GOD OF BROKENNESS: A POEM

Text: Psalms 34:18, Isaiah 57:15


Broken soil ready for grain, 
Broken clouds showers rain, 
Broken seed ready for breed, 
Creation proves this indeed, 

With agony, 
Broken Father agreed 

To Slay His son, 
For your saving need

Broken Christ walked the way,
Giving us His first lead 

Praying always while alive, 
At Gethsemane He did bleed 

Broken Spirit He gave, 
To help us when we plead 

God's simple creed, 
A broken heart can only heed
It will deliver you from all greed  

God says, Brokenness is what,
You only NEED...!!!





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Book Review: Our Idea of God: An Introduction to Philosophical Theology by Thomas V Morris

Year: 1991, Pages: 192

Thomas V. Morris (born 1952) is a former Professor of Philosophy at the University of Notre Dame; he is also a business and motivational speaker as founder and chairman of the Morris Institute for Human Values. He has written a number of other books, such as Francis Schaeffer's apologetics: A critique, Making Sense of It All: Pascal and the Meaning of Life, God and the Philosophers: The Reconciliation of Faith and Reason, C. S. Lewis as Philosopher: Truth, Goodness and Beauty, etc.

An Overview if the chapters:

In first chapter, author discusses about the project of philosophical theology. He establishes that the God-talk is possible philosophically. It’s not groundless as many assume.

In the second chapter, Morris talks about the concept of Go. He tells about the problems in the methods that have been used for developing theologies or to talk about theology. At this point, he proposed a methodology attributed to Anselm called `perfect being theology'

In chapter three, author provides various perspectives about God’s goodness and then moves on to stress on the necessity of God’s goodness. If God did not exist, then the property of goodness would not exist.  

In chapter four, we read about the magnanimity of God’s power. How powerful and sovereign God is? The theological concept of the omnipotence is philosophically analyzed.

In chapter five, author deals with the epistemological issues in theology, mainly the knowledge of God. The nature of God’s knowledge. Does God’s knowledge surpasses futuristic events? Certainty and uncertainty about God’s knowledge. In chapter six books opens a talk on being of God, his existence and simplicity. In chapter six, author talks about being of God, Necessity, Divine simplicity. In chapter seven, author opens a discussion on God’s eternality. In eighth chapter, he deals with the nature and creaturely dependence of creation. In the final chapter author talk about the incarnation and trinity.

Morris started Chapter 1 as a shield for the possibility that finite beings like us could have a rational dialogue about God. Mainly, he sought to establish as logically self-defeating the skeptics' assertions that no human concepts or language could apply to the infinite God. How could one `know' that God is utterly unknowable? However, the mere possibility of thinking and talking rationally about God does not mean we can find sure ground for sureness. "If God is infinite Mind and has brought into existence minded creatures in his image, then it might be expected that those creatures' minds could grasp something of his existence and nature" (Pg. 25). "It is no exaggeration to add that it is one of the most important truths about God" (Pg. 138) a truth concisely worded by Aquinas: “Anything that exists in any way must necessarily have its origin from God” (Pg. 139).

In Chapter 2, the author argued the method of how we could go about doing it. At this stage, he suggested a methodology credited to Anselm called `perfect being theology' (that which no greater can be conceived). Afterwards, he put this method to the test in discoursing key theistic ideas like God's goodness, power, knowledge, being, eternity and creation. In the final chapter, he sought to vindicate the particularly Christian doctrines of Trinity and Incarnation as logically conceivable without evading any of the mentioned divine attributes.

Theology, according to the etymology of the word, is simply rational discourse about God. (Pg. 17). “However, as I have indicated, the thesis of spatial simplicity is widely endorsed by theists, and the thesis of temporal simplicity, while nowadays very controversial, is endorsed by numerous thoughtful theists, and is intimately related to the ideas of divine eternity and immutability, which require discussion in their own right”. (Pg. 118).

“Time, it has been suggested by many theorists, is just a measure of the existence of physical objects” (Pg. 125). Morris' delivery of many basic philosophical matters in theology is as clear as it can get. At the same time, its content surpasses way beyond naïve descriptions that fall so short of our anticipations. I think that if you have some acquaintance with philosophy like having taken some preliminary level classes, you will, with a reasonable amount of effort, find this book immensely satisfying and rewarding.

