To Provoke Thought
A few days ago I posted the following on my Blog that are particularly aimed at Christian readers. After some prayer and thought I should present it to all who read my Blogs. It goes like this,
The other day I was listening to a Christian show. The commentator said that a young man in his church had come out to their small congregation and said he was gay
. To the surprise of the commentator people got up and hugged the young man.
Having said that here is something I want to put out to all the Christians that read my Blogs it’s from a book called images a book that portrays different scenarios in life.
The book makes no commentary. It was simply written to make the reader think.
The title of this piece is simply Images of a Woman, think carefully how you would react then ask the question, what would Jesus do?
Images of a Woman
That morning, Margaret Elizabeth got up extra early, readying herself for the day. She would get only one chance to make an impression. To that end, she applied her makeup with extra care. Chose the black ankle length wraparound skirt, white turtle neck top and black jacket, her children had given her as a gift, while in hospital. She limited her jewelry to a simple pair of diamond studied earrings, that had been her grandmother’s and small bracelet given to her by her daughter-in-law.
Leaving that office, to walk to the pulpit was the hardest steps, she ever had to make. Her heart pounded and by the time, she stood behind the pulpit she was visibly shaking.
“Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Margaret Elizabeth Williamson and just before Christmas, I underwent Sexual Reassignment Surgery.” she said relief surging through her body, as silence engulfed the assembly. I know that many of you, maybe uncomfortable with that. That is why I have asked to speak to you, to give you my testimony and then allow you to ask questions.
I have felt like a woman trapped in a man’s body for my entire life. I was married for over thirty years to a wonderful and accepting woman, who died several years prior to my coming to this assembly. I have a wonderful family, all of whom support me and are here today.
Believe me, I did not choose this course of action lightly. I did so after much personal anguish and a great deal of prayer.
For a little over two years prior to my complete transition, I have lived my life as a woman: I was doing so when I came to this church and I think I did it well enough that no one knew. If so they did not commented.
I have no apologies to give for what I did, or for who I am, because I do not believe I did anything wrong.
I accepted Jesus as my Saviour over thirty-five years ago, and asked Him to remove from me, what at times, has been a difficult burden. He has chosen not to and thus, I have accepted that I am what I am.
I have accepted what Psalm 139:13,14 states,
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” I am a child of God, who knew me in my mother’s womb.
I have no intentions of preaching a sermon here today, only to ask you to accept me as I am. In fact, the only reason I stand before you today, is because I want to be completely honest.
I am very active within this congregation and wish to continue in my work here.
Now, I will open the door to all questions and endeavor to answer them to the best of my ability. After which, I will ask for a vote and abide by your decision.”
There were many questions answered, the then pastor came to the front.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, it is now time to take a vote.” He said. “If you wish Margaret Elizabeth to continue in her work here please rise to your feet.”
What would Jesus do? Why do you think He would think that way?
Think about it.
Sunday, 31 August 2014
Saturday, 30 August 2014
Jesus is real
Jesus is real
Over the years I’ve heard people say Jesus is not real. Such people are in my opinion at the very least ill-informed at worst denying the evidence.
I could write volumes on the evidence for the reality of Christ but space does not allow however I will give several proofs for the reader to consider.
As you read this keep in mind that no one denies the existence of Alexander the great yet there are no known eye witness accounts of his life and the earliest known mention of him are in documents that were written 300 years after his death.
Also not that Alexander was a great conqueror and emperor who would have had much written about him.
By contrast Jesus was a humble man from a poor family in a back water area of the Roman Empire who conquered nothing. You would not expect much to remain about him.
Additionally little has survived archeologically from the time of Jesus. Even of the Caesars who ruled.
It wasn’t until 1961 that archaeologist discovered Pontius Pilate’s name inscribed on block referring to him as prefect of Judea. It wasn’t until 1990 that an ossuary (bone box) that has been authenticated with the name of Caiphas the name of the high priest was discovered.
World historian Will Durant notes that no Jew or Gentile from the first-century ever denied the existence of Jesus
One statistic I read about non-Christian accounts of Jesus versus Tiberius Caesar states.
Within 150 years of Christ’s death there were the same number of secular writers who mention both Tiberius and Jesus.
Considering Christian and non-Christian sources together there are forty-two
mentions of Christ and only ten mentions of Tiberius.
One historian notes about one-third of non-Christian sources are from the first century with the majority originating no later than the mid second century.
Not even the opponents of Jesus in the early centuries doubted Jesus lived.
Early Christians wrote thousands of letters, sermons, commentaries and creeds that speak of Jesus.
A full thirty-six thousand complete and partial writings about Jesus have been discovered from the first century.
These are works from outside the bible, but from them you can reconstruct almost the entire new testament.
The fact that these were written so close to the time of Jesus, within living memory of many people shows Jesus did exist.
A noted archaeologist Sir William Ramsey who initially rejected the writings of Luke but after examining them carefully went on later to say,
“Luke is a historian of the first rank.… This author should be placed along with the very greatest historians.… Luke’s history is unsurpassed in respect of its trustworthiness.”
Two noted historians William Albright and A. T. Robinson date the New Testament books to the first century. Albright to between 50 A.D. and 75 A.D. and Robinson to between 40-65 AD.
Beyond all of these facts there is common sense why would anyone write so much about someone who didn’t exist.
How could someone who didn’t exist have such a profound effect on history.
And here’s one other statistic to consider. While little exists archeologically from the time of Jesus over 24,000 complete or partial manuscript copies of New Testament books exist far more than any other ancient document.
Today both secular and religious historians admit Jesus Christ has had more influence on history than any other person.
If Jesus was not a real person his followers have created the most monumental lie in the history of the world.
The last words on this go to C. S. Lewis who at one time was an Atheist. He went on to study Christianity and Jesus in great detail becoming a believer as he did. He wrote,
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
Think about it.
Over the years I’ve heard people say Jesus is not real. Such people are in my opinion at the very least ill-informed at worst denying the evidence.
I could write volumes on the evidence for the reality of Christ but space does not allow however I will give several proofs for the reader to consider.
As you read this keep in mind that no one denies the existence of Alexander the great yet there are no known eye witness accounts of his life and the earliest known mention of him are in documents that were written 300 years after his death.
Also not that Alexander was a great conqueror and emperor who would have had much written about him.
By contrast Jesus was a humble man from a poor family in a back water area of the Roman Empire who conquered nothing. You would not expect much to remain about him.
Additionally little has survived archeologically from the time of Jesus. Even of the Caesars who ruled.
It wasn’t until 1961 that archaeologist discovered Pontius Pilate’s name inscribed on block referring to him as prefect of Judea. It wasn’t until 1990 that an ossuary (bone box) that has been authenticated with the name of Caiphas the name of the high priest was discovered.
World historian Will Durant notes that no Jew or Gentile from the first-century ever denied the existence of Jesus
One statistic I read about non-Christian accounts of Jesus versus Tiberius Caesar states.
Within 150 years of Christ’s death there were the same number of secular writers who mention both Tiberius and Jesus.
Considering Christian and non-Christian sources together there are forty-two
mentions of Christ and only ten mentions of Tiberius.
One historian notes about one-third of non-Christian sources are from the first century with the majority originating no later than the mid second century.
Not even the opponents of Jesus in the early centuries doubted Jesus lived.
Early Christians wrote thousands of letters, sermons, commentaries and creeds that speak of Jesus.
A full thirty-six thousand complete and partial writings about Jesus have been discovered from the first century.
These are works from outside the bible, but from them you can reconstruct almost the entire new testament.
The fact that these were written so close to the time of Jesus, within living memory of many people shows Jesus did exist.
A noted archaeologist Sir William Ramsey who initially rejected the writings of Luke but after examining them carefully went on later to say,
“Luke is a historian of the first rank.… This author should be placed along with the very greatest historians.… Luke’s history is unsurpassed in respect of its trustworthiness.”
Two noted historians William Albright and A. T. Robinson date the New Testament books to the first century. Albright to between 50 A.D. and 75 A.D. and Robinson to between 40-65 AD.
Beyond all of these facts there is common sense why would anyone write so much about someone who didn’t exist.
How could someone who didn’t exist have such a profound effect on history.
And here’s one other statistic to consider. While little exists archeologically from the time of Jesus over 24,000 complete or partial manuscript copies of New Testament books exist far more than any other ancient document.
Today both secular and religious historians admit Jesus Christ has had more influence on history than any other person.
If Jesus was not a real person his followers have created the most monumental lie in the history of the world.
