A Definite Statement

A definite statement
The Bible tells us,
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1.
The writers of the Bible did not argue about the existence of God. It was written to believers and therefor God’s existence was not in debate.
Sadly many who do not believe in God do not believe because they say He cannot be seen felt or heard. Evidence of God however is all around. The Psalmist states,

The heavens declare the glory of God; 

the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 

Day after day they pour forth speech; 

night after night they display knowledge. 

There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.” 

Psalm 19:1-3.

What the psalmist is saying is proof of God is all around. The entire universe is proof of God.
The universe is in perfect order. Everything from the largest galaxy to the smallest subatomic particle works together to produce life as we know it on earth. To my way of thinking that tells me there is a creator behind it all.
Ultimately however it is up to the individual to decide whether God exists or not.
I like to think believing in God is “informed faith”. Informed faith meaning looking at the world around you. Seeing it’s perfection and realizing that behind it all is a God who created it all.
Please think about it.

Your Wager

Your Wager
The writer of Ecclesiastes notes,
“I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. 
Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 2:10,11.
Atheist claim there is no God. If so what the writer of Ecclesiastes wrote above is true. Everything is meaningless a chasing after the wind.
That being said I am not an atheist and believe they are wrong, God does exist.
Peter John Kreeft Wrote of Atheism,
“Atheism treats people cheaply. Also, it robs death of meaning, and if death has no meaning, how can life ultimately have meaning? Atheism cheapens everything it touches,....”Peter John Kreeft ph.d 
The way I see it Atheist make themselves into god. They make a blanket statement saying God does not exist. However in order to truly know God does not exist one must have been everywhere and know everything. An attribute of God.
Lets be practical here. No person living today knows everything. And no one living today has gone beyond the grave and come back to tell about it. Thus it is impossible for an Atheist to say beyond a reasonable doubt that God does not exist.
The consequences are eternal for both those who believe in God and those who don’t. If someone believes in God and it is ultimately found He does not exist. The Believer in God has nothing to fear in the light of eternity.
If on the other hand one does not believe God exist and he does exist, the non-believer has a great deal to worry about.
I like what Blaise Pascal wrote,
“Belief is a wise wager. Granted that faith cannot be proved, what harm will come to you if you gamble on its truth and it proves false? If you gain, you gain all; if you lose, you lose nothing. Wager, then, without hesitation, that He exists.” Blaise Pascal
As for me personally I have placed my wager and gone all in that God exists. I believe the writer of Ecclesiastes who finally come to the conclusion,
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole  duty  of man. 
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.”Ecclesiastes 12:13,14 .
Please think about it.

Take a Minute

Take a Minute
Here is something to consider doing. The Psalmist wrote,

“Show me, O LORD, my life’s end and the number of my days; 

let me know how fleeting is my life. 

You have made my days a mere hand breadth; 

the span of my years is as nothing before you. 

Each man’s life is but a breath. 

                                                 Psalms 39:4,5

Find a quiet place and consider what the Psalmist is saying here.
Think about your life how fragile it is. How brief your life in this world is in the light of eternity. Then ask yourself where will I spend eternity?
If you are unsure consider the words of Jesus who speaking of himself said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”  John 3:16,17
Consider the words of the Apostle John who said,
“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.  
In him was life, and that life was the light of men....
He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.  
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—  children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. 
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:1-4, 11-14.
What the Apostle John is saying here is the God that created the heavens and the earth and everything in it, loved mankind so much he came into the world He created in the form of his one and only Son Jesus Christ. To show each person the way to heaven.
Not only that but to all who would accept Jesus by faith into their lives he gave the right to become children of God.
That to my way of thinking is an incredible privilege offered to each and every person who hears about Jesus.
What do you think?
Please think about it.

Not wanting anyone to Perish

Not wanting anyone to perish
The apostle Peter wrote,

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. 

He is patient with you, 

not wanting anyone to perish, 

but everyone to come to repentance.” 

                                                 2 Peter 3:9

God is patient. He does not want anyone to perish. Jesus Speaking of himself said,

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, 

that whoever believes in him shall not perish 

but have eternal life.  

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, 

but to save the world through him John 

                                                     3:16,17.

