Just like the thief

Just like the thief
Billy Graham said,
“I'm going to Heaven just like the thief on the cross who said in that last moment: 'Lord, remember me.'”
           Billy Graham.
As far as I know Christians are the only one’s who believe that as the apostle Paul put it,
“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.
Paul writing to the Romans said,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 
                                                          Romans 3:23,24.
C. S. Lewis said,
“The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.” 
                                            C.S. Lewis
Christians believe in a God that loves and understands us.
I firmly believe Jesus came into the world to show mankind how far in human terms God would go to reconcile man to himself.
I also believe because of Jesus coming to earth we can never stand before God and say you don’t understand what it is to be human because he does.
In coming to earth Jesus experienced everything a man could experience.
Many in the world today think that if the good you do out weighs the bad you do you get to heaven. The Christian believes that our good works are not good enough to get us to heaven. That is why Jesus came.
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.” 
1John 1:9-10.
Paul makes it clear,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” 
Romans 5:8.
Christ died for our sins. 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."  
                                           Hebrews 1:1-3.
Jesus is God incarnate, God in the flesh. It is through faith in Him that we enter heaven. To quote the writer of Hebrews again,
“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.
Jesus speaking of Himself gave us a choice when 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.
The choice is yours.
Please think about it.

Message from a Rose

Message from a Rose
There is a delightful story with quiet a meaning woven into it by Ben Zion Bokser it’s entitled the Rose talked Back. It goes like this,

The Rose Talked Back

“The man sweeping the synagogue paused for a moment.  He looked at the flowers lying about in disorder, ‘What waste!’  He said too himself.  Those roses had adorned the pulpit at a wedding an hour before.  Now all was over and they were waiting to be discarded.
The attendant leaning on his sweeper was lost in thought when suddenly he heard a strange sound.  One of the roses replied to him.
‘Do you call this a waste?” the flower protested, ‘What is life anyway, yours or mine, but a means of service?  My mission was to create some fragrance and beauty, and when I have fulfilled it my life has not been wasted.  And what greater privilege is there than to adorn a bride’s way to her beloved, what greater privilege than to help glorify the moment when a bride and groom seal their faith in each other by entering the covenant of marriage?’
Our little flower paused for a moment too watch the man’s face, and then continued her discourse.
‘Roses are like people.  They live in deeds, not in time.  My glory was but for a brief hour, but you should have seen the joy in the bride’s eye.  I like to believe that I had something to do with it, by creating a suitable setting for the moment of her supreme happiness.  So don’t grieve for me.  My life has been worthwhile.
Having spoken her little piece, the rose was once more silent.  The attendant, startled from his reverie and a little wiser, pushed the sweeper again and continued with his work.”
                                                                                                         Ben Zion Bokser
I like what the rose said, “Roses are like people.  They live in deeds, not in time.”
Question, What will people say about the deeds in your life?
Will people look at your life and say for lack of anything else to say “you were a good person”? OR will they list the virtuous things you have done. The good deeds you did for others without thought of reward.
You may not do magnificent deeds that get national or international attention but you can always do something.
I think of my late sister in law. She lived most of her life in poverty. She struggled with alcoholism yet managed to stay sober for the last twenty-five years of her short fifty-six years on this earth.
At her funeral however she was remembered as a person who gave of herself. Who helped the poor. Who worked through her church and in other ways to help as many people as she could.
At her funeral there were people from all walks of life who praised her good deeds and her faith in God.
She was far from perfect yet she did what she could do to help others and serve her Saviour Jesus Christ.
Whether you are a Christian or not, what will people say about your life?
Is you life wrapped up in yourself? Are the only things you do for others done for some kind of remuneration?
When was the last time you did something simply because a person needed help and you could help?
Ask yourself what you can do for others. There are a lot of charities and organizations out there that need help. You can be that help.
When you die what will people say about you? What will God say?
Please think about it.

Will you?

