Of Faith
“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
Faith in God is a very difficult thing to have. You can’t see Him or touch Him which in itself makes it hard for people to believe in Him. That’s why I believe Jesus came.
John in his gospel records this conversation,
“Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”
Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.”
John 14:8-11.
Jesus came into this world I believe for several reasons. One I believe is to experience what it was to be a man, so that he could better judge people.
Noone can stand before Him on Judgement day and say you don’t know what it was like to be a man. To be tempted to go through all the trials and tribulations of man, because he doses.
Jesus walked this earth, and experienced all it was to be a man.
The other reason Jesus came to this earth was to show people God exists.
Jesus performed miracles and wonders witnessed by many and recorded for the ages both inside and outside the bible.
Jesus is God. Paul states,
“For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,”
Colossians 2:9 .
Jesus is the embodiment of God. All the attributes of God’s love and affection for mankind are displayed in Jesus.
I believe if we truly study the Bible and especially the New Testament we will have something to base our faith on. All it takes is the desire to search out the truths that are presented in the whole Bible and the individual will find God.
Think about it.
Friday, 23 May 2014
Thursday, 22 May 2014
Do to Others
Do to Others
“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.
Someone once called me a liberal evangelical. I think that’s a good description of me, at least with respect to the so called evangelical movement in North America.
I am a member of the Evangelical wing of the Christian Church as would be defined here in North America.
Some North American evangelical preachers claim they are keepers of true Christianity yet are far from it.
Within what passes for evangelical Christianity today are men and women that claim to interpret the Bible in it’s purest sense.
They don’t. They interpret it with their own biases and prejudges. Just as others have done over the centuries.
In the United States, Canada and other countries over the centuries the Bible has been used to condone such barbaric practices as slavery. While others have used it to point out the equality of man and fought against slavery.
Today many preachers claiming to be evangelicals are preaching against homosexuality among other things.
So called evangelical preachers especially those in the media seem to be against everything.
When I tell them homosexuals can get to heaven I get a barrage of criticism. Worse when I tell them it is important that we accept members of the Lesbian, bisexual, gay, and trangendered into our church congregations they go ballistic.
I know by writing this I will get some rockets heading my way, but such is life.
Jesus 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 am eternally grateful to the pastor and friends that led me to accept Christ as my Lord and Saviour.
They believed in practising Matthew 7:12, as well as Matthew 7:1,2.
They accepted this very rough around the edges nineteen year old into their church and showed him friendship and love.
In so doing I became a Christian.
Now while I’m not gay. Still these people accepted me for what I was, very rough edges, and at times very fowl language.
They showed me what it was to be a Christian forming the foundation of what I am today, a firm believer in Jesus Christ.
A person who wants to reach as many people as I can for my Lord.
Jesus didn’t care who you were. He sat down and ate with tax collectors and sinners, and we are all sinners.
Jesus also told us,
“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.
Jesus told he disciples and through them we who are believers of the twenty-first century.
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:23,24.
All of us are sinners from the pope to prime ministers of this world, to the presidents of nations, to the man and woman on the street.
We are all the same, sinners in need of salvation. A salvation the apostle Paul tells us is free when he 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.
Jesus made it very clear when he 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.
He also 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 apostle John wrote,
“Yet to all who received him,(Jesus) 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.”
John 1:12,13.
These were scriptures shared with me when I became a Christian.
In them Jesus did not discriminate, he made it clear all who receive him. All who take that step of faith and accept him into their hearts “to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God”
Think about it.
“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.
Someone once called me a liberal evangelical. I think that’s a good description of me, at least with respect to the so called evangelical movement in North America.
I am a member of the Evangelical wing of the Christian Church as would be defined here in North America.
Some North American evangelical preachers claim they are keepers of true Christianity yet are far from it.
Within what passes for evangelical Christianity today are men and women that claim to interpret the Bible in it’s purest sense.
They don’t. They interpret it with their own biases and prejudges. Just as others have done over the centuries.
In the United States, Canada and other countries over the centuries the Bible has been used to condone such barbaric practices as slavery. While others have used it to point out the equality of man and fought against slavery.
Today many preachers claiming to be evangelicals are preaching against homosexuality among other things.
So called evangelical preachers especially those in the media seem to be against everything.
When I tell them homosexuals can get to heaven I get a barrage of criticism. Worse when I tell them it is important that we accept members of the Lesbian, bisexual, gay, and trangendered into our church congregations they go ballistic.
I know by writing this I will get some rockets heading my way, but such is life.
Jesus 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 am eternally grateful to the pastor and friends that led me to accept Christ as my Lord and Saviour.
They believed in practising Matthew 7:12, as well as Matthew 7:1,2.
They accepted this very rough around the edges nineteen year old into their church and showed him friendship and love.
In so doing I became a Christian.
Now while I’m not gay. Still these people accepted me for what I was, very rough edges, and at times very fowl language.
They showed me what it was to be a Christian forming the foundation of what I am today, a firm believer in Jesus Christ.