The last words on this go to C. S. Lewis who at one time was an Atheist. He went on to study Christianity and Jesus in great detail becoming a believer as he did. He wrote,
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
Think about it.
Friday, 29 August 2014
Greatness
What is greatness?
Here in the words of others is what constitutes true greatness and who is truly great.
"For over a thousand years Roman conquerors returning from the wars enjoyed the honor of triumph, a tumultuous parade. In the procession came trumpeteers, musicians and strange animals from conquered territories, together with carts laden with treasure and captured armaments. The conquerors rode in a triumphal chariot, the dazed prisoners walking in chains before him. Sometimes his children robed in white stood with him in the chariot or rode the trace horses. A slave stood behind the conqueror holding a golden crown and whispering in his ear a warning: that all glory is fleeting."
- Gen. George C. Patton
Isaiah the prophet in chapter fifty-three gave what Christians believe is a good portrait of Jesus it is far from what General George C. Patton wrote. Isaiah wrote,
"Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way;and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken.
He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.
Yet it was the LORD'S will to crush him and cause him to suffer,and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.
After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.
Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death,and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many,and made intercession for the transgressors.
Isaiah 53
Napoleon Bonaparte wrote,
“I know men and I tell you, Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour, millions would die for him."
I believe it was Dr James Allan Francis who in 1926 wrote a piece called One Solitary Life here it is for you to think about.
“Nearly two thousand years ago in an obscure village, a child was born of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village where He worked as a carpenter until He was thirty. Then for three years He became an itinerant preacher.
This man never went to college or seminary. He never wrote a book. He never held a public office. He never had a family nor owned a home. He never put His foot inside a big city nor traveled even 200 miles from His birthplace. And though He never did any of the things that usually accompany greatness, throngs of people followed Him. He had no credentials but Himself.
While He was still young, the tide of public opinion turned against Him. His followers ran away. He was turned over to His enemies and sentenced to death on a cross between two thieves. While He was dying, His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had on earth – the simple coat He had worn. His body was laid in a borrowed grave provided by a compassionate friend.
But three days later this Man arose from the dead – living proof that He was, as He had claimed, the Savior whom God had sent, the Incarnate Son of God.
Nineteen centuries have come and gone and today the risen Lord Jesus Christ is the central figure of the human race. On our calendars His birth divides history into two eras. One day of every week is set aside in remembrance of Him. And our two most important holidays celebrate His birth and resurrection. On church steeples around the world, His cross has become the symbol of victory over sin and death.
This one Man’s life has furnished the theme for more songs, books, poems and paintings than any other person or event in history. Thousands of colleges, hospitals, orphanages and other institutions have been founded in honor of this One who gave His life for us.
All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the governments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned have not changed the course of history as much as this One Solitary Life.
What do you think of Christ?
Here in the words of others is what constitutes true greatness and who is truly great.
"For over a thousand years Roman conquerors returning from the wars enjoyed the honor of triumph, a tumultuous parade. In the procession came trumpeteers, musicians and strange animals from conquered territories, together with carts laden with treasure and captured armaments. The conquerors rode in a triumphal chariot, the dazed prisoners walking in chains before him. Sometimes his children robed in white stood with him in the chariot or rode the trace horses. A slave stood behind the conqueror holding a golden crown and whispering in his ear a warning: that all glory is fleeting."
- Gen. George C. Patton
Isaiah the prophet in chapter fifty-three gave what Christians believe is a good portrait of Jesus it is far from what General George C. Patton wrote. Isaiah wrote,
"Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way;and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken.
He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.
Yet it was the LORD'S will to crush him and cause him to suffer,and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.
After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.
Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death,and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many,and made intercession for the transgressors.
Isaiah 53
Napoleon Bonaparte wrote,
“I know men and I tell you, Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour, millions would die for him."
I believe it was Dr James Allan Francis who in 1926 wrote a piece called One Solitary Life here it is for you to think about.
“Nearly two thousand years ago in an obscure village, a child was born of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village where He worked as a carpenter until He was thirty. Then for three years He became an itinerant preacher.
This man never went to college or seminary. He never wrote a book. He never held a public office. He never had a family nor owned a home. He never put His foot inside a big city nor traveled even 200 miles from His birthplace. And though He never did any of the things that usually accompany greatness, throngs of people followed Him. He had no credentials but Himself.
While He was still young, the tide of public opinion turned against Him. His followers ran away. He was turned over to His enemies and sentenced to death on a cross between two thieves. While He was dying, His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had on earth – the simple coat He had worn. His body was laid in a borrowed grave provided by a compassionate friend.
But three days later this Man arose from the dead – living proof that He was, as He had claimed, the Savior whom God had sent, the Incarnate Son of God.
Nineteen centuries have come and gone and today the risen Lord Jesus Christ is the central figure of the human race. On our calendars His birth divides history into two eras. One day of every week is set aside in remembrance of Him. And our two most important holidays celebrate His birth and resurrection. On church steeples around the world, His cross has become the symbol of victory over sin and death.
This one Man’s life has furnished the theme for more songs, books, poems and paintings than any other person or event in history. Thousands of colleges, hospitals, orphanages and other institutions have been founded in honor of this One who gave His life for us.
All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the governments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned have not changed the course of history as much as this One Solitary Life.
What do you think of Christ?
Thursday, 28 August 2014
Christ in the words of a non-Christian
Christ in the words of a non-Christian
There are a lot of people out there that say Jesus did not exist or refuse to accept him as the Christ. Here is an account by Flavius Josephus Jewish Roman historian born 34AD.
As Josephus was not a Christian he had nothing to loose by contradicting the Bible. He however wrote,
“Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many Jews, and many of the Gentiles. He was the Christ, and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men among us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first, did not forsake him; for he appeared to them alive again the third day; as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him. And the tribe of Christians so named from him are not extinct at this day.”
Think about it Josephus an none Christian said Jesus worked wonders that he died on the cross at the hands of Pontius Pilate at the suggestion of Jewish leaders. That he died and rose again
“as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him. And the tribe of Christians so named from him are not extinct at this day.”
What do you think about Jesus. Josephus thought him to be the Christ.
Do you?
Think about it.
There are a lot of people out there that say Jesus did not exist or refuse to accept him as the Christ. Here is an account by Flavius Josephus Jewish Roman historian born 34AD.
As Josephus was not a Christian he had nothing to loose by contradicting the Bible. He however wrote,
“Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many Jews, and many of the Gentiles. He was the Christ, and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men among us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first, did not forsake him; for he appeared to them alive again the third day; as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him. And the tribe of Christians so named from him are not extinct at this day.”
Think about it Josephus an none Christian said Jesus worked wonders that he died on the cross at the hands of Pontius Pilate at the suggestion of Jewish leaders. That he died and rose again
“as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him. And the tribe of Christians so named from him are not extinct at this day.”
What do you think about Jesus. Josephus thought him to be the Christ.
Do you?
Think about it.
Wednesday, 27 August 2014
Wisps, Shadows Grass
Wisps shadows grass
I am someone who believes very much in an after life. That we will one day stand before a just and holy God and be held account for what we have done in this life. Here’s something from a book called Images the book makes no commentary. It simply presents a scenario and asks the reader to decide for themselves.
Think about it.
I am someone who believes very much in an after life. That we will one day stand before a just and holy God and be held account for what we have done in this life. Here’s something from a book called Images the book makes no commentary. It simply presents a scenario and asks the reader to decide for themselves.
Where
Where are the people?
Where?
Are they but shadows in the mall?
Are they?
Are they shadows in time?
Shadows wandering looking for the latest trinkets, bobbles or beads.
What is life?
Are they
Is life but a wisp of smoke carried in the air?
A wisp in the eternal ether ?
Are people wisps of smoke?
What of man’s....
or woman’s! accomplishments?
What of them?
Is the sum total of all ones life simply a pile of shinny tin, brass, and wood?
Is that life?
Is life simply a cacophony of sounds travelling through endless time?
Are we simply the corporeal high end of the evolutionary scale?
Or
Is a life.
Yours and mine, more?
Is it a divine opera?
An opera played out on a high mesa
A stage suspended between heaven and hell.
Are we as Shakespear said simply actors?
Are we but actors in a play?
Actors awaiting the final curtain call sending us to eternity?
Are you ready for that final curtain call?
Are you?
What is the sum total of your life?
What?
What will “they” say about you as you pass on?
What will God say to you?
The Prophet Isaiah said,
“A voice says, “Cry out.” And I said, “What shall I cry?”
“All men are like grass,and all their glory is like the flowers of the field.
The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them.
Surely the people are grass.