Will you?
Billy Graham asked the question,
“The great question of our time is, 'Will we be motivated by materialistic philosophy or by spiritual power?”
     Billy Graham.
I live in what I believe is perhaps the most materialistic society on earth, North America.     Each day you are inundated with thousands of images and words wanting us to buy the latest gadget. The advertisers tell us that this thing or that thing will make our life easier.
People are drowning in debt because they swallowed the mantra of buy now pay later. People work long hours, take work home with them, all to have enough money to have "the good life".
Now there’s nothing wrong with having money, with being rich and having all the latest gadgets. Money and the things it buys are not sinful in themselves. Many of the things we buy do in fact make our life easier.
The trouble comes when we want them so badly we become obsessed with them. So much so they become our god. Which in both North America and the western world materialism has become to some degree.
The apostle Paul talking to Christians said,
“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.
He’s right. The love of money has driven people to crime in various forms. It’s caused people to loose everything.
Many people go bankrupt because of their obsession with getting things.
The trouble with materialism is it cannot fill the true need of the human heart. Only God can do that.
Many men have reached the end of their life to find it filled with a kings ransom in material riches only to realize that they are lacking and empty inside.
Likewise I have met people who have little more than the clothes on their back, that have had a rich fulfilling life. They have looked forward on their death bed to an eternity in heaven with Christ.
Where do you stand?
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.
He also 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 have found Christ’s words to be true. Yes I have some of the latest gadgets but they are not first in my life.
First place in my life goes to God. Who is the author and finisher of my faith.
I have found that with Christ in my life my life is rich and fulfilling. I also know that with God in my life, I have life everlasting with God in heaven.
Question: Where is your faith?
Please Think about it.

The Acceptable Time

The Acceptable time
Billy Graham said,
“The Bible says today is the accepted time, today is the day of salvation... But there will come a time when it will be too late for you.”
                                                 Billy Graham.
One of the reasons I tell people about Jesus is because I am convinced the Bible is correct and that Jesus is the way to heaven.
I also believe the words of the apostle Paul when he spoke to the Athenians saying,
“For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.” 
                                                                                              Acts 17: 30,31.
You can scoff and not believe what Paul said, many in Athens that day did but are you sure what Christians say about Jesus is not true? Are you really sure?
I leave with you for your consideration what the book of acts records about what the apostle Paul said to the Athenians
“So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.  
A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.  
Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?  
You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean.”  
(All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.) 
Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.  
For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. 
“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.  
And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.  
From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.  
God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.  
‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ 
“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man’s design and skill.  
In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.  
For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.” 
When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.”  
At that, Paul left the Council.  
A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others."
                                                                                              Acts 17:17-34.
C. S. Lewis said,
“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.
Only you can decide for yourself how important the message of Christianity is. God will not force you. God gives each person a freewill to do as they wish. That includes the right to believe in Him or not.
Thus the choice is yours.
Please think about it.

I Know

I know
The book of Genesis states,
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” 
                                                                                           Genesis 1:1.
The Bible a book of faith does not debate whether God exists or not. It simply states God created. How long it took God to create the universe be it six day or billions of years means little.
The fact is God exists. You can either believe it or not. That is something every individual who has ever lived has had to ask.
If there is no God then billions of people throughout the existence of man have been believing a lie. Something that if you think about it wont hurt them because if God does not exist there will be no one to judge them.
If on the other hand as I believe there is a God and Jesus is His one and Only Son then there is a lot to fear.
Jesus speaking about 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.
Please think about it.

A Bold Belief

A bold belief
John’s Gospel records,
“Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  
If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” 
Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” 
Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?  
Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.  
Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.”  
                                                        John 14:5-11.
The above quote from John’s gospel tells who Jesus is. Jesus talking to His disciples states,
“I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Jesus goes on to say,
“Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.”
“I am in the Father and the Father is in me:...”
These are bold statements. Jesus equates Himself with God something punishable by death in the time in which Jesus lived. Something Jesus was well aware of yet still equated Himself with God.
Jesus being God incarnate is a fundamental belief of Christianity. You cannot be a Christian and not believe this.
The writer of Hebrews states,
“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.”
                                             Hebrews 1:3.
Note the writer of Hebrews states,
“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being” 
Note also the writer says Jesus provided purification for our sins. The sins of the individual. The apostle Paul writing to the Romans said,
“Since we have now been justified by his blood (the blood of Jesus), 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 5:9-11.
There is no middle ground with Christianity. Either you believe Jesus is who he said he is or you do not. He is either the Son of God, Saviour of mankind, God incarnate, or He is not. You must decide.
C. S. Lewis said,
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.
I as a Christian believe the decision you make about Jesus, has eternal implications.
Please think about it.

Something brief

Something brief
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.
In an effort to be brief I want to point the reader to a couple of things the Bible records about Jesus. Jesus said,
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” 
                                                                                                                                                John 14:6.
John’s Gospel also 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 speaking to Martha said,
“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.
If these words are untrue then the non-believer in Christ has nothing to fear. They are unimportant. If on the other hand they are true then the unbeliever has a great deal to at least think about because 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.
Thus if what Christians believe is true, your eternal destiny rests on who you believe Jesus is.
Please think about it.