A person who wants to reach as many people as I can for my Lord.
Jesus didn’t care who you were. He sat down and ate with tax collectors and sinners, and we are all sinners.
Jesus also told us,
“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.
Jesus told he disciples and through them we who are believers of the twenty-first century.
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:23,24.
All of us are sinners from the pope to prime ministers of this world, to the presidents of nations, to the man and woman on the street.
We are all the same, sinners in need of salvation. A salvation the apostle Paul tells us is free when he 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.
Jesus made it very clear when he 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.
He also 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 apostle John wrote,
“Yet to all who received him,(Jesus) 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.”
John 1:12,13.
These were scriptures shared with me when I became a Christian.
In them Jesus did not discriminate, he made it clear all who receive him. All who take that step of faith and accept him into their hearts “to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God”
Think about it.
Wednesday, 21 May 2014
A Look at Jesus from outside the Bible
A look at Jesus from outside the Bible
I and most Christians who are talking about Jesus tend to quote a lot from the Bible. Here written below are the worlds of men from outside the bible ,who wrote what they believed about Jesus.
Even though early secular reports on Jesus may have been rare, there are still a few surviving references to Him. Not too surprisingly, the earliest non-Christian reports were made by the Jews. Flavius Josephus, who lived until 98 A.D., was a romanized Jewish historian. He wrote books on Jewish history for the Roman people. In his book, Jewish Antiquities, he made references to Jesus. In one reference he wrote:
“About this time arose Jesus, a wise man, who did good deeds and whose virtues were recognized. And many Jews and people of other nations became his disciples. Pilate condemned him to be crucified and to die. However, those who became his disciples preached his doctrine. They related that he had appeared to them three days after his crucifixion and that he was alive. Perhaps he was the Messiah in connection with whom the prophets foretold wonders.” [Josephus, Jewish Antiquities, XVIII 3.2]
Julian the Apostate, Roman Emperor from 361-363 A.D. and one of the most gifted ancient adversaries to Christianity. In his work against Christianity wrote,
“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.”
But at the end of his life was forced to say:
“Thou has conquered, O Galilean!”
H. G. Wells, British writer, (1866-1946) wrote.
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.”
Kenneth Scott Latourette, former President of American Historic Society
In A History of Christianity wrote,
“It is evidence of His importance, of the effect that He has had upon history and presumably, of the baffling mystery of His being that no other life ever lived on this planet has evoked so huge a volume of literature among so many people and languages, and that, far from ebbing, the flood continues to mount.”
“As the centuries pass by, the evidence is accumulating that measured by its effect on history, Jesus is the most influential life ever lived on this planet. The influence appears to be mounting.”
“No other life lived on this planet has so widely and deeply affected mankind.”
C.S. Lewis, writing in Mere Christianity 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.”
Finally the words of Jesus and some of the other apostles said of him,
“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.”
John 1:1-4
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6.
“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.
The decision is yours do you believe C. S. Lewis said it best when he wrote,
“He (Jesus ) 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,”
Think about it.
I and most Christians who are talking about Jesus tend to quote a lot from the Bible. Here written below are the worlds of men from outside the bible ,who wrote what they believed about Jesus.
Even though early secular reports on Jesus may have been rare, there are still a few surviving references to Him. Not too surprisingly, the earliest non-Christian reports were made by the Jews. Flavius Josephus, who lived until 98 A.D., was a romanized Jewish historian. He wrote books on Jewish history for the Roman people. In his book, Jewish Antiquities, he made references to Jesus. In one reference he wrote:
“About this time arose Jesus, a wise man, who did good deeds and whose virtues were recognized. And many Jews and people of other nations became his disciples. Pilate condemned him to be crucified and to die. However, those who became his disciples preached his doctrine. They related that he had appeared to them three days after his crucifixion and that he was alive. Perhaps he was the Messiah in connection with whom the prophets foretold wonders.” [Josephus, Jewish Antiquities, XVIII 3.2]
Julian the Apostate, Roman Emperor from 361-363 A.D. and one of the most gifted ancient adversaries to Christianity. In his work against Christianity wrote,
“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.”
But at the end of his life was forced to say:
“Thou has conquered, O Galilean!”
H. G. Wells, British writer, (1866-1946) wrote.
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.”
Kenneth Scott Latourette, former President of American Historic Society
In A History of Christianity wrote,
“It is evidence of His importance, of the effect that He has had upon history and presumably, of the baffling mystery of His being that no other life ever lived on this planet has evoked so huge a volume of literature among so many people and languages, and that, far from ebbing, the flood continues to mount.”
“As the centuries pass by, the evidence is accumulating that measured by its effect on history, Jesus is the most influential life ever lived on this planet. The influence appears to be mounting.”
“No other life lived on this planet has so widely and deeply affected mankind.”
C.S. Lewis, writing in Mere Christianity 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.”
Finally the words of Jesus and some of the other apostles said of him,
“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.”