The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.”
Isaiah 40:6-8
Will you spend eternity with God?Think about it.
Tuesday, 26 August 2014
Confessions of a Christian
Confession of a Christian
“Jesus is ideal and wonderful, but you Christians - you are not like him.”
Mahatma Gandhi
I’m not sure what context Gandhi said the above verse but to me he wasn’t talking about a true Christian.
True Christians are far from perfect but we are progressing.
I know if Gandhi were alive today he would take on look at the many Christians in the media and say the same thing.
The Christians today are fragmented especially in the protestant wing of the church and the Roman Catholics seem to be wrapped up in their thing also.
Within those who call themselves evangelical Christians here in North America I sometimes wonder just how many true Christians there are.
Truth is there is no effective way from within the twenty-first century church today police itself.
The apostle Paul tell the church at Corinth,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”
1 Corinthians 5:12,13
Many evangelical churches here in North America do expel those who do not live up to the high moral and ethical standards they demand. They tend to do it as quietly as possible which is the right way unless a crime has been committed.
Unfortunately those who are expelled simply go out and become an independent with not real oversight.
They masquerade as Christians but are not. Unfortunately however to the outside world and to many Christians they seem perfectly fine.
It’s this kind of person I believe Gandhi saw.
Jesus even said,
“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
Matthew 7:22,23.
One pastor of a large church even said to me he believed as much as sixty percent or more of his congregation were not Christian.
What I am saying here to the none Christian is to not judge a book by its cover. Just because someone says they are a Christian they may not be.
Jesus said to his disciples,
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:34,35
Jesus also said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?"
Matthew 5:43-46
A true Christian will love all mankind irrespective of their beliefs, or their lifestyle. They will not have to trumpet that they are Christians.
Dwight L. Moody the great evangelist said,
“We are told to let our light shine and if it does we wont need to tell anyone it does. Lighthouses don’t fire cannons to call attention to their shining”
Dwight L. Moody
Francis of Assisi said to Christians,
“Preach the Gospel at all times, and when necessary, use words.”
Francis of Assisi.
This is how you will know a true Christian is by their lifestyle of Love and acceptance.
Think about it.
“Jesus is ideal and wonderful, but you Christians - you are not like him.”
Mahatma Gandhi
I’m not sure what context Gandhi said the above verse but to me he wasn’t talking about a true Christian.
True Christians are far from perfect but we are progressing.
I know if Gandhi were alive today he would take on look at the many Christians in the media and say the same thing.
The Christians today are fragmented especially in the protestant wing of the church and the Roman Catholics seem to be wrapped up in their thing also.
Within those who call themselves evangelical Christians here in North America I sometimes wonder just how many true Christians there are.
Truth is there is no effective way from within the twenty-first century church today police itself.
The apostle Paul tell the church at Corinth,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”
1 Corinthians 5:12,13
Many evangelical churches here in North America do expel those who do not live up to the high moral and ethical standards they demand. They tend to do it as quietly as possible which is the right way unless a crime has been committed.
Unfortunately those who are expelled simply go out and become an independent with not real oversight.
They masquerade as Christians but are not. Unfortunately however to the outside world and to many Christians they seem perfectly fine.
It’s this kind of person I believe Gandhi saw.
Jesus even said,
“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
Matthew 7:22,23.
One pastor of a large church even said to me he believed as much as sixty percent or more of his congregation were not Christian.
What I am saying here to the none Christian is to not judge a book by its cover. Just because someone says they are a Christian they may not be.
Jesus said to his disciples,
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:34,35
Jesus also said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?"
Matthew 5:43-46
A true Christian will love all mankind irrespective of their beliefs, or their lifestyle. They will not have to trumpet that they are Christians.
Dwight L. Moody the great evangelist said,
“We are told to let our light shine and if it does we wont need to tell anyone it does. Lighthouses don’t fire cannons to call attention to their shining”
Dwight L. Moody
Francis of Assisi said to Christians,
“Preach the Gospel at all times, and when necessary, use words.”
Francis of Assisi.
This is how you will know a true Christian is by their lifestyle of Love and acceptance.
Think about it.
Monday, 25 August 2014
A Christian Prospective
A Christian prospective
“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Ephesians 2:1-10
Here for the none-Christian is a brief explanation of what Christians believe.
Prior to our accepting Christ as our LORD and Saviour we are separated from God by our sin. Paul here makes it very clear that we were essentially dead to God because of our sin.
Sin is falling short of Gods ideals for our life. We are imperfect beings and thus to fall short of what God wants for us.
The apostle Paul makes it clear that we cannot work our way to heaven, that it is by faith we are saved not by our works. That it is God’s grace that saves us. His gift to us is His Son Christ Jesus who died for our sins.
Many people today read these words of Ephesians two and fail to understand that while God offers the gift, we must accept the gift for it to be of any use to us.
It’s like a starving man being brought into a large banquet hall and told here is all the food you could ever wish for. It’s free. The food, however, is no good to the man if he refuses to eat it.
We must make a conscious decision to accept Christ as our LORD and Saviour. To believe that He is the Son of God and that He died for our sins. We must admit to God that we are a sinner and ask His forgiveness and allow Christ to come into our lives. Once we do this Christ can begin to work in us and with us.
This is the message Christians have for the world.
Something to think about
All to many people say they are Christians by virtue of the fact they were born into a catholic or protestant church going family. Or the fact they were christened as a child.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Becoming a Christian is an act of faith taken when the individual is old enough to understand what they are doing.
C.S. Lewis I think put what Christians believe best when he wrote,
“The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.”
C.S. Lewis
Think about it
“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Ephesians 2:1-10
Here for the none-Christian is a brief explanation of what Christians believe.
Prior to our accepting Christ as our LORD and Saviour we are separated from God by our sin. Paul here makes it very clear that we were essentially dead to God because of our sin.
Sin is falling short of Gods ideals for our life. We are imperfect beings and thus to fall short of what God wants for us.
The apostle Paul makes it clear that we cannot work our way to heaven, that it is by faith we are saved not by our works. That it is God’s grace that saves us. His gift to us is His Son Christ Jesus who died for our sins.
Many people today read these words of Ephesians two and fail to understand that while God offers the gift, we must accept the gift for it to be of any use to us.
It’s like a starving man being brought into a large banquet hall and told here is all the food you could ever wish for. It’s free. The food, however, is no good to the man if he refuses to eat it.
We must make a conscious decision to accept Christ as our LORD and Saviour. To believe that He is the Son of God and that He died for our sins. We must admit to God that we are a sinner and ask His forgiveness and allow Christ to come into our lives. Once we do this Christ can begin to work in us and with us.
This is the message Christians have for the world.
Something to think about
All to many people say they are Christians by virtue of the fact they were born into a catholic or protestant church going family. Or the fact they were christened as a child.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Becoming a Christian is an act of faith taken when the individual is old enough to understand what they are doing.
C.S. Lewis I think put what Christians believe best when he wrote,
“The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.”
C.S. Lewis
Think about it
Sunday, 24 August 2014
Of Jesus and God
Of Jesus and God
“He must become greater; I must become less.
“The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all.
He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony.
The man who has accepted it has certified that God is truthful.
For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.
The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands.
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.”
John 3:30-36
Only those who truly believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God will admit it.
If someone other than a Christian were to admit Jesus was the Son of God then they would have to admit that what He said and taught was true. That God exists that Jesus is the only way to heaven.
I cannot prove God scientifically, but neither can you prove Julius Caesar existed scientifically.
All you can do in both cases is look at the facts. In caesar’s case you can look at surviving documents, some coins, and a few other things.
You cannot conduct an experiment that is repeatable to show Julius Caesar existed.
It’s the same with God. You can look around at the complexity of the world. You can read the words of Jesus and the words written in the Bible. By doing so you can conclude there is a God.
In the end however whether it is Christ or caesar you must make a leap of faith and say the evidence is true or false.
It comes down to what I have said before, an act of faith. The writer of Hebrews saying,
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:1
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him
Hebrews 11:6
Think about it.
“He must become greater; I must become less.
“The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all.
He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony.
The man who has accepted it has certified that God is truthful.
For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.
The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands.
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.”
John 3:30-36
Only those who truly believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God will admit it.
If someone other than a Christian were to admit Jesus was the Son of God then they would have to admit that what He said and taught was true. That God exists that Jesus is the only way to heaven.
I cannot prove God scientifically, but neither can you prove Julius Caesar existed scientifically.
All you can do in both cases is look at the facts. In caesar’s case you can look at surviving documents, some coins, and a few other things.
