Spiritual Sojourners

Articles

2011-11-11T13:03:00.000-08:00

Fifty Five and Buying Your First Set of Golf Clubs

The great thing about golf is that it is played professionally long after the players are collecting Social Security. There is no other sport that offers such a lifelong membership into their league. Golf, it can be argued is one of the most timeless and enduring sports in the world with players ranging in age from 2, to 100. So go ahead and make that purchase! Buy your first set of clubs even if your grandchildren are grown and gone. It is never too late to learn to play golf.

Maybe you were too busy raising your children, and then helping them raise their children to even have time or money to set aside for a hobby. Maybe you always told yourself you’d get around to it next year, and only now that you’re retired find yourself getting around to it. Maybe you always thought that golf was for old people, until you woke up one day and realized that you weren’t really very young anymore. Whatever the reason for your late entrance to the greatest game in the world, a purchase of a set of golf clubs is all that stands between you and the millions of others who have decided to make this game a part of their lives.

Any local country club will have a pro more willing to give you lessons (you may even qualify for a senior’s rate) and teach you how to use your new golf clubs. Golf is a welcoming sport, one which enjoys the benefits of new members and new lovers of the game. By making the choice to join this famed and historic sport, you are joining many great men and women who have loved golf not only for the thrill of gentlemanly competition, but also for the traditions, etiquette, structure, and discipline that have made golf a sport above all others for well over a hundred years.

So grab your golf clubs, and start your journey. Golf is not, and never was, a young man’s sport.

How Young Is Too Young To Give Your Child Golf Clubs?

The answer, quite simply, is that if there were a way to get a tiny set of golf clubs into the womb without your wife noticing, it wouldn’t be too soon.

Think back to the first time you picked up a golf club and gave it a swing. Think of the first time you made a perfect connection with the ball and felt nothing but the crisp, clean, cut of a beautiful shot. Remember the first time you heard the dull thud and roll as your long put disappeared into the hole. Can you imagine thinking “I wish I had waited a few more years to pick up this game”?

Golf is a game steeped in rich history and tradition. The gentleman’s sport of all gentlemen’s sports, brought over from Scotland by the great-grandfathers of the game. The passing of the tradition of golf from father to child is one that can never be started too soon, or with too much enthusiasm. The love of golf cannot be taught too young.

Your child will see you walking out the door on Saturday or Sunday morning, coffee cup in hand, golf clubs swung over your shoulder from the time that he or she is born. Your inclusion of your child in your sport can happen whenever you feel the time is right.

With companies offering clubs for children as young as one, you are limited only by what you think is appropriate. Some of the greatest golfers in the world found their love of the game at a very young age, and developed their talent far ahead of their peers. By simply giving a set of golf clubs to your child and allowing them to become familiar with the look and feel of the club in their little hand, you are offering more of a benefit than most other children get in their very early years.

There is no set age that it is appropriate to give golf clubs to a child, but there is a tremendous benefit in introducing your child to a sport that you and he will enjoy together at as early age as you feel that he is ready.

How Golf Clubs Are Your Key to Health and Fitness

Although golf is a wonderful sport, deeply steeped in tradition and history, it is also a fabulous way to stay healthy and fit. You may have never stopped to think about the benefit to your health each time you grab your golf clubs and hit the links, but you are doing your mind and your heart a great service by stepping out on the fairway and feeling the fresh breeze in your face.

It is recommended that healthy adults engage in at least twenty minutes of sustained cardiovascular exercise each day. The choice to simply leave the cart at the club house can give you nearly six times the recommended daily exercise and all while you are playing a sport that you love.

Aside from the physical benefit, it has been suggested by many doctors that engaging in physical activities while outdoors provides an even greater health benefit than if those same activities were performed indoors. The combination of fresh air, sunshine, and moderate physical exertion is one that can potentially change your life.

The benefit of spending time outdoors, doing something that you enjoy with people that you care about has also been proven to be highly beneficial spiritually and emotionally. Did you ever imagine that simply grabbing your golf clubs and taking an afternoon off could serve as a mental and spiritual recharging practice?

If you are already an avid golfer, you now have even more reason to regularly hit the links. If you are considering taking up golf, or are looking for ways to start your life on a healthier track, you may have found your niche. Because of golf’s rising popularity, many local courses offer extremely reasonable rates and even supply rental clubs. Take a day with some friends and go give golf a try. You may find yourself a new hobby, and you will certainly find yourself enjoying better health.

Remember, that best kind of exercise is the kind you don’t know you are doing! All you need are some golf clubs; the healthier you is just down the next fairway.

Golf Clubs: The Gift That Keeps On Giving

The purchase of your first set of golf clubs can be a bit intimidating. Not only is it a rather hefty investment, but it is also a bit of an unknown. Are you going to love golf forever, or is it going to be a passing fad like that speed bag you have hanging in your garage still? Do you need the top of the line brand, or can you settle for the not-so-cool, but exceptionally less expensive brand? Are you willing to devote every Saturday for the rest of your adult life to golf, or are you going to be more of a once a month kind of golfer?

These are all questions that bear asking (and answering) before you take the leap from someone interested in golf, to someone who plays golf. A consideration that should be made when deciding on your first purchase is the history of golf. Golf has been played for well over a hundred years by some of the greatest men (and women) of our time. Many fathers have passed their clubs, and their love of the game, on to their sons and daughters who have in turn passed them on to their own children.

Golf is more than just a sport, it is a tradition. Even a young man who just picks up the clubs every few weeks for a quick round with his buddies will, in his older years, pick up the game again and remember with fondness the time spent on the links with the friends of his youth. There are, in truth, very few people who get to the point in their journey with golf where they are ready to purchase a set of golf clubs of their own and choose later to abandon the sport entirely.

You, like many before you will likely end up passing your first set of golf clubs on to your own son or daughter. As you decide on this first purchase, you don’t have to choose the best or most expensive. Pick the clubs that you love, and someday someone you love will love them as well.

Does Buying Golf Clubs Mean I’m Finally Old?

For many who are considering purchasing golf clubs for the first time, the idea may have crept in slowly until one day they realized that they were seriously considering taking up golf, and left them wondering if this meant that they had somehow passed over the barrier of youth without taking notice.

Does taking up golf and purchasing the golf clubs and other gear that goes with it mean that you are getting old? Golf is hip, right? The answer, in short, is yes. Golf is no longer your grandfather’s sport. It isn’t full of nothing put stuffed shirt old men who look down the stem of their pipe and scowl at anyone from a different class or financial state than them.

Although there are still plenty of clubs who brag of exorbitantly high membership fees and annual dues and who post uniformed guards at their tall iron gates to keep the riffraff out, there are even more public (and even some private) courses who enjoy the youthful facelift that the game has gotten over the last decade or so. Owning golf clubs no longer means you’re an old guy.

Whether it was the portrayal of golf in certain comedies in its low-brow state, or simply the infusion of youth and charisma that took over the PGA tour in the late 1990’s, golf has seen a huge change in perspective as well as patronage. Although, owning golf clubs doesn’t require that you lose your sense of humor and grow a mustache, there are some things about golf that will never change.

Golf has always been known as a gentleman’s sport and everyone who chooses to spend their time on the links knows and respects the traditions and etiquette that are taught and expected in the game. Even those who are out for a day of fun with their college buddies and a few beers keep in mind the history of the game and its roots as a game of honor and healthy competition.

So go ahead and buy those golf clubs. It doesn’t make you old, it makes you wise. Only the young and dumb miss out on golf because they think it makes them seem old.

Golf Equipment for the Man Who Has Everything

If the man in your life belongs to the unique breed which seems to never want for anything, fear not. There are items that he doesn’t already have, and some that he will actually even like. You may not have considered buying him golf equipment, thinking that surely he has everything he could possibly need (seeing as he plays every single weekend and on all of his days off) but you may still find something he didn’t even know he wanted!

Online shopping has made what was once the impossible into the at least semi-attainable. There are no shortage of websites and online stores offering gifts for the guy who has everything. It seems that there are almost daily inventions of golf equipment that no one even knew they needed until they saw their friend with it.

If your man is one who always wants the latest and greatest, then the world of unique golf equipment is one you should take a dive into. From personalized ball embossers to stroke counters and ball retrievers, there is no limit to the items you never even knew existed but that he will love.

If your husband is a sports fan, the market for college or professional themed golf equipment is growing faster than you can buy specialized club covers! Rain gear, ball markers, hats and umbrellas can all be special ordered to thrill your husband with his favorite team’s logo emblazoned in the colors that get his heart pounding and make him feel like a kid again.

If he isn’t much of a sports nut, you can still peruse the pages of many a website for golf equipment, or golf-themed gifts that are sure to impress. A photograph of the famed St Andrews or a pencil holder with cross clubs and a ball to keep on his desk and remind him of what he’s missing are sure to bring a smile.

Remember that just because he is hard to buy for doesn’t mean he is impossible to buy for. It is nearly impossible to go wrong buying golf equipment of any kind for a man who loves to hit the links.

Thrifty Gifts for the Golf Equipment Enthusiast

If the significant other in your life is a golf lover, then you are certainly aware of the expense involved with being an avid golfer. Greens fees, cart purchases, clubs, more clubs, the newest club, balls (why on earth are little white balls so very expensive?) and other random golf equipment. It may seem, in fact, that there is no end to the cost of your loved one’s hobby.

What’s more, is that most golfers really, really love golf and don’t want anything other than golf stuff for birthdays, Christmases, anniversaries, et al. So, what can you do when you’re on a budget and your trying to purchase a gift for someone whose only real interest seems to be the most expensive possible?

Hit the internet for some funky, fun, and surprisingly inexpensive golf equipment and goodies for the Bagger Vance in your life. Tougher than normal economic times may leave you unable to get him the new driver he wants or score some impossible-to-get tickets to Augusta, but you can still feed his hobby without breaking the bank.

Golf equipment is notoriously expensive, but not everything that your partner wants is a high dollar item. A personalized ball marker, for example, can serve to remind him not only that you love him and are supportive of his hobby, but also that if he spends too much time at the 19^th, then he will have his loving and adoring spouse to answer to when he gets home.

Items to also consider are golf-themed picture frames, glasses, mugs, and office supplies, all of which can be purchased for a relatively low price and enable him to bring his love of the game home or to the office on the days he’s not on the links. Many online merchants also offer gift cards if you find that you are simply having too difficult a time in selecting the perfect gift in your price range.

Remember not to be turned off by the expense of some golf equipment. Although an expensive hobby, golf also offers a number of inexpensive options to gift givers and lovers of the sport alike.

The Beginner Golfer’s Must-Have List

So you want to be a golfer? With golf equipment manufacturers offering so many products and different brands, it is easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer volume of choices available to the novice golfer. Follow this simple organizational guide and you’ll be hitting the links with the pros in no time. Okay, you’ll at least have the tools to hit the links like the pros.