Man Cannot do it

Man cannot do it.
“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
Einstein was right unless society can create and maintain a decent condition of life for all men, we cannot call ourselves as a society civilized.
Throughout the history of man there have been a lot if you will “experiments” in societal change. Communism is a classic example. It promised a great deal yet when put into practice in the Soviet Union it failed. It is failing in China where social conditions are for some worse than in some democracies.
Democracies are no different. All western democracies have people who are suffering. In the United States millions go without health care. In Canada were I live, aboriginal communities are living in what amounts to third world conditions. In Europe many people live under the poverty line. Be it under communism or in a democracy there are many unemployed.
Around the world people are dying of curable illnesses or of starvation that can be overcome.
World wide terrorist murder it seems at will saying they are trying to make a better world. Yet forget about God’s law not to kill.
Frankly I think it is beyond the capability of man to create a world that offers a decent condition of life to all men. The political will is just not there. I believe only God can solve the problem.
Someone asked me why doesn’t God provide for all men. To which I reply with words from the Talmud that says,
“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.
James the half brother of Christ said,
“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
Unfortunately man has forgotten his obligation to help his fellow man. Many faith groups do help the poor but still there is a not enough done.
I believe God has given man a set amount of time not only to turn to Him but to help those around him. I can see a day when what the Talmud describes will happen the Talmud saying,
“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
Sadly I can also see a time when the parable of Jesus about the rich man and Lazarus could be a reality for some. Jesus saying,
“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.
I think such a thing is happening today. Jesus rose from the dead. Christians have been presenting the teachings of Christ around the world for centuries now. Yet society still has a myriad of problems.
People have lost their fear of God and while many are doing what they can to honour God and help their fellow man many more are not.
The writer of Ecclesiastes writes,
“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.
Please think about it.

Your Faith

Your Faith.
Job said,
“Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face.”  
                                                                                                                      Job 13:15.
When I read this verse from the book of Job I couldn’t help but think Job had what my Jewish friends called “chutzpah”.
My question to both those who believe in God and those who do not, is are you certain about your faith? About what you have faith in.
It’s easy to say I grew up in such and such a faith or Christian denomination therefore I know I’m going to heaven. But are you sure?
Likewise it’s easy for someone who doesn’t believe in God to say I can’t see Him or touch Him therefore he doesn’t exist. But are you sure?
I as a Christian believe the following.
I believe God entered the world he created in the form of Jesus Christ His one and only Son. The apostle John writing,
“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....
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. 
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, 12-14
  I believe salvation is given to us by the grace of God. That we must accept that grace in faith. The apostle Paul writing,
“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 also believe the writer of the book 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.
I believe the words of Jesus who said,
...“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” 
                                                                                                                                              John 14:6b.
I believe the words of the Apostle Paul who wrote,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” 
                                                              Romans 3:23,24
  I believe the words of the Apostle John who 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.
I as a Christian also believe one very crucial statement made by Jesus about Himself who said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son”. 
                                                                                                           John 3:16-18.
I believe also the words of the Apostle Paul who wrote to the Roman’s saying,
“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.
I believe that by confessing my sins directly to God and believing that Jesus is the One and Only Son of God who came to this world to die for my sins, I become a Child of God,
The apostle John saying,
John said,
“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—  children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” 
                  John 1:12,13.
This is what I as a Christian believe and place before you the reader to consider. If you are confident in your belief you have nothing to fear.
If on the other hand what I am is correct you have at the very least something to think seriously about.
As C. S. Lewis stated,
“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.
Please think carefully about it.

Someone said,

Someone said,
Someone said to me that I write and talk about love a lot when I speak about God. They are right. It’s because I believe in what Jesus said 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 tells Christians,
“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
I believe as a Christian it is my duty before God to show unconditional love to all people, even if I disagree with them.
Jesus speaking of himself tells Christians.
“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.
It is my belief that if God loved mankind so much He gave us His one and Only Son then the least I can do is show love to those around me.
My parents who were not Christians brought me up to show love and kindness to all people. To help people wherever I could.
While they didn’t realize it they were obeying what Proverbs said,
“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.
My Father practiced what he preached and was well respected in his community as a result.
While a young teenager I went to see a move musical called Goodby Mr. Chips in it was a song by Leslie Bricusse that had an impression on me that still resonates with me to this day. It’s called In the morning of my life the words are,

In the morning of my life

I will look to the Sunrise

At a moment in my life 

When the world is new.    

And the Question

I shall ask only God can answer.

Will I be brave and strong and true,

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

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

In the evening of my life

I will look to the sunset

At a moment in my life 

When my life is through.

And the question I shall ask only I can answer 

Was I brave and strong and true.

