by Tienne Weyer
Ok, so I have to start out by saying ... "I HATE and absolutely DESPISE religious books!" I think they are overly opinionated and rather obtuse in nature. For the most part, I don't feel that of the religious books I have read, that they depict the true forgiving and loving nature of God. That said, I love this book!
"Identifying God" by Dr Edward C. Han Sr. starts out by explaining in lay terminology (common language) the different levels of knowledge. This is, in my opinion, the perfect way to explain how we gain both a better understanding of God as we progress in our spiritual relationship with him, but also how we can gain a better understanding of God's words and how/why the meaning of the words can change or evolve as we spiritually evolve in our relationship with God.
Believe me, I tried to find a place where I could say, "This guy is full of garbage" and thus easily throw out the text and move on ... I couldn't. This is the first religious text I have read that opens the door for spiritual explanation and leaves it at that, so that you as an individual can have a better way of evaluating the word of God and applying it or investigating it yourself as needed. It is completely non-judgmental. There are no "right" or "wrong" answers/opinions/ideas in this book. It is taking the complex nature of our spiritual selves and drastically simplifying it.
Although it is written from a Christian perspective, I can see how this book could help even an agnostic person on their spiritual journey. This book in and of itself is a spiritual journey. I really and truly loved the whole premise of "Jdentifying God" and I would recommend it to anyone seeking to understand God, themselves, or bring some simplicity to their current relationship with God that they may find to be confusing.
(To order the book "Identifying God" go to http://bit.ly/bookidgod )
Showing posts with label Study. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Study. Show all posts
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Monday, May 18, 2009
Is God Dead?
The cover of Time Magazine, April 8, 1966 featured three disturbing words. “IS GOD DEAD?” Although the vast majority of American’s say they believe in God, the real question is what do they believe about God? The article sited several ideas from “on the street” interviews.
- Scientist - “God, if anything, is hydrogen and carbon. Then again, he might be
thermonuclear fission, since that’s what makes life on this planet possible.”
- Prostitute – “God will get me out of this filth one day. He is a God of mercy, dressed all in
white and sitting on a golden throne.”
- Cleaning Lady – “God is a ghost floating in space.”
- Screenwriter – “God is an infantile fantasy, which was necessary when men did not
understand what lightning was. God is a cop-out.”
- Janitor – “God is like a fiery flame, so white that it can blind you.”
- Seminary Student – “God is all that I cannot understand.”
- Another Scientist – “God is the totality of harmony of the universe.”
- Playwright – “It is the voice which says, ‘It’s not good enough’ – that’s what God is.”
- Civil Servant – “God is a lot like he was explained to us as children. As an older man, who is
just and who can get angry at us. I know this isn’t the true picture, but it’s the only one I’ve
got.”
What is wrong with this picture? Things haven’t changed much over the years. Too many people are coming to God with their own ideas about who He is. He is not who we think He is. He is not who other people say He is. God is who He said He is. God is not dead, but if people put faith is a confused misunderstanding of God, I’m afraid they will be terribly disappointed.
In his book, “When God Doesn’t Make Sense,” Dr. James Dobson said, “There is no greater distress in human experience than to build one’s entire way of life on a certain theological understanding, and then have it collapse at a time of unusual stress and pain.” Did God fail, or did an individual’s misconception of God fail?
Who is God? What is His true identity? A person can be identified by personal I.D., fingerprints, blood type, dental records, or DNA. God’s identity is to be discovered in a diligent search for Him in the pages of the Bible, with the help of the Holy Spirit. God spoke through the prophet Jeremiah saying,
“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will
be found of you.” (Jeremiah. 29:13)
Our faith is only as good as the God we put our trust in. My book, "IDENTIFYING GOD" is designed to be a training course in identity. The study series begins with identifying God. In order to know who we are, we must first know who God is and why He made us - what our purpose is in Him. After identifying God, we can identify the believer. When we understand what the ministry of the believer is, we can then identify the ministry of the Church, and begin working together as one.
I am a fellow seeker, a fellow struggler. This has been a personal study for me that I would like to share with you. My search begins by understanding the knowledge of truth. The direction that my study takes investigates the meaning of the seven proper names for God from Old Testament Hebrew. These can help us to define the nature, character and authority of God. You will also gain a perspective of the kind of relationship that He wants to have with us. From this vantage point, you will get a clear perspective of who Jesus Christ is in relation to God. Finally, you will meet the Holy Spirit and discovery His divine attributes and manifestations.
These lessons are intended to be an introduction to the unique and personal relationship God wants to have with each of us. It is not my intention to be exhaustive, as the mystery of who God is must become a lifelong pursuit. If time spent in my book helps you to get off to a great start in your faith, or fills in the gaps of a partial understanding of the Lord, and thereby improves your relationship with Him, than the many hour spent in study and preparation have been worth it all.
May you be blessed and greatly rewarded in your diligent pursuit of the true and living God.
Check out my book "IDENTIFYING GOD at www.edhan-idgod.vpweb.com
- Scientist - “God, if anything, is hydrogen and carbon. Then again, he might be
thermonuclear fission, since that’s what makes life on this planet possible.”