Filling your bag

Although there are hundreds of brands, sizes, and styles of clubs on the market today, the choice of which clubs you use should be relatively simple. You must first decide on your price range. There really is no need to spend several thousand dollars on a top of the line set of clubs if you are a beginning. Learn the basics of the game first, and reward your success with new clubs as you progress.

Once you have your clubs, you need to stock up on all the golf equipment that fills the numerous pockets and pouches on your bag. The most important items, aside from your clubs, are balls and tees. As with your clubs, don’t sink a ton of money into balls until you’ve had a chance to familiarize yourself with the game. Golf balls are very pricey, so try out several brands until you find the ball that best suits you. Tees are, quite literally, a dime a dozen so you won’t incur any major cost there. You will also need a ball marker, but in truth, a quarter will do just fine.

Looking the part

Part of the appeal of golf is its strict adherence to rules and tradition. You will need to purchase a quality pair of golf shoes, as most courses will not allow you to play in anything else. Additionally, most courses have a dress code that requires that you wear slacks and a collared shirt. Several of each would be beneficial. A glove isn’t always necessary, and is up to each individual’s preference.

Once you have the basic clothes and your bag is full of all the golf equipment you will need, you are ready to get out and learn the game. Be patient, it may not come easy but it will certainly be worth it.

Kids Golf Clubs: Because Contact Sports Aren’t Fun for Everyone

It may have been a hard lesson in life the day your son walked off the football field at age six and said he didn’t like getting hit and he hated football. That’s a tough thing for a dad to hear. It’s an especially tough thing for a dad who loves football to hear. But, all is not lost. Thankfully, your local sports store also sells kids golf clubs, and you may have just stumbled on something wonderful.

As much as a lot of parents don’t like to admit it, there are plenty of kids out there who really just don’t like contact sports. Some kids don’t like being dirty and sweaty, some don’t like having coaches or teammates who yell. Some kids don’t get a thrill out of taking a hit, and think instead that it really hurts and they don’t like it at all. Most kids don’t have any trouble at all identifying that they do or do not like something, it is often the parents who have a hard time.

If your child has decided that contact sports are not going to be in the cards for him, don’t give up on sports altogether. Golf is a well respected and extremely worthwhile sport, and your son may be just what the game has been waiting for.

Imagine if Arnold Palmer had chosen to stand in a line and get knocked down every Friday night instead of practicing his swing. Picture Davis Love III in a basketball jersey, it just doesn’t fit. Some kids are just cut out for golf, and if you are finding yourself through your choice or that of your child in the market for kid’s golf clubs then consider yourself lucky.

Few sports offer the life lessons that are learned in golf. The etiquette and tradition, the sense of honor and dignity, the lesson in history, and in respect for rules and protocol, these are all the pillars at the heart of the game of golf, and any father should be proud to have his son participate in a sport like that.

Kids Golf Clubs: The Perfect Gift from Grandpa

If you are a grandfather looking for the perfect birthday, Christmas, or graduation gift for a beloved grandson or granddaughter, a set of golf clubs may be as far as you have to search. Kid’s golf clubs are the perfect gift to tell your grandchild that you love them and are interested in their life and sharing common interests with them. Whether you are an avid lifelong golfer, or have recently taken it up yourself, your grandchildren are sure to delight in being encouraged to participate in something that you do.

Giving a set of kid’s golf clubs will open a line of communication between you and your grandchild that, should you choose, will stay open long into their teen and adult years. By inviting a child to take up a sport, you are giving the promise that you will be there for memorable victories and losses and stand as a coach as he gets better.

The love of golf has been handed down from father to child for well over a hundred years, and you are in a position to start the same tradition in your own family. If you are not a golfer, consider buying an adult set of clubs when you purchase the kids golf clubs and you and your grandchild can endeavor on this journey together.

The lessons taught in golf are those that a grandfather should teach his grandchild. The importance of rules and honesty, the importance of etiquette and respect, the importance of structure and tradition, these are all to be found in the rules and traditions of golf. What better way to influence your grandchild for good than to spend weekends playing a sport that encourages the best in people?

If you are looking for the perfect gift to commemorate a special time or event in your grandchild’s life, none could better represent the relationship between grandfather and grandchild like the gift of a set of kid’s golf clubs.

Kids Golf Clubs: The Perfect Bonding Experience

One of the best ways to bond with your children is to do something that both you and your kids can enjoy together, and what better way to do this than by purchasing kids golf clubs and taking them to the greens?

Golfing is an excellent sport – and it's something that you don't need to participate in without your family. By introducing your children to golf at a young age, you'll get them accustomed to the game, while enjoying quality time. Golf is a very bonding game – and it's something that you can enjoy for years to come. Once you teach your children the basic rules of the game, you can begin embarking on a mutual sports journey that can continue on well into your children's adult years.

The only thing you will really need to enjoy the fun is kids golf clubs. You can pick these up at a specialty golf shop, or you may be able to pick them up at a general chain store. It's to be noted that you don't necessarily need to purchase an entire set – you can simply purchase the essential clubs, i.e. a driver, an iron, and a putter. The rest of the clubs, while very beneficial, are not necessary until your child has a more solid understanding of the game.

After you've purchased your kids golf clubs, you're ready to book your round of golf. Try to choose a golf course that's not too busy, and try to select a tee-off time that isn't incredibly popular. You will want tons of time to allow your kids to experiment with the various golf clubs, and you won't want them getting stressed out if many people are waiting behind you. If you don't think your kids are ready for the course, you can also take them to a driving range to let them get the swing of things.

There isn't much required to play a great game of gold. Grab your kids, and their kids golf clubs and get going right away. You won't be disappointed!

Could Healthier Breasts Be Only A Sports Bra Away?

Some women prefer underwires and lace to soft seams and cotton. Some prefer comfort and utility over spendy sultry creations. But no matter what your preference for daily wear, you most likely own at least a couple of sports bras. Or at least, you should.

Whether you stay fit and trim by attending weekly yoga classes or run several marathons a year, you know that you can’t get flexible and sweaty in a lacy demi-cup. A sports bra is a must when you’re looking for the support you need, without the discomfort of a more rigid fitting bra.

While sports bras have always been known as a comfortable alternative to a traditional bra, or (as some women prefer) going bra-less for workouts, there are now even more reasons to shed the push-up and slip into the racerback.

For several years now, medical research has shown that the more support women give their breasts, the better overall breast health they will enjoy. While sports bras have certainly not been found to reduce the risk of breast cancer or other such serious ailments, they have been found to cut back tremendously the instances of sore or aching breasts, as well as back pain associated with larger breast size.

Many doctors actually suggest that women sleep in a sports bra to offer support even while they sleep. This has been found to not only decrease discomfort, but it also has shown positive results in helping breasts retain their youthful shape and fullness.

Some women believe that because they have small breasts, it is not important to wear a sports bra during exercise and prefer to just wear tank tops with built in lining. Although there may be no immediate ill effect, the toll taken on a woman’s body through the effects of gravity spares no one. You don’t have to be large busted to see your bustline drop as your age rises.

Even if you have great genes, small breasts, or suffer no discomfort when you exercise, the importance of owning (and wearing) a few quality sports bras shouldn’t be ignored.

What Has Your Sports Bra Done For You Lately?

Most women own at least a couple of sports bras. They are, for those of us who don’t work out nearly as often as we should, generally a bit ragged looking and often crammed in the deepest recesses of the unmentionables drawer.

It isn’t really that we hate sports bras; it’s just that they represent things that we hate. Exercise, dieting, skinny jeans that taunt us from the back of the closet, exercise… At some point, probably towards the end of January when the latest New Year’s Resolution met its demise at the bottom of a Double Chocolate Fudge Brownie bucket of ice cream, the sports bra got thrown back into obscurity.

Sports bras are comfortable enough. In fact, they’re really pretty cozy. They’re soft and flexible, with no underwires that dig into our ribs. They even make some borderline attractive sports bras these days. So why do we hate to wear them? Perhaps a change of perspective will help.

Recent medical research has shown that wearing a sports bra, even when not participating in the dreaded “e” word, can improve overall breast health. Think about it… You can actually improve your health simply by wearing the sports bra. You don’t even have to DO anything but wear it!

Although it is not guaranteed to lower your cholesterol or trim your midsection, wearing a sports bra while doing everyday activities can ease the discomfort of many problems women with large breasts suffer. The design of the sports bra is such that it redistributes the weight across your chest and takes much of the burden off of your shoulders and back. This, in itself, should be reason for many of us to dig the tattered garment out and make an apology.

Women with small breasts may not suffer the same ill effects as those with larger breasts, but even small breasts change with time. It is being suggested by many doctors that women (regardless of breast size) sleep in a sports bra at least a few nights a week. This added support does wonders in retaining breast shape and volume.

While you still may not love your sports bra, it may be time to rethink its usefulness. And who knows, maybe wearing it a few days a week will motivate you to reconsider other articles clothing banished in frustration. Yoga pants anyone?

From Drab to Fab: The Evolution of the Sports Bra

Sports bras once fell in the same category as granny panties and mom jeans, leaving the wearer feeling less than sexy as she ran, downward-dogged, or spun. Thankfully, the style Gods have at last turned an eye towards the work-out world and we are no longer limited to the drab and unsightly choices of even a few years ago.

Today’s workouts are upbeat, hip, and sexy. They are more personally targeted to women and their unique abilities, goals and preferences than ever before, offering choices across a broad range of styles. Someone was paying attention, and there are now as many unique styles, colors, and cuts available when sports bra shopping as there are when choosing the work-out that is best tailored to you.

Although the “original” style of sports bra is still available for those who prefer its classic shape and comfort, there are bras available in a huge variety of cuts to be worn with an even larger variety of tank tops, pants, shorts and tops.

Exercise is no longer a time to leave style behind in favor of a baggy t-shirt and a pair of spandex. Today’s fit woman is able to have it all, and it is thanks to the evolution of the sports bra. Whether it is the longer, midriff covering style that can be paired simply with a pair of yoga pants for a subtle and comfortably sexy look, or the racerbacks made to be worn under an off-the-shoulder bold colored shirt and calf length leggings, reminiscent of dance studio attire, today’s sports bras are made to help you stay you in and out of the gym.

You have tailored your workout to fit your style and your taste. Why would you settle for the same old off-the-rack sports bras and exercise attire? Your unique style should carry over into everything you do and thankfully, the folks in the design world finally caught on!

Gone are the days of the drab, grey, gym class sports bra. Today we are offered a virtually endless supply of styles and colors that put the fun back in hitting the locker room!

Choosing the Right Post-Op Sports Bra

Millions of women each year undergo breast augmentation surgery. Many do it for personal reasons, and some do it for medical reasons, but whatever your reason for choosing this procedure it is extremely important to find the right bra to safely and comfortably make the transition from bandages to underwires.

When the bandages come off, you are still going to be quite sore. Depending on the degree of change your surgery brought, you may be shocked at your own body. Bear in mind that you are, and will remain for several weeks, very swollen. This natural swelling makes it difficult to gage what size sports bra is best for you. Additionally, as the swelling subsides and your new breasts begin to take on their permanent shape and size, you will need to have several comfortable sports bras to “step down” to.

