Your Treasure

Your Treasure
The writer of Ecclesiastes said,
“I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. 
Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.” 
                                                                                               Ecclesiastes 2:10,11
“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.
Jesus said,
“What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?”  
                                                                                                                      Mark 8:36.
We came into this world with nothing and we leave with nothing. As one person has said, “The rich man and the poor man enter eternity broke.”
Now there’s nothing wrong with being rich in this life the apostle Paul states,
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” 
                                                                                        1 Timothy 6:10.
It’s the “love of money that can cause grief.
Still there are many wealthy people in this world that are doing good with the money they have. They are helping the poor and needy. They are contributing to noble causes.
The bottom line is however when you die all the money you have amounts to nothing. The only thing that goes into the next world are the things you’ve done for God.
Jesus said,
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” 
                                                                              Matthew 6:19-21.
You have a choice in this world. You can choose to believe in God or you can reject Him. You can choose to believe in an afterlife or not.
The Bible does not debate the existence of God. It recognizes the existence of God. The Bible simply asks us to have faith in God. Whether you do or not is up to you.
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
Do you believe this?
                   The apostle Paul writes,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.” 
                                                                    Ephesians 2:8,9.
Christians believe we cannot work our way to heaven. We enter heaven by the Grace of God. Though our faith in Him.
The Writer of Hebrews states,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” 
                                                                                                                          Hebrews 11:1
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”                                                                                                                                                       Hebrews 11:6.
Please think about it.

Christian Belief 101

Christian belief 101
Christians believe the word written by the Apostle Paul who said,
“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.  
As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”  
For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for,“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. 
                                                                                                                                Romans 10:9-13.
The God we serve is not just the God of the Jews.
The way I see it God chose the Jews in times past to show himself to the world. But God did not stop there. God want’s all men everywhere to know him on a personal level. That is why He sent Jesus into the world to point the world to Him.
The writer of Hebrews states,
“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.  
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.  
So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. 
For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father’” ? 
Hebrews 1:1-5.
Jesus came to earth to reconcile man to God. God realized man could not live a life holy enough to stand before Him.
God in giving man a freewill knew man might choose not to believe in Him that is the right of all who are truly free.
God seen that many have turned away from Him, even the Jews who have had the prophets and their forefathers to witness to them. Thus He entered the world in the form of His One and Only Son Jesus.
Through Jesus he pointed man to Himself.
Jesus speaking of Himself said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  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 apostle John makes it clear,
“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.
Still it take faith in God to save ones soul. To spend an eternity with God. The writer of Hebrews said,
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”                                                                                                                                                Hebrews 11:6.
The writer defining faith as,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” 
                                                                                                                        Hebrews 11:1.
Faith in something we cannot see is perhaps the hardest thing for someone to do. Perhaps that is why God wants things that way, because those who are sure of what they hope for, certain of what they do not see, are true followers.
Please think about it.

Christians Believe

Christians Believe,
1/ We Christians believe we enter heaven thorough faith in God. That we are saved through faith, through the Grace of God not by works we have done,
The apostle Paul tells us,
“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.
The writer of Hebrews states,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” 
                                                                                                                        Hebrews 11:1
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
                                                                                                 Hebrews 11:6
2/ We believe, that we must confess our sins directly go God. The apostle John states,
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.” 
1John 1:9-10.
3/ We believe, we are Children of God through faith in Jesus Christ.
The apostle John writes,
“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. 
The apostle Paul states,
“You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus,  for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  
There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” 
Galatians 3:26-28
4/ We believe we are a holy priesthood,
The apostle Peter writes,
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  
Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 
                                               1 Peter 2:9,10.

5/ We believe God so loved the world he entered the world in the form of His one and only Son to point us to heaven. Giving each individual a choice. Jesus speaking of Himself said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  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.
Please think about it.

Only Love

Only Love

“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.
Sadly in many parts of the world today our kindness is lacking. Love seems to be nonexistent. Terrorist organizations are trying to impose their will by the sword. Killing anyone who does not agree with them or comply to their will.
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.
No one can win the hearts of men by force. Dictators, Kings and terrorist for centuries have attempted to impose their will on people only to eventually become foot notes in history.
The only real way to win the hearts of people is through love. Napoleon Bonaparte former Emperor of France 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.
Jesus set the example of how one should live with ones fellow man 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
He 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.  
I f 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.
We are to Love those around us the apostle Paul defining pure love saying,
“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.
Jesus said,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” 
           Matthew 7:12.
Those who would wish to change the world need to look carefully at how they do it. Force of arms is never an option.
Only Love can truly change the hearts and minds of people.
Please think about it. 

