You and Eternity

You and Eternity
The American Evangelist Tony Campolo said,
“The Jesus of the Scripture transcends all nations and calls all nations into judgment.”
                                                                                                                       Tony Campolo
Jesus made things very clear. Speaking of himself 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.
In Jesus God reaches down to man. He says I love you so much I entered my creation in the form of my one and only Son Jesus Christ.
The apostle Paul explains
“For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,” 
                                                                                           Colossians 2:9
Writing to the Romans the apostle Paul says,
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.”
                                                                                                                                           Romans 5:6.
We, every man and woman that has ever lived are those ungodly people. We fall short of God’s ideal for our lives daily. We are far from perfect.
As the apostle Paul puts it,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”
                                                                                 Romans 3:23.
Sinning is falling short of God’s ideal. Sin separates us from God.
Paul however gives us hope. To the Ephesians he writes,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.” 
                                                                       Ephesians 2:8,9.
It is our faith in Christ that saves us. No one is perfect enough to stand before God. We all sin and fall short of God’s ideal for our lives. That is why we must accept the saving grace of Jesus.
The apostle John writes,
“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.” 
1 John 1:9-10.
By accepting by faith that Jesus is the one and only Son of God. By accepting that he died for your sins. Then confessing those sins to God directly you will receive eternal life with God.
The Apostle John telling us,
“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.
Please think about it.

God exists like it or not!

God exists like it or not!
           C. S. Lewis wrote,
“A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word 'darkness' on the walls of his cell.” 
                                                                                C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain
“He(God)  has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men;...”  
     Ecclesiastes 3:11a.
Like it or not God exists. Individuals may deny His existence but that’s not to say God does not exist.
There’s an old joke that goes like this.
“A young school boy said to his teacher “Miss I believe in God.” to which the teacher said,
“Joey you can’t see God. Can you?”
“No.” said Joey.
“You can’t touch God can you?” said the teacher.
“No” said Joey.
“Then if you can’s see Him or touch Him, how can you believe He exist.” said the teacher
Joey thought for a moment and said “I cant see or touch your brain does that mean it doesn’t exist?”
Just because we can’t see or touch things doesn’t mean they don’t exist ask any good scientist will tell you that.
Abba Hillel Silver wrote,
“Faith in God is the strongest bulwark of a free society.  Human freedom began when men became conscious that over and above society and nature there is a God who created them...who fashioned them in His likeness, and that they are, therefore, possessed of intrinsic and independent significance and are endowed, as individuals, with original and irrevocable rights and authority.”
                                                                                                                                    Abba Hillel Silver.
Without fear of God’s judgement ultimately man could do anything he wants.
Rabbi Benjamine Blech wrote,
“In the aftermath of Nazi Germany we must once and for all understand that culture and crematoria are not mutually exclusive.  Scientific progress does not ensure moral protection, nor can secular humanism produce saints.  People will always find reasons to justify any kind of behaviour.”
-Rabbi Benjamin Blech, congregational rabbi and ancient professor of Talmud, Understanding Judaism.  The Basics of Deed and Creed (1991).
When God is left out of the picture. When man does not fear judgement, individuals and society suffer.
Hitler and his henchmen did not fear God. Nor do modern day terrorist. Nor for that matter do criminals of any kind. Be they murderers or thieves. These people throw out the moral code I believe God has written on the hearts of every individual. Morals such as do not kill, do not steal and so forth.
They if you will have set themselves up as the absolute moral authority. I’m sure Hitler and those in charge of the death camps believed they were moral people. Even though the rest of humanity would disagree.
Whether individuals believe there is a God to fear or not He is there. I also believe the words of Ecclesiastes that says,
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole  duty  of man. 
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” 
 Ecclesiastes12:13,14.
The choice however to believe in God is up to you the individual.
All I would ask is that you please think about it.

