From a book
A book I found amid the myriad of books that line the walls of my home entitled "Essentials in Christian Faith" by John B. Harrington, published in 1958, could have been written yesterday.
It opens with this quote from Paul Gallico in Esquire Magazine in 1948:
"A writer in a popular magazine has written the following words; 'We are all, if you will pardon the expression, Headed for Hell in a handbarrow. If, ever the people of the world stood in need of a spiritual revival, it is now. We are beginning to poison the face of the earth with our miserable presence. The brakes are off. The cart of the world is sliding down the way greased with hatred, ambition, lies, self-seeking and avarice toward the pit.’"
Harrington notes that Gallico makes no pretense of being "a religious man" noting that "...for him it is precisely religion in its organized forms which has in part caused the situation he deplores. He is careful to state that it is not "religion" for which he is looking. For in his opinion, religion throughout the history of our culture has advanced its control over human beings by the investment of bigotry and persecution.
Yet, out of despair over the current human situation he says; ‘The voice for which my heavy spirit is yearning must reach us all... For if it is not heard, we are lost. Something beyond our material enrichment and lust for power and position, some rewards founded on good will, selflessness, and the innate dignity of the human spirit...honour, humility, decency courage."
Gallico is right religion in all it’s forms has caused grief for far too many people. I am the first to admit that many who call themselves Christians especially here in North America are really just religious people.
Many who would espouse themselves to be “evangelicals” are not true Christians. They are reading from the bible. The claim to be fundamentalist yet they twist the words of the bible to fit their own beliefs.
In many ways they are a religious version of a secular way of thinking.
The bible over the years has been used to condemn everything from Elvis’s gyrating hips, to rock and roll to. It has even been used to condone the abomination that is slavery.
We see many who call themselves Christians today spouting judgement on people with whom they disagree.
They judge members of the homosexual community and even religious groups both Christian and none Christian with whom the disagree.
This is not true Christianity.
Jesus said of these people,
“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
Matthew 7:22,23.
What Paul Gallico and many others today are looking for is a faith that is a way of life. One that does not judge but loves. One that offers rest for the soul.
Jesus said,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30
Christianity when practised correctly is first a way of life. A life that incorporates the love of God.
The Apostle Paul defining love as,
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails....
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13
The Apostle Paul writing to a member of the first century church wrote the following,
"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God"
2 Timothy 3:1-4
If Paul Gallico is right and I believe he is, mankind is considerably nearer the bottom of that slope than he was in 1948. Moreover at the bottom of that slope is a very deep lake filled with brimstone.
In Christ however there is hope. There is rest for ones soul. All the individual must do is believe that Jesus is the Christ, God’s one and only Son who offers Salvation and eternal life to all who believe in Him.
Think about it.
Saturday, 16 August 2014
Friday, 15 August 2014
On Christianity
On Christianity
Lucian, Greek rhetorician, pamphleteer, and satirist. (born ad 120, Samosata, Commagene, Syria died after 180, Athens) said of Christians,
"These deluded creatures, you see, have persuaded themselves that they are immortal and will live forever, which explains the contempt of death and willing self-sacrifice so common among them. It was impressed on them too by their lawgiver that from the moment they are converted, deny the gods of Greece, worship the crucified sage, and live after his laws, they are all brothers....”
Lucian like many today do did not believe in Christ. But he definitely described what Christians believe.
I’ve heard Christian friends of mine say Christians can’t loose.
“We may get beat up, tortured, even thrown to lions but we can’t loose.
We believe that we are immortal as is everyone ever born. The difference between Christians and none-Christians is that we are certain where we will spend eternity.”
We believe that in accepting Christ as our Lord and Saviour we will one day be with him in heaven.
C.S. Lewis said of Christianity,
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”
C. S. Lewis.
For me I believe there has to be something to Christianity. We are a people who preach peace and living in harmony with our fellow man. The apostle Paul told Christians,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Romans 12:18-21.
If we Christians are so unimportant. If God does not exist why are governments such as North Korea killing Christians.
Why wont Saudi Arabia allow Christians to practice their faith? Why are atheist in the United States trying to get Christian symbols out of schools and other public places.
It seems to me if there is nothing behind the Christian faith then the symbols and practices of Christianity are meaningless.
