My Nice Try

To sum up 2021 (IMO) our tumultuous society seems to disagree (often passionately) on most everything from politics, gender identity, LGBTQ, race issues, diets, and sports. At the core of much of this turmoil is a spiritual angst of global proportions.

BUT even if IF if we could agree there is a spiritual component, society does not agree on what we mean by spiritual. Islam, Christianity, New Age, or seek deeper meaning as a Buddhist, or a Hindu? 

AND even as Christians I need to ask what 'faith flavor' are you? Could  be Catholic, Southern Baptist, Lutheran, Pentecostal, Prosperity Gospel believer, the ever popular 'non-denominational', OR maybe your faith is motivated by a Progressive / SJW focus.

AND let's not forget that fella who likes to handle snakes.  Yikes!

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And while my daily blog and/or cartoons excerpts are excluded by most (or alll) seminary curriculums I do know what I believe.  

  Hmm, where to start..

• I believe in the sovereignty of God, which is to say the supreme power and authority of God. (Read Ge 1:1, Is 55:8-9,  Is 40:26, etc, etc) 
• I believe in the perfect love, grace, and justice of our God. We owe all things to our creator. (Read Jo 3:16, 1 Jo 1:9)  
• I believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God who was born into this world, then lived, died, and rose again for our sins (read Gospels) completing God's plan for salvation as prophesied 700 years before by the Prophet Isaiah (Read Is 53).

• I believe we owe God our worship and obedience, but can choose to go another way.  It's called FREE WILL, so suit yourself.
• I believe GOD CHOSE US ALL, but has blessed us with the above mentioned FREE WILL to accept or reject Him.
• I believe all the wild-haired rebellious FREE WILL moments in the history of mankind plus all other calamities & natural disasters combined are not even a ripple in the Ocean of God's Sovereign plan! 
  (Read Is 40:26)
  I believe in Heaven and Hell.. and wide is the road that leads to destruction, and narrow is the gate that leads to God.  psst, hint.. choose the narrow gate!
  ​(Read Mt 7:13-14)

• Finally, I believe, man's sincere pursuits/theologies are pleasing to God.. BUT are merely 'cute' attempts (nice tries) of FINITE MAN attempting to understand/describe our INFINITE GOD.
  (Read Is 55:8-9)

​Hmmm.. yes I think that sums up what I believe. I started writing today's blog with the title 'NICE TRY' which is an apt description of my beliefs. 

​This 'Nice Try' regarding my faith is based on scripture and teaching I respect.  But.. again God's ways and thoughts are higher than my collective nice tries, (Is 55:8-9), and in my most lucid moments I see dimly what God will one day make clear (1 Cor 13:12).

So this is what I believe which is important to ME.  What do you believe? What is God teaching you about truth?  Does what I believe and/or what you believe fall in line with God's Truth? 

and.. I believe it is important for everyone to pursue their own serious 'NICE TRY' understanding and appreciation of God.  This is not an issue anyone should put on the back burner of life.

We owe God at the very least to make a NICE TRY... and for eternity's sake we owe ourselves.

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May God bless each of you today with peace, and the Holy Spirit's leading us to truth and answers for all of life's questions, and to a place where we feel God's love and peace like never before. 

We should not expect to get it all right, but there still is no greater pursuit for mankind than to know Him.

My heart says of you, “Seek His face!”
    Your face, Lord, I will seek.
Psalms 27:8

​Jeff (Trying to be Nice) Larson

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