Apologetics, not apologies

Yes, that's what my title says. This is about apologetics,

not saying sorry (This is from Pastor Ben Shin during CSI,

haha).

Back to the topic, I've always been interested in apologetics.

I just want to know the answers that non-christians question

about certain things in the world. Of course, if I emphasize so

much on those things, they become idols to me, wanting more

of knowledge than acknowledging God.

There had been pretty good "refutes" against Christianity.

One difficult "refute" was (and still is) the reason for God

creating a world where evil existed. I remember trying to

evangelize to someone I met online (a bit weird, but

whatever). He brought about that question against me, and

I couldn't answer. We lost contact, and all I can hope is that

he found someone else that can answer that question for him.

(As for the answer, it is still difficult for me to put it in words).

I was talking to a friend back at home who is a Christian. He

has been one of the friends I truly fellowship with when we're

together. We got into the discussion of science and humanities

and how we try to pick at everything about the human mind.

As they try to drive deeper and deeper into the issues, they

can't find the answer. My friend, out of maybe a little

frustration and sadness, says "Why can't they see that God

has made these things and sometimes makes it a mystery so

that we can't know?" He had no bad intention because I know

he cares a lot about the people he is friendly with.

I share that same feeling with mixed feelings of care and maybe

even indifference or carelessness about the others. It's something

I'm at fault with, but that thought, without any emotions attached

to it, is still there. I just wish sometimes for God to open these

people's eyes to see the magnificent God that is the Creator of

this Earth.

Side Note:

2 books I loved when it comes to Apologetics: Mere Christianity

by C.S. Lewis and The Reason for God by Tim Keller. Both

are excellent books to find certain answers for certain questions

about God and Christianity. In fact, C.S. Lewis was athiest before

he tried to refute Christianity. However, he was unable to refute

Christianity and instead, by God's sovereignty and grace, became

Christian himself after all the proof he found.

I Have Been Changed.... For Good

Currently, I'm teaching 3 high school girls in Bible study

at my home church. One of them is my sister, the other is

one of my best friend's sister, and the other is a good friend

of both my sister and my best friend's sister.

Before talking about what my title stated, we were talking

about the Holy Spirit and how it transforms us. We then

went into the topic of the difference between conforming

and transforming. We know that conforming is following

what is "in" in the world and transforming is completely

changing to something different.

During the Bible Study, God has shown me a very good

analogy to distinguish the two. The analogy is a pretty fast,

flowing river. We know it's easier to swim with the flow of

the river, but much harder to swim against the flow. Same

thing for conformity and transforming. It is easier for us to

conform what people around us think it's right and harder to

be transformed to go against them.

Anyways, this came up because the girls were sharing that

it was difficult to go against their group of friends in high school.

That triggered a brief moment of reminiscing about my high

school. I was exactly in that same position where I cared more

about what my friends think rather than what is the truth.

It's very humbling for me to see that God has changed that

mindset now. It brought immeasurable joy towards God for

slowly changing me to be more bold, unashamed of my faith.

I pray that these girls realize that (hopefully soon but that's up

to God to bring certain situations/events to bring about that

change in them).

Glimpse of God's Beauty

I did a little post on Nature and how it reminds me of God's beauty.

Every month, I change my wallpaper to a different picture that

depicts nature in it's fullest beauty.

Just like to share some:

Holiness of God

I finally finished the book Holiness of God by R.C.

Sproul. It's been.... 6 months? since I picked up

this book with my small group and started reading

it. So long to read a pretty small book.

I loved this book. It brings about a new light of

the character of God being Holy and how every

other characteristics of God is Holy. For example,

God's Holy Justice is justified because He is God and

we are mere humans, unworthy to complain against

Him. Uzzah touching the Holy ark deserved that

death for disobeying God. Job and Jacob asked

questions that God did not answer, but instead

received rebuke. All this is justified because we

are of this sinful world, and God is a perfect being.

The last chapter of the book is called Holy Space

and Holy Time. This chapter was a great way to

end the entire book. Throughout the Bible, there

were many instances of a bridge being made from

"the merely profane to the holy, either through God's

appearance to people or through significant decisions

that set apart as holy". It is a sense of threshold from

the profane realm to the holy and pure realm through

dreams, altars, and burning bushes.

Sproul uses the example of his friend's daughter changing

from this talkative teenager to one who is in awe of the

church building she enters in. She was so in awe that she

did not even want to disturb the atmosphere of the church

with her footsteps and talking. She knew instantly when

she entered inside that she was on holy ground.

When I read that, I thought to myself, "Do I ever think that

when I step inside the church, that I am on holy ground and

an area that is so sacred that I am so careful not to be loud?"

I'm not saying that this is the only place that God will be

present, but that this is the place that every Sunday, I am

worshipping to a Holy God. Am I in such awe that it takes

much of my strength to keep me from falling on my knees of

God's presence in the church? Do I even notice the presence

of the Holy God in the church or am I too caught up in what

I have done this past week (or will do after service)?

Praise God for what He has taught me through R.C. Sproul

about His Holiness.

Thankful for:

- Mike Lee, senior guys, a place to read, water to quench my thirst, food to satisfy

my hunger