Roman Emperor Julian the Apostate, (361-363 A.D.) an ancient adversary of Christianity. Said in his work against Christianity:
“Jesus…has now been celebrated about three hundred years having done nothing in his lifetime worthy of fame, unless anyone thinks it is a very great work to heal lame and blind people and exorcise demoniacs in the villages of Bethsaida and Bethany.”
At the end of his life Julian was forced to say:“Thou has conquered, O Galilean!”
Over the centuries many men and governments have come against Christianity yet none have prevailed.
Christianity is stronger today than it has ever been and it is still growing even in countries that try to suppress it.
It continues to grow because it is of God, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.
Think about it.
Lucian, Greek rhetorician, pamphleteer, and satirist. (born ad 120, Samosata, Commagene, Syria died after 180, Athens) said of Christians,
"These deluded creatures, you see, have persuaded themselves that they are immortal and will live forever, which explains the contempt of death and willing self-sacrifice so common among them. It was impressed on them too by their lawgiver that from the moment they are converted, deny the gods of Greece, worship the crucified sage, and live after his laws, they are all brothers....”
Lucian like many today do did not believe in Christ. But he definitely described what Christians believe.
I’ve heard Christian friends of mine say Christians can’t loose.
“We may get beat up, tortured, even thrown to lions but we can’t loose.
We believe that we are immortal as is everyone ever born. The difference between Christians and none-Christians is that we are certain where we will spend eternity.”
We believe that in accepting Christ as our Lord and Saviour we will one day be with him in heaven.
C.S. Lewis said of Christianity,
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”
C. S. Lewis.
For me I believe there has to be something to Christianity. We are a people who preach peace and living in harmony with our fellow man. The apostle Paul told Christians,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Romans 12:18-21.
If we Christians are so unimportant. If God does not exist why are governments such as North Korea killing Christians.
Why wont Saudi Arabia allow Christians to practice their faith? Why are atheist in the United States trying to get Christian symbols out of schools and other public places.
It seems to me if there is nothing behind the Christian faith then the symbols and practices of Christianity are meaningless.
Roman Emperor Julian the Apostate, (361-363 A.D.) an ancient adversary of Christianity. Said in his work against Christianity:
“Jesus…has now been celebrated about three hundred years having done nothing in his lifetime worthy of fame, unless anyone thinks it is a very great work to heal lame and blind people and exorcise demoniacs in the villages of Bethsaida and Bethany.”
At the end of his life Julian was forced to say:“Thou has conquered, O Galilean!”
Over the centuries many men and governments have come against Christianity yet none have prevailed.
Christianity is stronger today than it has ever been and it is still growing even in countries that try to suppress it.
It continues to grow because it is of God, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.
Think about it.
Thursday, 14 August 2014
A Note on Homosexuality
A note on Homosexuality.
I try not to comment directly on any group of people in these blogs. I strongly feel that all people are equal in the eyes of God. That he does not play favourites and that all people everywhere need to come to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Still someone questioned me the other day asking, can a homosexual get into heaven. I knew the correct answer, but I ran it past my pastor anyway. He agreed with me saying without hesitation, yes.
That being said I believe the Christian community and especially those who espouse to be evangelical Christians are doing at the very least a disservice to the Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) community.
Sadly all too many treat members of this community as if they have a so called “special sin” nothing could be further from the truth. No one is born with or acquires a special sin.
The Apostle Paul writing to the Romans wrote,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”
Romans 3:23.
By all he means all, every, man woman, child, pope, priest, minister, Christian, president, Prime Minister and anyone else who ever lived.
I believe sin separates us from God. That all sin no matter how big or small is equal that there are no special sins.
Sin is simply falling short of God’s ideals for one’s life. Not doing what God want’s us to do.
I believe the Psalmist who said,
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”
Psalm 139:13-16.
According to the Psalmist God knit us together in our mothers womb. That to me tells me God knows our DNA. God also knows our heart and wants all mankind to draw near to him. That I believe is why he said to his disciples and to us not to Judge.
Jesus made it clear,
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Matthew 7:1,2
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets”
Matthew 7:12.
I certainly would not want mortals judging me. No man or woman however wise truly knows the heart and mind of another person.
Our churches should be a place where anyone can come to learn about Christ. A place of safety a place of understanding.
Sadly they are not always that way. I certainly have experience people who have been harsh with me and failed to accept me for what I am.
I live with Bipolar Affective Disorder (manic depression) and I have actually had a person in the church come up to me and say mental illness is an excuse for being weak a person who claims to have it needs to pick themselves up by their boot straps and get on with life.
