Requiem

Requiem

Under the wide and starry sky

Dig the grave and let me lie.

Glad did I live and gladly die,

And I laid me down with a will.

This be the verse you grave for me:

Here he lies were he longed to be;

Home is the sailor, home from the sea,

And the hunter home from the hill.

                                                                    By Robert Louis Stevenson
Do you have a home beyond the grave?
Tony Campolo asked the question,
“When you were born, you cried and everybody else was happy. The only question that matters is this - when you die, will you be happy when everybody else is crying?”
                                                                                               Tony Campolo
Over the centuries men have gone to great lengths to see that their departed loved ones have some kind of rest in the afterlife.
The ancient Egyptians built the pyramids filling them with grave goods they thought the pharaoh would need for the afterlife.
Throughout Europe and Britain people were also buried with grave goods for the afterlife.
It seems all cultures believe in some kind of life after death. Although today in our so called “enlightened culture” Atheist are starting to scream louder against belief in God and those who would speak about God.
My question to them has always been if God does not exist what’s the problem. Christianity and Judaism which I am most familiar preach a need to live ones life to a high moral standard. What’s wrong with that.
C. S. Lewis made the point,
“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.
Is Christianity that important that it needs to be attacked?
I as a Christian know that Christianity practised correctly does lead to a better moral life.
I know it offers hope for all who believe.
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.
Ultimately believing in God and Christ is an act of faith. The writer of Hebrews stating,
“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 defined as,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” 
                                                                                                                         Hebrews 11:1.
So I leave it up to you the reader. Do you believe there is life after death? If so are you certain you will have a home in heaven. Will you as Tony Campolo said,
“ ...be happy when everybody else is crying?”
Think about it.

Freedom

Freedom

“Faith in God is the strongest bulwark of a free society.  Human freedom began when men became conscious that over and above society and nature there is a God who created them...who fashioned them in His likeness, and that they are, therefore, possessed of intrinsic and independent significance and are endowed, as individuals, with original and irrevocable rights and authority.”
              Abba Hillel Silver.
I cannot conceive of a world without God. I cannot see stone age man developing a moral code on his own. If we did evolve and survival of the fittest is true, then to me it would make more sense that the most violent predator human or otherwise would win.
It is not logical that if someone suddenly said “I’m not fighting it’s immoral”and put down his weapons others would do so too, those around him who did not agree with him and continued in their violent ways would potentially wipe him out and his moral values with him.
One just has to look at the rise of the Nazi party in Germany in the 1930's. people let Hitler and his henchmen rise to power knowing they were thugs.
Politicians and the average people on the street thought that by giving into his demands and it would lead to peace.
Evil men see negotiation and a desire for peace as a sign of weakness. Hitler proved it. He murdered six million Jews, another five million others to death camps, and started a war that killed close to sixty million people.
Hitler and evil men like him throughout history did not fear God. And thus created pain and suffering on those around them.
That is why there is a need to believe in God. Everyone needs to know that eventually they will be held accountable for what they do in this world. It is only when man loses his fear of God that society is plunged into war and social unrest.
The terrorist of our modern era have perverted beliefs about God and thus do not fear the consequences of meeting Him face to face. Thus they rake terror and destruction on innocent men women and children.
Man need absolutes to believe in especially when it comes to morality. Remember Hitler did not think it immoral to kill eleven million men women and children in death camps. He had his own morality and do not kill was not part of it.
Our world is wandering far from God and society in general seems to be getting colder and colder. Our society needs to be turning back to God.
For I believe only God can save mankind.
Think about it.

