Faith in God

Faith in God
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
I know some say there is no God but to my mind there has to be a God a God who has sent in the hearts and minds of man absolute values.
Without a belief in common moral values society would slip into anarchy or worse go extinct.
We only have to look around the world today to see this is true. Terrorist such as Islamic State and other groups think it acceptable to murder people because they disagree with them.
They bomb airports, transportation systems and other public places and consider it acceptable behaviour.
World war two is the most dramatic example of men setting their own moral code. Hitler and his henchmen ordering the death of millions in death camps. Causing ultimately the deaths of nearly sixty million due to the war they caused.
Examples of people not following God’s moral code happens daily on a small scale in every city in the world. People steal, murder, and commit other crimes all the time, without thought of the consequences.
When men think they will not be punished for their actions, or do not fear that punishment they will continue to set their own moral standards.
It is I believe only when men realize consciously or subconsciously  that they will one day have to answer to God that they will change their ways.
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.
Where do you stand on God.
Please think about it.

The Good Shepherd

The Good Shepherd
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. 
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” 
                                                                                                                     John 1:10,11.
The apostle Paul writes,
“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.
Christianity is all about God setting the example. God reaching down in the form of His one and Only Son Jesus.
The soul purpose of Jesus’ life was to reconcile man to God.
I firmly believe Jesus came to this world to show mankind how far God would go in human terms to reconcile bring salvation into the world. That he would actually die for us.
The other reason I believe Jesus came into the word is that one day He will judge everyone on this earth.
Had He not come to this world. We quite justifiably could have said, “you are divine and all powerful. You couldn’t possibly know what it is to have all the temptations and problems of a human being.”
With Christ coming to earth however we cannot say that. Jesus knew what it was like to do things that are very human. He knows what it is to be tempted because He was tempted. Jesus knows what it’s like to feel the sun and rain against his face. To have friends.  To celebrate at a wedding. To be accused of a wrong you didn’t do. To be beaten mercilessly. To be put to death.
Jesus knows all of this. That is what gives him the right to judge us.
The important thing to remember about Jesus is he did not come to the world to condemn the world but to save it. 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.”
         John 3:16,17.
Jesus was sent to save the world. You see it is by God’s grace we are saved and enter heaven. The apostle Paul saying,
“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.
Salvation is a gift from God. A gift you can accept or reject. The choice is yours. Jesus speaking of himself said,
 “Whoever believes in him (Jesus) 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.
Do you have the faith to believe Jesus is the Son of God?
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
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
Please think about it.

About Jesus

About Jesus

Flavius Josephus,(37AD-100AD) a Jewish historian, who became a Pharisee at 19, later commander, of the Jewish forces in Galilee. Who was captured by Romans and attached to their headquarters. Wrote this about Jesus,
“Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. 
He drew over to him both many Jews, and many of the Gentiles. He was the Christ, and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men among us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first, did not forsake him; for he appeared to them alive again the third day; as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him. And the tribe of Christians so named from him are not extinct at this day.”
                                                                                                             Flavius Josephus
Josephus who was as far as we know not a Christian called Jesus, “a doer of wonderful works” “a teacher”. Someone who drew both Jew and Gentile to him.
Josephus also calls him the Christ who was condemned to the cross, but appeared to those who loved him three days after the crucifixion as foretold by the prophets.
He also attributes ten thousand other wonderful things to him.
Josephus obviously believed Jesus was who he said he was. The Messiah, the Christ.
Three centuries later Julian the Apostate, Roman Emperor from 361-363 A.D. considered by some historians one of “the most gifted ancient adversaries of Christianity.” In his work against Christianity states:
“Jesus…has now been celebrated about three hundred years having done nothing in his lifetime worthy of fame, unless anyone thinks it is a very great work to heal lame and blind people and exorcise demoniacs in the villages of Bethsaida and Bethany.”
Julian at the end of his life said,
  “Thou has conquered, O Galilean!”
Over the centuries many have said everything from Jesus is a myth to Jesus being simply a man. Many have predicted the end of Christianity. Yet it still continues to grow daily around the world.
The book of Acts records this incident in which two of the apostles after being told by the religious leadership of the Jews in Jerusalem to not to speak of Jesus, were caught doing so and brought to trial,
“We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.” 
Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men!  
The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead—whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree.  
God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.  
We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” 
When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death.  
But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while.  
Then he addressed them: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men.   Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing.  
After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered.  
Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.  
But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” 
                    Acts 5:28-39
Gamaliel I believe was right. Christ is the Son of God. The Message Jesus, the apostles,
and true Christians to day are preaching is directly from God.
The proof is in the fact that despite being the most persecuted faith in the world today it continues to grow.
The message of Christ is one of reconciliation of man to God. Christ message in a nutshell is expressed by Jesus 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.
Every man and woman on this earth that knows about Jesus must make a decision as to who he is.
Jesus himself posed the question to a woman called Martha. The apostle 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.
What do you believe?
Please think about it.