- Prostitute – “God will get me out of this filth one day. He is a God of mercy, dressed all in
white and sitting on a golden throne.”
- Cleaning Lady – “God is a ghost floating in space.”
- Screenwriter – “God is an infantile fantasy, which was necessary when men did not
understand what lightning was. God is a cop-out.”
- Janitor – “God is like a fiery flame, so white that it can blind you.”
- Seminary Student – “God is all that I cannot understand.”
- Another Scientist – “God is the totality of harmony of the universe.”
- Playwright – “It is the voice which says, ‘It’s not good enough’ – that’s what God is.”
- Civil Servant – “God is a lot like he was explained to us as children. As an older man, who is
just and who can get angry at us. I know this isn’t the true picture, but it’s the only one I’ve
got.”
What is wrong with this picture? Things haven’t changed much over the years. Too many people are coming to God with their own ideas about who He is. He is not who we think He is. He is not who other people say He is. God is who He said He is. God is not dead, but if people put faith is a confused misunderstanding of God, I’m afraid they will be terribly disappointed.
In his book, “When God Doesn’t Make Sense,” Dr. James Dobson said, “There is no greater distress in human experience than to build one’s entire way of life on a certain theological understanding, and then have it collapse at a time of unusual stress and pain.” Did God fail, or did an individual’s misconception of God fail?
Who is God? What is His true identity? A person can be identified by personal I.D., fingerprints, blood type, dental records, or DNA. God’s identity is to be discovered in a diligent search for Him in the pages of the Bible, with the help of the Holy Spirit. God spoke through the prophet Jeremiah saying,
“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will
be found of you.” (Jeremiah. 29:13)
Our faith is only as good as the God we put our trust in. My book, "IDENTIFYING GOD" is designed to be a training course in identity. The study series begins with identifying God. In order to know who we are, we must first know who God is and why He made us - what our purpose is in Him. After identifying God, we can identify the believer. When we understand what the ministry of the believer is, we can then identify the ministry of the Church, and begin working together as one.
I am a fellow seeker, a fellow struggler. This has been a personal study for me that I would like to share with you. My search begins by understanding the knowledge of truth. The direction that my study takes investigates the meaning of the seven proper names for God from Old Testament Hebrew. These can help us to define the nature, character and authority of God. You will also gain a perspective of the kind of relationship that He wants to have with us. From this vantage point, you will get a clear perspective of who Jesus Christ is in relation to God. Finally, you will meet the Holy Spirit and discovery His divine attributes and manifestations.
These lessons are intended to be an introduction to the unique and personal relationship God wants to have with each of us. It is not my intention to be exhaustive, as the mystery of who God is must become a lifelong pursuit. If time spent in my book helps you to get off to a great start in your faith, or fills in the gaps of a partial understanding of the Lord, and thereby improves your relationship with Him, than the many hour spent in study and preparation have been worth it all.
May you be blessed and greatly rewarded in your diligent pursuit of the true and living God.
Check out my book "IDENTIFYING GOD at www.edhan-idgod.vpweb.com
Friday, April 17, 2009
School of Life Long Learning
I’m passionate about Christian education. Call me “Christian Ed” if you like. I remember summer camp when I was a teen. We were visited by the president of a Bible college. His approach to the young people was very interesting. He asked the students, “What career choice have you made for your future?” Many kids weren’t sure. Others were confident they would pursue fields in engineering, medicine, law enforcement and business. His next question was simple. “After completing your education,” he asked, “how many years of your life will you spend in that profession?” Most of the young people assumed 30, 40, maybe even 50 years in their chosen occupation. He then asked, “How many years do you expect to be a Christian?” The obvious answer is the rest of your life. The last question was, “Then should you consider starting your adult life in Christian education?”
The Bible college president posed a convincing argument. Too bad I didn’t follow his counsel in my youth. It took me many more years to come to the reality of his sage advice. A career may last a few decades, but serving the Lord is forever. Yet, how seriously do we take the issue of adult Christian education? I believe as believers, when entering into relationship with Christ, we enroll in a “School of Life Long Learning.” One human lifetime is not enough to learn all there is to know about God. But isn’t that one of the primary reasons God has given this one life to you?
“Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I may have Christ.” (Philippians 3:8 NLT)
“Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I may have Christ.” (Philippians 3:8 NLT)
However, I have witnessed well meaning Christians dismiss the value of faithful commitment to Bible study. “Sunday School is what I did as a kid,” seems to be their attitude. It really demonstrates an attitude of, “I did my time as a kid, so I don’t need Bible classes anymore.” With or without a degree, we don’t graduate from Bible school until resurrection. I am confident that I will take and teach Bible courses for the rest of my life. It is a matter of spiritual discipline in my mind.
Another deficiency to note is the “dummy down” approach being taken with adults. We need to teach to stretch and grow our faith by the Word of God (Rom. 10:17). If I had my druthers, I would teach all adult classes at least to a junior college level. We tend to live with such low expectations of students that we seldom give homework or expect that students will memorize Scripture verses. You might be surprised at what level students will rise to when challenged and lead.