You cannot conduct an experiment that is repeatable to show Julius Caesar existed.
It’s the same with God. You can look around at the complexity of the world. You can read the words of Jesus and the words written in the Bible. By doing so you can conclude there is a God.
In the end however whether it is Christ or caesar you must make a leap of faith and say the evidence is true or false.
It comes down to what I have said before, an act of faith. The writer of Hebrews saying,
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:1
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him
Hebrews 11:6
Think about it.
Saturday, 23 August 2014
The Argument for Christ
The Argument for Christ
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:6-8
The whole thing with our faith in Christ boils down to this statement:
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us,in that while we were still sinners,
Christ died for us.”
God reached down to man by sending His Son Jesus Christ. We are justified before God by our faith in Christ Jesus, because He died for our sins.
Paul in the book of Ephesians puts it this way:
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves;
it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
Ephesians 2:8,9
We cannot work our way to heaven. Salvation is a free gift. All we have to do is,
Admit that we are a sinner, that we have done things wrong. That we have fallen short of God’s ideals. Believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that He died for our sins.
Then ask Christ into our life.
Your salvation is between you and God. Only you and He know if you truly believe.
Something to think about:
Many go to church all their lives out of habit or duty, or because its socially acceptable, or their friends go, or because their parents went or simply because they feel it’s the right thing to do once a week.
Many of those same people are not sure if they were to die today, if they would go to heaven. Are you one of those people?
If so why not pray this prayer,
Dear Heavenly Father
I believe Jesus Christ is your one and only Son. That he came to earth to die for my sins.
I know that I am a sinner. That I fall short of what you want of me.
Please forgive the wrong I have done and come into my life.
To day I give you permission to work in my life. To show me what it is to love and serve you.
I pray this in the name of your son Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Remember it is not the prayer that saved you but your act of faith in praying it. Your act of accepting by faith Christ’s atoning death on the cross for your sins saves you.
Think about it.
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:6-8
The whole thing with our faith in Christ boils down to this statement:
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us,in that while we were still sinners,
Christ died for us.”
God reached down to man by sending His Son Jesus Christ. We are justified before God by our faith in Christ Jesus, because He died for our sins.
Paul in the book of Ephesians puts it this way:
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves;
it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
Ephesians 2:8,9
We cannot work our way to heaven. Salvation is a free gift. All we have to do is,
Admit that we are a sinner, that we have done things wrong. That we have fallen short of God’s ideals. Believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that He died for our sins.
Then ask Christ into our life.
Your salvation is between you and God. Only you and He know if you truly believe.
Something to think about:
Many go to church all their lives out of habit or duty, or because its socially acceptable, or their friends go, or because their parents went or simply because they feel it’s the right thing to do once a week.
Many of those same people are not sure if they were to die today, if they would go to heaven. Are you one of those people?
If so why not pray this prayer,
Dear Heavenly Father
I believe Jesus Christ is your one and only Son. That he came to earth to die for my sins.
I know that I am a sinner. That I fall short of what you want of me.
Please forgive the wrong I have done and come into my life.
To day I give you permission to work in my life. To show me what it is to love and serve you.
I pray this in the name of your son Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Remember it is not the prayer that saved you but your act of faith in praying it. Your act of accepting by faith Christ’s atoning death on the cross for your sins saves you.
Think about it.
Friday, 22 August 2014
A truth
A Truth
“but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb
and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.
They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.”
At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.
“Woman,” he said, “why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”
Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).
Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’
Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her"
John 20:11-18
The resurrection. Without the resurrection from the dead, Jesus is nothing more than a good man, at worst; a prophet at best.
Jesus is, however more, He is God incarnate. God in the flesh.
God in His love for mankind took a small portion of His infiniteness and came to earth in the form of Jesus Christ.
Jesus lived a sinless life and died a sinner’s death, falsely accused for our sins. He descended into hell and rose again conquering sin and death, something only God can do.
C.S. Lewis said,
“He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less.”
This is the cornerstone of Christianity Christ dying for us. Again as C.S. Lewis said,
“The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.”
C.S. Lewis.
Christ showed that love for us in a way by doing what man knows as the ultimate sacrifice giving up his life that we may have eternal life.
Think about it
“but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb
and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.
They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.”
At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.
“Woman,” he said, “why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”
Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).
Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’
Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her"
John 20:11-18
The resurrection. Without the resurrection from the dead, Jesus is nothing more than a good man, at worst; a prophet at best.
Jesus is, however more, He is God incarnate. God in the flesh.
God in His love for mankind took a small portion of His infiniteness and came to earth in the form of Jesus Christ.
Jesus lived a sinless life and died a sinner’s death, falsely accused for our sins. He descended into hell and rose again conquering sin and death, something only God can do.
C.S. Lewis said,
“He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less.”
This is the cornerstone of Christianity Christ dying for us. Again as C.S. Lewis said,
“The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.”
C.S. Lewis.
Christ showed that love for us in a way by doing what man knows as the ultimate sacrifice giving up his life that we may have eternal life.
Think about it
Thursday, 21 August 2014
Man Needs Absolutes
Man needs absolutes
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
Genesis 1:1
The Bible makes no assumptions about God. It does not leave the subject of God’s existence up for debate. From the very first verse it states, “in the beginning God created...”
That one line says it all.
1/ There is a God above all things.
2/ A God that created all things.
In the new testament the gospel of John essentially reiterates the statement of Genesis 1:1 when it states,
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”
John 1:1-3.
The gospel of John however goes one step further stating that “He (Jesus) was with God in the beginning.”
John makes it clear “Through Him(Jesus) all things were made.”
Jesus is God incarnate. He came to show man how much he loved him. He demonstrated in very real terms His love for his created.
Man needs God. He may not realize it but he does.
The Greeks like every other civilization that has ever existed recognized there was more to life than just the physical. They worshipped many god’s, even erecting a temple “to an unknown god”. It was this temple to an unknown god that the apostle Paul picked up on while speaking to the Stoics and Epicureans at the Areopagus.
Paul said,
“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.
And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.
From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.
God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.
Acts 17:24-27
A favourite quote of mine is from Abba Hillel Silver who wrote,
“Faith in God is the strongest bulwark of a free society. Human freedom began when men became conscious that over and above society and nature there is a God who created them...who fashioned them in His likeness, and that they are, therefore, possessed of intrinsic and independent significance and are endowed, as individuals, with original and irrevocable rights and authority.”
Man needs absolutes in his life. Without absolute values in life our society will slip rapidly into anarchy. There is no such thing as one set of moral values for one person and a completely different set of values for someone else.
God has given men an absolute value system it starts with love. Deuteronomy states,
“Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”
Deuteronomy 6:5
Jesus states,
“ ...‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:37-40
Ultimately if we put God first in our lives and love as he loved the world would be a far better place.
All morality ultimately comes down to love. God himself showed that love to us. He gave us a moral code that distilled to it’s simplest form is the ten commandments.
Within the decalogue we are told by God how He expects us to live with respect to Himself and our fellow man.
God however did not stop there to quote Paul,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us”
Romans 5:8
Jesus was sent by God to demonstrate His love.
God realized that mankind was and still is slipping away from the absolute value system He has given us.
Simply put we are sinning and sin separates us from God.
In sending Jesus, God is pointing out to anyone who will listen the way back to fellowship with Him.
Someone has said “we, all mankind, are sailing on a ship to eternity. What we do on board that ship will decide where we spend that eternity.”
The decision is ours. God has given us a free will and a choice. Either accept Him and the salvation Jesus Christ offers or reject Him.
It’s that cut and dry. The decision dear reader is up to you.
Where will you spend eternity?
Think about it?
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
Genesis 1:1
The Bible makes no assumptions about God. It does not leave the subject of God’s existence up for debate. From the very first verse it states, “in the beginning God created...”
That one line says it all.
1/ There is a God above all things.
2/ A God that created all things.
In the new testament the gospel of John essentially reiterates the statement of Genesis 1:1 when it states,
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”
John 1:1-3.
The gospel of John however goes one step further stating that “He (Jesus) was with God in the beginning.”
John makes it clear “Through Him(Jesus) all things were made.”
Jesus is God incarnate. He came to show man how much he loved him. He demonstrated in very real terms His love for his created.
Man needs God. He may not realize it but he does.
The Greeks like every other civilization that has ever existed recognized there was more to life than just the physical. They worshipped many god’s, even erecting a temple “to an unknown god”. It was this temple to an unknown god that the apostle Paul picked up on while speaking to the Stoics and Epicureans at the Areopagus.