Kindness

Kindness
Anne Frank 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.
Anne Frank knew what it was like to experience hate. She spent a good part of her short life hiding from the Nazis in the occupied Netherlands. Anne eventually died in a concentration camp the results of men who simply hated her and those like her because of who they were.
Such hatred is happening in the world today. I don’t see much love coming from the terrorist groups who are promising a better way of living.
You cannot have a better society if even just one person in your society is centred out to hate.
T. H. White wrote,
“There was just such a man when I was young—an Austrian who invented a new way of life and convinced himself that he was the chap to make it work. He tried to impose his reformation by the sword, and plunged the civilized world into misery and chaos. But the thing which this fellow had overlooked, my friend, was that he had a predecessor in the reformation business, called Jesus Christ. 
Perhaps we may assume that Jesus knew as much as the Austrian did about saving people. But the odd thing is that Jesus did not turn the disciples into storm troopers, burn down the Temple at Jerusalem, and fix the blame on Pontius Pilate. 
On the contrary, he made it clear that the business of the philosopher was to make ideas available, and not to impose them on people.” 
                                        T. H. White, The Once and Future King.
Terrorist groups around the world today are using the same tactics Hitler and every despot in history has ever used, the sword.
Napoleon Bonaparte noted,
“You speak of Caesar, of Alexander, of their conquests and of the enthusiasm which they enkindled in the hearts of their soldiers; but can you conceive of a dead man making conquests, with an army faithful and entirely devoted to his memory? My armies have forgotten me even while living, as the Carthaginian army forgot Hannibal. Such is our power.”
“I know men and I tell you, Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour, millions would die for him.”
“I search in vain history to find similar to Jesus Christ, or anything which can approach the gospel.  Neither history nor humanity, nor ages, nor nature, offer me anything with which I am able to compare it or to explain it. Here everything is extraordinary.”
                                                                                               Napoleon Bonaparte.
Alexander the great, the Romans, Hannibal, Napoleon, and Hitler tried to rule the world by force. Today they are footnotes in history. Their fame fading their empires gone.
Yet Jesus the man who was born in the back roads of the Roman empire has a following that is represented in every country on the face of the earth.
Jesus who is the Son of God showed the world how to live. How to change the world. 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 22:36-40
Jesus also said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?  
  And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?”
  Matthew 5:43-47.
Love for God, your neighbour and your enemy is something that terrorist groups and other groups that spout hate have not learned.
Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver wrote,
“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.
Terrorist groups and others spouting hate will never prevail ultimately they like the emperors and kings before them that have tried to conquer the world will be in the end a tiny footnote in history.
Ultimately those who hate will answer to God and be tried for their hate, and their crimes against God and humanity.
The writer of Proverbs wrote,
“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 
Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.” 
                                                                               Proverbs 3:3,4.
This is what we all need to do.
Please think about it. 

Of God and Heaven

Of God and Heaven
Jesus said,
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. 
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.  
When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” 
                                                                                                                             Matthew 13:44-46.
As a Christian this is how I see heaven. It is a treasure, the finest of pearls. It is to be desired above all things on this earth. There is nothing to compare.
Man has known throughout history that there is a heaven and a hell. I believe its because it’s part of man’s make up. The writer of Ecclesiastes writes,
“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.”  
                                                                                     Ecclesiastes 3:11.
Man being finite has a hard time understanding eternity yet he knows its there whether he wants to admit it or not he will one day end up.
Those who admit there is a heaven have throughout history strived to get there.
Throughout history through the Jewish scriptures, Moses and the prophets God has pointed man to himself.
On top of all of this he has sent his one and only Son Jesus. Jesus said of himself,
“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.
In Jesus God reached down to man. He said to each person on this earth here I am simply believe in me and you will get to heaven.
The apostle Paul states,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.” 
                                                                   Ephesians 2:8,9.
In order to get to heaven we must simply believe by faith God exists and Jesus is God’s Son.
According to Hebrews
“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.
Some people I have talked to have noted to me that it’s hard to have faith in anything at times and doubly so if you can’t see it or touch it.
Perhaps that’s why God asks us to have faith in Him. Because God knows that those who truly have faith in Him without actually being able to see and touch him are true believers.
Please think about it.

Pilate's Dilemma

Pilate’s dilemma
The Gospel of John records,
“The Jews insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.” 
  When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, and he went back inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer.  
“Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” 
Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.” 
From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jews kept shouting, “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.”
                                                                                                                 John 19:7-12.
In the above quote from the gospel of John we see the Roman governor Pilate has a dilemma.
The Jewish religious leaders of the day bring Jesus before him saying Jesus claims to be the Son of God. Therfore under Jewish law he must die.
As the Jews under Roman rule did not have the power of putting someone to death they called on Pilate to do so.
Judging by what John says Pilate seems to believe Jesus might be the son of God. John records,
“When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, and he went back inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer.”  
“Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” 
Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.”
Although we know Pilate did try to release Jesus he eventually bowed to the political pressure. Perhaps fearing a riot and definitely not wanting to have his loyalty to Cesar questioned  he gave into the enemies of Jesus and had him put to death.
Jesus knew full well that claiming to be the Son of God was claiming to be equal to God an act punishable by death. Yet Jesus never wavered from his claim.
Earlier in Johns Gospel John records,
“The Jews gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 
Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.  
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.  
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.  
I and the Father are one.” 
Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?” 
                                                                                                          John 10:24-32 
In John 11 Jesus when speaking to Martha says,
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;  and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
“Yes Lord” she told Him, “I believe you are the Christ the Son of God, who was to come into the world, 
John 11:25,26.
C. S. Lewis put it this way,
“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.
Jesus was no lunatic. Jesus was fully aware as to who He was and why He came to earth. He came to earth to die for the sins of each and every man. To quote Lewis again,
“He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less.”
                                     C.S. Lewis.
Jesus gives each person a choice. 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.  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.
The choice is yours.
Please think about it.