The Poor

The Poor
I was in the downtown of our city a while ago. The wind was bitter the temperature minus fifteen centigrade. A man in a dirty jacket was standing in between two doors that led into an office building begging for money.
Just inside the doors was a coffee shop and people were coming and going. Passing the man like he wasn’t their.  
I had no cash on me so I went in with the intention of at least getting him a gift card so he could buy a meal.
Before I could do it however a well dressed man walked out of the coffee shop with a hot coffee and gave it to the man. He then offered to drive him to the Salvation army where he could get a room for the night and a warm meal.
The man accepted and they left.
I wonder how many people that passed that man that day could have done the same thing but didn’t.
Our society seems to be becoming colder and colder. They seem to look down on the poor. They see a man or woman on the street begging or huddled in a doorway trying to keep warm and walk right past them.
Our politicians seem to ignore the issue of homelessness and poverty. Welfare here in Canada is far from adequate. The use of food banks are on the increase.
Even in Canada as good as the healthcare system is there are gaps that leave the poor short of some necessary medications and some medical devices.
Government ideas seem to rely on the idea of give tax breaks to the rich and the money will trickle down to the poor helping them get jobs.
That idea has been around as long as I can remember and I’m sixty.
Far from trickling down the poor are getting poorer and the rich richer according to latest statistics.
Don’t get me wrong there is nothing wrong with being rich if you’ve earned it honestly. Bill Gates and other very wealthy men and women are shining examples of people who see the needs of the poor and are doing all they can to help them. But the need is great.
Our politicians need to start looking at their priorities. They need to be looking at those on the bottom rung of society and saying how can we do more to help.
The Jews have a concept called Tzadakah
I got the following definition of Tzadakah from a Jewish website it states,
“Tzedakah is the Hebrew word for acts that we call charity in English: giving assistance and money to the poor and needy or to other worthy causes. However the nature of tzedakah is very different from the idea of charity. The word “charity suggests benevolence and generosity, a magnanimous act by the wealthy and the powerful for the benefit of he poor and needy.
The word “tzedakah” is derived form the Hebrew root Tzadei-dalet-Qof, meaning righteousness, justice or fairness. In Judaism giving to the poor is not viewed as a generous, magnanimous act, it is simply and act of righteousness, performance of a duty giving the poor their due.”
According to Jewish scholars there are various levels of Tzedakah,
Giving begrudgingly
Giving less than you should, bu giving cheerfully,
Giving after being asked
Giving before being asked
Giving when you do not know the recipient’s identity, but the recipient knows yours
Giving when you know and the recipient’s identity, but the recipient doesn’t know yours.
Giving when neither party knows the other’s identity.
Enabling the recipient to become self-reliant. 
Jesus said,
Jesus Said,
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,  
I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  
When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  
When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 
“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,  
I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ 
“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 
“He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ 
“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” 
                                                                                          Matthew 25:34-36.
I strongly believe that there will be an accounting before God. That everyone will be judged according to what they did in this world. That they will be judged by what they were able to do but did not do.
While I still believe it is by faith in Jesus Christ that one gets to heaven. I firmly believe especially those who claim to be Christians and are in a position to change things for the better and do not. They will be judged justly put may hear the word,
‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
Think about it.

Signs of a Christian

Signs of a Christian
Mahatma Gandhi said,
“Jesus is ideal and wonderful, but you Christians - you are not like him.”
                                                                                             Mahatma Gandhi.
I’m convinced that Gandhi did not see true Christians. He saw people who claimed to be Christians. People who had a holier than thou attitude. People who certainly didn’t practice what they preached.
In our time I would say quite a few people in our society, see people claiming to be Christians who are not. Jesus even said,
“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” 
                                                                                                                  Matthew 7:22,23.
True Christians believe the basics of their faith,
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” 
           John 14:6
“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.
But true Christians go further they obey the words of Jesus who 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
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  
This is the first and greatest commandment.  
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” 
                                                                                          Matthew 22:37-40
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous...”
                         Matthew 5: 43-45
When it comes to Christian love the Apostle Paul defines it this way,
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 
Love never fails....
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”  
                                                                                                           1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13

A true Christian will not judge anyone outside the church that is God’s job. The apostle Paul writes,
“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.
The apostle James writes
“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!” 
             James 2:12,13.
A true Christian will be true to the words of Jesus who gave them their task on this earth when he said,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” 
                                                                  Matthew 28:18-20.
It is the Christians job to tell anyone who will listen about the saving grace of Jesus Christ. They are to present it and let the individual decide for themselves. They are never to force their beliefs on anyone.
A true Christian will do as Francis of Assisi said,
“Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”
                                                                                                Francis of Assisi
This to me is what a true Christian is. And what a True Christian is called to do.
Think about it.