I’ve been so pleased with the resent response we had at our church in launching a school of ministry. I told the pastor if we could get six commitments we should start the two year diploma program. Wonder of wonders! We finished our first session with 24 disciples. Four times more than the fleece I had laid out. But people are hungry for discipleship, thirsty for the knowledge of God and longing for leadership.
In this day and age we desperately need believers to give God their best effort toward self-discipline to study, learn and grow. If you are gifted and capable, we need you to step up and teach the Word. If you are a true follower, seek out and find Bible based, Spirit filled courses to study. Join the “School of Life Long Learning” today!
If you live near Stockton, CA, take classes with us at Lakeview bible Institute (http://www.lakeviewassembly.com/). If you can study online, try Golden State School of Theology (http://www.goldenstate.edu/).
Monday, March 30, 2009
"Identifying God" - the book
Check out my book "Identifying God" at www.edhan-idgod.vpweb.com
We invite you to read our book, which is a Bible Study in the
character, nature and authority of God!
Do you know who God is?
You may think you know, but you have no idea.
God is not who you think He is.
God is not who others say He is.
God is who He said He is.
The book “IDENTIFYING GOD” offers a biblical definition of the One True Deity. This Scriptural portrait of the character of God can be a tremendous help for new believers looking to foundationalize their faith. It can also be beneficial for established believers by filling in some of the gaps in their personal faith.
Through this study you will discover …
• The nature of God from the meanings of His biblical names.
• Why the name of Jesus has authority over every name.
• The ministry of God’s Holy Spirit, who works within you.
In a world that is faced with a serious “identity crisis,” this book can help to settle much of your confusion by aligning your faith with “the King of kings, and the Lord of lords.”
Here's what people are saying about author
Ed Han and the book "IDENTIFYING GOD"...
"Ed Han is a quality and detailed Bible teacher. His teachings are both practical and theologically deep at the same time. In his book IDENTIFYING GOD, Ed uses these strengths to address a foundational understanding of God. His insights will be helpful to a wide variety of people. Most importantly, Ed lives a real sincere, down to earth Christian life. His life reflects his teachings and therefore there is real life in his teachings."
Tim Kurtz, Pastor
Fusion Christian Fellowship
Yuba City, CA
"I received your book IDENTIFYING GOD. I thank God, who gave you the prophetic message concerning the writing of this book. I must confess, it is helpful and I was inspired as I read it. Your illustrations gave me deeper understanding of the topics being discussed. This book is very good and you are an excellent teacher. Brother Ed, God richly blesses you. In fact your explanations made me read with excitement. I would like you to teach this topic here in Ghana in my ministry. I believe God is using you to talk to Africa . It is as if you are an African and know the problems here. God is using your book for spiritual break through! Hallelujah! Our God is wonderful. I am very happy about your teaching and I love it.Thank you for your teaching. You make it very simple to understand. You are a great teacher of the Word."
Joseph Ntsiabah
Pastor in Ghana
West Africa
character, nature and authority of God!
Do you know who God is?
You may think you know, but you have no idea.
God is not who you think He is.
God is not who others say He is.
God is who He said He is.
The book “IDENTIFYING GOD” offers a biblical definition of the One True Deity. This Scriptural portrait of the character of God can be a tremendous help for new believers looking to foundationalize their faith. It can also be beneficial for established believers by filling in some of the gaps in their personal faith.
Through this study you will discover …
• The nature of God from the meanings of His biblical names.
• Why the name of Jesus has authority over every name.
• The ministry of God’s Holy Spirit, who works within you.
In a world that is faced with a serious “identity crisis,” this book can help to settle much of your confusion by aligning your faith with “the King of kings, and the Lord of lords.”
Here's what people are saying about author
Ed Han and the book "IDENTIFYING GOD"...
"Ed Han is a quality and detailed Bible teacher. His teachings are both practical and theologically deep at the same time. In his book IDENTIFYING GOD, Ed uses these strengths to address a foundational understanding of God. His insights will be helpful to a wide variety of people. Most importantly, Ed lives a real sincere, down to earth Christian life. His life reflects his teachings and therefore there is real life in his teachings."
Tim Kurtz, Pastor
Fusion Christian Fellowship
Yuba City, CA
"I received your book IDENTIFYING GOD. I thank God, who gave you the prophetic message concerning the writing of this book. I must confess, it is helpful and I was inspired as I read it. Your illustrations gave me deeper understanding of the topics being discussed. This book is very good and you are an excellent teacher. Brother Ed, God richly blesses you. In fact your explanations made me read with excitement. I would like you to teach this topic here in Ghana in my ministry. I believe God is using you to talk to Africa . It is as if you are an African and know the problems here. God is using your book for spiritual break through! Hallelujah! Our God is wonderful. I am very happy about your teaching and I love it.Thank you for your teaching. You make it very simple to understand. You are a great teacher of the Word."
Joseph Ntsiabah
Pastor in Ghana
West Africa
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