John 1:1-4
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6.
“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.
The decision is yours do you believe C. S. Lewis said it best when he wrote,
“He (Jesus ) 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,”
Think about it.
Tuesday, 20 May 2014
You must be born again
You must be born again
“He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.’”
“How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!”
Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.
Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.”
John 3:2-6.
Here Jesus is talking to Nicodemus. Nicodemus recognized that Jesus came from God and that he had and Jesus makes it clear to him how he can get to heaven. He must be born again. It was a concept Nicodemus didn’t understand. It was salvation through faith.
We can intellectually know all about Jesus. We can read the history about him. We can read his words recorded in the Bible but this will not get us to heaven. It is faith that does this.
It’s for many a difficult leap to go from intellectually knowing about Christ to having faith in him and recognizing that he is the Son of God the saviour of the world.
Still we must come to that point in our lives. We must believe.
Paul says of Christians,
“We live by faith, not by sight.”
2 Corinthians 5:7.
This is what Jesus was asking Nicodemus to do. We must listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit to show us how to live by faith and to live our life in the spirit.
Once we’ve made that leap of faith then everything Christ spoke of and the writers of the Bible wrote about comes completely into focus.
This will not happen unless you the individual will put aside any preconceived ideas you may have, read the Bible with an open mind and ask God to show you the way that leads to Salvation.
Think about it.
“He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.’”
“How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!”
Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.
Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.”
John 3:2-6.
Here Jesus is talking to Nicodemus. Nicodemus recognized that Jesus came from God and that he had and Jesus makes it clear to him how he can get to heaven. He must be born again. It was a concept Nicodemus didn’t understand. It was salvation through faith.
We can intellectually know all about Jesus. We can read the history about him. We can read his words recorded in the Bible but this will not get us to heaven. It is faith that does this.
It’s for many a difficult leap to go from intellectually knowing about Christ to having faith in him and recognizing that he is the Son of God the saviour of the world.
Still we must come to that point in our lives. We must believe.
Paul says of Christians,
“We live by faith, not by sight.”
2 Corinthians 5:7.
This is what Jesus was asking Nicodemus to do. We must listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit to show us how to live by faith and to live our life in the spirit.
Once we’ve made that leap of faith then everything Christ spoke of and the writers of the Bible wrote about comes completely into focus.
This will not happen unless you the individual will put aside any preconceived ideas you may have, read the Bible with an open mind and ask God to show you the way that leads to Salvation.
Think about it.
Monday, 19 May 2014
A Prediction of His Death
A Predication of his death.
“Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!”
Matthew 20: 17-19.
Here Jesus predicts his death, by being turned over to the gentiles, flogged and crucified.
Jesus was not killed by the Jews.
Had that happened he would have been stoned to death. Which was the method of capital punishment used by the Jews.
Jesus was killed by the Romans.
Over the years many ignorant people have accused the Jews of crucifying Christ. This is far from the truth.
It’s interesting to note that Jesus the saviour of all mankind was persecuted by representatives of all mankind.
The Jews who rejected him as their Messiah. The Romans, representative of the gentile world, who mocked him and did he actual persecution.
The political leadership. The Jewish leadership who seen him as a threat to their authority.
The Roman leadership. Who found no wrong deserving of death in him yet out of political expediency ordered his crucifixion.
Even his disciples, those who did believe him deserted him.
All can be said to have a part in the persecution and death of Jesus.
It was death that had to be.
It showed in human terms how far God would go to reconcile man to himself.
The important thing to remember in all of this is that Jesus rose from the dead and not only do the Christian scriptures say this but so do external records out of the control of Christians,
Flavius Josephus, who lived until 98 A.D., was a romanized Jewish historian. He wrote books on Jewish history for the Roman people. In his book, Jewish Antiquities, he made references to Jesus. In one reference he wrote:
"About this time arose Jesus, a wise man, who did good deeds and whose virtues were recognized. And many Jews and people of other nations became his disciples. Pilate condemned him to be crucified and to die. However, those who became his disciples preached his doctrine. They related that he had appeared to them three days after his crucifixion and that he was alive. Perhaps he was the Messiah in connection with whom the prophets foretold wonders." [Josephus, Jewish Antiquities, XVIII 3.2]
Think about it.
“Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!”
Matthew 20: 17-19.
Here Jesus predicts his death, by being turned over to the gentiles, flogged and crucified.
Jesus was not killed by the Jews.
Had that happened he would have been stoned to death. Which was the method of capital punishment used by the Jews.
Jesus was killed by the Romans.
Over the years many ignorant people have accused the Jews of crucifying Christ. This is far from the truth.
It’s interesting to note that Jesus the saviour of all mankind was persecuted by representatives of all mankind.
The Jews who rejected him as their Messiah. The Romans, representative of the gentile world, who mocked him and did he actual persecution.
The political leadership. The Jewish leadership who seen him as a threat to their authority.
The Roman leadership. Who found no wrong deserving of death in him yet out of political expediency ordered his crucifixion.