I believe sometimes this message is lost on many who call themselves Christians especially here in North America where I live.
Many who call themselves Christians, rather than trying to save the world are too busy pointing out what is wrong with the world to save souls.
Pointing out the wrongs of the world is not the job of Christians. Billy Graham the great American evangelist said,

“It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God’s job to judge 

and my job to love,” 

                          Billy Graham.

Mr Graham is right. We as Christians have no right to judge those outside the church. The apostle Paul states,

“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? 

Are you not to judge those inside?” 

                                   1 Corinthians 5:12.

You will never lead a soul to Christ if you are judging them in any way shape or form. As Billy Graham said we are called to love. The apostle Paul defined true Christian love this way,

“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.

This is what true believers in Christ should be showing to the world rather than judging people.
God does not want anyone to perish and the only way for that to happen is if those who believe in God stick to the message Christ gave us when he said,

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, 

that whoever believes in him shall not perish 

but have eternal life.  

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, 

but to save the world through him John 

                                                     3:16,17.

The writer of Hebrews tells us,

“Make every effort to live in peace with all men 

and to be holy; 

without holiness no one will see the Lord.” 

                                                       Hebrews 12:14.

If you claim to be a believer in Christ Jesus are you doing this?
Please think about it.

On Finding God

On finding God
The Book of Deuteronomy tells us,
“But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.”  Deuteronomy 4:29.
C. S. Lewis states,
“He shows much more of Himself to some people than to others-not because He has favourites, but because it is impossible for Him to show Himself to a man whose whole mind and character are in the wrong condition.”  C. S. Lewis.
God is always there willing to show himself to anyone who wishes to see him. Sadly the trouble with many people who say God does not exist is that they refuse to look. They have made up their minds and all the proof in the world will not convince them.
You have to be looking for God in order to find Him. Additionally finding God takes faith. And faith is something we all have even atheist.
Atheist have faith in their own knowledge.
The trouble with mortal man is that man can only truly know what is this side of the grave. No one living today has gone beyond the grave and come back to tell about it.
It takes faith to believe there is something beyond the grave. It’s easy to look at the world around you and say “I can’t see God. Therefore He doesn’t exist.”
The thing is God shows his existence in the world around us. The Psalmist tells us,

“The heavens declare the glory of God; 

the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” 

                                            Psalm 19:1.

Everything in the universe is perfect order mathematically. Scientist may not have all the formulas yet but given good science and time I believe science will show there is a definite order in the universe. That everything from the smallest subatomic particle to the largest galaxy is interlinked.
That the universe was designed in such away as for life to exist as we know it on this planet.
Until that point however we must have faith that there is a God who loves us. The writer of Hebrews telling us,

“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.

Please think about it.

Your Refuge

Your Refuge

“But as for me, it is good to be near God.

I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; 

I will tell of all your deeds.” 

                                  Psalm 73:28.

Is God truly your refuge? Do you truly trust God to provide for you? Matthews gospel records this encounter between Jesus and a rich man
“Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” 
“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.” 
“Which ones?” the man inquired. Jesus replied, “ ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony,  honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’’” 
“All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” 
Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 
When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.” Matthew 19:16-22.
Here was a man who believed in God. Who obeyed the Mosaic Law. Yet lacked complete faith in God. He trusted in his wealth more than God.
Now there’s nothing wrong with having wealth. It’s our relationship to our wealth that can cause problems. The apostle Paul tells us,
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” 1 Timothy 6:10.
It’s the love of money that can cause problems and pull people away from their faith.
Jesus said,
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21. 
As believers in Christ Jesus we need to truly decide where our faith lies. It’s easy to give lip service. It’s easy to say I believe God exists. It’s much harder to place your trust in God especially if you have wealth.
I strongly believe that we must put our complete trust in God and not our wealth. Joshua addressing the Israelites said this,
“Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.  
But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24: 14,15.
Question, Who are you truly serving? Is your faith in God or the things of this world?
Please think about it.  