You will want to purchase your post-op sports bras well before surgery so that you will have everything you need before you begin your procedure. You want to do everything that you can to make this process the least stressful that it can be and a major element is planning for anything that you may need or want during your recovery. You are not going to want to go bra shopping the day your bandages come off, so make sure you take the time now to set everything in order.

You will want to choose a bra that is several sizes larger than your chosen cup size. Again, this will account for the large amount of swelling that you will experience. Don’t be afraid to “go big” when making your selection. If the bra you purchase ends up being slightly large, you will still get the comfort and support you need. A bra that is too small, however, will cause undue discomfort both in putting it on, and in wearing. Be sure to purchase at least three bras in varying sizes to accommodate for the reduction in swelling as you heal.

This is an exciting and sometimes slightly stressful time. Remember that the key to a happy recovery is taking care of all of the incidentals as far in advance as possible. The purchase of several good sports bras now will ease your post-op burden later.

Try a Sports Bra to Ease the Transition from Little Girl to Preteen

Every mother and father of a preteen girl has experienced the same thing that you are right now. You looked at your daughter after dinner the other night, and realized that she is looking more like a young woman than a little girl. As much as it may pain you to acknowledge, the little camisoles or tank tops with built in bras aren’t cutting it anymore. You may not have to take the step to full-fledged bra purchasing just yet. Consider first, the more comfortable and less “grown-up” alternative offered in a sports bra.

Your daughter has, no doubt, noticed the change in her body as well and she may not be too receptive to your teary eyes or reminiscent tales of your first bra. Most of us forget, but the change from child to young woman is incredibly awkward and the last thing that any little girl needs is a parent to make it worse.

Instead of making a big deal about taking her to buy her first bra, talk to her as an equal and tell her that you have found that sports bras are a lot more comfortable than the more traditional bra, and that they are also less noticeable under clothes. (Because you can bet that she is concerned about everyone knowing that she is now wearing a bra).

As a young girl’s breasts begin to develop they are often tender and uncomfortable. A sports bra is a far more comfortable choice because it offers support, mild padding, and comfort, but without the rigid lines and often uncomfortable seams of a regular bra. Be sure to purchase a sports bra that is the right fit. Because her body is changing, you may be surprised at what fit is right for her. Allow her to try several different styles and sizes so that she can pick the one that suits her best.

She has her entire life to endure the frustration of bra shopping. Make purchasing her first sports bra a fun and comfortable experience, and she’ll remember it fondly.

A Quick Reference Guide to Choosing the Right Sports Bra

You wouldn’t think that choosing a sports bra would be a very complicated process. After all, it is simply a cotton undergarment; nothing complicated about that, right? Unless you choose the wrong one, and then there is chafing, and flopping, and pinching and aching. The wrong sports bra can really put the damper on a good workout. Use this guide to make sure you are choosing the bra that will work best for you.

Style

As you are perusing the sports bra section at a store or in an online shop, the first thing you need to decide is what style suits you best. Sports bras now come in a wide range of styles so take the time to consider how each would fit your body. Remember, just because it is pretty doesn’t mean it will fit you comfortably. Not all body types are made for all types of sports bras so be realistic about how the straps will feel in relation to your body.

Size

Sports bra sizing can be tricky (and sometimes deceiving) because there isn’t a standard like in traditional bras. Although the higher end sports bras come in letter and number sizes like any other bra, many sports bras are only labeled Small, Medium, Large, and XLarge. This type of sizing is what makes sports bra shopping difficult for a lot of women. If you are a 38A, how does that translate into a S,M,L scale? Remember that a sports bra is generally flat across the front. Your most important measurement is going to be the width of your ribcage. Cup size doesn’t play as large a role in the purchase of a sports bra, so be careful not to sell yourself short and end up with a bra that pinches.

Support

You will need to choose a bra that offers the right amount of support for the activity you will be doing without restricting you to the point of discomfort. If you are into yoga, you will not need a bra that offers the same strength in support as if you were running a marathon.

A sports bra is the most important piece of equipment a woman will use when working out. The wrong one will make the experience miserable, so take the time to find a proper fit.

Sports Bras: Not Just For Exercise

Everyone knows that a sports bra is a girl’s best friend in the gym, but have you considered the other health and beauty benefits to this little piece of cotton?

Cosmetic

Many doctors and even plastic surgeons are now telling women of the benefits of wearing a sports bra more frequently than a traditional bra, with some even suggesting that women should always sleep in a sports bra.

This may sound crazy to many women who relish that moment at the end of the day when the bra come off and you are finally able to climb into bed unbound and free, but you may want to consider the upside to getting used to sleeping in a sports bra.

Studies have shown that women who constantly or nearly constantly support their breasts through the use of a sports bra enjoy younger and firmer breast for far longer than those who don’t use support. The effects of gravity can be damaging on a woman’s body but a sports bra can take a lot of the weight off!

Health

Most women with large breasts know how uncomfortable a burden they can be at times. The use of a sports bra as a regular method of support is now widely acknowledged to significantly reduce the back discomfort that many women have had to simply live with. If you are not in the market for a breast reduction surgery, but are looking for some relief, try wearing a sports bra day and night.

Big breasts are not the only cause of pain or discomfort to women. For many women, their monthly cycle brings not only bloating, cramps, and mood swings, but also extremely sore breasts. If your breasts become so tender that the touch of an underwire brings tears to your eyes, try a heavy support sports bra and enjoy instant relief. Your breasts will still be supported as you go about your day, but you will not suffer the pain and discomfort of traditional bras.

Whether your breast concerns are cosmetic, or health related, a sports bra may be just what the doctor ordered. Or rather, just what the doctor didn’t order.

Simple Keys to Gym Motivation

It seems that every time the seasons change, a little voice at the back of your head tells you that it’s really time to dig out the sports bra, start eating better and hitting the gym more regularly. Perhaps it is the knowledge that with the change in weather comes a change in wardrobe, sundresses in the spring, skinny jeans in autumn, swimsuits in summer, and well… winter isn’t too bad, since layers are a good thing.

If you are like the millions of other people who start every several months with the best of intentions, only to find your sports bra once again stuffed at the back of the drawer and your gym back collecting dust in the corner, perhaps a change of perspective is due. Sometimes, the best thing you can to do find (and keep) your motivation is to uncomplicate the entire process.

If your gym is the trendiest in town, but happens to be a thirty minute drive from your house you may need to get a bit more realistic and make a change. When your body is rockin’ and you have more spunk and energy than you have in years, people won’t care where you did it. Just that you did it.

Studies show that people are more likely to stick with a workout routine if it is simple. Rather than get caught up in the latest trends and “get fit quick” schemes, stick to the basics. Throw on a sports bra and shorts after work, and hit the home gym. Jump rope, sit ups, pushups, and weights are still the most tried and true methods for getting in shape.

The more you have to do to get ready to go to the gym, the less likely you are going to go. If you live close to a gym, you are lucky and should absolutely use the facilities available to you. But keep it simple. Have a sports bra, shorts, t-shirt, and shoes in a bag by the door at all times.

When you are serious about changing your lifestyle, you will let go of all the excuses and just do it. Start with the basics; a sports bra, a pair of shoes, and some shorts. Walk out the door, and don’t come back until you’re sweaty.

The Sports Bra: Your Best Friend While Weaning

Of all the products available designed to make breast feeding easier or more convenient, none come close in comfort or quality to the sports bra. You may have already discovered the healing power of the sports bra when your milk first came in a few days after you gave birth. The heat and swelling from engorged breasts is one that is hard to explain to someone who hasn’t experienced it, but if you didn’t have the pleasure of engorgement as your milk came in, you will most likely experience it as you wean your baby.

Breast engorgement occurs when the milk ducts become blocked or over full and the milk has no place to go. Each time your milk comes down, your breasts become fuller, more fevered, and more swollen. At times your breasts may become so full that they are actually hard to the touch and are so tender that the slightest brush of a finger can bring you to tears. While engorgement to this extreme is not an everyday occurrence, it is not as uncommon as many think. One of the best things you can do to both prevent and treat severe engorgement, especially when weaning is by wearing a full support sports bra.

When you are weaning your baby off the breast, your milk supply will remain the same for a time as your body regulates to your baby requiring less milk. During this time you cannot nurse, or express to relieve the pressure of engorgement because it will encourage your body to produce more milk. Some doctors tell their patients to use an athletic bandage and wrap it tightly around their breasts for several days, but this method is not only uncomfortable but also unnecessary.

Rather than binding your breasts and causing added discomfort, the simple use of a high quality sports bra will achieve the same results without requiring the added work and frustration of tending to bandages while you are in pain.

Could A Sports Bra Offer An Alternative To Breast Reduction Surgery?

Although society would have us believe that women with large breasts are blessed with the full figure that many women pay large sums of money to achieve, those who live with very large breasts know the truth. New information, however, suggests that something as simple as a sports bra may bring the relief that big-busted women are seeking without having to endure the pain and expense of breast reduction surgery.

Many doctors have begun suggesting that women, especially those with above average sized breasts; begin sleeping nightly in a sports bra. The added support not only helps breasts retain their shape and volume without bowing to the effects of aging, but also has been shown to help relieve back, shoulder, and neck problems frequently associated with large breasts.

If you are in good physical condition and have a hard time with workouts because of the discomfort of your large breasts, you may find added relieve and comfort by purchasing two different types of sports bras. One, which should be worn closest to your body, needs to be the type with cups sewn in so that each breast is individually supported and separated from the other. The second layer should be a more classic style, but with a racerback rather than the more traditional tank top style back. The staggering of a tank top style back on the under-sports bra and a racerback, classic style sports bra on top will give more support and comfort than any other support bra available today.

When walking the line between undergoing a major operation and finding a non-invasive way to correct and alleviate the pain and discomfort associated with larger than average breasts, every effort should be made to find a solution that will not cause risk to your body or your health. Breast reduction surgery is painful and expensive and isn’t guaranteed to solve all of the problems caused by large breasts.

If the use of a sports bra, or even two sports bras, can offer the comfort and relief that you need without surgical invasion, would you be willing to give it a try?

Surprise Your Wife with a Couple’s Golf Getaway

If you are one of the lucky men whose wife loves golf as much as you do, show her how much you enjoy your time on the links with her by planning a romantic golf getaway! No doubt she’s already got her own set of women’s golf clubs, so all you’ll need to do is pack them up, throw some clothes in a suitcase, and take off for a weekend of splendid views and on-par play.

With nearly every region of the country offering a unique golf experience, there is no reason that you and your wife shouldn’t make it a point to visit them all. Whether you are following the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail across Alabama, or walking where the greats have at Augusta, she will not soon forget this trip.

She will recall with fondness, the day you encouraged her to go over to the ladies section in the pro shop and check out the women’s golf clubs. The lessons that followed, and the frustrations that she overcame will seem like distant memories as you tee off in the early morning mist.