What Christians want you to know

What Christians want you to know.

Here for your perusal are several quotes from the New Testament that illustrate what Christians believe.
The apostle Paul wrote,
“For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,” 
                                                                                                    Colossians 2:9.
The Apostle John records this conversation between Martha a friend of Jesus and Jesus.
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;  and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 
“Yes, Lord,” she told him, “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.” 
    John 11:25-27.
The apostle John also records Jesus as saying,
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. 
  “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” 
                                                                                                                     John 10:10,11
“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 John also points out a very important thing about Jesus. Jewish law said anyone who called themselves equal to God at the time should be put to death yet Jesus never backed down on saying who he was,
John records,
“The Jews gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 
Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.  
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.  
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.  
I and the Father are one.” 
Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?” 
                                                                                                          John 10:24-32.
Even when he was hanging on the cross between two thieves he never denied he was the Christ. He even told one of the thieves who’d admitted his crime and believes in him that he would be with Him in paradise,
The apostle Luke records,
“One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 
But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?  
We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’” 
Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” 
                                                                                                              Luke 23:39-43.
C. S. Lewis put it this way,
“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 choice as to who you believe Jesus is, is entirely up to you. No one can make that decision for you.
Either you believe Jesus is who he says he is or you don’t.
If we Christians are wrong in our belief then you have nothing to worry about. If we are however correct then your decision could have eternal consequences.
Please think carefully about it.

Like a football match

Like a football match

Jesus said,
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” 
                John10:10.
Someone has said to me Christianity is a bunch of do’s and don’t’s. It’s very restrictive.
I know to listen to some preachers Christianity may seem like a lot of rules and regulations. I know to listen to some preachers and Christians God seems to be an old man with a big stick ready to bash you if you do wrong. It’s not true.
As you grow as a Christian you realize that it is quite and easy lifestyle to live.
I liken it to a Football match. The players must play to a standard set of rules. The rules of the game make for a good fun and exciting game.
Thus it is with Christianity. We have some basic truths we live by but living within them makes life interesting at times. At the same time it gives us a peace that follows us through all of life’s ups and downs.
Jesus’ call to the world is,
“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.
This, I as a Christian have found is true and I encourage others who are not Christian to start to read the New Testament and find out for yourself how the teaching of Jesus and the apostles make for a well rounded loving lifestyle. A life style that give you peace in all situations.
Please think about it.