A Fundamental Truth

A Fundamental Truth.
The book of Genesis states,
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1.
This statement sums up the first two chapters of the book of Genesis. At the same time it sums up what both Jews and Christians believe. “God created the universe and everything in it.”
When the book of Genesis was written as with all Biblical books it was not intended as a book of science. It was written as a book of faith intended to be understood by all people from the most ancient of days to the present time.
Had the writer attempted to write the book in modern scientific terms the readers prior to our generation and many in our generation would not have understood it.
The book of Genesis simply states “God created the heavens and the earth” how it was created, be it through the big bang, through evolution over millions of years, or in six twenty-four hour days is unimportant.
The only important fact is “God created the heavens and the Earth.”
That being said, the Bible points out that there is evidence of God saying,

“The heavens declare the glory of God; 

the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 

Day after day they pour forth speech;

 night after night they display knowledge. 

There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.” 

                                                                         Psalm 19:1-3.

The way I see it is the perfection of the universe from the largest galaxy to the smallest subatomic particle speaks of a divine creator. For we live in a universe that is designed in such a way that it makes it possible for we as human beings to exist. I for one cannot believe this is simply by chance.
Thus the choice is up to you. Do you believe there is a God who created the universe and everything in it or not?
Please think about it.

Watch Out

Watch out
Jesus said,
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.  
By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?  
Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.  
A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.” Matthew 7:15-18
He went on to say,
“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!’” Matthew7:22,23
The Apostle Paul states,
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 2Timothy 4:3,4
As Christians we need to be educated in our faith. We need to study the word or God. We need to know what we believe in and why we believe it. Sadly many Christians do not know why they believe what they believe.
Many Christians take a pastor or evangelist at face value believing him or her simply because they have a Bible in hand and are saying things that sound good.
We should not be doing that. Everyone who claims to be a minister, a priest, and evangelist needs to be checked out.
My life as a follower of Jesus spans forty plus years now. In that time I have seen many false teachers arise. I have seen many evangelist, priests, bishops, and pastors fall into disrepute. Yet sadly especially it seems in the evangelical community there are still people taking advantage of Christians by stringing a few scriptures together that sound good.
I for one cannot emphasise enough the need for individual Christians to study the Bible. To not be afraid to check out what a minister or evangelist says.
Yes there are going to be differences of opinion on some points within the Christian community. However the major points cannot be compromised.
The apostles creed while not written by an apostle of Jesus presents to all what true Christians believe it states,
1.I believe in God the Father the almighty maker of heaven and earth
2. I believe in Jesus Christ God’s on and only Son, our Lord and Saviour.
3. I believe Jesus was conceived by the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary
4. I believe Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate; That He was Crucified, died, was buried. That he descended in hell.
5. I believe He rose again on the third day from the dead.
6. I believe that he ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
7. I believe Jesus will one day Judge the living and the dead.
8. I believe in the Holy Ghost
9. I believe in the Church which is the communion of the saints,
10. I believe in the forgiveness of sin.
11. I believe in the resurrection of the body.
12. I believe in life everlasting.   
These are biblical based beliefs that all Christians agree to. I believe you must believe what is said here in order to be a true Christian.
Still beware. Even if a preacher says they believe in this one still has to be careful. It’s easy to give lip service to any belief.
What one needs to do is check what the preacher is saying against the Bible. Look at their ministry is it truly giving glory to God? Especially if money is involved is he and his ministry correctly handling any donations given to it?
Is the person living a life in line with the teaching of Jesus.
Both we as individuals and the ministers we support should be taking to heart the words of the apostle Paul to Timothy that states,
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2Timothy 2:15.
Please think about it. 

The Choice is Yours

The choice is yours
The book of Joshua records,
“Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.  
But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. 
But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24: 14,15.
I am a Christian. I believe in God. I believe God created the heavens and the earth. Whether he took billions of years to create the universe or six day is irrelevant to me. The fact is I believe he exists and created universe.
The apostle Paul speaking to the Athenians 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.  
‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’” Acts 17:24-28.
I believe we only have to look around to see God’s handiwork. The Psalmist states,

“The heavens declare the glory of God; 

the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” 