As you round the bend on your first day of vacation, you will realize just how lucky you are to have a woman who so thoroughly enjoys the same hobby as you. When you head back to the clubhouse for lunch and a couple of drinks, you will be blissfully unaware of the frustrations that other men feel when their wives complain about them spending too much time or money on golf.

Golf is a timeless sport with a rich heritage and a brilliant future. Show her how thankful you are that your life partner is also your golf partner, and let her know how happy you are that she decided to try out a set of women’s golf clubs all those years ago.

Whether you travel to the beautiful Pacific Northwest, to the famed Southeast, or along the New England shore, the memories you will make on your men’s and women’s golf club adventure will be those which last a lifetime.

Why A Set of Women’s Golf Clubs Could Be the Best Purchase You Will Ever Make

If you are a young man in a serious relationship, and you love golf, this is for you. Likewise, young women considering a long-term relationship with a man who loves golf should pay heed. We are talking about women’s golf clubs.

For many couples, the single most frustrating aspect of home life can be narrowed down to one, four letter word. For many, this word is more reprehensible than any other in the four-letter-word category. The word is golf. And it has been a point of frustration for men, and the women who yell at them, for at least a hundred years. Who would have ever guessed that all of these frustrations could be eased with one simple purchase? A set of women’s golf clubs.

For men who love golf, the appeal of the early morning mist on the perfectly sculpted fairways and greens is on that they are hard-pressed to resist. Unfortunately, many women come to see this perfectly trimmed and tended fairway as the “other woman” and so begins a lifelong battle between wives and golf. But, it can all stop with you.

Golf is no longer simply a sport for men. In fact, women’s golf has really taken off in the last decade. Why not make the sport one of you loves into the sport you both love and can play together? What better way to spend your Saturday morning, than having a cup of coffee and hitting the links with your significant other. You can put the hustle and bustle of the week aside and just enjoy the peaceful quiet of the course, and the light banter of healthy competition.

Golf doesn’t have to be a bone of contention between a husband and wife. It can, and should, be enjoyed by all. If you are not already an avid golfer, consider taking up the sport with your significant other. Men’s and women’s golf clubs are often very reasonably priced and can provide a whole new twist on an old relationship.

Just because generations of men before you have fought with their wives over golf doesn’t mean you have to join them. Break the cycle, and by a set of women’s golf clubs for the special gal in your life.

How A Set of Women’s Golf Clubs Can Change Your Pre-teen’s Life

As the parent of an adolescent daughter, you are no doubt hyper aware of statistics showing the wide range of trouble young women can, and do, get into. As your daughter enters high school, the sports that she was involved in as a child may no longer appeal to her. There is also the chance that because of the competitive nature of high school sports, she is not able to play. As a parent, the prospect of idle hands is often frightening, and rightfully so. A young woman with too much time on her hands and not enough interests stands a much higher chance at getting in trouble, or falling in with the wrong crowd. Women’s golf clubs may hold the key to, not only your peace of mind, but also a whole new chapter in your daughter’s life.

Golf is one of the oldest and most tradition rich sports in the world. Its popularity in recent years has brought a whole new age group of fans to the table. What was once viewed as a sport for old men is now far more hip and socially acceptable than ever before. The purchase of a set of women’s golf clubs and the enrolment of your daughter in lessons with a local pro will open her eyes to a whole new world of rules, etiquette, structure, and tradition.

While society’s standards seem to sink continually lower, and the world’s youth seem to get more and more lost in a wash of mixed messages and questionable role models, the game of golf offers a standard and an expectation that can provide the structure and discipline that so many of her peers are lacking. It is not often that a simple monetary gift can provide such a lasting and life-changing opportunity, but that is precisely what you will offer your daughter through the gift of women’s golf clubs.

The purchase of women’s golf clubs may seem like nothing more than encouraging your teenager to try a new sport, but the life lessons made available through the game of golf make it far more than just a sport.

Is it ok to be baptized into another denomination if you were baptized already into the catholic church?

2010-04-25T22:12:00.000-07:00

The answer to this question would depend on who you asked. From the general Christian perspective, if you were baptized when you DID NOT believe, you should - in obedience - get baptized again. This includes infant-baptism, or if you feel that you were too young to truly dedicate your life to Christ.

If you were baptized Catholic when you had given your life fully to Christ, there is no need to be baptized again; baptism is a symbol of being crucified and resurrected with Christ. You only need to die and be raised once.

If you were once Catholic, but are now interested in a different denomination, I would say that it all depends if you think you were a true believer in Christ at the time of baptism. The Roman Catholic church is certainly Christian and therefore fully-able to provide a righteous God-sanctioned baptism.

If God is real, why does He make children suffer?

2010-04-25T22:04:00.000-07:00

The issue of this question is an issue of perspective; God clearly does not view life and death the same way that we do. We view issues of human suffering from a very temporal, in-the-moment way. This comes naturally because we are IN the scene... We cannot see the big picture.

As an example, if a child is suffering in this life, but goes on to receive eternal life and live with God forever, is this really "unfair"? Compared to eternity, our life is infinitely smaller than the blink of an eye. We need to keep perspective in mind when talking about these things... God knows what He is doing! We need to remember that He loves us and DOES care about us deeply... The fact that human beings are capable of enjoying eternal life with God is enough to right all of the wrongs and injustices done by mankind.

If God is all knowing why does he create murderers?

2010-04-25T21:55:00.000-07:00

God is all-knowing, so doesn't this mean that he knows which people will turn out to be murderers? How do we justify this?

We need to remember that although God is omnipotent (all-powerful), He decided to create human beings with a volition independent of His own. This means that we are entirely free to make our own decisions to either obey God, or obey our own desires. God always gives us a chance, and if you mess it up, it is not the Creator's fault.

The issue of Free-will must be held in a balance with God's ultimate sovereignty. God is ultimately in control of everything in the universe, but He appears to give us quite a bit of room in our own personal decisions. We know that man does indeed have choices, but we also know that God is somehow orchestrating everything to work out for the better.

2009-12-20T12:36:00.000-08:00

The official exhaustive list of all topical posts in chronological order.

A Theology of Non-Essentials

The fear of non-existence (with an unrelated introduction)

Unbelief in Matthew 13 and the purpose of this blog

Spiritual truths in Jude

A Theology of non-essentials

2009-12-20T12:30:00.000-08:00

WARNING: This post is significantly less humorous than previous posts. It was written as a semi-formal essay on the topic of "non-essentials" and how they should affect Christian theology. That being said, I hope you still enjoy it.

A Theology of Non-Essentials

When dealing with the non-essentials of Christianity there is a
great danger of being opinionated.

The opinionated man is both gifted and cursed in his personality.
He studies and ponders ideas to see all sides of them, for every issue
must have an answer. No enigma is allowed to remain unsolved and every
area of any given topic must be systematically probed in order to draw
proper conclusions. He is thorough in his work and leaves no stone
unturned. He thirsts for the truth and will let nothing stop him in
his quest for discovering objective reality.

The opinionated man makes hasty opinions, even without enough
evidence to support his stance. He is both argumentative and arrogant,
and will strive to maintain the integrity of his position even when
the chips are down. He fights to the death over issues of little or no
significance and is quick to withdraw form the masses with the idea
that his thoughts transcend anyone else's that don't agree with his.

When dealing with his faith, he is strongly attracted to dogma and
will quickly make divisions wherever possible. He devours theological
terms and ideas, and spews them out like vomit. He battles pride on the
front lines daily, and oftentimes, he loses. He is a resilient fellow
though, for he simply counts his losses as victories and continues on,
never looking back. The opinionated man bumbles through life and takes
advice from no one but himself. He draws his own conclusions about life
and meets an untimely end, accomplishing nothing. I am such a man.

Non-essentials of Christianity often consume me and distract me
from following The Way. So much so, that it oftentimes undermines
parts of my faith and puts up self-restraints that prevent me from
running the race that I was called for.

For the opinionated man (or simply anyone curious about the
"smaller" aspects of their faith) it is helpful to keep a few things
in mind. One of the harder facts to grasp, is that we are looking at
things through tainted eyes. We will never get everything right for we
will always see a distorted image. We are spiritually blind from birth
and until God graciously gives us the glasses of salvation, we will
scarcely be able to see Him, if we can see Him at all. Our spiritual
blindness is so severe, that even with the best glasses blood can buy,
they will never be perfect until we are. Only through the completion
of our salvation, will we be able to see clearly, and this will never
happen on this present earth. To be blunt, we will never have all the
answers.

For me, this is difficult to accept, but the sooner I accept it,
the sooner I can stop being so dogmatic when dealing with my own
answers that are not essential to Christ's life. There are so many
great theologians and yet they disagree on what seems to be almost
everything. How can so many people, who are honestly seeking God's
answers, draw so many vastly different conclusions? It is not that
they are all so sin burdened that they are unable to perceive truth,
or that they are so wrapped up in themselves that they forget to check
with God, although both of these things could quite possibly be true.
The majority of the time, it is because although they are all looking
at the One True God, they are all looking through different eyes.
This is not to say that their salvation is somehow different, rather
it is their fallen minds that alter their glasses of salvation.

This is not a problem that resides only in theologians, it's just
that it is oftentimes more strongly manifested in those willing to
boldly state their beliefs. To claim that you do not have this problem
because you subscribe to "general Christianity" is to say that outside
of the essentials, you do no thinking whatsoever. It is helpful to
remember that we are told to have child-like faith, not child-like
reasoning.

To think is to err, and it is better to err than to not think at
all. To not think about such areas for fear of being wrong is the
equivalent of living a self-sufficient, solitary life for fear of
harming people. The solution of tainted vision is not to close your
eyes, for everyone knows that some sight is better than no sight at
all. Instead of avoiding the problem, we need to confront it. We need
to acknowledge our spiritual blindness and try our best to minimize
our own destructive potential. This means that we must not get too
attached to our own conclusions concerning the non-essentials of our
faith. I do not mean by this, that we should hold no opinion on such
issues, rather we should ponder everything and bring every opinion we
have before our Lord and Savior. This does mean however, that we must
always keep in the back of our minds, the likely possibility that
we could be wrong.

We must do away with all preconceived notions about any issue,
and we must base our salvation on the solid foundation of Christ. He
is our Cornerstone and to start our foundation without Him, is to not
start at all. It is here that we begin to build our belief system.

Once Christ, the living word, is our cornerstone, we must add the
written word to our foundation of beliefs. Once we have laid our
foundation out, we must take a step back from our structure and humbly
acknowledge that anything beyond this is speculation. We might know
what blocks to use in our structure or what order some of them go in,
but we are not exactly sure about the specifics. We are now ready to
build our tower of beliefs.

These two bricks that we have set down, make up our everlasting
foundation. These two bricks are made of concrete and they are
cemented into the ground for all eternity. To cement any other blocks
on top of these two is a grave mistake. It is at this point that we
put away our concrete and our cement, and pull out our plastic
building blocks. We then begin to place these building blocks in the
way that we think they fit. At the end of our life, we might have a
completed tower but it will never look quite right. Perhaps it will
be a little unsteady, or a tad unsymmetrical. It will never be perfect
no matter how many times we rebuild it and yet, it is our tower. If,
for some reason, we discover a fatal design in it, we never have to
tear it down completely. We simply knock down the plastic blocks and
start again, piling plastic on the cement foundation.