A second person even accused me of being demon possessed. What Garbage!
I heard and interesting comment on a Christian radio show this morning. The commentator apparently asked people if they were caught drunk driving and their names appeared in the news paper the next day, would they feel comfortable about going to church that Sunday.
The majority of people sadly said they wouldn’t. That they’d wait for several weeks until the dust settle before returning to church.
The commentator noted that it should not be this way. That it was the equivalent of a man breaking a leg and not wanting to go to a hospital because they didn’t want the doctors to see them injured.
Our churches need to be all inclusive. They need to reach out to all people no matter their way of life. And by “All” I mean all should feel free to come into our churches and feel accepted.
For me as a Christian I have, I believe, one job to present the good news of Jesus Christ to people.
Yes I believe members of the LBGT community can get to heaven they are like anyone else in the world subject to the same rules as everyone else they I believe must believe the following,
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6
I believe everyone must confess their sins to God. That it is God who convicts people of their sin. He shows them the sin in their life. God shows the individual where they fall short of Him. No man can do that.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.”
1John 1:9-10
In short everyone sins even if it’s just driving one kilometre over the speed limit or failing to be completely honest for whatever reason or for that matter judges someone.
I believe that Salvation comes from God that he reached down to mankind. That we must receive his saving grace. The apostle Paul writes,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:8,9
I believe that man could never be good enough to meet God thus he sent down his one and only son do die for us,
Paul writing to the Romans saying,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8
Ultimately all of what I believe comes down to faith. The writer of Hebrews saying,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:1
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.’
Hebrews 11:6
For me it’s not a matter of whether you are strait or gay. It’s a walk of faith that saves us.
We ALL must admit we are sinners in need of God’s saving grace and we must accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior for it is he who died to save us.
Therefore I leave this thought with you.
No matter who you are, gay, lesbian, transgendered, a cross dresser, a heterosexual man or woman, a high profile televangelist, the pastor of a local church, the person who sits in the pew or for that matter someone sitting in a row boat, all need to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour.
Have you accepted Christ into your life?
For it was Jesus who said,
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6
Think about it.
I try not to comment directly on any group of people in these blogs. I strongly feel that all people are equal in the eyes of God. That he does not play favourites and that all people everywhere need to come to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Still someone questioned me the other day asking, can a homosexual get into heaven. I knew the correct answer, but I ran it past my pastor anyway. He agreed with me saying without hesitation, yes.
That being said I believe the Christian community and especially those who espouse to be evangelical Christians are doing at the very least a disservice to the Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) community.
Sadly all too many treat members of this community as if they have a so called “special sin” nothing could be further from the truth. No one is born with or acquires a special sin.
The Apostle Paul writing to the Romans wrote,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”
Romans 3:23.
By all he means all, every, man woman, child, pope, priest, minister, Christian, president, Prime Minister and anyone else who ever lived.
I believe sin separates us from God. That all sin no matter how big or small is equal that there are no special sins.
Sin is simply falling short of God’s ideals for one’s life. Not doing what God want’s us to do.
I believe the Psalmist who said,
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”
Psalm 139:13-16.
According to the Psalmist God knit us together in our mothers womb. That to me tells me God knows our DNA. God also knows our heart and wants all mankind to draw near to him. That I believe is why he said to his disciples and to us not to Judge.
Jesus made it clear,
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Matthew 7:1,2
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets”
Matthew 7:12.
I certainly would not want mortals judging me. No man or woman however wise truly knows the heart and mind of another person.
Our churches should be a place where anyone can come to learn about Christ. A place of safety a place of understanding.
Sadly they are not always that way. I certainly have experience people who have been harsh with me and failed to accept me for what I am.
I live with Bipolar Affective Disorder (manic depression) and I have actually had a person in the church come up to me and say mental illness is an excuse for being weak a person who claims to have it needs to pick themselves up by their boot straps and get on with life.
A second person even accused me of being demon possessed. What Garbage!
I heard and interesting comment on a Christian radio show this morning. The commentator apparently asked people if they were caught drunk driving and their names appeared in the news paper the next day, would they feel comfortable about going to church that Sunday.
The majority of people sadly said they wouldn’t. That they’d wait for several weeks until the dust settle before returning to church.
The commentator noted that it should not be this way. That it was the equivalent of a man breaking a leg and not wanting to go to a hospital because they didn’t want the doctors to see them injured.