Mental Illness

 Mental illness.
( a personal note)
Every so often I like to speak on a very personal note. This is one of them.
I have been a Christian now for over forty years. In those forty years I’ve gone through a lot. By far the hardest is living with Bi-polar affective disorder (manic depression).
Bi-polar disorder is when you cycle between ultra highs (mania) and ultra lows (depression) several times a year for long periods of time.
When I’m depressed suicide has crossed my mind. Most of the time however I just want to roll up in a ball and sleep.
When I’m on a manic high it’s get out of my way I can do it better and faster. I do several things at the same time and get nothing finished. The mania feels good. But you do stupid things like spend a lot of money and have nothing to show for it. You tend to do risky things to say the least.
I have a particularly bad version I what is referred to as rapid cycle. Most who rapid cycle do so a half dozen or so times a year. I can go between highs and lows four or five times a day. It can be a wild ride at times.
However with the right combination of therapies it can be controlled, and not just drug therapy. You also need various group therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy, that helps you learn how to recognize the signs of your illness and how to react to it.
Before I was diagnosed correctly I didn’t really know what was happening. My sometimes crazy even bazar behaviour was considered by both myself, my family and friends as normal.
I was described by several people as having a quote “artistic personality”.
When I was diagnosed in my late forties, things started to fit into place. It became clear that I’d probably had it all of my life.
Prior to the diagnosis however I knew there was something wrong. Especially when the depression hit. There were times when as I say suicide crossed my mind.
It was during those times that I was glad of my faith in Christ. I could turn to Him in prayer. Spend time alone with Him.
It was in those times that Jesus gave me strength.
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.
That thief for me was Bi-polar disorder. It threatened to take my life. And it very well could have, had I not had faith that with Jesus in my life I could have life to the full.
I was blessed. I had what amounted to a mental breakdown on the side of a highway on the way home from work. That triggered a series of events that put me on the path to a solution.
After the breakdown my family doctor sent me to a psychiatrist who after some time put a name to what I have and told me to try and change my lifestyle. I did.
Before I was stable however my first psychiatrist died sending me to a second one who started me on a series of trial and error drug combinations most of which I couldn’t handle. I did get somewhat stabilized before he finally retired and my care when to my current Psychiatrist who has managed to relatively stabilize me.
I say relatively because I do at times have very, very, bad times. There is no cure currently for Bipolar you can only control it.
Now I say all of that to raise awareness of not just Bi-polar disorder but of all mental illnesses in general. One in five Canadians suffer from mental illness and that I believe is the norm in most western countries. Most if not the majority do not get help.
I have found that in the church and outside the church when it come to anything related to mental illness. People don’t want to admit there can be problems with the brain in the same way the rest of the body has problems. That the brain is an organ like any other.
Over the years I’ve been told by some both outside and inside the church that mental illness is not real. I’ve even being accuse of being demon possessed. That psychiatrist are little more than pill popping witch doctors. Which is complete garbage spouted by ignorant people.
I firmly believe that God created doctors for a reason and that includes psychiatrist. And we need to use them if necessary. Not to do so or to instruct others not to do so is morally wrong.
I am very well aware of mental health issues, apart from living with Bi-polar disorder I am also a volunteer speaker with the Canadian Mental Health Association here where I live. With the goal of raising awareness about mental health and telling people what it’s like to live with a mental health problem.
That being said I accredit my faith with my being alive today. Jesus said,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” 
                                                     Matthew 11:28-30.
I believe that to be true. In my darkest hours Jesus has been there for me giving me rest. At the same time when I realized I had a mental health problem I took action.
I would ask anyone reading this if you are feeling depressed for long periods of time. If you have episodes in your life where you have odd behaviour. Or if you hear voices or other odd things. Don’t be afraid to go to your family doctor or to a hospital and get help.
To the Christian I would say getting help from a doctor does not lessen your faith no matter what you go for help for. The key is get help.
I firmly believe that God directed me to all the right doctors at the right time. As a result it saved my life.
Here in Canada the Canadian Mental Health Association has a great deal of information that can help you. The same is true for other Mental Health Associations in other countries.
I had never heard of Bipolar disorder all before my diagnosis. All I knew when I finally mentally broke that it was time to get some help. I trusted my family doctor and today as a result have learned to live good life, with what is a horrible illness.
So please if you suspect you, or someone you love has a mental health problem get help.
Please think about it. 