                                                                                        Psalm 19:1.
From the largest galaxy to the smallest subatomic particle everything works in unity to give us life as we know it. I cannot believe this is all by chance.
Einstein said,
“Human beings vegetables  or cosmic dust. We all dance to a mysterious tune, intoned in the distance by an invisible player.” Albert Einstein.
I believe that invisible player is God and that by creating such a perfectly integrated universe we can if we are willing see the handiwork of God.
That being said, I have said in previous blog posts that God did not make robots. He created human beings, individuals with freedom of thought and action. That includes not believing in God and going one’s own way.
However I also believe the writer of, Ecclesiastes who said,
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole  duty  of man. 
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” Ecclesiastes12:13,14. 
I also believe the words of Jesus speaking of himself as recorded in the book of John when he said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son”. John 3:16-18.
Ultimately you must decide who and what you believe in. If I as a Christian am wrong then I have nothing to fear as I have in following what the Bible states will have lived a good life.
On the other hand if what I believe is true then it will have eternal consequences for all who do not believe in God.
Please think about it. 

Rules that prove the fact

Rules that prove the fact
In brief the ten commandments read,

1/“You shall have no other gods before me.” 

2/“You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them;...” 

3/ “You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.” 

4/ “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.”  

5/ “Honour your father and your mother,” 

6/“You shall not murder.” 

7/“You shall not commit adultery.” 

8/“You shall not steal.” 

9/“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.” 

10/“You shall not covet “

                                                                                       From Exodus 20:2-17.
Here to me is something that proves God exists. Quoted above are the Ten Commandments. They were given to Moses by God thousands of years ago and are universally applicable to every man and woman on the planet. These are rules for living that I firmly believe are in the hearts of everyman.
Following these ten basic rules for living makes society a safe and loving place.
Such rules I do not believe simply evolved over the centuries. I cannot believe ancient man simply convened a conference of all the tribes of the earth and agreed on such rules. I believe God himself instilled them in our hearts and minds from the day we were conceived. I believe they are part of our DNA.
The ten commandments tell mankind first of all how God expect the individual to act with respect to God. The first three state,

1/“You shall have no other gods before me.” 

2/“You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them;...” 

3/ “You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.” 

There is only one God to be worshipped and that is the Lord God almighty. We are to have no other Gods. We are not to make and worship idols. We are not to misuse God’s name.
Number four states

4/ “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.” 

We can work six days a week but on the seventh we are to rest and worship God. Having a day of rest is even accepted by health advocates as a good thing.
The fifth tells us,

5/ “Honour your father and your mother,” 

We are to honour our father and mother. Years ago there use to be a saying around the church that said, “Don’t let your parents down, they brought you up.”
The next commands are what is needed for an orderly society, they state,

6/“You shall not murder.” 

7/“You shall not commit adultery.” 

8/“You shall not steal.” 

9/“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.” 

10/“You shall not covet “

As I said I do not believe ancient man could come up with such universally accepted law as the ten commandments. Laws that encompass both mans relationship to God and his relationship with his fellow man.
That being said I leave the decision with you the reader. Do you believe there is a God the creator of heaven and earth or not?
The choice is yours.
Please think about it. 

Who is Jesus

Who is Jesus?
Throughout the centuries Christians have asked people to answer the question Jesus asked of Martha when he said,
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;  and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
“Yes Lord” she told Him, “I believe you are the Christ the Son of God, who was to come into the world,” John 11:25,26,27.
Jesus among all the individuals that have ever lived stands alone.
Napoleon Bonaparte said of him,
“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 search in vain history to find similar to Jesus Christ, or anything which can approach the gospel.  Neither history nor humanity, nor ages, nor nature, offer me anything with which I am able to compare it or to explain it. Here everything is extraordinary.” Napoleon Bonaparte.
H. G. Wells, British writer, (1866-1946) When asked which person left the most permanent impression on history, he replied that judging a person’s greatness by historical standards:
“By this test, Jesus stands first.”
“I am a historian, I am not a believer, but I must confess as a historian that this penniless preacher from Nazareth is irrevocably the very centre of history. Jesus Christ is easily the most dominant figure in all history.”
“Christ is the most unique person of history. No man can write a history of the human race without giving first and foremost place to the penniless teacher of Nazareth.” H. G. Wells.
The apostle John writes,
“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.  
In him was life, and that life was the light of men....
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. ” John 1:1-4,14
What John is saying here is Jesus is God, the creator of the universe. That God in the form of Jesus entered the world he created. Jesus is God incarnate.
The gospel of John tells of this incident in the life of Jesus,
“The Jews gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 
Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.  
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.  
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.  
I and the Father are one.” 
Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?” John 10:24-32.
Even when faced with stoning and death Jesus did not back down on saying who he was.
The apostle Paul tells us why Jesus came, stating,
“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 5:6,7.
The apostle John stating,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16,17.
God sent Jesus to point man to heaven. To provide mankind with a way directly to heaven through faith in Christ Jesus.
C. S. Lewis states,
“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
  Ultimately you must decide who Jesus is. Before you do however I would ask that you read the New Testament for yourself. Read what Christians who knew Jesus personally believed about him. Then decide.
Please think about it.