Our churches need to be all inclusive. They need to reach out to all people no matter their way of life. And by “All” I mean all should feel free to come into our churches and feel accepted.
For me as a Christian I have, I believe, one job to present the good news of Jesus Christ to people.
Yes I believe members of the LBGT community can get to heaven they are like anyone else in the world subject to the same rules as everyone else they I believe must believe the following,
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6
I believe everyone must confess their sins to God. That it is God who convicts people of their sin. He shows them the sin in their life. God shows the individual where they fall short of Him. No man can do that.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.”
1John 1:9-10
In short everyone sins even if it’s just driving one kilometre over the speed limit or failing to be completely honest for whatever reason or for that matter judges someone.
I believe that Salvation comes from God that he reached down to mankind. That we must receive his saving grace. The apostle Paul writes,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:8,9
I believe that man could never be good enough to meet God thus he sent down his one and only son do die for us,
Paul writing to the Romans saying,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8
Ultimately all of what I believe comes down to faith. The writer of Hebrews saying,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:1
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.’
Hebrews 11:6
For me it’s not a matter of whether you are strait or gay. It’s a walk of faith that saves us.
We ALL must admit we are sinners in need of God’s saving grace and we must accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior for it is he who died to save us.
Therefore I leave this thought with you.
No matter who you are, gay, lesbian, transgendered, a cross dresser, a heterosexual man or woman, a high profile televangelist, the pastor of a local church, the person who sits in the pew or for that matter someone sitting in a row boat, all need to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour.
Have you accepted Christ into your life?
For it was Jesus who said,
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6
Think about it.
Wednesday, 13 August 2014
On Judgement
on Judgement
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”
1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
Perhaps the biggest complaint I hear from none Christians, particularly about those claiming to be evangelical Christians is they are always judging them.
I as a Christian agree.
When I look at some evangelist on Television all I do see at times is judgment being spouted on the general public.
The Apostle Paul never taught that. Here in the verses I quoted he makes it clear that Christians have no right to judge those outside the church. That they are however to expel the wicked from among them.
Jesus made it clear,
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Matthew 7:1,2.
I believe this. I am also certain that it is not only God that will judge those who judge but the fellow Christians and the secular world.
Jesus also said,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets”
Matthew 7:12.
I certainly would not want mortals judging me. No man or woman however wise truly knows the heart and mind of another person.
God on the other hand I believe knows not only the heart and mind of an individual but the very DNA of the individual. Thus he fully understands what motivates a person to do what they do.
For me as a Christian I have I believe one job to present the good news of Jesus Christ to people.
I believe people need to know at the very least these few things,
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6
The Apostle Paul wrote,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”
Romans 3:23
And by all Paul meant All every, man woman, child, pope, priest, minister, Christian, president, Prime Minister and anyone else who ever lived.
I believe sin separates us from God. That all sin no matter how big or small is equal that there are no special sins.
I believe
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.”
1John 1:9-10
I believe,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:8,9
I believe that man could never be good enough to meet God thus he sent down his one and only son do die for us,
Paul writing to the Romans saying,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8
Ultimately all of what I believe comes down to faith. The writer of Hebrews saying,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:1
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."
Hebrews 11:6
So dear reader I leave things with you. Do you believe what I have said or not. The choice is always yours.
Think about it.
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”
1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
Perhaps the biggest complaint I hear from none Christians, particularly about those claiming to be evangelical Christians is they are always judging them.
I as a Christian agree.
When I look at some evangelist on Television all I do see at times is judgment being spouted on the general public.
The Apostle Paul never taught that. Here in the verses I quoted he makes it clear that Christians have no right to judge those outside the church. That they are however to expel the wicked from among them.
Jesus made it clear,
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Matthew 7:1,2.
I believe this. I am also certain that it is not only God that will judge those who judge but the fellow Christians and the secular world.
Jesus also said,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets”
Matthew 7:12.
I certainly would not want mortals judging me. No man or woman however wise truly knows the heart and mind of another person.
God on the other hand I believe knows not only the heart and mind of an individual but the very DNA of the individual. Thus he fully understands what motivates a person to do what they do.
For me as a Christian I have I believe one job to present the good news of Jesus Christ to people.
I believe people need to know at the very least these few things,
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6
The Apostle Paul wrote,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”
Romans 3:23
And by all Paul meant All every, man woman, child, pope, priest, minister, Christian, president, Prime Minister and anyone else who ever lived.