Paul said,
“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.
And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.
From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.
God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.
Acts 17:24-27
A favourite quote of mine is from Abba Hillel Silver who wrote,
“Faith in God is the strongest bulwark of a free society. Human freedom began when men became conscious that over and above society and nature there is a God who created them...who fashioned them in His likeness, and that they are, therefore, possessed of intrinsic and independent significance and are endowed, as individuals, with original and irrevocable rights and authority.”
Man needs absolutes in his life. Without absolute values in life our society will slip rapidly into anarchy. There is no such thing as one set of moral values for one person and a completely different set of values for someone else.
God has given men an absolute value system it starts with love. Deuteronomy states,
“Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”
Deuteronomy 6:5
Jesus states,
“ ...‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:37-40
Ultimately if we put God first in our lives and love as he loved the world would be a far better place.
All morality ultimately comes down to love. God himself showed that love to us. He gave us a moral code that distilled to it’s simplest form is the ten commandments.
Within the decalogue we are told by God how He expects us to live with respect to Himself and our fellow man.
God however did not stop there to quote Paul,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us”
Romans 5:8
Jesus was sent by God to demonstrate His love.
God realized that mankind was and still is slipping away from the absolute value system He has given us.
Simply put we are sinning and sin separates us from God.
In sending Jesus, God is pointing out to anyone who will listen the way back to fellowship with Him.
Someone has said “we, all mankind, are sailing on a ship to eternity. What we do on board that ship will decide where we spend that eternity.”
The decision is ours. God has given us a free will and a choice. Either accept Him and the salvation Jesus Christ offers or reject Him.
It’s that cut and dry. The decision dear reader is up to you.
Where will you spend eternity?
Think about it?
Wednesday, 20 August 2014
From John Chapter 3
From John chapter 3
Within this chapter, the Bible makes it clear who Jesus is and His purpose in coming.
It is the love of God that sent Jesus to this world. Not our goodness. The soul reason for Jesus coming to this earth was to reconcile us to God.
“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world
through Him might be saved”.
C.S. Lewis said,
“The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.”
C.S. Lewis
God created us with a free will. He has set down some basic rules for us to live by, but , He allows us to do as we wish. He crated us with a free will. It is our choice, whether we obey or not, and mankind as a whole has chosen to go its own way. Moving away from Him.
In sending Christ, God is giving us a chance to reconcile ourselves with Him.
“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
God made it as simple as He could,
In Acts 2:38, Peter speaking on the day of Pentecost said this,
Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
All we need to do to get to heaven is believe on the LORD Jesus Christ, admit we are a sinner, turn away from our sins. Ask Christ to forgive us and accept Him into our lives.
Something to think about:
Have you ever accepted Jesus into your heart and life.
If not think about doing so.
“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,
even so must the Son of Man be lifted up.
“that whoever believes in Him
should not perish but have eternal life.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him
should not perish but have everlasting life.
“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world,
but that the world through Him might be saved.
John 3:14-17Within this chapter, the Bible makes it clear who Jesus is and His purpose in coming.
It is the love of God that sent Jesus to this world. Not our goodness. The soul reason for Jesus coming to this earth was to reconcile us to God.
“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world
through Him might be saved”.
C.S. Lewis said,
“The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.”
C.S. Lewis
God created us with a free will. He has set down some basic rules for us to live by, but , He allows us to do as we wish. He crated us with a free will. It is our choice, whether we obey or not, and mankind as a whole has chosen to go its own way. Moving away from Him.
In sending Christ, God is giving us a chance to reconcile ourselves with Him.
“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
God made it as simple as He could,
In Acts 2:38, Peter speaking on the day of Pentecost said this,
Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
All we need to do to get to heaven is believe on the LORD Jesus Christ, admit we are a sinner, turn away from our sins. Ask Christ to forgive us and accept Him into our lives.
Something to think about:
Have you ever accepted Jesus into your heart and life.
If not think about doing so.
Tuesday, 19 August 2014
Behold
Behold
In this chapter, the religious officials are trying to trap Jesus into breaking the law. He was in the synagogue and seen a man with a withered hand. He turns to the crowd, asking if it’s right to heal on the Sabbath. He healed the man and Scripture tells us that:
“Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him. But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew from there. And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all. Yet, He warned them not to make Him known. That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet.”
Matthew 12:14-17.
Jesus had God’s approval. God had a plan for His life. The good news of salvation would go through Jesus to the Jews first, then to the Gentiles, the non-Jewish world. Isaiah the prophet, seven hundred years prior to the birth of Jesus, had prophesied that it would happen.
The religious leaders of Christ’s day even debated who he was, Jesus didn’t argue. He simply stated the facts.
Today the truth about Jesus is being declared to the Gentiles in the form of the salvation message of Christ. A salvation message that is for the whole world.
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
Think about it.
“Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen,
My beloved in whom My soul is well pleased!
I will put My Spirit upon Him,
And I will put My Spirit upon Him,
And He will declare justice to the Gentiles,
He will not quarrel nor cry out,
Now will anyone hear His voice in the streets,
A bruised reed He will not break,
And smoking flax He will not quench,
Till He sends forth justice to victory;
And in His name Gentiles will trust.”
Matthew 12: 18-21 quoting Isaiah 42:1-4In this chapter, the religious officials are trying to trap Jesus into breaking the law. He was in the synagogue and seen a man with a withered hand. He turns to the crowd, asking if it’s right to heal on the Sabbath. He healed the man and Scripture tells us that:
“Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him. But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew from there. And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all. Yet, He warned them not to make Him known. That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet.”
Matthew 12:14-17.
Jesus had God’s approval. God had a plan for His life. The good news of salvation would go through Jesus to the Jews first, then to the Gentiles, the non-Jewish world. Isaiah the prophet, seven hundred years prior to the birth of Jesus, had prophesied that it would happen.
The religious leaders of Christ’s day even debated who he was, Jesus didn’t argue. He simply stated the facts.
Today the truth about Jesus is being declared to the Gentiles in the form of the salvation message of Christ. A salvation message that is for the whole world.
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
Think about it.
Monday, 18 August 2014
Darnel
Darnel
“Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.
But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.
When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.
“The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’
“ ‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’
“ ‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them.
Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”
Matthew 13:24-30
The parable of Jesus says it all when it comes to the church. There are many preachers in the church and in the media that might resemble Christians. These men and women may quote the Bible. They may claim to do mighty things for God but really all they are, are fakes.
The Parable quoted by Jesus notes weeds that were sown among the grain. Commentators say he was probably referring to darnel that when it first sprouts looks like wheat. It is even called in some areas false wheat.
So it is with some evangelist and churches in the world today. Jesus even said,
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
Matthew 7:21-23
To the none-Christian I would say don’t look on the negative. If you are truly searching for meaning in life. It’s easy to see these false preachers particularly those in the media and say it’s all a fake or a con.
Don’t be so quick to judge. There are many, many churches out there that are preaching the true word of God.
I would recommend that you take a look particularly at the New Testament and read it. Even pray and ask God to show you the true Jesus Christ.
Ask God to direct you to a good God fearing, Christ proclaiming church that practices love and understanding.
If you do so it has been my experience that God will show you sometimes in spite of your doubt.
Think about it.
“Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.
But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.
When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.
“The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’
“ ‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’
“ ‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them.
Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”
Matthew 13:24-30
The parable of Jesus says it all when it comes to the church. There are many preachers in the church and in the media that might resemble Christians. These men and women may quote the Bible. They may claim to do mighty things for God but really all they are, are fakes.
The Parable quoted by Jesus notes weeds that were sown among the grain. Commentators say he was probably referring to darnel that when it first sprouts looks like wheat. It is even called in some areas false wheat.
So it is with some evangelist and churches in the world today. Jesus even said,
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
Matthew 7:21-23
To the none-Christian I would say don’t look on the negative. If you are truly searching for meaning in life. It’s easy to see these false preachers particularly those in the media and say it’s all a fake or a con.
Don’t be so quick to judge. There are many, many churches out there that are preaching the true word of God.
I would recommend that you take a look particularly at the New Testament and read it. Even pray and ask God to show you the true Jesus Christ.
Ask God to direct you to a good God fearing, Christ proclaiming church that practices love and understanding.
If you do so it has been my experience that God will show you sometimes in spite of your doubt.
Think about it.
A Note from a wise man
A note from a wise man
There are times when I’m writing these blogs that I feel I need to share it with everyone who reads them something of particular interest to me. This is one of those times. The Quote is from Dietrich Bonhoeffer . Dietrich Bonhoeffer knew what it was to love.