Even his disciples, those who did believe him deserted him.
All can be said to have a part in the persecution and death of Jesus.
It was death that had to be.
It showed in human terms how far God would go to reconcile man to himself.
The important thing to remember in all of this is that Jesus rose from the dead and not only do the Christian scriptures say this but so do external records out of the control of Christians,
Flavius Josephus, who lived until 98 A.D., was a romanized Jewish historian. He wrote books on Jewish history for the Roman people. In his book, Jewish Antiquities, he made references to Jesus. In one reference he wrote:
"About this time arose Jesus, a wise man, who did good deeds and whose virtues were recognized. And many Jews and people of other nations became his disciples. Pilate condemned him to be crucified and to die. However, those who became his disciples preached his doctrine. They related that he had appeared to them three days after his crucifixion and that he was alive. Perhaps he was the Messiah in connection with whom the prophets foretold wonders." [Josephus, Jewish Antiquities, XVIII 3.2]
Think about it.
Sunday, 18 May 2014
Of God's Love
Of God’s love,
“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.
Here is perhaps one of he best known quotes from the bible. It expresses God’s love and a warning to mankind.
The choice is yours. It is an act of faith.
I’ve heard it said that salvation is like a free meal. It’s there for the taking. All you have to do to receive it’s nourishment is eat it. Take it in.
Paul makes this very clear when he states,
“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
Still many cannot accept this gift, Paul stating,
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.”
1 Corinthians 1:18-25
The way I look at it if what I believe as a Christian is foolish then I have lost nothing.
But if I am right those who don’t believe in Jesus have a lot to worry about.
Think about it.
“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.
Here is perhaps one of he best known quotes from the bible. It expresses God’s love and a warning to mankind.
The choice is yours. It is an act of faith.
I’ve heard it said that salvation is like a free meal. It’s there for the taking. All you have to do to receive it’s nourishment is eat it. Take it in.
Paul makes this very clear when he states,
“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
Still many cannot accept this gift, Paul stating,
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.”
1 Corinthians 1:18-25
The way I look at it if what I believe as a Christian is foolish then I have lost nothing.
But if I am right those who don’t believe in Jesus have a lot to worry about.
Think about it.
Saturday, 17 May 2014
A matter of faith
A matter of Faith
“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.
Christianity is a religion strictly based on faith. I cannot for all my words instil faith in someone each person must ultimately decide where their faith lies.
Paul states,
“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.
Jesus 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
Jesus also gives a warning as to what lack of faith in him does,
“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 3:18.
The choice is up to the individual either you believe Jesus is who he says he is, the One and Only Son of God, Saviour of mankind or he is not.
If the latter is true Christianity is the greatest fraud ever committed on mankind.
If true it is the way to life eternal free to all who have faith in Jesus Christ.
The choice is yours.
Think about it.
“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.
Christianity is a religion strictly based on faith. I cannot for all my words instil faith in someone each person must ultimately decide where their faith lies.
Paul states,
“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.
Jesus 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
Jesus also gives a warning as to what lack of faith in him does,
“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 3:18.
The choice is up to the individual either you believe Jesus is who he says he is, the One and Only Son of God, Saviour of mankind or he is not.
If the latter is true Christianity is the greatest fraud ever committed on mankind.
If true it is the way to life eternal free to all who have faith in Jesus Christ.
The choice is yours.
Think about it.
Friday, 16 May 2014
Hope
Hope
There is a verse I am fond of quoting it’s the words of Jesus who 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.
The other day I was watching a television program I believe called Final twenty-four. It portrayed the final twenty-four hours in a famous persons life. The person despite all the fame and fortune they had committed suicide.
The person simply couldn’t find peace in his life. He’d tried it all including drugs sex and alcohol.
He seemed to echo the words of the writer of Ecclesiastes who wrote,
"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.
As I’ve mentioned in other writings, I live with Bi-polar effective disorder. I volunteer as a speaker with the Canadian Mental Health Association here were I live. Telling various groups what it is like to live with a mental illness.
Let me tell you my story,
As I said I have Bipolar Affective dissorder,
Bipolar disorder is characterized by alternating manic episodes in which the individual feels abnormally euphoric, optimistic, and energetic and depressive periods in which the individual feels sad, hopeless, guilty, and sometimes suicidal. Manic or depressive periods may last for days, weeks, or months and run the spectrum from mild to severe. These episodes may be separated by periods of emotional stability in which the individual functions normally.
For me my journey started as I headed home from work. I’d been working long hours and travelling over a hundred k one way to work. When suddenly without warning a fear of dread welled up inside of me, tears filled my eyes and I was forced to pull over to the side of the road.
When I gained enough of my equilibrium to go down to the next rest stop where I pulled into a far corner of the parking lot and cried for half an hour.
My doctor told me I was stressed out and to take time off work. Which I did going back just before Christmas.
Things went well then one night on my way to work in a snow storm, my car had spun out and my moods went out of control.