A Call to All

A Call to All

“if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 
      2 Chronicles 7:14.
The apostle John wrote,
“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.
Christian belief fundamentally is believing that Jesus is the Son of God. That all men are sinners falling short of what God wants for their life.
That we, each individual, must confess our sins to God.
We must accept that Jesus died for our sins.
Paul telling us,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” 
Romans 5:8.
Christians belief that it is by God’s grace that we are saved through our faith in God, not through our good works.
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.
The apostle John states,
“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.
These are fundamental Christian beliefs.
John’s gospel records that 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 choice is yours. Before you make your decision however I would ask that you not take my word for things, but rather read the New Testament. Read for yourself what Jesus and the Apostles taught. Then make an informed decision.
Please think about it.

About Jesus

About Jesus
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.” 
Hebrews 1:1-4.
Here in a nut shell is what Christians believe about Jesus.
1/ Jesus is the Son of God, the heir of all things.
2/ Jesus made the universe
3/ Jesus “is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being”
4/ Jesus “provided purification for sins”
5/ Jesus sits at the right hand of God in heaven.
If what the writer of Hebrews is saying is true, and I as a Christian believe it to be true only two conclusions can be made.
Either it is the truth. Jesus is the Son of God, God incarnate, the Saviour of mankind,
or Christians are believing a lie that has lasted centuries.
If as I believe the writer of Hebrews is right then the individual reading this has a lot to think about.
C. S. Lewis wrote,
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”
                                                          C. S. Lewis.
Who do you think Jesus is?
         Think carefully, because your eternal resting place depends on it.

Are you Sure?

Are you sure?
C. S. Lewis said two things I think each person needs to think about.
“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.
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”
                                                        C. S. Lewis.
The Bible does not debate the existence of God. It simply states,
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” 
                                                                                        Genesis 1:1.
The Bible leaves it up to man to make his own decision as to whether he believe in God or not.
I as a Christian take things one step further. I believe the apostle John who said,
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  
He was with God in the beginning. 
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  
In him was life, and that life was the light of men.... 
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
                                                                                                    John 1:1-4,14.
I believe what John refers to as the word is Jesus. That Jesus is God. That God entered the world He created in the form of His one and Only Son Jesus to point the mankind to Himself.
I believe Jesus had to come into the world in order that God could be just when He come to judging us.
Think about it. When a man stands before God he cannot say “You don’t know what it is like to be human with all the frailties and temptations that a man has to face.”
We can’t say that because Jesus walked the face of this earth. He understood what it was like to a man.
 Jesus would have experienced everything from the mundane things like feeling the sun and rain against his face to the pain of a savage beating to the agony of death on a  cross.
He would have known the love of his parents, and friends and felt the hatred of those who were his enemies.
The question is do you believe all of this? There is no middle ground with God you either believe Jesus is the One and Only Son of God, the Saviour of mankind or not.
Please think about it.

A Common Truth

A common truth
John Wesley the famous evangelist wrote,

Do all the good you can,

By all the means you can

In all the ways you can

In all the places you can,

At all the times you can,

To all the people you can,

As long as ever you can.