"He" Shows

"He" shows

C. S. Lewis speaking about Jesus said,
“He shows much more of Himself to some people than to others-not because He has favourites, but because it is impossible for Him to show Himself to a man whose whole mind and character are in the wrong condition.” 
                                                 C.S.Lewis.
Over the years I’ve had people say to me, “Why doesn’t God show Himself to me?”
One look at their life tells me their mind is closed or they have a preconceived idea of how God should show Himself.
Many people have made up their mind that God dose not exist and adamantly maintain that position their whole life. What they say is “They are right and believers in God are wrong”
To argue with such a person is futile.
Still it is their right to believe what they wish.
To say God does not exist however is quite a statement.
It means first of all that the person believes they know everything. That they have faith that they are right and the majority of people that have ever lived or are living today are wrong.
That people of faith are living a lie. That people of faith are under a mass delusion.
Think about it there are about three billion Christians on the earth, several billion Muslims, millions of Jews and Hindus not to mention all the other faith groups all of whom believe in God.
Are these people truly deluded?
As a Christian I have a distinct set of beliefs that say God exists and that He entered the physical world, the world He created in the form of His One and Only Son Jesus Christ to reconcile each person to Himself.
That is my belief. That however aside all of the other faith groups in the world recognize there is a God. The majority of the people in the world believe in an after life and God. Are we all as one prominent atheist stated “to be considered insane?”
I cannot believe that. It just doesn’t make sense.
The Psalmist states,
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 
Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. 
There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.” 
                                                                                               Psalm 19:1-3.
The universe from the largest galaxies to the smallest subatomic particle are in such prefect alignment as to allow life to exist here on Earth. This cannot be simply by chance.
   If there is no God and a life after this, then life is in my opinion meaningless.
The writer of Ecclesiastes states,
“I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. 
Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.” 
                                                                                                      Ecclesiastes 2:10,11.
If we are simply on this earth for but a short time. Just long enough to collect a few bangles bobbles and beads. Just long enough to do a few works then what’s the point.
I truly believe man is an eternal being that he will one day stand before God. As 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.”
Ecclesiastes 12:13,14 
I as a Christian believe that Jesus is the way to heaven and eternal life with God. I believe Jesus when He states,
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” 
       John 14:6
I believe the apostle Paul who 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.
I believe the writer of Hebrews who said,
“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.
If as Atheist say I am wrong then I have nothing to fear for I have lived a good and rewarding life.
If I am right in my beliefs which I am sure I am, then Atheist have a lot to fear.
The American Evangelist Tony Campolo wrote,
“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.
Thus my question is. “Are you sure of your beliefs?”
Please think about it. 

The Way

The Way
“If, then, you are looking for the way by which you should go, take Christ, because He Himself is the way.”
          Thomas Aquinas
No other person, no other faith in the world has made such a claim as Jesus and His followers.
Jesus said,
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  
  John 14:6.
Even when faced with the wrath of an angry crowd Jesus did not back down on His claim to be God 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.
Jesus even after being beaten, hung on the cross and facing death never backed down. Luke’s Gospel records what happened on when Jesus hung on the cross with two criminals.
Luke tells us,
“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.
Notice Jesus did what only God could do. Promise the man he would be with Him in Paradise.
In John’s Gospel we are told this conversation between Martha and Jesus. John records,
“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.
Jesus made all these statements knowing that to claim to be God or equal to God could have had him killed. In fact it was that very Jewish law that his enemies reminded the Roman governor of and used to have Jesus put to death.
C. S. Lewis in his book Mere Christianity, wrote of Jesus,
“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 apostle Paul Writing to the Romans said,
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  
Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.  
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!  
For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!  
Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation”
                                          Romans 5:6-11.
Christians believe that through Jesus, God reached down to mankind and said to man I love you so much I am willing in earthly terms to show you how far I will go to offer you eternal life.
Christians do not believe man can be good enough to stand before Holy God. You cannot work your way to heaven. The Apostle Paul stating,
“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
C. S. Lewis points out,
“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.
The fact is, Jesus died for you the reader. Do you believe this?
Please think about it.

All men are Grass

All men are Grass
The prophet Isaiah wrote,
“A voice says, “Cry out.” And I said, “What shall I cry?” 
“All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. 
The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass. 
The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.” 
                                                                                             Isaiah 40:6-8.