On that occasion my fathers house being nearest I’d pulled in and called in to work sick.
On that day my world shattered. Life would never be the same.
I went back to see my doctor the next day and it was then he suggested I see my first psychiatrist.
At the time I had my preconceived idea of psychiatrist was a witch doctor who pushed pills.
Still I trusted my family doctor and began fighting the dragon in my head.
My first psychiatrist was a strong believer in trying to change things by changing lifestyle and eating habits. But after a while he diagnosed me with Bipolar affective disorder and placed me on a low dose of Lithium the gold standard at the time.
Unfortunately he passed away as a result of cancer before I was stabilized and my care went briefly back to my family doctor. Who eventually got me in with my second Psychiatrist.
He agreed with the Bipolar diagnosis and started me on a trial and error treatment trying various combination of drugs. (There is no definitive test at this time for Bipolar, no single drug treatment that works for every one. Thus the need to try various combinations)
Some worked briefly others had side effects I couldn’t handle.
I at one point began to believe the words of William, Wordsworth who said
"We poets in our youth begin in gladness: but therefore come in the end to despondency and madness”
My second Psychiatrist got me reasonably stabilised then retired my treatment going back to my family doctor then to my current psychiatrist. An excellent doctor well versed in her pharmacology.
Someone who had worked with to help me through some very hard times.
That’s the key finding a good Psychologist that works with you and understands you.
Bipolar is like being in a storm a massive storm that billows all around you.
All you can do at times is to try and out run it but you never seem to be able too.
Another way to describe it is imagine you’re in a snow globe, simultaneously you’re holding the snow globe and inside it.
You’re shaking it in causing the storm rage all around you.
Intellectually you know you’re shaking it causing the storm but you’re powerless to stop it. So you continue with that storm pounding to the very roots of your inner psyche.
Yet another way of putting it is imagine your in a high powered sports car, you’re flying down the road with the wind whipping your hair. The adrenaline rush is fantastic.
Then all of a sudden you stop and jump into a pool of mud up to your neck and just wallow their until you think you can’t take it any more.
Then without warning the cycle repeats.
For me and I think even for the processionals there are a lot of things that are not understood. Goblins if you will in your mind.
Then in my case there’s the anxiety. Anxiety is faceless anamatons that wander through your mind causing irrational fear. Trying to control your life.
But there is hope. For me, almost without me realizing it I put together a team consisting of my psychiatrist, my family doctor, my pastor and church family and equally important my wife and family.
All of whom are there for me when I need them.
My faith means a lot to me and I am convinced that it has saved me on many occasion from doing something stupid, because suicide at times has lurked in the back of my mind.
Today I am on a magnificent journey. I still have some very bad days, day, I can’t
fully function. But I take things one day sometimes one moment at a time.
Through all the highs and lows I’ve gone through with this illness I firmly believe God has been there for me giving me reassurance and hope in what at times has been a very darkened world.
If you recognize the symptoms above in your life talk to a health care professional. It never hurts.
In Canada all provincial health care systems cover Psychiatrist.
In Canada you can also go speak to the Canadian Mental Health Association who can steer you in the right direction if you have any doubts.
Please remember Mental Illness is very real don’t try to go it alone.
There is help. There is hope.
There is a verse I am fond of quoting it’s the words of Jesus who 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.
The other day I was watching a television program I believe called Final twenty-four. It portrayed the final twenty-four hours in a famous persons life. The person despite all the fame and fortune they had committed suicide.
The person simply couldn’t find peace in his life. He’d tried it all including drugs sex and alcohol.
He seemed to echo the words of the writer of Ecclesiastes who wrote,
"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.
As I’ve mentioned in other writings, I live with Bi-polar effective disorder. I volunteer as a speaker with the Canadian Mental Health Association here were I live. Telling various groups what it is like to live with a mental illness.
Let me tell you my story,
As I said I have Bipolar Affective dissorder,
Bipolar disorder is characterized by alternating manic episodes in which the individual feels abnormally euphoric, optimistic, and energetic and depressive periods in which the individual feels sad, hopeless, guilty, and sometimes suicidal. Manic or depressive periods may last for days, weeks, or months and run the spectrum from mild to severe. These episodes may be separated by periods of emotional stability in which the individual functions normally.
For me my journey started as I headed home from work. I’d been working long hours and travelling over a hundred k one way to work. When suddenly without warning a fear of dread welled up inside of me, tears filled my eyes and I was forced to pull over to the side of the road.
When I gained enough of my equilibrium to go down to the next rest stop where I pulled into a far corner of the parking lot and cried for half an hour.
My doctor told me I was stressed out and to take time off work. Which I did going back just before Christmas.
Things went well then one night on my way to work in a snow storm, my car had spun out and my moods went out of control.
On that occasion my fathers house being nearest I’d pulled in and called in to work sick.
On that day my world shattered. Life would never be the same.
I went back to see my doctor the next day and it was then he suggested I see my first psychiatrist.