The Church and Fake Christians

The Church and Fake Christians
The Apostle Paul writes,
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” .
                                                                                                     2Timothy 4:3,4.
I as a Christian admit there are men and women in the media and churches that are not putting up with sound doctrine. This should not be so.
False teachers can be hard to spot as they sound good. They put scripture together in such away that it’s hard to tell if they are right or wrong at times.
We had a man come to preach at our little church once. Our pastor was going on holiday and this man a former pastor himself came recommended.
I happened to be on sound that day and from the sound booth I could see he was getting the congregation excited.
Unfortunately he wasn’t far into his sermon when he started to misquote scriptures. There were several afterwards that came up to me and mentioned that what he was saying was wrong. I knew it, and took the tape and a written transcript of the tape of the sermon to our pastor noting the errors, when he returned the next week. These were errors a Sunday School child could see.
In the eighty minute plus sermon there were dozens of errors. But because he was an excellent speaker, he made the garbage he spouted sound good.
The sad thing in all of this was the majority of the congregation did not see the errors. They trusted the man because he was in the pulpit.
Christians are not alone every institution has it’s charlatans. In the secular world one only has to look at wall street. Thousands of people trusted Bernie Madoff and many lost their life savings.
Daily there are many around the world falling for phone scams and other tricks.
   One should not look on someone calling themself a Christian, who quotes from the Bible and judge them to be a Christian simply because it may not be so.
Jesus 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.
For non-Christians it can be very hard to see a real Christian from a fake. There are however some things that are evident.
Most if not all good Christian ministries make their finances public.
In the case of the church I attend and all churches and charities in Canada, they must give an accounting as to where the money goes, to their congregations yearly. That includes how much is paid out in wages and benefits to the pastor and staff.
Also when it comes down to teaching in the church. The Bible is the absolute authority. Additionally while there may be minor differences in interpretation the basics, are still the same.
The Apostles Creed while not written by the apostles gives the basic beliefs of Christians,
1. I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:
2. And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord:
3. Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary:
4. Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, died and buried: He descended into hell:
5. The third day he rose again from the dead:
6. He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father      Almighty:
7. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead:
8. I believe in the Holy Ghost:
9. I believe in the holy catholic** church: the communion of saints:
10. The forgiveness of sins:
11. The resurrection of the body:
12. And the life everlasting. Amen.
**that is, the true Christian church of all times and all places.
Another clue as to a whether a church congregation or preacher is a legitimate Christian is they are open to questions. You should be able to approach the senior pastor and ask him or her questions about their beliefs.
In our church and many other churches I know big and small you can do just that and the pastor will take time to explain what they believe and why.
Our church is only small but we conduct our bible study in a very open way. I lead the study but everyone in the study has the right to give their interpretation of what they are studying, and the reason they believe so. If people disagree with the interpretation they are free to express their disagreements and explain why they disagree. We do not accept the answer “such and such a preacher said so”. People are expected to think and back their beliefs from the scriptures.
Everything is up for debate.
It is our goal to get to the unadulterated truth in what we are studying. We used  various commentaries, not just one. We delve into the history books and other resources  if necessary to understand things.
    It has resulted in the changing of some peoples minds on what they believed on some important issues.
I and other leaders in the church find that encouraging people to study the Bible themselves and asking questions is a good thing.
It keeps everyone on their toes and seeking truth.
This is what all who call themselves Christians should be doing.
Christianity is not a dictatorship. And good churches while they do have a doctrinal statement they follow is always open to questions.
So for those non-Christians reading this I would encourage you to start reading at least the New Testament and think about attending a local church. I recommend Baptist churches because they are open an honest about what they believe no matter where they are in the world.
Please think about it.

God and man

God & man

“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.
The writer of Ecclesiastes says a lot in the above statement.
1/ He asks the question, “What does the worker gain from his toil?”
What does a man gain from his work? If you think about it little of value in the grand scheme of things. Even the richest man in the world will eventually enter eternity penniless. His or her wealth dispersed among others.
The only thing that will last are his deeds good or bad.
2/ The writer states,
“He has also set eternity in the hearts of men;
The writer does not debate whether God exists or not. He accepts that fact. Then points out that God “sets eternity in the hearts of men...” 
In other words deep inside man’s heart he knows there is a God, whether man admits it or not.
3/ He notes
 “...yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”
Man cannot fathom God. It is difficult for finite man to comprehend the infinite that is God. Man must accept by faith God is who he is. The writer of Hebrews states,
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
                                                                                     Hebrews 11:6.
4/ The writer points out,
“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 think that’s what we all want to be happy and find satisfaction in what we do. Happiness and satisfaction is a gift from God.
5/ Another obvious fact he points out,
“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.”
We can see God in his creation. The perfection of the heavens, the earth and all that is around us. The psalmist saying,
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” 
Psalm 19:1
6/ Another interesting statement,
“Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before; and God will call the past to account”
A friend of mine put this statement in prospective when he said. There is nothing new under the sun. The only difference between twenty first century man and first century man is modern man does everything ancient man did but with high tech devices. Both good and bad.
7/ Finally the write notes,
“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.”
Please think about it.

The Sick The Hungry, The Oppressed

The Sick, The Hungry The Oppressed
“These issues are biblical issues: to care for the sick, to feed the hungry, to stand up for the oppressed.”
Tony Campolo American Evangelist.
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.”
Matthew 25:34-40.
A true Christian will do these things. More than this however the basic truths that Jesus is speaking of here should be universal.
Just from a humanitarian stand point we should be feeding the hungry, clothing the needy, tending to the sick.
We should even be looking at the world around us and speaking out for those who are wrongly imprisoned for their faith political views or lifestyle.
Those of us who have, should be helping those who have not, be they in our own country or on distant shores.
Albert Einstein wrote,
“Not until the creation and maintenance of decent conditions of life for all men are recognized and accepted as a common obligation of all men and all countries—not until then shall we, with a certain degree of justification, be able to speak of mankind as civilized.”
                                                                                                                  Albert Einstein.
Please think about it. 