Jesus is of God

Jesus is of God
One of the purposes for me writing these blogs is to tell who Jesus. This post addresses this point directly
The Book of Acts tells this incident that occurred about two of Christ’s disciples who had been told by the religious leadership of their day not to speak of Jesus. They  were caught despite the warning, speaking about Jesus publicly. It records,
“We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.” 
Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men!   The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead—whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree.  
God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.  
We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” 
When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death.   But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while.  
Then he addressed them: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men.  
Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing.  
After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered.   Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.  
But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” Acts 5:28-39.
The question regarding Jesus and Christianity as a whole is, is it of God?
I as a Christian believe Jesus is all he says He is. The Son of God, the Saviour of mankind.
Jesus is recorded as saying, “I and the Father are one.” John 10:30. Meaning he is one with God the Father.
Marks Gospel opens with,
“The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” Mark 1:1. So mark believed Jesus was the Son of God.
The apostle John speaking about the reason he wrote his gospel states,
“Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book.  
But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” John 20:30,31
John states the same thing in 1John stating,
“And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.  
If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God.” 1John 4:14,15.
John’s gospel records Jesus as asking the question we all must answer when it comes to Jesus,
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;  and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
“Yes Lord” she told Him, “I believe you are the Christ the Son of God, who was to come into the world,” John 11:25,26,27.
I believe as Martha did. I believe history has proven He is of God. That history has proven Jesus is from God.
The proof is as they say in the pudding.
Christianity has grown from a tiny sect of Judaism in a backwater of the mighty Roman empire to the largest religion in the world today.
Christianity despite persecution throughout history and all over the world even today is still growing.
Those who have tried to eradicate it have all fallen by the way side. Many just footnotes in history. Many more forgotten all together.
The question is who do you believe Jesus is.
Why not take some time to read the New Testament and see for yourself what his followers believed about him? Why not pray and ask God to show you the truth.
Please, think about it. 

The Easter Message

The Easters Message.

Luke the writer of the book of acts tells us about this incident in the apostle Pauls life. What Luke writes that sums up the message of Easter, the message Christians want the world to hear. Luke records,
“So he (Paul) reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.  
A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.   Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?  
You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean.”  
(All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.) 
Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.  
For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. 
“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.  
‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ 
“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man’s design and skill.  
In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.  
For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.” 
When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.”  
At that, Paul left the Council.  
A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others”  Acts 17:17-34.
The message the apostle Paul delivered that day to the Athenians is the same message God wants the people of the world to here today. It is the message of Easter summed up.
It is the message all true Christians want people to believe.
Please think about it.

Jesus and You

Jesus and You
The Writer of Hebrews states,
“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.  
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” Hebrews 1:1-3.
The apostle John writes,
“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.  
In him was life, and that life was the light of men....
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. ” John 1:1-4,14.
Christians believe Jesus is “The Word” mentioned by John. That He God incarnate, God in the flesh. That he came to earth to purify individuals of their sins.
The Apostle Paul states,
“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. 
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!” Romans 5:6-9
What Christians believe I know in some circles is controversial but it is what we believe. It is what we ask the people of the world to believe.
 The apostles creed while not written by an apostle of Jesus expresses what Christians ask people to believe it states,

I believe in God the Father the almighty maker of heaven and earth

I believe in Jesus Christ God’s one and only Son, our Lord and Saviour.

I believe Jesus was conceived by the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary

I believe Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate; 

That He was Crucified, died, was buried. That he descended in hell.

 I believe He rose again on the third day from the dead.

I believe that he ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty.

I believe Jesus will one day Judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost

I believe in the Church which is the communion of the saints,

I believe in the forgiveness of sin.