At the time I had my preconceived idea of psychiatrist was a witch doctor who pushed pills.
Still I trusted my family doctor and began fighting the dragon in my head.
My first psychiatrist was a strong believer in trying to change things by changing lifestyle and eating habits. But after a while he diagnosed me with Bipolar affective disorder and placed me on a low dose of Lithium the gold standard at the time.
Unfortunately he passed away as a result of cancer before I was stabilized and my care went briefly back to my family doctor. Who eventually got me in with my second Psychiatrist.
He agreed with the Bipolar diagnosis and started me on a trial and error treatment trying various combination of drugs. (There is no definitive test at this time for Bipolar, no single drug treatment that works for every one. Thus the need to try various combinations)
Some worked briefly others had side effects I couldn’t handle.
I at one point began to believe the words of William, Wordsworth who said
"We poets in our youth begin in gladness: but therefore come in the end to despondency and madness”
My second Psychiatrist got me reasonably stabilised then retired my treatment going back to my family doctor then to my current psychiatrist. An excellent doctor well versed in her pharmacology.
Someone who had worked with to help me through some very hard times.
That’s the key finding a good Psychologist that works with you and understands you.
Bipolar is like being in a storm a massive storm that billows all around you.
All you can do at times is to try and out run it but you never seem to be able too.
Another way to describe it is imagine you’re in a snow globe, simultaneously you’re holding the snow globe and inside it.
You’re shaking it in causing the storm rage all around you.
Intellectually you know you’re shaking it causing the storm but you’re powerless to stop it. So you continue with that storm pounding to the very roots of your inner psyche.
Yet another way of putting it is imagine your in a high powered sports car, you’re flying down the road with the wind whipping your hair. The adrenaline rush is fantastic.
Then all of a sudden you stop and jump into a pool of mud up to your neck and just wallow their until you think you can’t take it any more.
Then without warning the cycle repeats.
For me and I think even for the processionals there are a lot of things that are not understood. Goblins if you will in your mind.
Then in my case there’s the anxiety. Anxiety is faceless anamatons that wander through your mind causing irrational fear. Trying to control your life.
But there is hope. For me, almost without me realizing it I put together a team consisting of my psychiatrist, my family doctor, my pastor and church family and equally important my wife and family.
All of whom are there for me when I need them.
My faith means a lot to me and I am convinced that it has saved me on many occasion from doing something stupid, because suicide at times has lurked in the back of my mind.
Today I am on a magnificent journey. I still have some very bad days, day, I can’t
fully function. But I take things one day sometimes one moment at a time.
Reinhold Niebuhr once wrote,
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time...
The key for me is not just the successful cocktail of medications I’m on, which is absolutely necessary. But it’s also my faith.Through all the highs and lows I’ve gone through with this illness I firmly believe God has been there for me giving me reassurance and hope in what at times has been a very darkened world.
If you recognize the symptoms above in your life talk to a health care professional. It never hurts.
In Canada all provincial health care systems cover Psychiatrist.
In Canada you can also go speak to the Canadian Mental Health Association who can steer you in the right direction if you have any doubts.
Please remember Mental Illness is very real don’t try to go it alone.
There is help. There is hope.
Thursday, 15 May 2014
Is it only a toothpaste tube
Is it only a toothpaste tube
“When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went into the region of Judea to the other side of the Jordan.
Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.
Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?”
“Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’ ?
So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”
“Why then,” they asked, “did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?”
Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning.
I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery.”
The disciples said to him, “If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry.”
Jesus replied, “Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given.
For some are eunuchs because they were born that way; others were made that way by men; and others have renounced marriage because of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.”
Matthew 19:1-12.
I know a couple who got divorced sighting irreconcilable differences. Later I was talking to the wife who told me very seriously, “I couldn’t stand the way that man left the toothpaste tube.”
They had known each other only six months prior to getting married and their marriage had lasted just under two years. They had found out that they were not at all compatible. That their little quirks drove each other around the bend.
I think the problem was they entered into marriage too lightly which ultimately made divorce inevitable.
Now let me make things perfectly clear here. There are times when divorce is necessary.
Over the years I’ve heard pastors and evangelist make extreme statements everything from only a man can divorce his wife. The wife cannot divorce her husband, to Adultery is the only reason for divorce. They even quote the above passage Matthew 19:1-12.
THOSE WHO PREACH SUCH DOCTRINE ARE IN MY OPINION WRONG.
We are in the twenty-first century and all credible scholars accept that first, divorce is a two way street. A woman can divorce her husband for just cause in the same way a man can divorce his wife, infidelity (adultery) and especially abuse are the two reasons that stand out in my mind.
All to many marriages these days are entered into far too lightly. Marriage should be a love relationship.
By love I don’t mean sexual. It has been my experience that marriages based on sexual attraction and fascination is doomed to fail.
When the fascination ends and you enter into a valley in your relationship or other trials come it will fall apart.
