Promo for Calvary Community Church's 2010 trip to Israel.

I got to go in 2008 with my brother-in-laws church and really enjoyed it. Kathleen and I are praying to see if we can go again. Would love to have our friends join us on this trip.

God, if You are loving, just, and all-powerful, why do You allow good people to suffer?

Evangelist Billy Graham addressed this question in his book Answers to Life's Problems:

We do not know all the reasons why God permits evil. We need to remember, however, that he is not the cause of evil in this world and we should therefore not blame Him for it. Remember that God did not create evil, as some believe. God created the world perfect. Man chose to defy God and go his own way, and it is man's fault that evil entered the world. Even so, God has provided the ultimate triumph of good over evil in Jesus Christ, who on the cross, defeated Satan and those who follow him. Christ is coming back and when He does, all evil will be ended forever and righteousness and justice will prevail.

Have you ever thought about what would happen if God suddenly eliminated all the evil in this world? Not one person would be left, because we are all guilty of sin.

God's Will

This is a work in progress where I hope to get my small mind around the subject of "God's Will". I have seen described three different types of God's will:

1. His decretive will - God decrees things to come to pass according to his supreme sovereignty as the "decretive will of God." This is also sometimes called "God's sovereign efficacious will"; by it God brings to pass whatsoever he wills. When God sovereignly decrees something in this sense, nothing can thwart its coming to pass.

2. His preceptive will - While the decretive will of God cannot be broken, cannot be disobeyed. It will come to pass. On the other hand, there is a will that can be broken: "the preceptive will of God." It can be disobeyed.

3. His will of disposition - what is pleasing and agreeable to God. It expresses something of the attitude of God to his creatures. Some things are "well pleasing in his sight," while other things are said to grieve him. He may allow (but not via moral permission) wicked things to transpire, but he is by no means pleased by them.

This comes from R.C. Sproul's book How Can I Know God's Will?

One of my friends is now an author

My friend, Dave Greber's book is now available for pre-order. The Lost Commandment: Have We Missed What Jesus Really Wants?

Alexis de Tocqueville, a French political thinker and historian wrote a book entitled, Democracy in America.

"I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her commodious harbors and her ample rivers—and it was not there . . . in her fertile fields and boundless forests—and it was not there . . . in her rich mines and her vast world commerce—and it was not there . . . in her democratic Congress and her matchless Constitution—and it was not there. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because she is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great."

God's Chisel - Chris Williams

This Youtube video is great.

Mandatory Welcome Post

Welcome to Jake's blog. I will be using this to help organize my thoughts as I read through the scriptures, attend Calvary Chapel Bible Institute (CCBI), & attend services at Calvary Fellowship Frederick.