                                                                                           John Wesley
Wesley’s words echo the teachings of Jesus who said,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” 
                  Matthew 7:12.
This is a truth everyone, everywhere can understand. It is a truth that if followed by everyone would make the world a better place.
Basic Christian lifestyle principles are universal truths, 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 even went one step further saying,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,...”  
                                                                                   Matthew 5:43,44.
Anne Frank a young Jewish girl in hiding from the Nazis in the occupied Netherlands during world war two, knew what it was to experience hate. She 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.
What Anne said is true. You cannot become poor from giving.
Both Christians and non-Christians alike can understand love and kindness.
As I see it the world around us is getting it seems worse and worse. Even in the United States a country that prides itself of being the bastion of freedom a political candidate is permitted to spew hate and no one seems to want to stop him.
I believe it’s time for people everywhere be they in the United States, Canada, or other places around the world to hold high the banner of love and kindness. To oppose repression and hate.
Such a thing must start on an individual level. As Wesley said,

Do all the good you can,

By all the means you can

In all the ways you can

In all the places you can,

At all the times you can,

To all the people you can,

As long as ever you can.

                                                                                             John Wesley.
Creating a better world is not impossible if we try. All it take is the will to do so. Francis of Assisi wrote,
“Start by doing what is necessary, then what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” 
Francis of Assisi
Please think about it.

Creation points the way

Creation points the way

The Psalmist writes,
“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 minute detail of the visible world, the minute detail of the subatomic world, the minute detail of the universe points to God the creator.
I am a creationist. I believe God created the universe and everything in it. I do not care how he created the universe. Whether He used the big bang and billions of years, or He completed His work in six twenty-four hour days. The God I serve is an almighty God who could have done it either way.
How God created the universe however does not affect my faith. I believe God exists period.
I know I cannot see God. I was not living when Jesus walked the earth. However I have faith that God is real and the teachings of Jesus and the apostles are true.
I know in this information filled world, it may seem odd that someone would have faith in something they don’t see but scientist do it all the time.
A scientist looks around him or her and says because they see certain thing then other things must exist. The classic example is black holes. Scientist were predicting the existence of black holes long before they were seen. They had faith that they existed.
Likewise I have faith God exists because I see a world, a universe that is in perfect harmony. So perfect scientist can come up with mathematical formulas that can be used to predict everything from those black holes, to the existence of subatomic particles to something as mundane as when a leap year will fall.
The universe we live in I’ve been told is so fine tuned that it allows life to exist as we know it on this planet. All of this to me tells me there is a God.
God however requires one thing from everyone. Faith. God realized that a true follower, someone who is truly committed to Him are the people with true faith.
 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.
Faith defined as,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” 
                                                                                                                        Hebrews 11:1.
No matter how many words I write, or how much I quote from the bible or other works, I will never convince some people that God exists. And I respect those who do not believe in God. That is their right.
I would however ask them to read the Bible, particularly the New Testament. I would ask that they read it for themselves and not rely on what others say about the Bible, be they Christian, those of other faiths or atheist.
I would ask that each person reading this would pick up the Bible and read it asking but one question, “God if you are real show me through the Bible that you are real?”
Please think about it.

He didn't fire a Shot

He didn’t fire a shot

He didn’t fire a shot in anger. Yet He changed the world. He never carried a gun, or a sword, yet He changed the hearts of men. He never led a rebellion yet today He has a following numbering in the billions.
Napoleon Bonaparte said of Him,
"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,
Billy Graham said of the men who followed Jesus,
“The men who followed Him were unique in their generation. They turned the world upside down because their hearts had been turned right side up. The world has never been the same.”
                                                                                                                                        Billy Graham.
Throughout history many men have tried to conquer the word. The Romans, Alexander the Great, Napoleon, Hitler, IS as well as other terrorist groups and crack pot dictators.
Dozens of men thinking their way will make a better society. All are now or soon will be footnotes in history. Force does not change people hearts.
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.
Jesus showed how to change the world. That way being by love. Today there are close to three billion Christians in the world and the number is growing despite being persecuted.
Only true love can truly change the hearts of men. Only true love can change society for the better.
It is only when we love others and respect their rights and freedoms can we truly change the individual.
The apostle Paul writes,
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 
Love never fails....
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”  
                                                                                                        1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13.
Those who do not espouse to what Paul writes about will never win a true following among men.
Ultimately I believe those who try to force themselves on people by force of arms and fear will one day be judged by God and it will not go well for them.
I believe the words of Jesus who said,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” 
                                                      Matthew 11:28-30.
I believe that the way to heaven and the way to a better world is to follow the teachings of Christ. Something violent, evil men will never understand.
Please think about it.