The Apostle Paul gives what I think is the ideal definition of Love when he writes,
“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....”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a.
Paul writing to the Ephesians explains what I believe should happen in a marriage when he writes,
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her”
Ephesians 5:25
A husband should love, defend, and protect his wife to the point of giving up his own life.
Paul also makes it clear what it should be like in a marriage arrangement when he writes to the Corinthians,
"But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.
The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife’s body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband’s body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife.
Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control."
1 Corinthians 7:2-5.
No marriage is perfect. There will be big ups and downs from time to time. Times when you disagree and argue.
In the thirty-five years I’ve been married I know this is true but when I was dating my wife we read the above scriptures believed them and evaluated our relationship with respect to them.
There was also one other scripture we read that makes perfect sense if you truly love your spouse it’s Paul writing to the Ephesians. He writes,
“In your anger do not sin” : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,”
Ephesians 4:26.
My wife and I have practised this principle since before we were married and it works.
I know others who have read and practice the above principles and their marriages too are solid.
Still relationships from time to time do go wrong. But it is up to the husband and the wife as far as possible to work on their relationship.
To carefully examine themselves and their relationship with their spouse. Then ask the question is divorce really necessary.
Or is it only a toothpaste tube.
Think about it.
“When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went into the region of Judea to the other side of the Jordan.
Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.
Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?”
“Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’ ?
So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”
“Why then,” they asked, “did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?”
Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning.
I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery.”
The disciples said to him, “If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry.”
Jesus replied, “Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given.
For some are eunuchs because they were born that way; others were made that way by men; and others have renounced marriage because of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.”
Matthew 19:1-12.
I know a couple who got divorced sighting irreconcilable differences. Later I was talking to the wife who told me very seriously, “I couldn’t stand the way that man left the toothpaste tube.”
They had known each other only six months prior to getting married and their marriage had lasted just under two years. They had found out that they were not at all compatible. That their little quirks drove each other around the bend.
I think the problem was they entered into marriage too lightly which ultimately made divorce inevitable.
Now let me make things perfectly clear here. There are times when divorce is necessary.
Over the years I’ve heard pastors and evangelist make extreme statements everything from only a man can divorce his wife. The wife cannot divorce her husband, to Adultery is the only reason for divorce. They even quote the above passage Matthew 19:1-12.
THOSE WHO PREACH SUCH DOCTRINE ARE IN MY OPINION WRONG.
We are in the twenty-first century and all credible scholars accept that first, divorce is a two way street. A woman can divorce her husband for just cause in the same way a man can divorce his wife, infidelity (adultery) and especially abuse are the two reasons that stand out in my mind.
All to many marriages these days are entered into far too lightly. Marriage should be a love relationship.
By love I don’t mean sexual. It has been my experience that marriages based on sexual attraction and fascination is doomed to fail.
When the fascination ends and you enter into a valley in your relationship or other trials come it will fall apart.
The Apostle Paul gives what I think is the ideal definition of Love when he writes,
“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....”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a.
Paul writing to the Ephesians explains what I believe should happen in a marriage when he writes,
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her”
Ephesians 5:25
A husband should love, defend, and protect his wife to the point of giving up his own life.
Paul also makes it clear what it should be like in a marriage arrangement when he writes to the Corinthians,
"But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.
The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife’s body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband’s body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife.
Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control."
1 Corinthians 7:2-5.
No marriage is perfect. There will be big ups and downs from time to time. Times when you disagree and argue.
In the thirty-five years I’ve been married I know this is true but when I was dating my wife we read the above scriptures believed them and evaluated our relationship with respect to them.
There was also one other scripture we read that makes perfect sense if you truly love your spouse it’s Paul writing to the Ephesians. He writes,
“In your anger do not sin” : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,”
Ephesians 4:26.
My wife and I have practised this principle since before we were married and it works.
I know others who have read and practice the above principles and their marriages too are solid.
Still relationships from time to time do go wrong. But it is up to the husband and the wife as far as possible to work on their relationship.
To carefully examine themselves and their relationship with their spouse. Then ask the question is divorce really necessary.
Or is it only a toothpaste tube.
Think about it.
Wednesday, 14 May 2014
A Proclamation
A Proclamation
“Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people.
He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.”
Revelations 14:6,7.
I firmly believe what is said here in Revelations 14:6,7. God will one day judge the world.
Peter is recorded in the book of Acts as saying,
“He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.
All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
Acts 10:42,43.
This is the reason I write these Blogs. I firmly believe everyone, everywhere needs to know of the love of God.
They need to know that God is a God of mercy and love and that he has reached down to mankind in the form of Jesus Christ to offer salvation and eternal life to all who believe in Him.
Jesus 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.
God couldn’t have made salvation and the eternal life it brings any easier Paul writing,
“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.
It all comes down to faith. What you believe. Do you believe Jesus is the one and Only Son of God, the Saviour of the world or not.
Faith is a very personal thing between the individual and God.
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
“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.
