live with a gay dude who likes you. that is sick and wrong not to mention unbiblical…plus i know i’m not alone on this one…it WILL greatly lower the morale of any branch. that is bad.
D****: K*** and M****: You’re exactly the kind of people Jesus called out and dismissed with “It’s the sick that need a doctor.” Shaming the name of Christ and impugning the power of the Gospel in the name of your own civil religion, which is not from the Word of God.
Johannes: I am not in the military. I do have several friends in the military and several acquaintances who are gay. I spent this past summer working in Montana and living in employee housing, which is most assuredly on par with barrack housing. I shared a small room with four guys, one of whom was gay and I never had a problem. I do believe homosexuality is a sin, but it is not THE sin and quite honestly if you are living as a Christian man then a homosexual man is NOT going to be interested in you. I think it is worthwhile to point out that the sexual objectification that you so fear is the SAME sexual objectification that the Christian women in our lives live with ALL the time. It is not a Christian trait to be a homophobe just like (much as YOU would like it) having women in the military doesn’t mean that you are suddenly living with a bunch of females who lust after you.
K***: i don’t understand your viewpoint David, are we Christians supposed to accept Gays with open arms? With wider acceptance to homosexuality comes greater immunity to its sickening practices. I agree, don’t think there is such a thing as a gay christian either, because they are living in sin. Its not that I’m worried a gay guy is gonna come onto me as much as we should do all we can to ban gay marriage and gays having rights as it is un-biblical and against what the bible portrays as as the correct definition of marriage. We should fight it whenever possible. And I do not agree with the belief that gays are born that way that they just don’t understand. That’s a pathetic crutch.
Johannes: “…gays having rights as it is un-biblical” Are you serious? Where in the Bible do you find that? Last time I checked EVERYONE in this country has the same rights. And there is a huge difference between what is Biblical and what is Legal.
K***: Well fag sympathizer, the bible does say marriage is between one man and woman. I think my words were misconstrued. I never said gays having rights is un-biblical, but the bible proclaims it is a sin. If you want to believe being a fag is ok and we shouldn’t judge since we have rights in this country go ahead. But I don’t, just thinking about it now makes me want to puke. So no matter what you say I’m not going to agree with you. This conversation is now pretty much dead to me.
Johannes: Nice. You immediately jump to the conclusion that I support the homosexual lifestyle, because I question you. Why? The Bible proclaims that WHAT is a sin? Where? If you are going to proclaim as a defense for your words, attitudes, and actions that the Bible says something then you should be prepared to state where it does and not just blindly state, “Well the Bible says so.” You just come across as ignorant.
Now I neither said that being gay was ok nor that we shouldn’t judge (though Romans 2 does right after it says that “men with men… is shameful”).
I am not trying to make you look like a tool, but you are doing a pretty good job of that on your own.
My goal in this conversation is to challenge YOU to ask yourself, “Our my views Christian, meaning in line with the teaching of Christ and the Bible, or are they not?”
If you can’t answer that then you ARE dead in your trespasses and sins and need to repent. Be an adult and don’t just dismiss those who question you with ignorant abuse.
D****: Ditto to Johannes. And, yes, welcoming homosexuals, adulterers, liars, thieves and hypocrites among us is what I do all the time. Especially bearing in mind the humble reminder Paul offers in 1 Corinthians 6: “AND SUCH WERE SOME OF YOU”
Jesus came into the world to save one group of people and one group only: sinners. If you aren’t one, I fear for your soul.
Jan
30
2010
Taken from a conversation I recently had on Facebook:
1. Do not throw your pearls before swine. You are very zealous for the truth. This is good. However, the men with whom you are talking are interested not in the truth, but in argument.
2. Focus on first principles. Instead of shouting, Evolution is a belief! instead affirm as your first principle that the Bible is the literal Word of God and that you believe it. This won’t shut them up, but it will at least put your back up against the right wall.
3. Like a lot of young Christians (young in age, not young in faith) you want things to be simple; Black and White. But neither people nor beliefs are simple once you get outside the Truth.
People deliberately try to muddle things, getting you bogged down in meaningless and confusing “gray” arguments without either profit or merit. Don’t be distracted.
4. Remember that only the Holy Spirit can bring people out of darkness. Not argument and not human reasoning.
5. Clearly state in regards to origins, what you believe and WHY you believe it. Don’t answer or say you won’t answer questions after that point as to why you believe that. You believe it because it is true. Remember the truth of God is foolishness to the world.