Rest

Rest
“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.
We live in a 24/7 world. A world that demands more and more of us. A world that keeps us constantly looking at our smart phones, computers and tables. Many take work home with them. Others sadly can’t find a job that helps them make ends meet so they work numerous jobs that cause them to work twelve hours or more a day. The result of all of this is people as weary exhausted.
I was born before Sputnik went into orbit. When a computer filled an entire floor of an office building and had less memory than today’s smart phones.
The promise back then for the future was computers would come into their own and ease the work load. We all would be working thirty hour weeks or less with six or eight weeks of vacation time a year.
Fast forward to today when computers have come into their own. Many people are not taking all of their vacation days. People are taking work home with them. And working long hours.
Progress doesn’t necessarily translate into a better easier life for the individual. Thus today suicide rates are as high as ever. The number of people who are going to psychiatrist is going up. Many workers are suffering from burn out.
Why because individuals can’t say no. People are addicted to the shiny things of this life. The latest gadget. The large house. The expensive car, jewellery and other things this world offers.
Cars, gadgets, houses and other things that we can acquire are fine in their place. But ultimately they are not ours. When our life ends they pass on to someone else. We enter eternity broke.
We all know this yet especially in the materialistic world that is North America in which I live, we strive to have the things of life. Even if we have to work long hours or take work home with us.
Jesus said,
“What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?”
                                                                                                                    Mark 8:36.
I think the majority of people here were I live in North America both non-Christians and Christians alike, have in many ways, sold out to materialism
I admit I carry a cell phone. It cost me all of fifty dollars and people don’t hesitate to call me. I use my computer a lot. Computers have made my life much easier.
Still life in the twenty-first century is filled with a cacophony of noise that does exhaust us both physically, mentally and spiritually.
People whether they realize it or not need more that physical things to make their life fulfilling.
I believe man has a spiritual nature and until the individual recognizes that, and their need to fulfill that spiritual need they will not find rest.
The call of Jesus 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.
Whether you are a Christian or not take a few minutes to look at your life. Are you content? Do you truly have inner peace?
When you enter eternity will you be content?
Tony Campolo the American evangelist said,
“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.
I believe we can answer Campolo’s question here and know. By accepting Christ as your Lord and Saviour you can have rest for your soul both in this life and the life to come.
Please think about it.

Freedom

Freedom
Erich Fromm said,
“I believe in freedom, in man’s right to be himself, to assert himself and to fight all those who try to prevent him from being himself.  But freedom is more than the absence of violent oppression.  It is more than “freedom from.”  It is “freedom to”“—the freedom to become independent; the freedom to be much, rather than to have much, or to use things and people.”
                                                                                                                       Erich Fromm
Fromm is right. What he says lines up with what God intended for man to be. God did not create robots. He created man and intended for man to be free irrespective of the consequences.
That freedom included mans right to believe in his creator or not.
The bible states
“He (God) has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men....”  
Ecclesiastes 3:11a.
I believe man is born with a sense of eternity. Man instinctively knows there is a more than this life. That he lives on through eternity.
Individuals may choose to ignore this fact but it doesn’t change anything. 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.
Still the freedom to deny God and the fact man lives on beyond this world is a God given right. A necessary right in order that man should be truly free.
Like Fromm said, true freedom “is the freedom to become independent; the freedom to be much...”
We can choose to live a life independent of God. We have the freedom to mould our life the way we want it to, even be “much” by our own standard.
At the same time we can also choose to follow God and do be much in His sight.
Some people have told me many times that the Bible is a book of do’s and do not’s. That may be the way some Christians make it out to be but it is not so.
Following the moral code and lifestyle Christ wants us to follow is no more difficult that following the rules in a Football game.
In order for the came to be enjoyable and rewarding to all who play it you must follow the rules. However once you’ve learned the rules you don’t give them a second thought. You simply play the game.
That’s the way it is when you accept Christ into your life. When you ask God to direct your life. You still have complete freedom but you are playing within God’s rules and you ultimately, once you’ve learned the rules don’t give things a second thought.
The bottom line however when it come to the individual is that you have the freedom to live your life your way or God’s way. That is a freedom granted to you by God. You can choose to believe in God or not.
So do you believe in God?
Please think about it.