I believe sin separates us from God. That all sin no matter how big or small is equal that there are no special sins.
I believe
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.”
1John 1:9-10
I believe,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:8,9
I believe that man could never be good enough to meet God thus he sent down his one and only son do die for us,
Paul writing to the Romans saying,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8
Ultimately all of what I believe comes down to faith. The writer of Hebrews saying,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:1
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."
Hebrews 11:6
So dear reader I leave things with you. Do you believe what I have said or not. The choice is always yours.
Think about it.
Tuesday, 12 August 2014
Love and Hate
Love and Hate
“There is one other fundamental difference between love and hate. Love is always a refuge. Hate is never a refuge. Only a mentally sick person can find refuge in his hates. But love is the enduring sanctuary of life. Life may rob you of many things. It often does. But it can never bereave us of love itself. That remains.”
-Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver, rabbinic leader, from a December 22, 1940, sermon, quoted in Therefore Choose Life: Selected Sermons, Addresses and Writings of Abba Hillel Silver, Volume One, edited by Herbert Wiesner (1997)
I don’t know much of Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver but I do know that at the time he wrote what I quoted above six million Jewish men, women and children were being put to death. And millions more were dying also.
In the end world war two, a war that was started by a mad man would kill depending on what figure you take between fifty six and sixty million people. All because of a mad man who hated.
Like the first world war, world war two was not the war to end all wars. Millions have died since and millions are dying now at the hands of evil men.
As I write this there is a terrorist group ISIS out to kill Christians and minority groups they disagree with in the middle east. The United States is so concerned that they are ordering their military to bomb them. Word has it they are also dropping humanitarian supplies to these people who are fleeing what amounts to a genocide.
The men that are causing this humanitarian crisis have no love. They are filled with an idealistic doctrine that hold life in little regard. Love is not in their vocabulary. They are filled with hate.
The Apostle Paul wrote of Love,
“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
Irrespective of what your faith is or whether you have a faith. Even atheist can agree hate is an animal that devours everything.
Love conquers all.
The Apostle Paul said it best,
“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:13
Think about it.
“There is one other fundamental difference between love and hate. Love is always a refuge. Hate is never a refuge. Only a mentally sick person can find refuge in his hates. But love is the enduring sanctuary of life. Life may rob you of many things. It often does. But it can never bereave us of love itself. That remains.”
-Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver, rabbinic leader, from a December 22, 1940, sermon, quoted in Therefore Choose Life: Selected Sermons, Addresses and Writings of Abba Hillel Silver, Volume One, edited by Herbert Wiesner (1997)
I don’t know much of Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver but I do know that at the time he wrote what I quoted above six million Jewish men, women and children were being put to death. And millions more were dying also.
In the end world war two, a war that was started by a mad man would kill depending on what figure you take between fifty six and sixty million people. All because of a mad man who hated.
Like the first world war, world war two was not the war to end all wars. Millions have died since and millions are dying now at the hands of evil men.
As I write this there is a terrorist group ISIS out to kill Christians and minority groups they disagree with in the middle east. The United States is so concerned that they are ordering their military to bomb them. Word has it they are also dropping humanitarian supplies to these people who are fleeing what amounts to a genocide.
The men that are causing this humanitarian crisis have no love. They are filled with an idealistic doctrine that hold life in little regard. Love is not in their vocabulary. They are filled with hate.
The Apostle Paul wrote of Love,
“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
Irrespective of what your faith is or whether you have a faith. Even atheist can agree hate is an animal that devours everything.
Love conquers all.
The Apostle Paul said it best,
“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:13
Think about it.
Monday, 11 August 2014
God Created
God of Created
I’ve said it before and I have to say it again the world, the universe and everything in it is created.
I cannot have enough faith to say they were just the end results of random chance.
Look at the I’ve posted. One is a snails tongue under magnification.
Snails ave everything they need to survive on this earth. Every cell every neuron works perfectly to ensure the life of the organism.
Albert Einstein said,
“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.”
Albert Einstein
The more I look into nature the more I see the hand of the creator.
We live in a magnificent world.
The other day I got my camera out and took a picture of the moon.
The moon responsible for the tides. Thousands of kilometres in space linked to the oceans that teem with life. The oceans that are linked to the weather. The weather that plays such an important part in where we can live and how we live.
Everything in nature is so intricately linked. I cannot believe this is all by chance.
Think about it.