Dietrich was born 4 February 1906 Breslau, Silesia Province, Prussia, German Empire he died on 9th April 1945 (aged 39) Flossenbürg concentration camp, Nazi Germany
Bonhoeffer a German Lutheran pastor, theologian, anti-Nazi dissident, and key founding member of the Confessing Church. Wrote,
“Christian love draws no distinction between one enemy and another, except that the more bitter our enemy's hatred, the greater his need of love. Be his enmity political or religious, he has nothing to expect from a follower of Jesus but unqualified love. In such love there is not inner discord between the private person and official capacity. In both we are disciples of Christ, or we are not Christians at all.”
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship
A true Christian will love his enemies no matter what. Dietrich Bonhoeffer understood this. He was imprisoned by Adolf Hitler for doing the right thing, aiding Jews and opposing the barbarism of Hitler’s Nazi Germany.
What Bonhoeffer is saying that we can’t compartmentalize our faith. We must practice it both in our personal life and our professional. It must be a part of our lifestyle.
We must love our enemies. Jesus said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?
Matthew 5:43-46
As Christians we must do what is right no matter the personal cost.
Francis of Assisi said,
“Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”
Francis of Assisi
Jesus said,
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:34,35.
This is what it is to be a true Christian to love even our worst enemies. To do what is right by our fellow man and by God.
Read Bonhoeffer’s words again,
“Christian love draws no distinction between one enemy and another, except that the more bitter our enemy's hatred, the greater his need of love. Be his enmity political or religious, he has nothing to expect from a follower of Jesus but unqualified love. In such love there is not inner discord between the private person and official capacity. In both we are disciples of Christ, or we are not Christians at all.”
Is this the kind of love you show?
Think about it
There are times when I’m writing these blogs that I feel I need to share it with everyone who reads them something of particular interest to me. This is one of those times. The Quote is from Dietrich Bonhoeffer . Dietrich Bonhoeffer knew what it was to love.
Dietrich was born 4 February 1906 Breslau, Silesia Province, Prussia, German Empire he died on 9th April 1945 (aged 39) Flossenbürg concentration camp, Nazi Germany
Bonhoeffer a German Lutheran pastor, theologian, anti-Nazi dissident, and key founding member of the Confessing Church. Wrote,
“Christian love draws no distinction between one enemy and another, except that the more bitter our enemy's hatred, the greater his need of love. Be his enmity political or religious, he has nothing to expect from a follower of Jesus but unqualified love. In such love there is not inner discord between the private person and official capacity. In both we are disciples of Christ, or we are not Christians at all.”
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship
A true Christian will love his enemies no matter what. Dietrich Bonhoeffer understood this. He was imprisoned by Adolf Hitler for doing the right thing, aiding Jews and opposing the barbarism of Hitler’s Nazi Germany.
What Bonhoeffer is saying that we can’t compartmentalize our faith. We must practice it both in our personal life and our professional. It must be a part of our lifestyle.
We must love our enemies. Jesus said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?
Matthew 5:43-46
As Christians we must do what is right no matter the personal cost.
Francis of Assisi said,
“Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”
Francis of Assisi
Jesus said,
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:34,35.
This is what it is to be a true Christian to love even our worst enemies. To do what is right by our fellow man and by God.
Read Bonhoeffer’s words again,
“Christian love draws no distinction between one enemy and another, except that the more bitter our enemy's hatred, the greater his need of love. Be his enmity political or religious, he has nothing to expect from a follower of Jesus but unqualified love. In such love there is not inner discord between the private person and official capacity. In both we are disciples of Christ, or we are not Christians at all.”
Is this the kind of love you show?
Think about it
Sunday, 17 August 2014
To You
To you
“He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less.”
C.S. Lewis
The uniqueness of Christianity is that Christians believe that God wants to have a personal relationship with each and every person on the earth.
He calls out to everyone everywhere and says “come unto me.” Jesus does not expect sacrifice or for us to do good works or even make pilgrimages.
Paul writing to the Ephesians said,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:8,9.
C. S. Lewis wrote
“The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.”
C.S. Lewis
The Apostle Paul writing to the Romans made it clear,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8.
Christians believe that mankind does not have to reach up to God. We as mere mortals are not big enough for that.
Rather we as Christians believe God reached down to mankind and simply asks that we have faith in Him and his one and only Son who said,
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6
Do you believe?
Think about it.
“He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less.”
C.S. Lewis
The uniqueness of Christianity is that Christians believe that God wants to have a personal relationship with each and every person on the earth.
He calls out to everyone everywhere and says “come unto me.” Jesus does not expect sacrifice or for us to do good works or even make pilgrimages.
Paul writing to the Ephesians said,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:8,9.
C. S. Lewis wrote
“The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.”
C.S. Lewis
The Apostle Paul writing to the Romans made it clear,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8.
Christians believe that mankind does not have to reach up to God. We as mere mortals are not big enough for that.
Rather we as Christians believe God reached down to mankind and simply asks that we have faith in Him and his one and only Son who said,
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6
Do you believe?
Think about it.
Saturday, 16 August 2014
From a book
From a book
A book I found amid the myriad of books that line the walls of my home entitled "Essentials in Christian Faith" by John B. Harrington, published in 1958, could have been written yesterday.
It opens with this quote from Paul Gallico in Esquire Magazine in 1948:
"A writer in a popular magazine has written the following words; 'We are all, if you will pardon the expression, Headed for Hell in a handbarrow. If, ever the people of the world stood in need of a spiritual revival, it is now. We are beginning to poison the face of the earth with our miserable presence. The brakes are off. The cart of the world is sliding down the way greased with hatred, ambition, lies, self-seeking and avarice toward the pit.’"
Harrington notes that Gallico makes no pretense of being "a religious man" noting that "...for him it is precisely religion in its organized forms which has in part caused the situation he deplores. He is careful to state that it is not "religion" for which he is looking. For in his opinion, religion throughout the history of our culture has advanced its control over human beings by the investment of bigotry and persecution.
Yet, out of despair over the current human situation he says; ‘The voice for which my heavy spirit is yearning must reach us all... For if it is not heard, we are lost. Something beyond our material enrichment and lust for power and position, some rewards founded on good will, selflessness, and the innate dignity of the human spirit...honour, humility, decency courage."
Gallico is right religion in all it’s forms has caused grief for far too many people. I am the first to admit that many who call themselves Christians especially here in North America are really just religious people.
Many who would espouse themselves to be “evangelicals” are not true Christians. They are reading from the bible. The claim to be fundamentalist yet they twist the words of the bible to fit their own beliefs.
In many ways they are a religious version of a secular way of thinking.
The bible over the years has been used to condemn everything from Elvis’s gyrating hips, to rock and roll to. It has even been used to condone the abomination that is slavery.
We see many who call themselves Christians today spouting judgement on people with whom they disagree.
They judge members of the homosexual community and even religious groups both Christian and none Christian with whom the disagree.
This is not true Christianity.
Jesus said of these people,
“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
Matthew 7:22,23.
What Paul Gallico and many others today are looking for is a faith that is a way of life. One that does not judge but loves. One that offers rest for the soul.
Jesus said,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30
Christianity when practised correctly is first a way of life. A life that incorporates the love of God.
The Apostle Paul defining love as,
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails....
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13
The Apostle Paul writing to a member of the first century church wrote the following,
"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God"
2 Timothy 3:1-4
If Paul Gallico is right and I believe he is, mankind is considerably nearer the bottom of that slope than he was in 1948. Moreover at the bottom of that slope is a very deep lake filled with brimstone.
In Christ however there is hope. There is rest for ones soul. All the individual must do is believe that Jesus is the Christ, God’s one and only Son who offers Salvation and eternal life to all who believe in Him.
Think about it.
A book I found amid the myriad of books that line the walls of my home entitled "Essentials in Christian Faith" by John B. Harrington, published in 1958, could have been written yesterday.
It opens with this quote from Paul Gallico in Esquire Magazine in 1948:
"A writer in a popular magazine has written the following words; 'We are all, if you will pardon the expression, Headed for Hell in a handbarrow. If, ever the people of the world stood in need of a spiritual revival, it is now. We are beginning to poison the face of the earth with our miserable presence. The brakes are off. The cart of the world is sliding down the way greased with hatred, ambition, lies, self-seeking and avarice toward the pit.’"
Harrington notes that Gallico makes no pretense of being "a religious man" noting that "...for him it is precisely religion in its organized forms which has in part caused the situation he deplores. He is careful to state that it is not "religion" for which he is looking. For in his opinion, religion throughout the history of our culture has advanced its control over human beings by the investment of bigotry and persecution.