Why I write

Why I write

Over the last year I have written about six hundred blog entries in some six different blogs. Someone asked me why I write these blogs. I found the answer in 1John 1:1-4.
“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.  
The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.  
We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.  
We write this to make our joy complete.” 
                                                      1John 1:1-4
I as a Christian truly believe that I have the most important thing in the world to share with all people, whoever they are, whatever their lifestyle.
God wants all people everywhere to come and know him on a personal level. He wants to have fellowship with the individual.
This is why I write the blogs.
I have no wish to force my beliefs on anyone. I simply place what I believe out there for people to read. The decision they make is entirely between them and God.
I am not their judge. I am simply a person who truly loves God and wants others to share in that same love.
A personal relationship that offers peace that passes all understanding. That lasts for eternity.
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
C. S. Lewis wrote,
“The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.” 
                                           C.S. Lewis.
I as a Christian believe that God knew that we could not be good enough to get into heaven, so he reached down to us. He sent His son Jesus Christ to atone for our short comings and sins.
Jesus died not for mankind as a whole but for each individual.
I believe the words of John when he 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
  I firmly believe that Jesus is the only way to heaven. That is why I write and talk to anyone who will listen and tell them about Jesus.
Jesus 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
There is one certainty in this life. That being we will never get out of it alive.
I cannot believe that this life is all there is. That when we die we simply pass into oblivion.
It seems to be that all cultures from  the beginning of time believe in an after life. It just seems to be to be in our very make up that we know there is something after death. An eternity that we will pass into.
The question is where will you spend eternity. Will it be in heaven.
The apostle Paul wrote
“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.
In order to possess the gift of eternal life, one must first accept it. Will you accept the free gift of Salvation Jesus offers you?
Think about it?

Look Einstein

Look

          “Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.”
                                                                                                    Albert Einstein.
I believe Einstein was right. The more we study nature the better our understanding of everything and that includes God.
The Psalmist wrote,
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 
Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. 
There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.” 
                                                                                     Psalm 19:1-3
I listened to a well known scientist on the radio not so long ago. He was convinced that the universe was started with a big bang. I don’t doubt that he is right. Especially when it comes to science theologians have had a poor record. The church believed that the earth was the centre of the universe and the sun and the planets revolved around it. They were wrong then and they could be wrong now.
Obviously someone’s time frame for the creation of the universe is off.
It wasn’t what this scientist said about creation that bothered me however. It was when the host asked him if he believed in life after death he said unequivocally no. That “when it comes to life it appears that this is all there is. That death is just an end.”
I noted that he said “it appears” that this is all there is. He seemed to be leaving the door open.
I respect the man. He’s a good scientist and the fact he used the phrase “appears this is all there is” leaves in my mind the possibility that there is life after death. It’s just that there is no scientific way of proving it at this time.
For me I am a creationist. I however don’t really care if God used the big bang theory to create the universe. I don’t really care whether it took six billion years or six days to get us to where we are today.
What is important to me is that there is a God who loves us. That life is not finite. Limited to our corporeal being.    
For me this life is a proving ground if you will. It is here that God gives us a chance to follow Him or reject Him.
He has written on our hearts what is right and wrong. He has planted in all people I believe a need to make sense out of life.
The writer of Ecclesiastes wrote,
“What does the worker gain from his toil?  
I have seen the burden God has laid on men.  
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.  
I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live.  
That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God.  
I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him. 
Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before; and God will call the past to account. 
And I saw something else under the sun: In the place of judgment—wickedness was there, in the place of justice—wickedness was there. 
I thought in my heart, “God will bring to judgment both the righteous and the wicked, for there will be a time for every activity, a time for every deed....” 
Ecclesiastes 3:9-17
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole  duty  of man. 
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” 
    Ecclesiastes 12:13,14.
I cannot force my ideas on anyone. I firmly believe that each person has to read the Bible for themselves and make their own conclusions.
C. S. Lewis wrote,
“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.”
                                                    C. S. Lewis.
Lewis also wrote,
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”
                                                                C. S. Lewis.
Ultimately each individual needs to make their own decision with respect to God, and Christ.
We all need to think about it.

Bi-Polar Hope

Hope
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 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 where 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 disorder,
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 kilometres one way to work. When suddenly without waring 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 spun out, no one was hurt thanks to a snow bank, but 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.
You try to 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.
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 there is despair until you think you can’t take it any more.
Then without warning the cycle repeats.
For me and I think, even for the professionals 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 automatons 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.
There is also my faith. 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.
The words of Jesus have proved a reality in my life when he 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.
Today I am on a magnificent journey. I still have some very, very bad days, day, I can’t fully function. But I take things one day sometimes one moment at a time.
To the reader I would ask if you have any of the symptoms above go and see your family doctor or a health care professional.
I have had people say to me mental illness is simply a sign of weakness and that I should just get on with life.
I have even had people say mental illness is demon possession and that I needed someone to pray for me.
Mental illness is no more demon possession than diabetes, a broken arm or any other physical injury. Nor is it a sign of weakness. And as I say if you have symptoms similar to what I’ve described above see a doctor or health care professional.
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.
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.
Bi-polar disorder is a two headed dragon. The key is not to try and fight it there is no cure. The key is to medicate it correctly, and learn to live with it. Something a good Psychiatrist can help you with.
For me it is a case most days of taking things one step 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...