Sunday, 10 August 2014
A Note
A Note
“Throughout the history of the Western world the Scriptures have been the great instigators of revolt against the worst forms of clerical and political despotism.
The Bible has been the Magna Charta of the poor and of the oppressed; down to modern times no State has had a constitution in which the interests of the people are so largely taken into accounts, in which the duties so much more than the privileges of rulers are insisted upon, as that drawn up for Israel in Deuteronomy and in Leviticus; nowhere is the fundamental truth that the welfare of the State, in the long run, depends on the uprightness of the citizen so strongly laid down....The Bible is the most democratic book in the world.”
T. H. Huxley
Huxley got it right. The bible is the most democratic book in history. It constantly reminds those in power that they should be servants of all.
Jesus said,
“The greatest among you will be your servant.
For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
Matthew 23:11,12.
It reminds believers that they should obey authorities.
Paul writing to the Romans said,
“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”
Romans 13:1
The Apostle Paul reminds us,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Romans 12:18-21.
It is only when the rights of the individual are threatened that believers have the right to speak out.
It is only when the men move away from the truths and morality of the Bible that conflict starts.
Think about it.
“Throughout the history of the Western world the Scriptures have been the great instigators of revolt against the worst forms of clerical and political despotism.
The Bible has been the Magna Charta of the poor and of the oppressed; down to modern times no State has had a constitution in which the interests of the people are so largely taken into accounts, in which the duties so much more than the privileges of rulers are insisted upon, as that drawn up for Israel in Deuteronomy and in Leviticus; nowhere is the fundamental truth that the welfare of the State, in the long run, depends on the uprightness of the citizen so strongly laid down....The Bible is the most democratic book in the world.”
T. H. Huxley
Huxley got it right. The bible is the most democratic book in history. It constantly reminds those in power that they should be servants of all.
Jesus said,
“The greatest among you will be your servant.
For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
Matthew 23:11,12.
It reminds believers that they should obey authorities.
Paul writing to the Romans said,
“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”
Romans 13:1
The Apostle Paul reminds us,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Romans 12:18-21.
It is only when the rights of the individual are threatened that believers have the right to speak out.
It is only when the men move away from the truths and morality of the Bible that conflict starts.
Think about it.
Saturday, 9 August 2014
Evidence of God
Evidence of God
“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.”
Albert Einstein.
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
Psalm 19:1.
Watched a video the other day. It showed a time laps image of a mushroom growing, of vines moving up from the forest floor to the light of the sun.
It showed a dragon fly and noted that it could move all four wings in different directions using high speed photography.
It looked through a microscope and showed a snails tongue.
The whole thing was so incredible to watch.
As I watched it I was in wonder at how detailed how carefully crafted everything in nature from the vast galaxies to the smallest atoms are.
As I looked I seen the hand of a divine creator.
Every time I look at nature I cannot believe that it is as the evolutionist say it happened by chance.
The natural world is so intricate so much in balance to be just a random thing. There has to be a God who created it all.
A God who loves his creation. Who loves you and me.
If not the world and indeed the universe is a very lonely place.
Think about it.
“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.”
Albert Einstein.
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
Psalm 19:1.
Watched a video the other day. It showed a time laps image of a mushroom growing, of vines moving up from the forest floor to the light of the sun.
It showed a dragon fly and noted that it could move all four wings in different directions using high speed photography.
It looked through a microscope and showed a snails tongue.
The whole thing was so incredible to watch.
As I watched it I was in wonder at how detailed how carefully crafted everything in nature from the vast galaxies to the smallest atoms are.
As I looked I seen the hand of a divine creator.
Every time I look at nature I cannot believe that it is as the evolutionist say it happened by chance.
The natural world is so intricate so much in balance to be just a random thing. There has to be a God who created it all.
A God who loves his creation. Who loves you and me.
If not the world and indeed the universe is a very lonely place.
Think about it.
Friday, 8 August 2014
A Case of Blasphemy
A case of blasphemy
“A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home.
So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them.
Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them.
Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves,
“Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Mark 2:1-7
This is an astounding thing for Jesus to do. He not only healed a man but he claimed to forgive sins an action that carried the death penalty. Mark noting what the teachers of the law were saying,
“Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
The Law they were referring to comes from Leviticus. It states,
“anyone who blasphemes the name of the LORD must be put to death. The entire assembly must stone him. Whether an alien or native-born, when he blasphemes the Name, he must be put to death.”