I believe in the resurrection of the body.

I believe in life everlasting. 

As I write this it is Easter. It is one of the holiest date on the Christian calendar. The weekend when Christians celebrate the death burial and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
A time for Christians to celebrate our faith. For we as Christians believe that while Jesus died on the cross. That he was buried, and descended into hell. He did not stay their. Instead he rose from the dead walked briefly on this earth and ascended into heaven. From where he will judge the world.
The question however is not what I as a Christian believe. It is what you the reader believe.
I believe that if I am wrong in my beliefs I have nothing to fear for I would have lived a good and interesting life.
That being said if I am right those who do not agree with me have a great deal to fear.
C. S. Lewis once wrote,
“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.
It is so important to my mind that what you believe about Jesus, I believe has eternal consequences.
Please take some time to read at least the New Testament, and even if you are sceptical, pray and ask God to show you the truth.
Please think about it.

Confess and Believe

Confess and Believe
The Apostle Paul writes,
“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.  
As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”  
For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,  for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” Romans 10:9-13.
Do you have the assurance that you are going to heaven?
If you were to die tonight would you enter heaven?
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.

Christians believe we get into heaven through our faith in Christ. Through the grace of God.  Not by our works.
Isaiah the prophet wrote,
“All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.” Isaiah 64:6.
We cannot live a life good enough to stand before a holy God that is why God in the form of Jesus God entered the world. To pay the price for our sins. So that we would not have to suffer for them. This is how much he loved us.
The God I know and worship the creator of heaven and earth is truly a God of love.
The apostle Paul writing to the Romans tells us,
“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.
Jesus speaking of himself made this statement,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16,17.
Belief, faith, in anyone especially someone you cannot see can be very difficult for many people. Yet it is faith God requires of all people as the writer of Hebrews states,

“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.
Do you have enough faith to believe in God. To believe that Jesus died for your sins because Jesus did indeed die for your sins.
C. S. Lewis states,
“He (Jesus) 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.
That is how much God Loves you.
All you as an individual need to do is what the Apostle Paul said,
“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.  
As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”  
For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,  for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” Romans 10:9-13.
Please think about it.

Rest for you Soul

Rest for your soul
“I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”Ecclesiastes 1:14
Over the years I have met many men and women who are looking for meaning in life. They have looked for that meaning in wealth, in science, in the arts, even in drugs and alcohol. Some have even gone off to join extremists and terrorist groups all in the hopes of finding meaning for their lives.
Sadly many unable to find meaning in the things of this life and what our secular society has to offer have committed suicide.
They concluded that what the writer of Ecclesiastes stated was right when he said,
“I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. 
Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 2:10,11.
And looking at life from man’s prospective. From a secular prospective where all there is, is this life, I can see how someone would think that way.
However Rick Warren said,

“You were made by God and for God, 

and until you understand that, 

life will never make sense.” 

                                                                                     Rick Warren.
Rick Warren is right until you understand that you were made by God and for God life will never make sense.
It is when we realize that life does not end in death. That man is an eternal being who was created by God to live on through eternity and to have a personal relationship with Him that we can truly find meaning in life.
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.
Jesus offers to all who will believe in him rest and peace. A peace that reaches to a persons soul. A peace the world cannot take away.
It is a peace that anyone can have if they would simply turn to Jesus in prayer and truly ask Him into their life.
Are you willing to ask Jesus into your life today?
Please think about it.

God Exists

God Exists
The writer of Genesis states,

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” 

                                                                                            Genesis 1:1.
The Bible dose not debate the existence of God. It simply says “in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” and leaves it there.
Abba Hillel Silver 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.”                                                                                                         Abba Hillel Silver.
C. S. Lewis said,
“A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word 'darkness' on the walls of his cell.” C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain.
God exists whether you wish to acknowledge Him or not.
 Just take a look around the universe from the largest galaxy to the smallest subatomic particles work in perfect harmony to create life as we know it. I for one cannot believe that this is came about by chance. I believe behind it all is a creator.
Whether God created it in six days or did it over billions of years makes no difference to my faith. I believe God exists.
Even when we look at things from a societal point of view. Everyone in the world knows instinctively what is right an wrong.
I cannot believe that sometime in the ancient past, say, stone age man, convened a global conference to make a universal moral code. Without which society as a whole would sink into anarchy or worse, extinction.
To my mind there must be a creator behind it all. A creator who placed in the very fabric or our makeup what is right and wrong.
For me there is far more evidence for the existence of God than there is for there not being a God.
I fully believe if all we have is this life, then life does lack meaning. What good is living for a handful of days then passing on to oblivion?
I believe there is a God who truly loves us. Who wants to have fellowship with us. Who  wants us to turn to him. Not by force but by faith.
The writer of Hebrews telling us.