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

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

                                                                                                   By Leslie Bricusse  
                                                                             From the Musical Good by Mr chips.
Since hearing that song I have become a Christian and realize that one cannot be a Christian without showing unconditional love for God, ones neighbours, and even ones enemies. That is what Christ did that is what all Christian must do.
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.
I believe one day we all will be held to account for our lives before God.
The Talmud while not recognized by Christians as an inspired work of God, tells a story I can see as happening when we stand before God. It says,
“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.
I believe by showing unconditional love as far as humanly possible to all people irrespective of who they are I could answer that question with a resounding yes.
Martin Luther King Jr. said,
“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.”
                                                                              Martin Luther King, Jr.
The Writer of Hebrews states
“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” 
Hebrews 12:14.
I believe by showing unconditional love to all those around me I am endeavouring to live at peace with men. I am endeavouring to live a holy life.
Are you?
Please think about it.

A Universal Truth

A Universal Truth

“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.
Love is a universal concept everyone I think can understand. Yet in our world today there seems to be less of it.
We only have to look at the events in any news cast to see how hatred seems to dominate the airwaves.
When an exceptional act of love or kindness is discovered it seems to be so unusual that it makes the news. Yet acts of love should permeate our society.
The fact that acts of violence are increasing shows we as a society are turning away from the ideals I believe God has laid in the hearts of all men.
Martin Luther King Jr. said, 
“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.”
                                                                                           Martin Luther King, Jr.
Anne Frank a young Jewish girl who hid from the Nazis in the occupied Netherlands during world war two 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
Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver in 1940 said,
"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.
It is true only a mentally ill person can find refuge in hate.
Today when terrorists are spreading their hate around the world they fail to see that hate cannot win a single soul to their cause. It cannot conquer the world. Many men have tried and are now mentioned only in history books.
T. H White said,
“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.
Even Napoleon Bonaparte who himself tried to conquer Europe said,
"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 and His apostles literally turned their world upside down. Not by the sword but through the love of God.
To day around the world there are billions who follow the teachings of Christ and that number is increasing even in places where Christianity is being persecuted.
Christians are showing that through the Love of God, the Love of Christ, the world can be changed for the better one person at a time.
The writer of Proverbs said,
“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
Please think about it.

A Note to non-Christians

A Note to non-Christians
Jesus said,
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  
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 7:21-23.
I as a Christian love to tell people about Christ and the eternal life with God he offers for free. I do my best to present to people the truths that are in the Bible.
I however realize there are many people claiming to be Christians who are not and they are turning many away from Christ.
The Apostle Peter states,
“Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.”
                                                                                                                                       2 Peter 3:2.
The apostle Paul writing to Christians states,
“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.  
People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,  without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,  treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—  having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.” 
                                                                                                                           2 Timothy 3:1-5.
Sadly there are many men and women out there who would exploit people in the name of Jesus. They may say they are believers but they are not. Christianity like every walk of life has its share of frauds.
The truth of God however is out there for anyone who is truly looking for it. All one has to do is read the Bible.
I encourage non-Christians to read the New Testament and pray and ask God to show you the truth. I suggest people find a church. I usually suggest a Baptist church because they have sound teaching generally.
And don’t just take someone’s word about what the bible says ask questions. Ask a lot of questions. A true Christian will give you honest answers. They will show you where there answers can be found in the Bible. They will show you the scriptures in context that support their answers.
I know it can be hard for a non-Christian to tell the difference between a true Christian and a fraud it can be for a believer in Christ. Still it is not impossible.
I firmly believe that if you are truly seeking God he will show himself to you as you read the Bible and pray to Him.
What I believe in can be stated like this,

1. I believe in God the Father, The Almighty maker of heaven and earth

2. I believe in Jesus Christ God’s on and only Son, our Lord and Saviour.

3. I believe Jesus was conceived by the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary

4. I believe Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate; That He was Crucified, died, was buried. That he descended in hell.

5. I believe He rose again on the third day from the dead.

6. I believe that he ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty.

7. I believe Jesus will one day Judge the living and the dead.

8. I believe in the Holy Ghost

9. I believe in the Church which is the communion of the saints,

10. I believe in the forgiveness of sin.

11. I believe in the resurrection of the body.

12. I believe in life everlasting.

The list is based on what is referred to as the Apostles Creed. That while not written by an apostle are several fundamental points that are the basis of Christian teaching. To teach other than that is to be teaching wrong Christian principles.
What I wold ask non-believes reading this is that if you are truly serious about leaning about Jesus please read the New Testament. Then find a church, like I say a Baptist church is a usually a good choice. Ask the pastor of the church to tell you what he believes and why.
Remember also that there are different if you will flavours of church congregations from the very traditional full of symbolism and ritual to the very contemporary that use modern music and lively forms of worship.
So don’t turn away from a church congregation simply because you don’t like the worship. Look around, pray and ask God to show you a place that is right for you. A place that is teaching the truth from the Bible. A place that glorifies God.
Please think about visiting a Church this week.