Leviticus 24:16
Why would Jesus risk death and the potential end of his ministry by committing a crime worthy of capital punishment.
C.S. Lewis writes,
“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.
The only conclusion one can make from the way Jesus presented himself is that he truly is the Son of God. God in the flesh.
Think about it.
“A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home.
So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them.
Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them.
Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves,
“Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Mark 2:1-7
This is an astounding thing for Jesus to do. He not only healed a man but he claimed to forgive sins an action that carried the death penalty. Mark noting what the teachers of the law were saying,
“Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
The Law they were referring to comes from Leviticus. It states,
“anyone who blasphemes the name of the LORD must be put to death. The entire assembly must stone him. Whether an alien or native-born, when he blasphemes the Name, he must be put to death.”
Leviticus 24:16
Why would Jesus risk death and the potential end of his ministry by committing a crime worthy of capital punishment.
C.S. Lewis writes,
“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.
The only conclusion one can make from the way Jesus presented himself is that he truly is the Son of God. God in the flesh.
Think about it.
Thursday, 7 August 2014
What about the Miraculous
What about the Miraculous
“A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home.
So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them.
Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them.
Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves,
“Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things?
Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’?
But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins . . . .” He said to the paralytic,
“I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.”
He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”
Mark 2:1-12.
What is describes above is one of many miracles Jesus did. If these were fabrications why would the writers of the scriptures write about them.
Anything that is too far fetched or seemingly impossible would be counter productive to the cause of Christianity. Yet the early writers chose to include them.
To my mind this tells me they really happened.
Every miracle that is spoke of in the Bible both in the Old Testament and in the New is genuine.
They prove there is a God and they prove Jesus is the Son of God. If not the writers of the New Testament are either delusional or lying.
Either way in making things up they are not helping the cause of Christianity. If anything they are damaging it.
The writers of the Bible wrote down what they knew to be true. They did so because they wanted people everywhere to know the truth about God and Christ.
Think about it
“A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home.
So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them.
Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them.
Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves,
“Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things?
Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’?
But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins . . . .” He said to the paralytic,
“I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.”
He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”
Mark 2:1-12.
What is describes above is one of many miracles Jesus did. If these were fabrications why would the writers of the scriptures write about them.
Anything that is too far fetched or seemingly impossible would be counter productive to the cause of Christianity. Yet the early writers chose to include them.
To my mind this tells me they really happened.
Every miracle that is spoke of in the Bible both in the Old Testament and in the New is genuine.
They prove there is a God and they prove Jesus is the Son of God. If not the writers of the New Testament are either delusional or lying.
Either way in making things up they are not helping the cause of Christianity. If anything they are damaging it.
The writers of the Bible wrote down what they knew to be true. They did so because they wanted people everywhere to know the truth about God and Christ.
Think about it
Wednesday, 6 August 2014
The Christian
The Christian
“The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.”
C.S. Lewis
The uniqueness of Christianity is that it is God who is reaching down to us. Paul writing to the Romans said,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8.
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
Paul writing to the Ephesians 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.
All of what I have quoted above is about God reaching down to man. By the Christian way of thinking we can never be good enough to deserve to be with God. Yet God made it possible.
John saying,
“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.”
John 1:12,13.
The decision dear reader is yours. Will you accept the salvation God offered through Jesus Christ or not.
Think about it.
“The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.”
C.S. Lewis
The uniqueness of Christianity is that it is God who is reaching down to us. Paul writing to the Romans said,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8.
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
Paul writing to the Ephesians 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.
All of what I have quoted above is about God reaching down to man. By the Christian way of thinking we can never be good enough to deserve to be with God. Yet God made it possible.
John saying,
“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.”
John 1:12,13.
The decision dear reader is yours. Will you accept the salvation God offered through Jesus Christ or not.
Think about it.
Tuesday, 5 August 2014
Paul to the Athenians and you
Paul to the Athenians and you
Over the last while I have quoted many times from the Apostle Paul here I give to you the reader his speech to the Athenians.
I believe that it is as relevant today as it was when he spoke it. I ask you to decide what you think in the same way those gathered at the Areopagus did,
“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
Act 17:18-34
What do you think.
Think about it?
Over the last while I have quoted many times from the Apostle Paul here I give to you the reader his speech to the Athenians.
I believe that it is as relevant today as it was when he spoke it. I ask you to decide what you think in the same way those gathered at the Areopagus did,
“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
Act 17:18-34
What do you think.
Think about it?
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