That for me says is all, accepting what I cannot change, changing what I can, living one day sometimes one moment at a time and enjoying the good things that are in my life.

Remember there is help. There is always hope.

Love

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....

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”  

                                                                                              1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13
The above is a quote from the Apostle Paul to the Corinthians. It to my mind is the purest definition of love ever written. It defines love perfectly.
Christian or not, one has to admit if there were more love in the world there would be less violence.
Love is about humility. Love, true Love, does not place any conditions on anyone.
For me as a Christian Love is what I am called to do,
Jesus made three very important statements about love,
Jesus when asked,
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  
This is the first and greatest commandment.  
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” 
                                                                                        Matthew 22:37-40.
In Matthew Jesus is quotes as saying
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,”
                                                                     Matthew 5:43.44.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
  John 3:16,17
I think these sayings are universal truths no matter what faith you are or whether you believe in God at all.
Love is about giving of one’s self something I believe is quite often lacking in our world today.
Anne Frank a young girl hiding from the Nazi’s in World War two Holland wrote,
"Give of yourself, give as much as you can?  And you can always, always give something, even if it is only kindness!  If everyone were to do this and not be as mean with a kindly word, then there would be much more justice and love in the world.  Give and you shall receive, much more than you would have ever thought possible.  Give, give again and again, don’t lose courage, keep it up and go on giving!  No one has ever become poor from giving!"                                                                                                                                                 Anne Frank.
This is what love is all about.
When I was in my teens I watched a movie musical called “Good by Mr. Chips.” it’s theme song was called “Fill the World with Love”. The words still have meaning to me all these years later.

In the morning of my life

I will look to the Sunrise

At a moment in my life 

When the world is new.

And the Question

I shall ask only God can answer.

Will I be brave and strong and true,

Will I fill the world with love my whole life through?

Will I fill the world with love my whole life through?

In the evening of my life

I will look to the sunset

At a moment in my life 

When my life is through.

And the question I shall ask only I can answer 

Was I brave and strong and true.

Did I fill the world with love my whole life through?

Did I fill the world with love my whole life through?

                                                                                    From the Musical
                                                                                Good By Mr. Chips
At the end of your life will you be able to say, “I filled the world with Love my whole Life through?
Think About it.

Will you be happy?

Will you be happy?

“When you were born, you cried and everybody else was happy. The only question that matters is this - when you die, will you be happy when everybody else is crying?”
                                                                                                    Tony Campolo
So the question is where will you spend eternity? Will you be spending you life in heaven or in hell?
Jesus said two things that if true, and I believe they are, have eternal consequences. He said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” 
                                                                   John 3:16-18.
“....“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?

A time to remember

A time to remember

Today is International Holocaust remembrance day. A day set aside by the United Nations to remember the victims of the Nazi genocide.
The numbers are staggering for Jews alone, 6,258,673
                Jews Killed by country,
Africa 526, Hungary 305,000, Albania 200, 
Italy 8,000, Austria 65,000, Latvia 85,000
Belgium 24,387, Lithuania 135,000, 
Czechoslovakia 277,000, Luxembourg 700, Denmark
77 Netherlands 106,000, Estonia 4,000, 
Norway 728, France 83,000, Poland 3,001,000
Germany160,000, Romania 364,632, Greece 71,301,
 Soviet Union 1,500,000, Yugoslavia 67,122
TOTAL: 6,258,673
Included in this count an estimated 1,100,000 Children.
Add to that in excess of 5,000,000 non-jews who were murdered in the death camps.

Poles, Romani gypsies, 

Mentally and Physically disabled, 

Freemasons, Slovenes, 

homosexuals, Jehovah’s witnesses,

Christians of all faiths, 

Spanish republicans, 

Soviet prisoners of war,

Prisoners of war of other allied nations, 

and many thousands more.

As someone who has always lived in the relative freedom of the west born after world war two, I cannot imagine the horrors those sentenced to the death camps underwent.