When your life is over how will you be remembered?
In the town where I live there is a small cemetery where twenty or so people are buried. They are the earthly remains of what at one time was a prominent family in this part of Canada. There are libraries, other buildings and even a road I drive on every day named after the family such was their importance at one time.
Yet today thousands of people daily travel down the roads named after the family use the library and other buildings and pass that small cemetery and pay no attention to it. Most don’t know who the family is or what t they did.  Such is the way of the world.
All of mans deeds eventually no matter how noble they may be are forgotten. A great example is the signing of the Magna Carta one of the greatest documents in history. People know about it. But other than King John who was forced to sign it, who knows the name of the men who wrote the Magna Carta. Undoubtedly some historians but few others. Yet historians tell us it was one of the most important documents ever written.
Like wise it is with the deed of all men. They eventually will be forgotten at least by men. God however will not forget.
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.
You can choose to deny God that is a freedom God gave you. That still does not negate the fact that God exists.
I believe every person on the earth needs to decide for themselves, first if there is a God and second if there is as I am certain, will He let you into his heaven.
The apostle Paul writes,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.” 
                                                                   Ephesians 2:8,9
Christians believe God reached down to man and offered him salvation simply by believing in his one and only son Jesus Christ. 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.
Put simply all our good deeds as good as they are will not get us to heaven only faith in God will do it.
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.
Now having said that there is a place for good deeds.
The good deeds as a friend of mine said “are the icing on the cake.”
James the half brother of Christ writes,
James writes,
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?  
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.  
If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?  
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.  
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. 
You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?” 
                                                                                                                   James 2:14-20.
When you have faith in God, faith in Christ. It is God who inspires you to do good works. Works that will be remembered by God for all eternity.
So the question I ask is. Do you believe in God? And what will God say to you on the day you stand before Him?
Please think about it.

Lazarus Rising

Lazarus Rising
The Gospel of John records,
“On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.  
Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother.  
When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. 
“Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died.  
But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” 
Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 
Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 
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.” 
And after she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.”  
When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him.  
Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him.  
When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there. 
When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 
When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.  
“Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. 
Jesus wept. 
Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 
But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?” 
Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance.  
“Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” 
Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” 
So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.  
I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” 
When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”  
The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” 
                                                                                                   John 11:17-44
Here is the story of Lazarus as recorded by the apostle John. Like all the gospels John’s was written within living memory of the events.
Like all the miracles Jesus performed if not true and proven to be a lie would be detrimental to the cause of the fledgling Christian movement.
Especially something like raising a man from the dead. This is an incredible claim at any time. Yet early Christians and Christians to this day believed this.
So Christians then and now are either believing a lie that has lasted centuries or the truth. It’s the same for not only the story of Lazarus but all that is said in the New Testament.
Within the New Testament there are if you think about it incredible statements made about Jesus. Foremost Jesus claim to be the Son of God the Saviour of mankind, God incarnate.
Jesus said,
“I and the Father are one.” 
                                    John 10:30.
He also said,
 “...I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
                                                                                                                                                 John 14:6.  
To claim to be equal to God under Jewish law at the time was a serious crime punishable by death,
When Jesus was on trial before Pilate the Jews reminded the Roman governor of that law. John’s gospel 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.” 
                                     John 19:7
Jesus knew all about the law yet up to his dying breath he never wavered in His claim to be God. Luke’s Gospel records Jesus while on the cross as calling out to God the Father asking forgiveness for those who are crucifying him. Luke records,
“ Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
                                                                                                                         Luke 23:34a
C. S. Lewis points out,
“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
Within the story of Lazarus lies a question that I believe all people must answer. When speaking to Martha the sister of Lazarus,
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.” 
This is a question you must answer. This is a question that everyone who hears about Jesus must answer.
Who do you think Jesus is?
Please think about it

Freedom

Freedom
Baruch Spinoza said,
“It is imperative that freedom of judgment should be granted, so that men may live together in harmony, however diverse, or even openly contradictory their opinions maybe.  In proportion as the power of free judgment is withheld, we depart from the natural condition of mankind.”
                                                                                                                               Baruch Spinoza.
Freedom the most sought after thing by mankind. Yet there are people in this world that would restrict the freedoms of others even in a democracy.
It is my opinion that as long as someone’s freedoms do not impinge on my rights or hurt anyone then they should have the right to do as they wish.
I like what Spinoza said, “In proportion as the power of free judgment is withheld, we depart from the natural condition of mankind.”
God gave man a freewill. That freewill in order to be truly free had to give man the right to do as he wished, whether it is right in the eyes of other men or of God. Likewise that freedom even includes the right to believe in God or not.
No person has the right to tell another what to do or how to live their lives, providing they are not harming another.
All too often, and I see this as Christian, I see Christians groups trying to restrict the freedoms of others. This should not be so.
      Nor should others attempt to restrict the rights of Christians or any other religious group or anyone period.
Jesus told us,
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” 
                          Matthew 7:1,2
If we judge others it is only natural that they judge us the same way. If we try to restrict the freedoms of others it is natural that they will come against us and try to restrict our freedoms.
Jesus told us,
“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.
Doing to others what we would want them to do to us is the corner stone of a free democracy.
We cannot be truly free if we restrict even the rights of just one person, whether we agree with them or not.
Please think about it.