In summary, the author has been careful to maintain his method and applied it in a way that reaffirmed the basic forms of classical theism in a way that is delicate to how these ideas interrelate with each other. He presented many useful illustrations to make the abstract ideas more coherent to the target readers. Alternate views were justly discussed and assessed in a brief manner.

Written from a Christian perspective, I believe it can significantly fortify one's understanding of God. Extremely recommendable to people interested in philosophy and theology. Its asset lies in lucidity and profundity, a good mixture for a philosophy book. This book is also meant to serve as an elementary introduction to philosophical theology.

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SIN: MAN VS. GOD

Man calls it an accident; God calls it an abomination.
Man calls it a blunder; God calls it blindness.
Man calls it beautiful; God calls it awful
Man calls it a chance; God calls it a choice.
Man calls it a desire; God calls it deception  
Man calls it an error; God calls it an enmity.
Man calls it freedom; God calls it failure
Man calls it a fascination; God calls it a fatality.
Man calls it a game; God calls it guilt  
Ma calls it a hack; God calls it hell
Man calls it an infirmity; God calls it an iniquity.
Man calls it a joke; God calls it judgement
Man calls it a luxury; God calls it a leprosy.
Man calls it a liberty; God calls it lawlessness.
Man calls it a mistake; God calls it a madness.
Man calls it a necessity; God calls it nonsense.
Man calls it parody; God calls it perversity
Man calls it a trifle; God calls it a tragedy.
Man calls it a way; God calls it waywardness. 
Man calls it a weakness; God calls it wilfulness.

Source: http://ministry127.com/resources/illustration/what-sin-ishttp://www.christianguys.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06

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Godly Nuggets for Successful Life

Godly Nuggets for A Successful Life

Here are a few Godly nuggets that must be incorporated by everyone seeking to be successful in Christian life. Because these are not only Biblical principles but also practical and simply effective if followed seriously. Let’s delve in the life of a Godly man of the Old Testament, called Nehemiah, who is busy in successfully finishing the God-given task. For making it easy to remember, all points starts with letter P.  

1. Plan to take risk, without risk no success is achieved.

While he left the palace and came down to streets, surrounded by enemies to rebuild temple walls, Nehemiah heavily risked his life. And that’s the breeding-ground of the beginning of all success that anyone has ever achieved of any sort. Moreover, this risk was based on the promises of God. Believers always have their foot griped on the unending promises of God.   

2. Pray as if everything depends on God and work as if everything depends on you.

Nehemiah began the work on his knees with tears in the upper room. And toiled hard until the work was over. One should always remember that it’s not one’s own will and might which would result in the success. But battle belongs to God so the victory is. We are just an instrument used to execute the plan. Daniel is a classic example of this fact. He, even after knowing the plan of God that He would deliver His people from bondage only when the fulfilment of the time would come, regardless of the knowledge of the fact, he opens the window toward temple and prays with tears. So while on the run to success, the knowledge of the plan and consummating victory of God, based on His promises should not discourage us to pray persistently.  

3. Put all effort of all times upon one point.

While Nehemiah, while busy to fulfil the primary task, also had a good number of peripheral responsibilities of other matters, however, in line with the same purpose. Despite the emerging responsibilities of withstanding the constant threats of the enemies, meeting the demands of the material for rebuilding, fulfilling the need of cheering and encouraging the co-workers and maintaining self-confidence and faith in God amidst such turmoil, Nehemiah, without being detoured was able to concentrate and put all effort at single point.   

4. Prioritize the time factor

Of course no one ever has stopped time and tide. But anything fulfilled or achieved after the given or demanded time, loses its significance in the context. One rupee given at the time of need matters more than the 100 dollars given out of time of the need. Nehemiah completed the task within 52 days. This tells us the wise management of time. And in the days such as this, Bible doesn't ask us to save money or property but in contrary it does ask us to save our time.

5. Prefer developing attitude over ability

While, David determined to wage war against Goliath, he wasn't even thinking of his ability (which was of course less in all terms), but his attitude. Similarly, in the case of Nehemiah, the task was too big to accomplish. But instead looking at the problem and his aptitude to solve it, he concentrated his mind on attitude in proportion to the faith in God.  It's better to be too big for a job than to have a job too big for you.
As Paul states, I can't do what I want but in Christ I can do all things. Finally, as you toil to fulfil God-given task in your life, wish you a very successful life.

Source: A sermon preached by Vice-principal Rev. Bijaya Nag at Central India Theological Seminary.

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