Even after listening to the first hand accounts of those who lived through it I still find it hard to comprehend.
It amazes me how the free and democratic nations could allow such things to happen. Yet it did. Men like Neville Chamberlain the prime minister of England at the time, with all the best of intentions wanting peace, failed to see that you cannot bargain with despots like Hitler.
Even the American government at the time refused, at the start of the war to get involved. Many nations including Canada turned Jewish refugees away.
At the same time in Nazi occupied Europe there were many individuals at the risk of their own life, Christians, even Muslims hid Jewish families. Some would pay with their lives for doing the right thing, but because of their actions many Jews lived to tell their story.
Today there are those in the world who would deny Israel the right to exist. Many who wish to destroy Israel and murder the Jewish people.
Those who wish to do such atrocities are no better than that despotic Austrian corporal  and his followers who plunged the world into world war.
These men are evil and are proving they will, like Hitler kill anyone from anywhere and of any faith who will not conform to their ways.
If world war two and the holocaust has shown us anything, it is that we cannot bargain with such men. They like Hitler and his henchmen need to be destroyed. They need to be at the very least put on trial for crimes against humanity.
We who live in the free democracies of the west need to be doing all we can to stop those who would murder innocent men women and children.
We need to stand with the Jewish people. Stand with Israel and all the peace loving countries of the world against a great evil that is before us.
As individual citizens we need to urge our politicians to do the right thing and stand up to the terrorist. We need to stand behind and support our troops as they stand in harms way protecting our way of life.
I believe it was Stephen Harper Canada’s prime minister who said we are in a war. I believe we are.
Our war may not consist of massive tank battles and daily air raids but it is no less a war a war that affects us all.
So as we remember the millions that died in the holocaust of world war two. Let us not forget the message it sends.
The message that we will never be able to appease evil men. Chamberlain waving his little piece of paper and proclaiming peace in our time could not in 1939. Nor will we be able to in 2015.
Let us remember the words of  Martin Niemoller an anti-Nazi who wrotes,
“When they came for the Communists, I did not stand up, because I was not a Communist. When they came for the Jews, I did not stand up, because I was not Jewish. When they came for the Catholics, I did not stand up, because I was not a Catholic. When they came for me, there was no one left to stand up.”
Martin Niemoller
It will take the might of the free world to ensure our freedom of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
 So pray that our politicians to do the right thing. Pray for our the men and women of our military that they may be safe.
And pray for Israel, the Jewish community the world over and for the peace of Jerusalem. For I believe it is only when the Jews and Jerusalem are at peace will the world truly be at peace.
Think about it

To All

To all

“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

This is the uniqueness of Christian belief. We believe that faith in Christ gives us 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.”
Christians lay this out for all people to accept or reject.
The Gospel of John also records these words of Jesus,
“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.
If these words are false then no one is hurt by them. No one has anything to fear. But, if they are correct those who do not believe them have a lot to consider if not fear.
Think about it.

The Question

The Question

“The great question of our time is, 'Will we be motivated by materialistic philosophy or by spiritual power?'”
Billy Graham
Most people especially here in the west have a hard time understanding what they can’t see, hear or touch. As a result they dismiss the spiritual dimension of life. It’s hard to have faith in something one can’t see.
The writer of Hebrews defines faith as,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” 
                                                                                                                           Hebrews 11:1.
Scientist I believe come closest to Christians when it comes to faith. They look at the evidence around them and make their theories.
They believe from the best evidence they have before them their theory is correct, and start to make an experiment that will prove it. They are if you will, sure of what they hope for, and certain of what they do not see.
As a Christian I look at the world around me in all it’s mathematical perfection and see the hand of a creator God.
The Psalmist wrote,
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” 
                                                                                                                               Psalm 19:1.
The way I see things is that everything on this earth came together to support mankind. I doesn’t matter to me whether God created the earth in six twenty-four hour days or using the big bang over billions of years.
What I believe is God created it. That there is life after death and that it is your actions in this world that will decide as to where you will spend eternity.
I cannot believe this world is all there is. If so what a waste of people.
I also see that the majority of the world population throughout history has believed in an after life. It indicates to me that deep down in the soul of every person there is something that says life goes on after death.
It is something sadly many people fail to acknowledge in our so called enlightened day and age.
People in the twenty-first century, especially here in the west have turned away from God for a myriad of reasons and are now worshipping at the alter of materialism.
They are saying in effect, “ This is all there is. So in the end it’s the one with the most toys wins.”
The thing is in the end you don’t take ‘the toys’ with you.”
The writer of Ecclesiastes
“What does the worker gain from his toil?  
I have seen the burden God has laid on men.  
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.  
I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live.  
That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God.  
I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him. 
Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before; and God will call the past to account. 
And I saw something else under the sun: In the place of judgment—wickedness was there, in the place of justice—wickedness was there. 
I thought in my heart, “God will bring to judgment both the righteous and the wicked, for there will be a time for every activity, a time for every deed.” 
                                                                  Ecclesiastes 3:9-17.
I believe we will all one day stand before God. For those who deny there is a God it will be a surprise. Sadly by that time it will be too late.
To day is the day one needs to acknowledge God, to turn and worship him. To acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the Son of God the Saviour of mankind.

Think about it.