6. Respectfully challenge people to expound what they believe to be true about the nature of the world.
And another similar Facebook post:
Well…I think it is important to identify and point out the prerequisite beliefs that are required to believe in evolution. Remember, you can and will not argue anyone into the kingdom of heaven.
So, you are essentially playing the “Devil” to their false religion. “Tempting” them with truth.
Sowing seeds of doubt that you hope and pray will be used by the Holy Spirit to bring them to Christ.
Some Examples of prerequisite belief:
1. The natural laws governing the world are the same as they have always been.
2. Science proves evolution.
3. There is no God.
4. Evolution is accepted fact.
Things you should NOT do:
1. Call them an idiot. Horrible Christian testimony.
2. Argue to the point of exhaustion. Make one or two good points in a sitting.
3. Confront your non-Christian college science professor with teaching lies. Horribly disrespectful. If you wish to challenge his views and what he teaches, challenge him privately in an EXTRACURRICULAR paper. What I mean is that if you feel that is important that you challenge his teaching, then do so on your own time and in a paper that is not assigned.
4. Talk about how the falseness of evolution is “so obvious.” Remember that most young non-Christians have been taught from a very young age that Evolution is an established fact. It is kinda like if I came up to you and tried to convince you that homeschooling does not exist.
Things that you SHOULD do:
1. Read, read, and read your Bible. Know it backwards and forwards. Not to them, by yourself. How do you expect to know the truth if you don’t study the truth.
2. Pray, pray, and pray. Again, not to or at them, but alone, by yourself. How do you expect to be led by the Spirit if you don’t commune with the Spirit.
3. Remember that you can argue till you are blue in the face and you are NEVER going to convince an unbeliever that evolution is false until they are willing to give up the four Prerequisite beliefs.
I recommend that rather that argue against evolution you argue for the existence of God, for if that is accepted than all else follows.
Dec
19
2009
It was a real blessing last night to go and participate in the Messiah sing-a-long. This is the first time that I have gone and it was definitely a most rewarding and fun experience. I urge everyone to “attempt” it at some point. It is well worth it.
Dec
17
2009
“Slaves, obey your human masters with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ. Don’t work only while being watched, in order to please men, but as slaves of Christ, do God’s will from your heart. Render service with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that whatever good each on does, slave or free, he will receive this back from the Lord.” Ephesians 6:5-8
When reading this verse I was personally convicted. How often have I found myself working harder while being watched then otherwise? And yet as a “slave” or in modern terms “an employee” it is my Christian duty to consider all labor no matter how mindless it might seem as work done for the Lord. Personally, I find this especially difficult in situations where the overseers both do not have high expectations and do not really care how hard you work as long as you make them look good.
We must always strive to be faithful in our labor regardless the attitude of our managers.
Dec
14
2009
Lightning Striking Grinnell Point in Montana
This picture was taken by an unknown guest of the Many Glacier Hotel in Glacier National Park outside of Babb, Montana. It is an un-retouched picture taken from the back porch of the Hotel during the Summer of 2009. All Rights Reserved.
All pictures on this site were either taken by me or when I was present. This one was taken during a spectacular lightning storm.
Dec
14
2009
My name is Johannes and I am a Christian young man in his mid-twenties who is both unmarried and unemployed. My question therefore is, “What does God call me to do and how should I go about doing it?” The primary purpose of this blog therefore is to provide encouragement to other men in a similar circumstance. That being said I would like to state three things this blog is NOT for:
1. This blog is not intended to shop for a wife. While, as Scripture says, marriage is to be held in honor among all, the purpose of this blog is to exhort and build up men who are PREPARING for a married future not ones who are currently actively seeking it.
2. This blog is not intended to set me up as some kind of authority on what young men should do. Scripture is the authority for Christian young men and my hope is that I can be helpful to others through my own struggles to follow the Word of God. I welcome therefore Christian exhortation and instruction.
3. This blog is not intended to be a way for me to fritter away my time. The blog is an attempt, on my part, to show to those who are not actively engaged in earning money, providing for a family, or participating in a structured education system, that their time can be profitably spent.
Therefore, I hope and pray that my witness whether in person or through this blog would be an edification and encouragement to you.