Does Colossians 3:17 fit? "Whatever you are doing, whether you speak or
act, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God
the Father through him." (NIV) See also v. 23.
Dave
On Wed, 11 Apr 2001 22:24:22 -0400 "psiigii" <psiigii@home.com> writes:
Given that most here would agree that God is the creator of all things
and that He created them for a purpose (Rev. 4:11, etc.) leads one to
conclude that when His creatures operate in accordance with that purpose
("functioning as designed") both the creatures and God "feel pleasure".
The creature experiences pleasures because God designed the creature to
experience these pleasures --physically, psychologically and
spiritually-- when acting in accordance with His design. Experiencing
pleasure when acting in accord with God's purpose necessarily extends to
EVERY aspect of life in which we can see His intent.
Some would shy away from nonspiritual endeavors -- including sexual -- as
being base or worse, but if I assent to His being the creator of all, He
is necessarily the creator and ordainer of all these intended creaturely
actions -- including work and sex. That we can experience pleasure from
achievement or sexual pleasure or any other healthy ("intended") pleasure
apart from God either inadvertently or by intent is to be expected if we
grasp that (1) man is capable of choice to act in accord with or in
violation of His purpose and that (2) other extremely powerful moral
agents (satan and the fallen angels) are present and want man to learn
that he can experience pleasure apart from God's design. It is thus not
unsurprising to learn that the "sexual satisfaction" level among
committed Christian couples is considerably higher than among their
non-Christian peers. The spiritual dimension --acknowledging God in the
ways He intended-- imparts the "overflowing" to joy and pleasure.
Howard
----- Original Message -----
From: James W Stark
To: asa
Sent: Wednesday, April 11, 2001 8:51 PM
Subject: Re: Answersingenesis: Feeling God's pleasure
on 4/8/01 8:56 PM, psiigii at psiigii@home.com wrote:
It encourages me to hear this resonates with others here. The one thing
that I get the most from here is reading the thoughts of those who take
the Word of God seriously. What is discussed here is very important:
scientific integrity does matter. Open discourse is an essential part of
this process. The whats, whens and hows of creation is not the key
issue, however, and that we remember this--especially approaching
Easter--is good. We have been sent into the world to glorify Him in
doing what He's called us to do (endeavors in science and science
education for many here) SECOND-- we are to bear witness to Him FIRST.
It encourages me greatly to see this in so many of you here.
Howard
----- Original Message -----
From: Jonathan Clarke <mailto:jdac@alphalink.com.au>
Cc: asa@calvin.edu
Sent: Sunday, April 08, 2001 6:23 PM
Subject: Re: Answersingenesis
Hi Howard
Something you wrote struck a strong chord with me.
In the movie "Chariots of Fire", Eric Little told his sister, "When I
run, I feel His pleasure." Likewise, I feel that when we use the
capabilities He has given us as scientists to do the things He's called
us to do (including anthropology, paleontology, physics, geology,
biology, etc.) and we do those things seeking the truth for His glory, we
feel His pleasure and can experience the awe of grasping-- though just in
thimbles-full -- the excellence of His knowledge and wisdom. I, as most
who subscribe here, believe God gave me a mind to use for His glory. In
saying this I thus admit that having used that mind, I see a totally
inadequate epistemological basis for YEC. I
This has always been my favourite part of "Chariots of Fire". Perhaps
participation in the historical sciences is as controversial for
evangelical Christians in our day as participation in sport was in the
1920's.
Faith involves (or should involve) a transfer of focus from the "I" to
"Thou". Much of what passes as science-faith discussion seems to focus
on the "I" and the "It". However personally some of the times I have
felt closest to God is when I have been not the rocks, contemplating the
history of of a mountain range of a region. I have very much experienced
a consciousness of "Thinking God's thoughts after Him" (is that Bacon's
phrase?). Contemplation of creation should lead to awe and then to
worship of the creator. This was the experience of the psalmists based
on their limited knowledge, we, who know so much more, should be able
respond similarly.
Respectfully Jon
------------------------------------------------------------------
The embolded portions of the above concern me in how
humans truly experience the presence of God.
How can we separate our personal experience of
pleasure from that of God's pleasure?
If we feel God's pleasure when we run, are we projecting our
pleasure upon God?
When we experience sexual pleasure, can we feel God's pleasure in
that act? I thought sexuality was
separated from spirituality. Are the tantric experiences of
Eastern followers feeling the pleasure of
God in their acts? All mortal life experiences sex and death, but
immortals do not experience death.
Since God is immortal, God is beyond sex. Is God also beyond our
experience of sexual pleasure?
Thus, separating sexuality from spirituality. Or can we project
any of our feelings upon God?
For me to experience the presence of God, I must focus on or be
aware of God's presence during an act, be it prayer
or a meditative searching for truth or a moment of awe. Is a
choice to focus on God a necessary condition for God to feel
our pleasure or sense of gratitude?
Jim stark
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