When we are constructing this tower of beliefs, is it important to
never be afraid of two things happening. First, we must never be
afraid of rearranging the blocks, for this shall be a normal occurrence
in any man's life. Second, we must never be afraid if the breath of God
causes our entire tower to collapse, and most importantly, we must
never cry. For the breath of God blows where it pleases, and if it is
in His will that your tower should fall, it is for your benefit. There
is only one danger that you must always keep in mind throughout your
life as a spiritual architect: you must never, ever, pour cement on
the plastic blocks. It is much easier to pour on than it is to take
off!

Before you begin on your lifelong construction of your tower,
there is one important step you must take. Before you go about adding
all of your plastic blocks, you must walk over to your tower and kick
it down. You must leave no block standing, for this tower is nothing
but a tower of pre-conceived notions. If upon the destruction of your
tower, you find that both the foundation of Christ and the Bible are not
firmly cemented at it's base, please take the time to do so. Your
tower will be nothing but a pile of meaningless plastic without them.

Another problem you may encounter is that while you are kicking
down your tower, you may stub your toe on one of many wrongly cemented
plastic layers. One of these layers is called strong denominationalism and it
must be destroyed. Get out your sledge hammer and begin the difficult
yet necessary work or disassembling this layer promptly. If upon
reconstruction of your tower, the layer of a particular denomination
reforms, that is fine. Just be careful not to cement it in again and
remember not to pout if God decides that you do not need it there
anymore.

It is crucial to destroy your old tower before rebuilding it,
for no one puts new wine in old wineskins. There are many more
difficulties in the destruction of your tower that you will soon
discover. For example, one particularly difficult layer to break down,
is the cemented layer known as "family beliefs". If you are
taught certain things from your childhood, you will have poured so
much cement on top of this layer that it will hardly be
distinguishable from your two foundational blocks! It will begin to
look like one monstrous lump of cement, but don't be deceived: Christ
lies under there somewhere along with His scripture. It is difficult,
but if you are persistent, you will reach them in this highly
important rescue mission.

Perhaps the most difficult layer of all is the layer known as
"society". This layer will often sneak below the foundation itself!
It's quite possible that society IS your foundation for your tower of
beliefs, for it is indeed a parasite of incredible strength. It is
very important that we completely eradicate this layer and never allow
it to creep into our tower again! This layer is of the world, and
should have no place in the beliefs of Christians. It is more like
acid than it is like a building block and it will corrode our entire
tower and alter our view of both Christ and the Bible. It is fatal to
many people's towers and it is pure idolatry to hold it above the Word
of God, whether Living or written.

Once you have destroyed all of your old tower and have set Christ
as your cornerstone, you can now finish off the foundation by adding the
Scriptures as I have mentioned above. Your foundation is set and you
must literally guard it with your life. Pour your cement on
these two bricks and make sure you use it all. Tell yourself that you
will never alter this foundation, nor will you ever purchase a new
pail of cement. Now you are ready to prepare for construction.

Construction holds a few dangers of it's own, all of which can be
linked to pride. When we are building our tower anew, we must do it
humbly for the entire construction process. We must put away what we
like and what we want and instead we must replace them with the Truth.
We need to accept that some of our plastic blocks do not belong on our
tower at all and we must give up our own set of blocks and adopt the
Divine set. Even with this Divine set of blocks, we will continue to make
mistakes: we will still place our blocks in the wrong places and we
will somehow get our blocks mixed up with the Divine blocks, even
though they look nothing alike.

As hard as we try to build our tower correctly, it will still
always be tainted by our pride. This is inevitable and it is the
reason that our towers will never be the same as God intended them to
be. When we die, or when Christ returns, our tower will be transformed
into the perfect, glorious tower that God Himself has constructed.
This tower will indeed be eternally cemented and not one single block
will ever fall from it. It will be identical to everyone's tower
that has been made Real in Christ but it will never be boring. It will
be infinitely complex, just as God's character is. It will be made of
gold and will put our earthly towers to shame, but we won't mind one
bit. Until that day comes, we will sit with our cheap imitations of God's
holy tower. There should be no ounce of pride in us, for we should all
realize that our towers are worthless when compared to the tower of
Christ.

So this is our job concerning our tower: we must follow the rules
of destruction and construction and build our tower to be as close to
God's as we can possibly make it. We must humbly remember that our
tower will never be completed, nor will it ever be perfected, on this
present earth. Therefore, our job is to cling to Christ who is our
essential, and to await the day when we too, will have a tower that
fully glorifies Him in all of His majesty. Until then, let us hold
unity in Christ, and diversity in our non-essentials, because in the
end we only know one thing for certain: Christ is all that counts.

The fear of non-existence (with an unrelated introduction)

2009-12-11T01:23:00.000-08:00

The first thing you may notice when you read this post is the time it was posted at: around 3:30 am. Okay, it says 1:30 but that's because I incorrectly estimated my time zone... For those of you reading this who know me (none of you), you will probably be gasping for breath as you realize I have an exam tomorrow that I haven't studied for. Should this alarm both you and me? Yes. Will I be studying tonight? No, I'll be writing a blog post that probably no one will read that is more or less inconsequential to my life.

At this point you may also ask: "Who do you keep addressing if you believe that no one views your blog?" There is no simple answer to that... I am addressing "you". If a blog is posted and noone reads it, does it even exist? Perhaps this is strange offshoot of Shrodinger's box... No one knows if this blog is alive or dead! Did I just confuse you with an irrelevant physics concept? It's okay, I'm taking physics next semester so I will most likely be opening a sister blog to this one entitled "Physical sojourners". Am I serious? No, of course not... That would be silly.

The next order of business is to ask a favour of "you", whoever you may be (unless you are a web-crawler; in that case this does not apply to you). If you actually read this post; maybe you are even a "frequenter" of this blog, would you please email me letting me know? I mean, it's not that I have an inferiority complex... Sometimes I just feel unloved... So if you would be so kind as to email spiritualsojourners@hotmail.com, then I will maybe feel a bit of hope with the knowledge that SOMEONE out there cares/pretends to care about what I have to say.

That being said, lets talk about a topic. The topic for today is "The Fear of Non-existence". Now this is a very personal topic for me, so you will most likely not be "lolling" as much as you usually do. Not that the occasional lol is forbidden or anything, but try to save your lols until the end so I don't have to hear them.

Non-existence has been a somewhat secret fear of mine for quite some time. Ever since I was a wee lad, I would always get intensely afraid at the thought of not existing after death. I know people always say that non-existence would not be "that bad" because it COULDN'T be that bad because you're dead and you don't know you don't exist. The people that usually say this tend to get this big smile on their face as they marvel at their own cleverness. Well I have something to say to these people: "Not existing would suck". Go ahead and TRY to correct me, but we all know that it would be horrendous. No one wants to stop existing... Well, at least not me!

The fear of non-existence can seem overwhelming at times and strangely enough has been used as a tool of both God and Satan throughout my life... Isn't that bizarre? It's like my fear is a hammer in a workshop and sometimes God comes in and builds a chair with it... But other times Satan picks it up and wacks me over the head with it! Ouch! This proverbial hammer seems to be capable of helping or hindering my walk with God... I told you it was bizarre! Let me give you some examples of the work of the hammer. First of all, there's Satan's side of the situation. He uses the fear of non-existence to frighten me and weaken my faith. He tries to harm me emotionally and sometimes he succeeds to some extent. Then there is God's side of the situation. God uses my fear of non-existence to call me to Him. The fear shows me that I shouldn't waste my life because some day I will die. For those of you that didn't know, there is an aspect of the fear of non-existence that is subsequent to the phobia: you think about death an awful lot. This DOES have quite positive effects and it often leads me into prayer. So is the fear of non-existence a good thing or a bad thing? I think it's both.

The fear of non-existence is a hammer that could be used for good or for evil. It is a good thing because it IS a healthy thing to fear. As Christians, we SHOULD be afraid of non-existence because we were created to live forever. We should also remember that we are all going to die. This should bring us to God and prevent us from wasting our life. The fear of non-existence becomes a tool for evil when we let it corrupt our faith. We should fear it, but we should also know and believe that we have been given eternal life. If we let this fear be used for evil, it will start to getting to us and we will start to doubt our faith. When we get such fears, we need to pray and remember that God has promised eternal life to us... And God is not a liar. Remember, we should also recognise that it IS natural to fear non-existence...

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end."

-Ecclesiastes 3:11

God has set eternity in our hearts. We desire to live forever because we were created that way. Some of us feel that we will never die... They are right.

Are all sins equal?

2009-12-09T20:18:00.001-08:00

I think all sin separates us from God, but not all sins are equal in their effect of our relationship with Him... BUT that being said, once they are forgiven, God forgets them all equally.

Here are three reasons why I believe all sins are not equal.

Old testament law (decided by God) states that certain sins (i.e adultery) result in death, but other sins (i.e. stealing) result in a smaller penalty.

There are different degrees of punishment for non-believers.

David repented like no tomorrow for committing adultery with Bathsheba and murdering her husband, and his child was killed by God as a consequence. We don't see this for David's smaller sins.

I think the first one is the strongest argument... Also, experience tells us the same thing: we feel that we have sinned greater when we do extreme things (murder) as opposed to non-extreme things (lying).

Basically, it's dangerous for anyone to equate lying with murder... That means that if you lie once, and commit murder once, it's the same thing! Doesn't make much sense does it?

Unbelief in Matthew 13 and the purpose of this blog

2009-12-09T16:42:00.000-08:00

On the surface, this blog post will seem to be a rather strange combination of two very different topics, but we mustn't judge a book by its cover. That being said, this is an atypical example and therefore it IS quite accurate of you to judge a book by its cover: these ARE two completely unrelated topics that wont fit together in any way whatsoever. Lets start with the least important one, the purpose of this blog. In case you want to skip right to the meat and potatoes of this post, I will number these two topics to avoid mass pandemonium. If you want to avoid annoying cliched phrases, you aren't out of the woods yet! You are stuck between a rock and hard place; out of the frying pan and into the fire. Without further ado, lets get this party started.

1. The purpose of this blog from this point on will be twofold. I will continue to answer all of your many questions that are constantly filling up my inbox [/sarcasm], but I will also start posting various "insights" that I have stumbled upon concerning spiritual things. There will be two types of posts now: answers and topical posts. I know what you're all thinking:

"Blogmaster, what will you be posting in these topical posts?"

"Why the change?? I HATE CHANGE!!!!!!111"

"I searched "topical creams" on google and I was brought to your site. Do topical posts have any relation with topical creams?"

To answer your questions: "I'll explain them on the next line, because change was needed, and no."