“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.
God in his wisdom has placed the whole universe and everything in it to point us to himself.  The Psalmist stating,

“The heavens declare the glory of God; 

the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” 

                                                                                 Psalm 19:1.
All we as individuals have to do is look. And if that isn’t enough then we can read at the very least the New Testament where in is found the words of Jesus who said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16,17.
Please take some time and think about it.

My Faith

My Faith
John’s Gospel 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.  
In him was life, and that life was the light of men....
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. ” John 1:1-4,14.
The phrase “The Word” is accepted by scholars as meaning Jesus.
The apostle John and all the writers of the New Testament believed Jesus to be God in the flesh. That Jesus was not only there on the day of Creation. That he was the creator of all things.
Admittedly I cannot prove this scientifically however I believe it. It is a faith thing and the writer of Hebrews states,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope 

for and certain of what we do not see.”  

                                                                                     Hebrews 11:1
The way I see things my faith is no different from that of Albert Einstein or any of the great scientist. Most postulated their theories and believed in them even though in their lifetime they were not proven.
     They believed in their theory even though it was met quite often with controversy. Ultimately they were vindicated. Other scientist quite often after their death went on to prove their theories.
So it is with me and Christians like me. I believe after my death, my faith will be proven for I will meet my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. If I am wrong as Atheist say I am I have lost nothing, and lived a good rewarding life.
Blaise Pascal wrote,
“Belief is a wise wager. Granted that faith cannot be proved, what harm will come to you if you gamble on its truth and it proves false? If you gain, you gain all; if you lose, you lose nothing. Wager, then, without hesitation, that He exists.” Blaise Pascal.
Question: Are you willing to wager you eternity on what you believe?
Please think about it.

About Jesus

About Jesus
In a Short time it will be Easter a time Christians world wide celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus. Many things have been said about Jesus. However what does the Bible say about Him.
Luke’s gospel records,
“In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,  to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.  
The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.  
But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.  
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,   and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.” 
“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 
The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.” Luke 1:26-35.
Here the gospel writer asks us to believe that God sent an angel to tell Mary that she would conceive a child through by the Holy Spirit and giving birth to the “the Son of the Most High”.
This is purely a faith thing. You either believe it or you don’t. Certainly Luke the writer believed it to be true. As did all the writers of the New Testament.
Now when it come to the birth of His Son. I don’t think God did not just pick a woman at random. Tradition says Mary was of humble birth. Certainly she was not of a ruling royal household.
     However she was most likely devout. Her cousin Elizabeth was married to Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron.
Later we also learn that when Jesus was born he was taken to the temple to be dedicated to the Lord.
We are told in Luke 2:41,
“Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover.”
The parents of Jesus were devout believers in God. Who practiced their faith. A faith being the Son of God Jesus probably recognized early in his life. A faith Mary and Joseph helped him cultivate. Giving him and understanding human understanding of his faith.
“Luke also records,
“Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover.  
When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom.  
After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it.  
Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends.  
When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him.  
After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.”  Luke 2:41-47.
From this we can assume that Jesus had a very good understanding of the scriptures. That he was it seems a genius.
Jesus also had a sense of who he truly was Luke’s gospel recording,
“When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” 
“Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”  Luke 2:48,49.
He knew even as a teenager that he was at the very least called to do God the Fathers work. That his life was to have a higher purpose.
That purpose Christians believe was to be the suffering Messiah. The Christ who would die for the sins of the world. The apostle Paul telling us,
“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 question the New Testament places before everyone who reads it is simple. Who do you believe Jesus is?
A good man?
A good teacher?
Son of God, Saviour of mankind. God incarnate?
Please think about it.