The choice is yours.
Think about it.
“Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people.
He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.”
Revelations 14:6,7.
I firmly believe what is said here in Revelations 14:6,7. God will one day judge the world.
Peter is recorded in the book of Acts as saying,
“He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.
All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
Acts 10:42,43.
This is the reason I write these Blogs. I firmly believe everyone, everywhere needs to know of the love of God.
They need to know that God is a God of mercy and love and that he has reached down to mankind in the form of Jesus Christ to offer salvation and eternal life to all who believe in Him.
Jesus 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.
God couldn’t have made salvation and the eternal life it brings any easier Paul writing,
“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.
It all comes down to faith. What you believe. Do you believe Jesus is the one and Only Son of God, the Saviour of the world or not.
Faith is a very personal thing between the individual and God.
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
“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.
The choice is yours.
Think about it.
Tuesday, 13 May 2014
Judgement is coming
Judgement is coming
“Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you.
Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.
Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.
Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.
You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.
You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you.”
James 5:1-6
I am a firm believer that the oppressors of this world will one day be held to account. They will be punished for every wrong they have done.
I look around at mankind today and I see a world slowly falling apart. I see the poor of many countries oppressed. Not just in the third world but in the west.
I see politicians doing nothing to substantially help the poor. That in itself is oppression by omission.
These people will also I believe stand before God one day and be held to account.
I watched in utter amazement from my perch here in Canada at American politicians fighting against a national health care program for all its citizens. Something considered a basic human right in almost all other western countries.
To make it I think worse many of these politicians called themselves Christians. Isn’t affordable universal healthcare a good way to spend the peoples tax money?
Jesus said,
“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,”
Matthew 25:40-42.
There is a quote from the Talmud that goes like this,
“Rabbi Akiba was asked by a Roman general, “Why does your God who loves the needy not provide for their support Himself?” He answered, “God the Father of both the rich and poor, wants the one to help the other so as to make the world a household of love.”
These words are not just for Christians they are for our all of us. It’s just basic humanitarianism. We need to help our fellow man.
We as individuals l need to look at what we and our leaders are doing for the individuals in this world.
Are we helping our fellow man or are we oppressing them.
Think about it.
“Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you.
Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.
Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.
Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.
You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.
You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you.”
James 5:1-6
I am a firm believer that the oppressors of this world will one day be held to account. They will be punished for every wrong they have done.
I look around at mankind today and I see a world slowly falling apart. I see the poor of many countries oppressed. Not just in the third world but in the west.
I see politicians doing nothing to substantially help the poor. That in itself is oppression by omission.
These people will also I believe stand before God one day and be held to account.
I watched in utter amazement from my perch here in Canada at American politicians fighting against a national health care program for all its citizens. Something considered a basic human right in almost all other western countries.
To make it I think worse many of these politicians called themselves Christians. Isn’t affordable universal healthcare a good way to spend the peoples tax money?
Jesus said,
“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,”
Matthew 25:40-42.
There is a quote from the Talmud that goes like this,
“Rabbi Akiba was asked by a Roman general, “Why does your God who loves the needy not provide for their support Himself?” He answered, “God the Father of both the rich and poor, wants the one to help the other so as to make the world a household of love.”
These words are not just for Christians they are for our all of us. It’s just basic humanitarianism. We need to help our fellow man.
We as individuals l need to look at what we and our leaders are doing for the individuals in this world.
Are we helping our fellow man or are we oppressing them.
Think about it.
Monday, 12 May 2014
What Jesus said about himself
What Jesus said of himself
Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven.
For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
“Sir,” they said, “from now on give us this bread.”
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.
But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe.
All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.
For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.
And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.
For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”
John 6:32-40
The Bible does not hide who Jesus is. It reports clearly here in John 6:32-40 what he says about himself.
He admits he came down from heaven. That those who come to him he will not cast away.
He says he has come to do the will of his Heavenly Father, God.
And he make one very clear statement,
“For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”
Such a statement can in my mind only be taken in two ways. Either they are the words of a lunatic who has fooled to date two point two billion people (the number of estimated Christians in the world today).
Or he is who he says he is the One and Only Son of God the Saviour of mankind.
The choice is up to each person individually to decide.
Is Jesus the Son of God or not.
Think about it?
Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven.
For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
“Sir,” they said, “from now on give us this bread.”
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.
But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe.
All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.
For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.
And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.
For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”
John 6:32-40
The Bible does not hide who Jesus is. It reports clearly here in John 6:32-40 what he says about himself.
He admits he came down from heaven. That those who come to him he will not cast away.
He says he has come to do the will of his Heavenly Father, God.
And he make one very clear statement,
“For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”
Such a statement can in my mind only be taken in two ways. Either they are the words of a lunatic who has fooled to date two point two billion people (the number of estimated Christians in the world today).
Or he is who he says he is the One and Only Son of God the Saviour of mankind.
The choice is up to each person individually to decide.
Is Jesus the Son of God or not.
Think about it?
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