Life Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness

Life liberty and the pursuit of happiness
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.
The framers of the United States Declaration of Independence recognized what Abba Hillel Silver wrote. They wrote,
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
Words from the United States Declaration of Independence.
Freedom perhaps is mankind’s most sought after ideal. But freedom is much more than to be free to do as you wish. Freedom is more than freedom from government oppression.
Freedom is the ability to let others do what they wish no matter how much you disagree with them. Provided that is they are not harming anyone or any thing. As it has been said,
 “your freedom stops short of your fist hitting my face.”
When God created man, He gave man complete freedom to do as he wished. That freedom included the right to believe in Him or not.
That freedom included the right to live life they way the individual whished. Even if it is a life not pleasing to God.
Sadly many Zealots, be they Christian, Atheist, those of other faiths or Terrorist, are blind either deliberately or without realizing it to what true freedom means. They want things their way.
You cannot impose freedom on anyone. Like I said true freedom is allowing people to do as they wish providing they do not cause harm to anyone or any thing.
We as people living in a free democracy need to realize that fact, and be willing to stand up for the rights of even those with whom we vehemently disagree.
Rabbi Benjamin 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).
Martin Niemoller wrote,
“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
Niemoller knew what he was talking about. He seen first hand what happened in Nazi Germany.
For me the best way to ensure freedom is to practice what Jesus taught. To love God, our neighbour and even our enemy.
To do follow the words Jesus said when he 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.
Please think about it.

To Restore

To Restore
“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.
Charles R. Swindoll wrote,
“Jesus didn't come to earth to establish a new religion. He came to restore a broken relationship.”
          Charles R. Swindoll.
Quite often I think the message of Jesus is lost in today’s society. Especially here in North America where I live.
Here in North America we have wonderful freedoms. As a result Christianity in all its forms, has flourished. Sadly so has those who claim to be Christians that are not.
We hear and see on television, on the radio and in all forms of social media Christians of all stripes spouting off their beliefs.
Most are teaching from the Bible correctly. Most Christians are living a good life. The way God would be pleased with.
Unfortunately the pure message that Christ wants the world to hear is quite often clouded by one of three things here in North America
1/ Christians who are over zealous for their faith. They mean well but get carried away at times and come across as those who force their faith on someone.
2/ Christians who again mean well but mix their faith with the politics of the day and thus do not properly teach what Jesus taught.
3/People claiming to be Christians who are not. They talk a good talk but are not true Christians.
These are people who are deliberately leading people down the so called garden path, quite often to separate them from their money.
 Jesus even made reference to these people saying,
“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.
Like Swindoll said,
“Jesus didn't come to earth to establish a new religion. He came to restore a broken relationship.”
The relationship between God and man.
The call of Jesus 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.
I as a Christian for over forty years now know that knowing Jesus on a personal level gives you rest and fulfilment in life.
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.” 
              John 10:10
This is something I can testify to.
When a true Christian tells you God loves you they mean it. They believe the words of Jesus who said about 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.”
        John 3:16.17.
What I would ask you the reader to do is take time to read the teachings of Jesus and the apostle in the New Testament and see for yourself.
Please think about it

Chasing after the wind

Chasing after the wind
The writer of Ecclesiastes states,
“I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. 
Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.” 
                                                                                                    Ecclesiastes 2:10,11.
If all that there is to life is the hear and now then there is no meaning in life and the writer of Ecclesiastes is right, “everything is meaningless and chasing after the wind”
After all every material thing we gain in this life goes to someone else upon our death. Nothing in this world is ours forever.
The writer of Ecclesiastes however makes a wise statement, saying,
“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.
To those reading this who do not believe in God I would ask are you completely certain there is no God. If there is even the slightest doubt in your mind I would suggest you study the Bible. Study at least the New Testament and consider what it says.
You have nothing to loose by studying the Bible and everything to gain.
Please think about it.