Yet, out of despair over the current human situation he says; ‘The voice for which my heavy spirit is yearning must reach us all... For if it is not heard, we are lost. Something beyond our material enrichment and lust for power and position, some rewards founded on good will, selflessness, and the innate dignity of the human spirit...honour, humility, decency courage."
Gallico is right religion in all it’s forms has caused grief for far too many people. I am the first to admit that many who call themselves Christians especially here in North America are really just religious people.
Many who would espouse themselves to be “evangelicals” are not true Christians. They are reading from the bible. The claim to be fundamentalist yet they twist the words of the bible to fit their own beliefs.
In many ways they are a religious version of a secular way of thinking.
The bible over the years has been used to condemn everything from Elvis’s gyrating hips, to rock and roll to. It has even been used to condone the abomination that is slavery.
We see many who call themselves Christians today spouting judgement on people with whom they disagree.
They judge members of the homosexual community and even religious groups both Christian and none Christian with whom the disagree.
This is not true Christianity.
Jesus said of these people,
“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
Matthew 7:22,23.
What Paul Gallico and many others today are looking for is a faith that is a way of life. One that does not judge but loves. One that offers rest for the soul.
Jesus said,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30
Christianity when practised correctly is first a way of life. A life that incorporates the love of God.
The Apostle Paul defining love as,
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails....
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13
The Apostle Paul writing to a member of the first century church wrote the following,
"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God"
2 Timothy 3:1-4
If Paul Gallico is right and I believe he is, mankind is considerably nearer the bottom of that slope than he was in 1948. Moreover at the bottom of that slope is a very deep lake filled with brimstone.
In Christ however there is hope. There is rest for ones soul. All the individual must do is believe that Jesus is the Christ, God’s one and only Son who offers Salvation and eternal life to all who believe in Him.
Think about it.
Friday, 15 August 2014
On Christianity
On Christianity
Lucian, Greek rhetorician, pamphleteer, and satirist. (born ad 120, Samosata, Commagene, Syria died after 180, Athens) said of Christians,
"These deluded creatures, you see, have persuaded themselves that they are immortal and will live forever, which explains the contempt of death and willing self-sacrifice so common among them. It was impressed on them too by their lawgiver that from the moment they are converted, deny the gods of Greece, worship the crucified sage, and live after his laws, they are all brothers....”
Lucian like many today do did not believe in Christ. But he definitely described what Christians believe.
I’ve heard Christian friends of mine say Christians can’t loose.
“We may get beat up, tortured, even thrown to lions but we can’t loose.
We believe that we are immortal as is everyone ever born. The difference between Christians and none-Christians is that we are certain where we will spend eternity.”
We believe that in accepting Christ as our Lord and Saviour we will one day be with him in heaven.
C.S. Lewis said of Christianity,
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”
C. S. Lewis.
For me I believe there has to be something to Christianity. We are a people who preach peace and living in harmony with our fellow man. The apostle Paul told Christians,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Romans 12:18-21.
If we Christians are so unimportant. If God does not exist why are governments such as North Korea killing Christians.
Why wont Saudi Arabia allow Christians to practice their faith? Why are atheist in the United States trying to get Christian symbols out of schools and other public places.
It seems to me if there is nothing behind the Christian faith then the symbols and practices of Christianity are meaningless.
Roman Emperor Julian the Apostate, (361-363 A.D.) an ancient adversary of Christianity. Said in his work against Christianity:
“Jesus…has now been celebrated about three hundred years having done nothing in his lifetime worthy of fame, unless anyone thinks it is a very great work to heal lame and blind people and exorcise demoniacs in the villages of Bethsaida and Bethany.”
At the end of his life Julian was forced to say:“Thou has conquered, O Galilean!”
Over the centuries many men and governments have come against Christianity yet none have prevailed.
Christianity is stronger today than it has ever been and it is still growing even in countries that try to suppress it.
It continues to grow because it is of God, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.
Think about it.
Lucian, Greek rhetorician, pamphleteer, and satirist. (born ad 120, Samosata, Commagene, Syria died after 180, Athens) said of Christians,
"These deluded creatures, you see, have persuaded themselves that they are immortal and will live forever, which explains the contempt of death and willing self-sacrifice so common among them. It was impressed on them too by their lawgiver that from the moment they are converted, deny the gods of Greece, worship the crucified sage, and live after his laws, they are all brothers....”
Lucian like many today do did not believe in Christ. But he definitely described what Christians believe.
I’ve heard Christian friends of mine say Christians can’t loose.
“We may get beat up, tortured, even thrown to lions but we can’t loose.
We believe that we are immortal as is everyone ever born. The difference between Christians and none-Christians is that we are certain where we will spend eternity.”
We believe that in accepting Christ as our Lord and Saviour we will one day be with him in heaven.
C.S. Lewis said of Christianity,
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”
C. S. Lewis.
For me I believe there has to be something to Christianity. We are a people who preach peace and living in harmony with our fellow man. The apostle Paul told Christians,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Romans 12:18-21.
If we Christians are so unimportant. If God does not exist why are governments such as North Korea killing Christians.
Why wont Saudi Arabia allow Christians to practice their faith? Why are atheist in the United States trying to get Christian symbols out of schools and other public places.
It seems to me if there is nothing behind the Christian faith then the symbols and practices of Christianity are meaningless.
Roman Emperor Julian the Apostate, (361-363 A.D.) an ancient adversary of Christianity. Said in his work against Christianity:
“Jesus…has now been celebrated about three hundred years having done nothing in his lifetime worthy of fame, unless anyone thinks it is a very great work to heal lame and blind people and exorcise demoniacs in the villages of Bethsaida and Bethany.”
At the end of his life Julian was forced to say:“Thou has conquered, O Galilean!”
Over the centuries many men and governments have come against Christianity yet none have prevailed.
Christianity is stronger today than it has ever been and it is still growing even in countries that try to suppress it.
It continues to grow because it is of God, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.
Think about it.
Thursday, 14 August 2014
A Note on Homosexuality
A note on Homosexuality.
I try not to comment directly on any group of people in these blogs. I strongly feel that all people are equal in the eyes of God. That he does not play favourites and that all people everywhere need to come to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Still someone questioned me the other day asking, can a homosexual get into heaven. I knew the correct answer, but I ran it past my pastor anyway. He agreed with me saying without hesitation, yes.
That being said I believe the Christian community and especially those who espouse to be evangelical Christians are doing at the very least a disservice to the Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) community.
Sadly all too many treat members of this community as if they have a so called “special sin” nothing could be further from the truth. No one is born with or acquires a special sin.
The Apostle Paul writing to the Romans wrote,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”
Romans 3:23.
By all he means all, every, man woman, child, pope, priest, minister, Christian, president, Prime Minister and anyone else who ever lived.
I believe sin separates us from God. That all sin no matter how big or small is equal that there are no special sins.
Sin is simply falling short of God’s ideals for one’s life. Not doing what God want’s us to do.
I believe the Psalmist who said,
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”
Psalm 139:13-16.
According to the Psalmist God knit us together in our mothers womb. That to me tells me God knows our DNA. God also knows our heart and wants all mankind to draw near to him. That I believe is why he said to his disciples and to us not to Judge.
Jesus made it clear,
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Matthew 7:1,2
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets”
Matthew 7:12.
I certainly would not want mortals judging me. No man or woman however wise truly knows the heart and mind of another person.
Our churches should be a place where anyone can come to learn about Christ. A place of safety a place of understanding.
Sadly they are not always that way. I certainly have experience people who have been harsh with me and failed to accept me for what I am.
I live with Bipolar Affective Disorder (manic depression) and I have actually had a person in the church come up to me and say mental illness is an excuse for being weak a person who claims to have it needs to pick themselves up by their boot straps and get on with life.
A second person even accused me of being demon possessed. What Garbage!
I heard and interesting comment on a Christian radio show this morning. The commentator apparently asked people if they were caught drunk driving and their names appeared in the news paper the next day, would they feel comfortable about going to church that Sunday.
The majority of people sadly said they wouldn’t. That they’d wait for several weeks until the dust settle before returning to church.
The commentator noted that it should not be this way. That it was the equivalent of a man breaking a leg and not wanting to go to a hospital because they didn’t want the doctors to see them injured.
Our churches need to be all inclusive. They need to reach out to all people no matter their way of life. And by “All” I mean all should feel free to come into our churches and feel accepted.