You and the Poor

You and the Poor

Jesus tells this parable,
“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.  
At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores  and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 
“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.  
In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.  
So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ 
“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.  
And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ 
“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house,  
for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ 
“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ 
“ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 
“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’ ” 
                                                   Luke 16:19-31.
This parable is a warning to I believe rich and not so rich. It’s a warning to treat the poor respectfully.
There are a lot of wealthy people out there that are helping to poor Bill Gates, Warren Buffet just to mention two. There are over a hundred billionaires who have pledged to give away half their fortune before they die or upon death. These are honourable men.
The Jews have a concept called tzedakah. I got this brief explanation of Tzedakah from a Jewish website,
“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....
The Obligation of Tzedakah
Giving to the poor is an obligation in Judaism, a duty that cannot be forsaken even by those who are themselves in need. Some sages have said that tzedakah is the highest of all commandments, equal to all of them combined, and that a person who does not perform tzedaka is equivalent to an idol worshipper. This is probably hyperbole, but it illustrates the importance of tzedakah in Jewish thought....
According to Jewish law, we are required to give one-tenth of our income to the poor. This generally interpreted as one-tenth of our net income after payment of taxes. Taxes themselves do not fulfill our obligation to give tzedakah even though a significant proportion of tax revenues in America and many other countries are used to provide for the poor and needy. Those who are dependent on public assistance or living on the edge of subsistence my give less but must still give to the extent they are able; however, no person should give so much that he would become a public burden...
The obligation to perform tzedakah can be fulfilled by giving money to the poor, to health care institutions, to Synagogues or educational institutions. It can also be fulfilled by supporting your children beyond the age when you are legally required to, or supporting your parents in their old age. The obligation includes giving both to Jews and gentiles;...”
Levels of Tzedakah
Certain kinds of tzedakah ar considered mor meritorious than others. The Talmud describes these different levels of tzedakah, and Rambam organized them into a list. The levels of charity from the least meritorious to the most meritorious, are: 

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. 

 As Christians and indeed anyone believer or not I think we need to consider the concept of tzedakah. It teaches us to show love in a tangible way to people.
The Talmud tells this story,
“Rabbi Akiba was asked by a Roman general, “Why does your God who loves the needy not provide for their support Himself?”  He answered, “God the Father of both the rich and poor, wants the one to help the other so as to make the world a household of love.”
                                                                                                            The Talmud.
Question: are you making the world a household of Love?
Please think about it.

Do to others

Do to others

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” 
Matthew 7:12.
This is a universal truth that both Christians and non-Christians can understand. How would you like to be treated? Would you like to be treated the way you treat others?
In the United States presidential candidates are debating building a wall to keep illegal emigrants out. There seems to be an endless debate on universal health care and ending Obama Care. Sadly many Christians are supporting the idea.
Would those Christians who support the idea, want that to happen to them? If they were poor, hungry and in need of work, would they want someone to build a wall containing them to their state or neighbourhood?
If they were sick and needed and had no health care, would they vote to stop universal health care?
In the case of illegal emigrants wouldn’t a better idea be to say to Mexico and other countries, if you don’t pay living wages equal to that in the United States then goods coming from your country will be subject to high tariffs or not allowed into the country at all.
Wouldn’t it be good if all American’s like Canadians and those in western European nations simply had to show their government health card to get the health care they needed without the worry of getting a large bill or going bankrupt?
Unfortunately those proposing the wall and opposing universal health care probably have business interest in the countries that are paying wages lower than American workers and probably are lobbied by private health care providers and drug companies to keep the status quo.
After all it probably doesn’t hurt them. I would imagine all politicians have good health care coverage and can afford more than the basics in life.
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 25:34-46.
Now I point to America because they are in the middle of an election and sadly show the deficiencies in their country dramatically. Such deficiencies are in other countries. No country is perfect. Far from it.  Politicians in particular in all countries let the poor and needy down all the time. Using hundreds of excuses.  
I believe not only the politicians but those who have the power to help those in need like all men and women will one day stand before God to be judged.
The Writer of Ecclesiastes states,
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole  duty  of man. 
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” 
    Ecclesiastes12:13,14
The Talmud a Jewish book states something I think could quite possibly happen,
“When a man appears before the Throne of Judgment, the first question he is asked is not, “Have you believed in God?”  Or “Have you prayed and observed the ritual?  “He is asked: “have you dealt honourably and faithfully in all your dealings with your fellow men?”
                                                                                                               The Talmud.
What will God say about you?
Please think about it.