Topical posts will NOT be answers to questions. I know many of you will turn away in disgust because this is supposed to be a "Christian question and answer blog" but hear me out. I thought these were necessary because there's a lot going on in my mind that I would like to share with the world. The problem is, most people I meet in real life don't want to listen to all of my "insights". I have thus concluded that the internet would be a better medium to share my propaganda errr I mean wisdom. That being said, these topical posts will be somewhat like mini-sermons. Each one will be discussing a topic or section of the Bible and *hopefully* giving helpful insights into the topic/text. If you want a good example of a topical post, read the post directly below this one that is entitled "Spiritual Truths in Jude". That will be the prototype for topical posts.

2. Okay, onwards to Matthew 13. I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I really don't have an incredible amount to say about Matthew 13. It was more of a trick to get you to read #1... There, I confessed! *Phew* I'm glad that's off my chest! Now I can properly share the small amount of insight that I do have about Matthew 13. Matthew 13 has a TON of things to talk about, but I only chose two verses. This could explain why I don't have a whole lot to say...

Turn to Matthew 13 and feast your eyes on verse 58: "He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief." This has always been a puzzling verse, why would someone's lack of faith affect the frequency of miracles? The short answer is: we don't know. The important thing is that we know that IT DOES. For some reason, God decided that miracles will occur primarily to those that believe. It seems to me that this Nazareth occurrence can be taken as a paradigm for the Christian life. If we believe that Christ CAN and WILL do miracles in our lives, they will happen. The more faith we have, the more God will work in our lives.

Scan the pages BACKWARDS until you get to verse 12. I know that it is rather unorthodox to go backwards in the Bible, so if this is something that you feel conviction about, feel free to close your Bible and reopen it instead. Lets read verse 12 out loud: "For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance;but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him." This is in the same context as verse 58 and one may wonder why they appear in the same chapter. They are found in the same context because they are interconnected. If someone has faith, they "have" and more will be given to them (in this case miracles). If someone doesn't have faith, they "don't have" and even what they have will be taken from them (in this case, they will not see the hand of God at work in there lives). It is worth noting that verse 12 is primary about gaining the Kingdom of Heaven. If we have God on earth, we will attain eternal life with Christ. If we do not have God, even what we have now (physical life) will be stripped from us. The occurrence of miracles are simply a subsequent step of this interpretation.

And there you have it! I hope that you now know all about my blog (there will be a test on that next week) and also have a keen understanding of two verses in Matthew 13. Not enough scripture for you? Get off the internet and go read Matthew 13 in its entirety. Then go tell your friends about this "super awesome blog site you just found". God bless!

Spiritual Truths in Jude

2009-12-07T22:16:00.000-08:00

I was reading Jude today and came across many great Spiritual Truths, some of which I wanted to share here. This list will be numbered, but not in order of importance. Open up your Bible and turn to the Epistle of Jude: the second last book in the New Testament.

1. We share a common salvation Verse 3 tells us this. It is important to remember that no matter what your denomination, a Christian is a Christian. We are united by our essentials to the faith, but there is always room for debate concerning the non-essentials. As followers of Christ we need to be united with one another no matter what we think about Predestination!

2. Christ is God Who knew that a secret message of Christ's divinity can be found in this tiny epistle? Read verse 4 and 5: Verse 4 tells us that Jesus is our "only Master and Lord". Verse 5 tells us that the Lord saved the Israelites from the Egyptians. I hope you caught that! So the Lord in verse 4 is Jesus and also saved the Israelites from the Egyptians in verse 5. Due to the proximity of these verses, it seems safe to conclude that these two Lords are in some way, one and the same.

3. Men are destroyed by instinct Read on down to verse 10 and check out this passage. According to Jude, men are destroyed by there basic instincts. Because of Adam's sin, we are all affected by a sin nature. We have a wide variety of instincts which are in rebellion to God, yes, even our "evolutionary" instincts. Just because it FEELS right, doesn't make it right!

4. The book of Enoch is NOT canonical Perhaps it would be better if I left this one alone... Too late, the title for this one has already been bolded. If you didn't know any better, you would skip right on by verses 14-15 and continue merrily on your way. BUT being the scholars you are, you thought to yourself: "Hey, wait a minute! Jude is quoting from the infamous Book of Enoch that is considered to be apocrypha!" You are right young scholar, Jude is indeed quoting from a book found solely in the Roman Catholic Bible. Don't believe me? Turn to your table of contents and see if you can find it (assuming you DON'T have a Roman Catholic Bible). Anyway, no one knows exactly why Jude quoted this, although it is important to note that not everything quoted by a canonical writer is "inspired". As an example, just because Paul quoted Epimenides by saying "All Cretans are liars" in his letter to Titus, it doesn't mean that Paul is suggesting that we staple Epimenides' writings in the back of our Bibles. So it seems safe to assume that the book of Enoch is NOT meant to be a biblical book, but it DOES contain a valid prophecy. You will all thank me now that you can finally sleep at night.

5. It is our responsibility to build up faith Before you all jump on me and start screaming "FAITH IS A GIFT FROM GOD", here me out. Faith DOES come from God, but it's almost like a seed that needs to be watered. We need to water that seed daily so that we can build up a strong faith. Verse 20 tells us to do so by praying IN the Holy Spirit. This means deep, honest fellowship with God.

6. God is capable of justifying us This is the best short title I could think of, but I think a longer one would be better... "God is able to keep us from stumbling and make us stand blameless in His presence with joy". There we go, that feels MUCH better despite the awkwardness of that sentence. It's all found in verse 24 if you would like to hear it straight from the source. The truth here is that God alone is the only possible way that we can keep from stumbling... And if we do stumble, we can be sure He will pick us up so that we can stand blameless in His presence!

7. Christ is eternal This little gem is found in the last verse of Jude, verse 25. Jude tells us that our Lord Jesus Christ has been around before time, now and forever. Christ exists in the past, the present and the future! Before you confuse yourself by attempting to imagine a time traveling Jesus, consider this: Christ is outside of time and is therefore eternal. I know this is a study of the book of Jude, but would you like to cheat a bit? SNEAKILY flip a page or two forward and glance at Revelation 1:8. Are you feeling especially honest today? Find, I'll cheat for you. Christ says that He is the Alpha and the Omega. These are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. Therefore, Christ isn't just present for the beginning and the end, He IS the beginning and the end! Now that's eternal!

Well, seven seems like a good, spiritual number to stop at. Remember, if you have any questions, email them to spiritualsojourners@hotmail.com

I'll be waiting!

What does the Bible teach concerning Heaven?

2009-12-03T13:06:00.000-08:00

It really depends on how we define heaven. Heaven is not so much a place, as it is a "presence". What I mean by this, is that heaven is only paradise because it is filled entirely with God's presence. If we talk about heaven in reference to the place we go immediately when we die (the intermediate state) that specific "place" is not our final destination. The Bible teaches that the new earth will be our final resting place. We will receive new resurrected bodies there and will live Christ and fellow believers forever. Heaven is NOT a place "in the sky", nor is it a place where "people sing all the time". The majority of Christians DO NOT believe these things. When the Bible speaks of heaven and hell, it uses metaphorical language to help us understand them better. That is why we are met with "streets of gold" in reference to heaven (timelessness) and "unquenchable fire" in reference to hell (no presence of God). Most humans have difficulties grasping these spiritual concepts, therefore the Bible uses these pictures to help us understand these two places.

Are drugs bad if they give you a religious experience?

2009-12-01T20:23:00.000-08:00

If you are taking drugs to "meet God" it is the wrong way to go about it. Why would God only want to come meet with us when our body is heavily intoxicated? For Christians, our objective reality is Christ. Because Christ is the best possible reality, there is absolutely no reason to exchange the truth of Christ for some subjective high or trip. I do however, think that God can and does reach out to people who are on drug trips and call them to Himself. The bottom line is that God could talk to us legitimately while we are under the influence of hallucinogenics, but to chase after such drug-induced religious experiences is morally wrong.

What is the significance of baptism?

2009-12-01T20:05:00.000-08:00

Baptism is a public display of our faith that announces to everyone that we believe and trust in our Lord Jesus Christ. It is a symbolic representation of us dying in our sins (going under the water) and being raised in Christ (coming out of the water). This is why we are not left under the water when we are baptized: we share in Christ's resurrection and therefore our pastor typically lifts us up.

How can our physical acts affect our non-physical soul?

2009-12-01T13:11:00.000-08:00

Many of our physical actions can indeed affect our soul. This is because there is no clear dichotomy between the body, soul and spirit. They are all tightly interconnected and appear to overlap. An example of this is using an intoxicant. If someone is intoxicated, their body is feeling the toxic effects and there mind is functioning differently. Another example is brain damage: When your physical brain is damaged, your soul will obviously not be able to function how it usually does. This is because the body can almost be seen as a vehicle for the soul and spirit. If the vehicle is damaged, the driver can't hope to keep driving the same way he has been driving previously.

Why are Catholics criticized for using mediators to Christ?

2009-12-01T12:49:00.000-08:00

There is only supposed to be one mediator between man and God and that is Christ. Christ died on the cross so that He can bridge the gap between humanity and the Divine. Why would you add another man in there when you can have direct access to God? Why buy retail if you can buy wholesale?

"For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus."

-1 Timothy 2:5

What about the parts of the Bible that are offensive?

2009-12-01T12:32:00.000-08:00

Some people claim that the Bible contains many racist and sexist statements that are mainly located throughout the Old Testament. These people are correct. The Bible is an honest book that tells about true life and it will not bend to fit our cultural expectations of a "religious text". Woman and men are not the same, they are two unique sexes that greatly differ. Similarity, being Jewish in the Old Testament was NOT equal to being a Canaanite. The Jews, as a race, were seen as God's people and the Canaanites were not. The Bible offers no apologies for this, and rightfully so. Just because we have the desire to state that men and woman are the same and the Jewish people were the same as the gentiles, doesn't mean that this is true. There are also many instances in the Bible where violence was prescribed to handle the situation and sometimes this involved the slaughter of a whole village. Does this mean that the God commanded "evil" things? Of course not, why should we claim to know what is morally good or evil. What is good is defined by what God does, not what we would want Him to do. For more information on what "good" is, check out this link:

http://spiritualsojourners.blogspot.com/2009/11/what-is-difference-between-good-and.html

How do we die to Christ?

2009-11-30T11:43:00.000-08:00

Dying to Christ means surrendering our will in place of His will. It means acknowledging that everything that comes from ourselves is evil and the only true good comes from God. We need to empty ourselves of all sins and barriers that prevent us from being true worshiper of God. Once we have emptied ourselves, there is the necessary next step of filling ourselves with the Holy Spirit. This means asking Christ to live His life through us, because we cannot do it on our own. If we just exterminate our sins, but do not fill ourselves with Christ, we will have accomplished nothing: our sins will retain with more power than before. This is why it is so important to die to Christ and carry our cross daily. We need to ask God to keep us close to Him and shield us from the many evils in this world that threaten to rear up and choke us. This is why it is fully necessary to commit ourselves to Christ everyday.

Are freewill and predestination contradictions?