For me as a Christian I have, I believe, one job to present the good news of Jesus Christ to people.
Yes I believe members of the LBGT community can get to heaven they are like anyone else in the world subject to the same rules as everyone else they I believe must believe the following,
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6
I believe everyone must confess their sins to God. That it is God who convicts people of their sin. He shows them the sin in their life. God shows the individual where they fall short of Him. No man can do that.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.”
1John 1:9-10
In short everyone sins even if it’s just driving one kilometre over the speed limit or failing to be completely honest for whatever reason or for that matter judges someone.
I believe that Salvation comes from God that he reached down to mankind. That we must receive his saving grace. The apostle Paul writes,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:8,9
I believe that man could never be good enough to meet God thus he sent down his one and only son do die for us,
Paul writing to the Romans saying,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8
Ultimately all of what I believe comes down to faith. The writer of Hebrews saying,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:1
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.’
Hebrews 11:6
For me it’s not a matter of whether you are strait or gay. It’s a walk of faith that saves us.
We ALL must admit we are sinners in need of God’s saving grace and we must accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior for it is he who died to save us.
Therefore I leave this thought with you.
No matter who you are, gay, lesbian, transgendered, a cross dresser, a heterosexual man or woman, a high profile televangelist, the pastor of a local church, the person who sits in the pew or for that matter someone sitting in a row boat, all need to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour.
Have you accepted Christ into your life?
For it was Jesus who said,
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6
Think about it.
I try not to comment directly on any group of people in these blogs. I strongly feel that all people are equal in the eyes of God. That he does not play favourites and that all people everywhere need to come to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Still someone questioned me the other day asking, can a homosexual get into heaven. I knew the correct answer, but I ran it past my pastor anyway. He agreed with me saying without hesitation, yes.
That being said I believe the Christian community and especially those who espouse to be evangelical Christians are doing at the very least a disservice to the Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) community.
Sadly all too many treat members of this community as if they have a so called “special sin” nothing could be further from the truth. No one is born with or acquires a special sin.
The Apostle Paul writing to the Romans wrote,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”
Romans 3:23.
By all he means all, every, man woman, child, pope, priest, minister, Christian, president, Prime Minister and anyone else who ever lived.
I believe sin separates us from God. That all sin no matter how big or small is equal that there are no special sins.
Sin is simply falling short of God’s ideals for one’s life. Not doing what God want’s us to do.
I believe the Psalmist who said,
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”
Psalm 139:13-16.
According to the Psalmist God knit us together in our mothers womb. That to me tells me God knows our DNA. God also knows our heart and wants all mankind to draw near to him. That I believe is why he said to his disciples and to us not to Judge.
Jesus made it clear,
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Matthew 7:1,2
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets”
Matthew 7:12.
I certainly would not want mortals judging me. No man or woman however wise truly knows the heart and mind of another person.
Our churches should be a place where anyone can come to learn about Christ. A place of safety a place of understanding.
Sadly they are not always that way. I certainly have experience people who have been harsh with me and failed to accept me for what I am.
I live with Bipolar Affective Disorder (manic depression) and I have actually had a person in the church come up to me and say mental illness is an excuse for being weak a person who claims to have it needs to pick themselves up by their boot straps and get on with life.
A second person even accused me of being demon possessed. What Garbage!
I heard and interesting comment on a Christian radio show this morning. The commentator apparently asked people if they were caught drunk driving and their names appeared in the news paper the next day, would they feel comfortable about going to church that Sunday.
The majority of people sadly said they wouldn’t. That they’d wait for several weeks until the dust settle before returning to church.
The commentator noted that it should not be this way. That it was the equivalent of a man breaking a leg and not wanting to go to a hospital because they didn’t want the doctors to see them injured.
Our churches need to be all inclusive. They need to reach out to all people no matter their way of life. And by “All” I mean all should feel free to come into our churches and feel accepted.
For me as a Christian I have, I believe, one job to present the good news of Jesus Christ to people.
Yes I believe members of the LBGT community can get to heaven they are like anyone else in the world subject to the same rules as everyone else they I believe must believe the following,
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6
I believe everyone must confess their sins to God. That it is God who convicts people of their sin. He shows them the sin in their life. God shows the individual where they fall short of Him. No man can do that.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.”
1John 1:9-10
In short everyone sins even if it’s just driving one kilometre over the speed limit or failing to be completely honest for whatever reason or for that matter judges someone.
I believe that Salvation comes from God that he reached down to mankind. That we must receive his saving grace. The apostle Paul writes,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:8,9
I believe that man could never be good enough to meet God thus he sent down his one and only son do die for us,
Paul writing to the Romans saying,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8
Ultimately all of what I believe comes down to faith. The writer of Hebrews saying,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:1
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.’
Hebrews 11:6
For me it’s not a matter of whether you are strait or gay. It’s a walk of faith that saves us.
We ALL must admit we are sinners in need of God’s saving grace and we must accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior for it is he who died to save us.
Therefore I leave this thought with you.
No matter who you are, gay, lesbian, transgendered, a cross dresser, a heterosexual man or woman, a high profile televangelist, the pastor of a local church, the person who sits in the pew or for that matter someone sitting in a row boat, all need to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour.
Have you accepted Christ into your life?
For it was Jesus who said,
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6
Think about it.
Wednesday, 13 August 2014
On Judgement
on Judgement
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”
1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
Perhaps the biggest complaint I hear from none Christians, particularly about those claiming to be evangelical Christians is they are always judging them.
I as a Christian agree.
When I look at some evangelist on Television all I do see at times is judgment being spouted on the general public.
The Apostle Paul never taught that. Here in the verses I quoted he makes it clear that Christians have no right to judge those outside the church. That they are however to expel the wicked from among them.
Jesus made it clear,
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Matthew 7:1,2.
I believe this. I am also certain that it is not only God that will judge those who judge but the fellow Christians and the secular world.
Jesus also said,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets”
Matthew 7:12.
I certainly would not want mortals judging me. No man or woman however wise truly knows the heart and mind of another person.
God on the other hand I believe knows not only the heart and mind of an individual but the very DNA of the individual. Thus he fully understands what motivates a person to do what they do.
For me as a Christian I have I believe one job to present the good news of Jesus Christ to people.
I believe people need to know at the very least these few things,
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6
The Apostle Paul wrote,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”
Romans 3:23
And by all Paul meant All every, man woman, child, pope, priest, minister, Christian, president, Prime Minister and anyone else who ever lived.
I believe sin separates us from God. That all sin no matter how big or small is equal that there are no special sins.
I believe
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.”
1John 1:9-10
I believe,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:8,9
I believe that man could never be good enough to meet God thus he sent down his one and only son do die for us,
Paul writing to the Romans saying,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8
Ultimately all of what I believe comes down to faith. The writer of Hebrews saying,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:1
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."
Hebrews 11:6
So dear reader I leave things with you. Do you believe what I have said or not. The choice is always yours.
Think about it.
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”
1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
Perhaps the biggest complaint I hear from none Christians, particularly about those claiming to be evangelical Christians is they are always judging them.
I as a Christian agree.
When I look at some evangelist on Television all I do see at times is judgment being spouted on the general public.
The Apostle Paul never taught that. Here in the verses I quoted he makes it clear that Christians have no right to judge those outside the church. That they are however to expel the wicked from among them.
Jesus made it clear,
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Matthew 7:1,2.
I believe this. I am also certain that it is not only God that will judge those who judge but the fellow Christians and the secular world.
Jesus also said,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets”
Matthew 7:12.
I certainly would not want mortals judging me. No man or woman however wise truly knows the heart and mind of another person.
God on the other hand I believe knows not only the heart and mind of an individual but the very DNA of the individual. Thus he fully understands what motivates a person to do what they do.
For me as a Christian I have I believe one job to present the good news of Jesus Christ to people.
I believe people need to know at the very least these few things,
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6
The Apostle Paul wrote,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”
Romans 3:23
And by all Paul meant All every, man woman, child, pope, priest, minister, Christian, president, Prime Minister and anyone else who ever lived.
I believe sin separates us from God. That all sin no matter how big or small is equal that there are no special sins.
I believe
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.”
1John 1:9-10
I believe,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:8,9
I believe that man could never be good enough to meet God thus he sent down his one and only son do die for us,
Paul writing to the Romans saying,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8
Ultimately all of what I believe comes down to faith. The writer of Hebrews saying,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:1
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."
Hebrews 11:6
So dear reader I leave things with you. Do you believe what I have said or not. The choice is always yours.
Think about it.
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