In today’s episode of my 4-part series, “Letters from Prison” we delve into the book of Philippians. This letter provides a unique glimpse into the heart and mind of the Apostle Paul, who viewed his life as a reflection of Jesus’ journey. His profound connection to Christ filled him with a sense of hope and humility, even in his darkest hours, enabling him to find joy and contentment despite external challenges. The core message of this letter emphasizes the importance of finding joy in the Lord and maintaining a positive attitude regardless of circumstances. Paul encourages believers to cultivate joy and peace through their trust in God, urging them not to succumb to fear during times of persecution but to continue living out the teachings of Jesus amid adversity. As we reflect on Paul’s letter to the Philippian community of believers, we are encouraged not just to endure adversity but to find joy and peace through relationship with God through Christ, embodying the teachings of Jesus in our daily lives. Let this message inspire you to remain steadfast, joyful and grounded in the truth of the gospel.

People argue that there is no reason for faith, and thus it is unreasonable. And yet, there are all sorts of things for which we can find no reason, especially not with the scientific method. They’re all around us. Here are a few:

1. 1. Love… At least not real love or the logic of love: self-sacrifice.
2. 2. Beauty, what the Bible calls “the Good” or the “Glorious.” You can’t reason your way to Beauty.
3. 3. Light. For light, there can be no temporal reason, but perhaps it is the reason for temporality.
4. 4. Life. Darwin did not explain life, but death. Life is a communion of self-sacrifice.
5. 5. Persons, Consciousness, Spirit. Even physicists will tell you that matter doesn’t matter, but you, the observer, do. That’s the “I” that observes “me.”
6. 6. Existence. Not things in existence, but existence. Philosophers refer to God as the Uncaused Cause or Necessary Beingness (“ousias” in Greek). Yahweh’s name is “I Am that I Am.”
7. 7. Reason. There is no reason for Reason. How could there be?

All creation is the manifestation of a Love (God) Song, the Logos (logic) of God. Music is not illogical but more “logic” than we can comprehend. And so, to appreciate Music, the Music, the Logos, must comprehend us. Physicists argue that all elementary particles are different ‘notes’ on a fundamental string, such that “The universe… is akin to a cosmic symphony,” (Brian Green). Aslan sings Narnia into existence. In Tolkien’s The Silmarillion, God through angels sings creation into existence, and when a fallen angel sings discordant notes, God Himself sings those discordant notes into a deeper harmony. The dissonance creates a longing for consonance and ecstatic delight in a deeper resonance. In the Revelation, a slaughtered lamb stands on the throne (the top of the ark) and sings meaning into the Seven Sealed Scroll as all creation worships. Reality is a dance, and if you’re not dancing to the Logos of Love, perhaps you don’t actually exist. When you nail the Logos to a tree, what do you get? Sheet music, dance steps, science, and technology — it has its place, but it’s not the same as feeling happy or dancing in the moonlight.

“The Logos became flesh and we have seen his glory—grace.” Jesus lived gracefully; He lived His life like a dance. The dance fulfilled the law, although it was not at all what we expected. We had the sheet music; we had the knowledge of good and evil; we had the law in a coffin in a stone temple. We had the dance steps, but we were all surprised by the Dancer and His Dance.

SGIG E339 Atonement: Atonement: Penal substitution Angry God Unlearned pt 2

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SGIG E340 Atonement: A More Hope Filled Perspective pt 1

To Donate and help keep this going:

USA:    https://eschurch.com/donate   ( check ‘Still Growing in Grace’  box )

CANADA:   https://growingingrace.ca/

Weekly Blog and previous content: https://mikezenker.blog/

All Recordings on YOUTUBE: SGIG Playlist: 

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKfv-9uArQHIzcebDIyS8F3nj2MF_FV-H

SGIG E341 Atonement: Navigating A Journey Of Hope pt 2

To Donate and help keep this going:

USA:    https://eschurch.com/donate   ( check ‘Still Growing in Grace’  box )

CANADA:   https://growingingrace.ca/

Weekly Blog and previous content: https://mikezenker.blog/

All Recordings on YOUTUBE: SGIG Playlist: 

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKfv-9uArQHIzcebDIyS8F3nj2MF_FV-H