2009-11-29T21:32:00.000-08:00

It depends on the sense in which your talking about them. If you are talking about man's autonomic will of choosing God versus God's sovereign unconditional choice of man? If so, then they both cannot be true at the same time. If both of these terms are used in the context of salvation they are polar opposites. In this sense, we are comparing salvation that ultimately comes down to man, with salvation that ultimately comes down to God. If we hold to a salvation-based predestination, we COULD still hold to a non-salvation-based style of freewill. I believe that salvation comes down to God choosing man, but we know from the bible and our experiences that we still make decisions and choices all the time. There are many interpretations about these matters, but this is how I see it: God chooses us for salvation, but it is up to us to pursue Him once we have become regenerated. We must exercise our "freewill" and choose Him daily over sin. For if we draw near to God, God will draw near to us. (James 4:8)

What is the lake of fire?

2009-11-29T21:24:00.001-08:00

The lake of fire is found in the book of Revelation and is known as the second death. The first death is when unbelievers die physically, and the second death is when they die spiritually. The lake of fire is a symbolic portrayal of an unbelievers eternal disunion from God. The flames represent the pain that will be caused from being fully and utterly separated from Christ.

What is the difference between Good and Evil?

2009-11-28T21:34:00.000-08:00

The only possible way that we can define good and evil is by introducing a deity. Without God there are no objective morals; we cannot say what is right and what is wrong. For a logical atheist, what is "good" and what is "evil" is rather arbitrary based on some notion passed down from society. We can only define good in this way: God is good and subsequently so is every law, commandment and word that He says. Anything that is not God or from God, is evil. When we are acting outside of God's will, we are acting "evil". Therefore, sin is "evil" and doing God's will is "good".

Did Jesus really have to die?

2009-11-28T21:26:00.000-08:00

If Jesus Christ didn't die, He would not have fulfilled His mission here on earth. Jesus had to die because He came down to earth to become a sacrifice for our sins. It was through His death that we can now be reconciled with God. Because of Adam's sin, we all deserve to go to hell. The only way that God could reach us, is if He Himself died for our sins. This is because without blood, there is no forgiveness of sins. This is why in the Old Testament they were required to sacrifice animals for their sins.

Is Jesus equal to or lesser than God?

2009-11-28T21:18:00.000-08:00

Jesus Christ is the second member of the trinity and is therefore equal to God Himself. The Bible tells us that Jesus has been around since before the universe and by implication, is eternal. Jesus Christ made Himself less by confining Himself to the limitations of a human body. This is why Jesus said that even He did not know when the rapture would be. Jesus Christ claimed to be equal with God numerous times, and was almost stoned for it. He was eventually crucified for claiming Divinity.

In the Book of Revelation, what does "new world" mean? Does that mean the world will start over again?

2009-11-28T20:46:00.000-08:00

When Revelation talks about a "new earth" it's referring to the eternal destination of everyone that has ever accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. A lot of Christians these days seem to think that our eternal home is in heaven, when actually the Bible teaches that it is right here on earth! But not this earth, because this world will pass away. God doesn't bring us to heaven, He brings heaven to us! In the new earth we will be granted new resurrected physical bodies. Christ will reign over the new earth and we will enjoy intimacy with God forever.

Do all Christian denominations accept the Trinity?

2009-11-28T20:25:00.001-08:00

All orthodox denominations do accept the doctrine of the trinity and they all acknowledge that the concept wasn't articulated until the 4th century. It is however backed my numerous passages in both the Old and the New testament. Roman Catholics, Protestants and Eastern Orthodox all agree that the Godhead involves 3 distinct "person" that are all God.

Why did God create evil? He obviously did because He's sovereign!

2009-11-27T12:25:00.000-08:00

In some way, God DID orchestrate His absence to be in the world, namely evil. He is sovereign over all His creation, but it would be more helpful to look at the motive behind this common question. We should be questioning Atheists that ask this. Who are you to question God? What if God did create evil to magnify His goodness? Are you in a position to tell God what is right and what is wrong? In some way, God is using evil to show us Himself. It's a divine plan, so why do humans question it? It's the same thing with people saying "I don't believe that a talking snake and 2 naked people caused all this evil". How do you know what God used in His divine plan? Just because it sounds ridiculous to you, doesn't mean that it's proof that Christianity isn't true.

What is the active presence of the Spirit of God in our time?

2009-11-27T12:14:00.000-08:00

The Spirit of God is just as active now as He was during the writing of the Old and New Testament. God is unchanging and His spirit is available to us as often as we are open to it. Th spiritual realm is always open to us; we are just the ones that always shut the gate. God's Spirit gets quenched in our North American culture because we simply don't believe that God will work. Most theists these days seem to act more like deists and this is true of myself more often than not. If we want to feel God's presence, we can! If we are Christians, we know God's presence is always with us because He has promised that. It is just a matter of us being aware of his presence. This is what's referred to as the "divine presence and apparent absence". Sometimes the Spirit seems to depart from us and we really do need to walk by faith and not site. We can get through these tough times by believing what we know: that God is always with us and will never leave us or forsake us.

What does the Bible say about divorce and remarriage?

2009-11-27T12:05:00.000-08:00

"I hate divorce, says the LORD God of Israel." Malachi 2:16

"So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate" Matthew 19:6

"But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery." Matthew 5:32

"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh." Genesis 2:24.

The Bible is very clear about divorce and remarriage. The ONLY condition in which divorce is acceptable is adultery. Many people state that there are other conditions for divorce such as physical and emotional abuse. The problem with this is that Jesus says explicitly that the only case in which we can divorce someone is marital unfaithfulness. If the relationship is physically or emotionally abusive, separation is a good idea. Just because you don't live together, doesn't mean that you need to be divorced. What God has joined, man should not separate. There is ALWAYS a chance for reconciliation. With prayer and mutual forgiveness, any marriage can be successful.

How does one live in the world yet be not of the world?

2009-11-27T11:56:00.001-08:00

As Christians, we are told to not be "of the world". When the New Testament uses the word "world" (kosmos in Greek) it uses it in two different ways. First of all it uses it to talk about this physical world. In this sense, Christians are very much "of the world". The second way that the NT uses "kosmos" is to talk about the fleshly, sinful environment that we find ourselves in. It is in this way that Christians are not to be "of the world". This "world" is tainted; we as Christians should not conform to the debauchery that goes on among us. We are called to live a higher life than that of society. Society will always be predominantly immoral to varying degrees because it is made up of people who are sinners. Because of this, this world will always decay and we will always see a "deterioration of morals" in every society. That is why we are called to be the salt of the earth: we need to preserve this place as long as we can. We should not live how the majority does; we are not "of this world".

Why does God take our loved ones away?

2009-11-27T11:43:00.001-08:00

I don't really have any clear cut answers to this question, but I would like to say a few things. For starters, God did does not take our loved ones away prematurely; Satan does. We should not blame God for what Satan does, although I do understand that God is fully sovereign over His creation. The next thing that we should note is that death is a consequence of human actions. For Christians, it is better to die than it is to live.

"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." Philippians 1:21

We NEED to die in order to get new bodies, so because of Adam's sin, death is necessary to fulfill God's divine plan. The last thing I want to say about this is that if God always listened to everyone's prayers about keeping people alive, no one would ever die. I'm sure that in the majority of cases of people that have terminal diseases, there is someone praying for them. God's plan is better than ours and sometimes that's tough to see at the time. There is always comfort though, everything will be fixed beyond the grave.

At what point in eternity did God create the universe?

2009-11-27T11:37:00.000-08:00

God is outside of time, so there can be no "quantification" given to answer this question. He is completely and utterly outside and independent of the universe, so the question itself is impossible to answer. The question is asking for a "time point" in a realm where there is no time. The only way to put it is this: God is eternal and He created us at the beginning of time, because time started with the universe. It's important to remember that we can never comprehend this though, because we will never be outside of time even when we die. We will always experience a procession of events. This is why talking about these things is so complicated: we are using finite minds to try to understand the infinite.

Can you hear God's voice? The Bible says His sheep can hear his voice?

2009-11-26T21:48:00.001-08:00

The Bible is a book with many different styles of writing, not all of which are meant to be taken at face-value. This particular passage is referring to what is commonly called "spiritual intuition". We can "know" part of God's plan for our life because we "hear God's voice". Most of us do not audibly hear God, but we all can perceive His "still small voice". He leads us, convicts us, teaches us and fellowships with us. This can also manifest itself in the gift of discernment: listening to others and knowing if what they say is actually from God or against God.

What does apostolic mean?

2009-11-26T21:22:00.001-08:00

It means "pertaining to the apostles".

ex. The papal system is an example of apostolic succession because the papacy was apparently passed down from St. Peter to the next-in-line pope all the way to Pope Benedict XVI.

Are all Gods the same? Can they all be true?

2009-11-26T21:16:00.000-08:00

The problem with all God's existing simultaneously is that many of them contradict one another. For example, any monotheistic God will automatically rule out every other God. Therefore, for Allah to exist, Christ cannot exist. Consequently, Allah and Christ cannot exist at the same time and cannot be the same God because they each have different divine attributes, some of which contradict. By definition, two monotheistic Gods cannot be the same God, nor can they coexist together.

What exactly is a "real" Christian?

2009-11-26T20:55:00.001-08:00

A real Christian is someone that has accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior and now has a personal relationship with Him. We need to believe in Him with our hearts and this is called "faith". The reformers said that there were three aspects to faith and this seems to be in line with the Bible. Faith they said, involved knowledge, belief and trust. We need to know ABOUT Jesus in order to make a choice to follow Him. Once we have the required knowledge we need to believe that He is who He claimed to be. Finally, we need to trust fully in Him. We cannot simply believe in Him; this does not make us a Christian. We need to fully trust Him with our lives from the point of conversion on. This does not imply that we can lose salvation, rather it implies that at the moment of conversion we need to be bearing our naked souls to the Divine. Many people think that belief alone is what faith is all about, but consider this: We are saved by faith alone, yet James says this:

You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!
James 2:19

Belief is not enough; even the demons believe! Does this mean that the demons have faith? Of course not. We need to know what we believe, believe what we know, and trust in what we know and believe. The people that do these things are real Christians.

Should we reject tradition as a source of truth?

2009-11-25T23:05:00.000-08:00

Due to the division between the Protestants and the Catholics it is easy to condemn tradition because it is something that "only Catholics follow". Tradition can a be a rich and interesting thing to study; why throw out the baby with the bath water? Although most evangelical Christians adhere to sola scriptura (the view that the Bible is the only source of infallibility) this does not mean that Church tradition is not a source for truth. The early church fathers wrote great things about God and the teachings of Jesus Christ. They are well worth the read, but are almost avoided by Protestants because of their "Catholic ties". Did you know that at one point to be Christian was to be Catholic? Being Catholic simply meant "worldwide" or "united". You can now say the Nicene creed without feeling guilty! In my opinion we should not reject tradition, as there are many things to be learned from it.

What about those who have never heard?

2009-11-25T22:23:00.000-08:00

What we know as Christians is this: If someone rejects Christ, they are lost in their sins. When they die they will follow their chosen pathway that leads to eternal separation from God. Those that are saved by the blood of the Lamb will enjoy eternal life with Christ. What about those people who are unreached by the Gospel? Are they destined to hell? We can't give a full answer on this because the Bible does not tell us. We do know however, that God IS just and He IS loving. It seems improbable that a God of Justice and Love would condemn someone to hell who never had the chance to accept Christ. Ultimately though we do not know what happens to unreached souls. This should give us all the more urgency to preach the Gospel.

Are angels always good?

2009-11-25T16:50:00.000-08:00

Angels are good or they would no longer be angels, they would be demons. A demon is a former angel who has rebelled against God and has consequently "fallen" from heaven. In this world there are only two types of spiritual creatures: those that are for God and those that are against Him. A human is also a spiritual creature...

Why would God choose fallible human beings to speak on his behalf?

2009-11-25T16:23:00.000-08:00

God didn't have to use us humans, but He chose to. Not only does He use us on occasion, He actually seems to use us anytime He can! It almost seems like the general rule is: If God can use humans no matter what the cost, He will. We see this all through scripture numerous times; even the scriptures themselves are proof of this! God chooses to use fallible humans to reveal His written word. Why did He do this? Perhaps 2 Corinthians 12:9 might help us:

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

God is so powerful that He can work through our failures and our weaknesses. What's even greater is that He chooses too! Instead of doing everything Himself, He leaves the task up to mere mortals to accomplish the spreading of His Gospel. I don't know why God trusts us with so much but I'm glad He does!

How did God create evil? Is this a paradox?

2009-11-25T13:02:00.000-08:00

God did not create evil; evil is the absence of God. In the same way that darkness is the absence of light and cold is the absence of heat. God created two beings that were capable of choosing not-God or God and they made the wrong choice. This does not mean that God created sin, rather He "orchestrated" it because He IS sovereign over all creation. There is no paradox here.

Can God make a rock so big He is unable to pick it up?

2009-11-25T12:12:00.000-08:00

Although most people think that this "disproves" God, it is only paradoxical if you have a warped idea of God's omnipotence. The answer to this question is a simple "no". God cannot create a rock so big He cannot pick it up. God also cannot sin or stop being God. Being omnipotent means being all-powerful, not being able to do "anything".

what year did the prophet Abraham live in?

2009-11-25T11:54:00.001-08:00

Although there is no agreed upon date among biblical scholars, the most common date given is ~1850 BC.

Which Bible translation should I use?

2009-11-25T11:47:00.001-08:00

A good translation is one that is mostly literal but still has some room for cultural interpretation. There are too sides of the spectrum: word for word and thought for thought. It's good to pick a version that's somewhere in the middle but preferably closer to the word for word translation. Two good translations are ESV and NASB. Both are mainly word for word
and still retain some instances of thought for thought to help us understand more clearly. If we are fluent in Hebrew and Greek, and have studied the culture, we could read a full word for word translation. For most of us though, we will need to find a happy medium.

Where in the body is our soul?

2009-11-25T11:24:00.000-08:00

Our soul is our conscious thought, will, emotions etc. It is intimately connected to the body, as the body is the vehicle of the soul. If the body is damaged the soul will be unable to function correctly. Our soul would then be "located" in our brain, although it is nothing physical. That being said, there is no certain dichotomy of the body and soul. They are connected, yet distinct.

Are Christians bound by the Old Testament laws?

2009-11-25T11:22:00.000-08:00

Throughout the Old Testament there are many different laws that were to be followed at that time. Should Christians still follow them today? In order to answer this question we must realize that there are two categories of Laws: cultural and moral. The first category was specific to the Jewish people during that time frame. Those laws include things like not eating certain foods and purity laws. Moral laws are timeless laws that detail what is objectively wrong to do. They include things like prohibiting murder, adultery, lying, etc. When reading the Old Testament it is important to distinguish between the type of law that was written. This can be done by checking for context and the reason behind the law. For example if the law was given to keep someone "clean", we know that we are not obliged to follow it.

Are animals spiritual? What about bacteria?

2009-11-25T08:17:00.001-08:00

Contrary to what most people believe, animals DO in some way have a spirit within them. God is life and therefore anything that is "alive" has the breath of God in it. This does not mean that man's spirit is the same as the "spirit" of bacteria, but there is SOME amount of spirit present. In Genesis 2:7, we have an account of the creation of man.

"the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being."

The word "breathe" can also be translated as "spirit". Later on in Genesis 6:17, we are told that the animals also have the "breath of God" in them.

"I am going to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that has the breath of life in it."

So to answer the question, in some way animals and bacteria ARE spiritual, but this is very different from man's spirit.

Why does Love triumph over the Law in the New Testament?

2009-11-25T08:10:00.001-08:00

Love is more important than Law in the New Testament because Love encompasses all things. If we truly loved God with all of our being we would never sin. Sin is always a result of loving something more than God, whether that be an action, a person or ourselves. This is why loving God is the greatest commandment and loving others is the second greatest commandment. We do not need law if we follow these two commandments.

Do humans have intrinsic value apart from God?

2009-11-25T07:40:00.001-08:00

If we look at the world from an atheist point of view, humans are nothing more than highly evolved animals. It is impossible to say that humans have special intrinsic value apart from the fact that we are made in the image of God. We do have unique DNA, but so does a cockroach. We may be the most intelligent, but what if we find an animal that is more intelligent than a person with a mental disability? Would that make the animal more valuable than that human? We all FEEL that we as humans have intrinsic value, but from an atheistic perspective there is simply no reason to think that humans have any value greater than our animal "relatives". The only way we can have intrinsic value is if we were made in the image of God as the Bible suggests.

Does it matter that we celebrate the birth of Jesus on a pagan date?

2009-11-24T21:18:00.000-08:00

To put it frankly, no, it does not matter which day we celebrate the birth of Christ on. It was a pagan date in the past, but if we do not celebrate it as one there is no harm done. Many things were once pagan including drums, birthday candles, Christmas trees and tattoos. If the meaning now has been well disconnected from the origin there should not be any negative moral implications.

Can you prove that God exists?

2009-11-24T20:19:00.001-08:00

One basic proof that has been around for quite some time is what's called the cosmological argument. The basic idea is that something couldn't have come from nothing. Everything in the world is caused by something and those causes need to be caused by something too. Eventually, you are left with an infinite regression of caused causes. This of course is impossible because infinity does not exist in nature and modern day science tells us that time had a beginning. Because of these factors, there must be one initial uncaused cause. This cause must be outside of the universe and outside of time. This uncaused cause is God.

Why do John 20:17 and Luke 23:43 seem to contradict eachother?

2009-11-24T19:08:00.000-08:00

In Luke 23:43, Jesus tells the thief on the cross: "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." In John 20:17, Jesus tells Mary: ""Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God." The reason that Jesus told Mary not to hold onto Him was because Jesus had not yet ascended into heaven. Mary was still alive, therefore she needed to live out her life on earth. In contrast, the thief was just about to die, therefore he was going immediately to be with Christ, who is God. Although Jesus was the manifestation of God on earth, He is was and still is God. Therefore, He cannot be fully contained in a human body. In some sense, Christ was always in heaven, even when He was on earth.

Should Christians date non-Christians?

2009-11-24T18:01:00.000-08:00

If you are a believer who is dating an unbeliever, the result can be very painful. If we are true Disciples of Christ, that means that Christ is the most important thing in our lives. Why would we want to share marriage with someone who we cannot enjoy intimate fellowship with? It will only lead to heartbreak. Furthermore, the scriptures command us against it:

"Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?" - 2 Corinthians 6:14

Is there a separate place besides hell for morally upright non believers?

2009-11-24T17:54:00.000-08:00

When people die, there are only two places they can go. The bible teaches that people who have accepted Jesus as their saviour will go to heaven, and people who have not will be eternally without God in hell. We have all sinned and without God's intervention, we would all be going to hell. The bible does however teach that there are different degrees of punishment.

"That servant who knows his master's will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows."

Luke 12:47-48

Why do I feel bored and useless in my life?

2009-11-24T17:14:00.000-08:00

As human beings, we all have a desire for our lives to have meaning. If you stick with the transient things in life, you will find no lasting satisfaction. We all have a want for the "eternal" because God has placed this want in our hearts.

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end." - Ecclesiastes 3:11

In our innermost being we all desire something more out of this life. That something is God. A relationship with Him is truly eternal and we will not feel that our time has been wasted.

Is the word translated poor in Luke 13:18 and the word translated poor or meek in Isaiah 61:1 the same word?

2009-11-24T16:58:00.000-08:00

It seems to me that you are talking about Luke 7:22

"The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor."

The word translated "poor" is the Greek word Ptochos.

Luke is quoting Isaiah 61:1:

"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners"

The word "poor" here is translated from the Hebrew "anav.

These words due mean the same thing and can both be accurately translated as "poor" but they are not the same word because they are in different languages.

Where do dinosaurs fit in with the Bible?

2009-11-24T16:14:00.000-08:00

In most cases, there seem to be two thought groups when dealing with the issue of Christianity and dinosaurs.

The first group would be called young-earth creationists. They believe that dinosaurs were created in the same week as humans and therefore coexisted with them on the earth. Most young-earth creationists agree that the dinosaurs then died out at the time of the great flood.

The second group is the old-earth creationists. They take Genesis 1-3 to be an allegorical account of creation and not a scientific one. If this is the case, then each "day" of creation could be seen as a time period of millions of years. They believe that the dinosaurs lived million years ahead of humanity and therefore agree with the majority of paleontologists. While this theory is most relevant with modern-day science, it also comes with numerous theological problems.

Do we have to choose between loving God and going to hell?

2009-11-24T15:53:00.000-08:00

It is a common misconception to think that God gives us an "eternal ultimatum" between loving Him or going to hell. Hell is not a place of physical torture as is commonly thought. Hell is the infinite trajectory of us continually not choosing Him throughout our lives. God does not send us to hell, rather hell is the place that we could ultimately end up if we choose to be there. To put it simply, hell is the only conceivable place where God does not exist. It is the only place that is completely void of His presence and all of His attributes. It is a place of utter misery because it is there that people will be eternally separated from God. The Bible uses images of fire to display this utter misery, not to "scare" us with images of pain. Perhaps this quote sums things up best:
"Why would you want to be with God in heaven if you don't want to be with God on earth?"

If you knew there was no Heaven, would you still try to be "good"?

2009-11-24T15:32:00.000-08:00

For theists of different faith-groups the answer to this question may greatly vary. For Christians, heaven is not pursued because it's paradisaical nature, rather it's pursued because of the Person who dwells there. As Christians, if heaven did not exist it would follow that God did also not exist. Humanity appears to be inherently destructive, therefore if God did not exist and all Christians knew this, it would be futile to be "good" to achieve some intangible goal. Christians strive to be good to please God and this has nothing to do with trying to be "good enough" to get into heaven.