Fill the world with love

Fill the world with Love.
The apostle Paul wrote,

“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.

When I was a teenager there was a musical that came out in the cinemas called Good-by Mr. Chips. It’s theme song fill the world with love has stayed with me all these years. They say,

In the Morning of My Life

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 eveniung 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.

Do you bring love to the world around you? Do you choose to love unconditionally?
Anne Frank a young Jewish girl hiding from the Nazis in the occupied Netherlands, a girl who knew what hate was 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.
It is because people refuse to love or set conditions on their love that there is so much hate and strife in the world.
One day however all that will come to an end. One each and every person will stand before God.
The Writer of Ecclesiastes states
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole  duty  of man. 
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” Ecclesiastes12:13,14.
The Talmud states,
“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.
When you pass from this world what will God say about you?
Please think about it.

Stand with Orlando

Stand with Orlando
Yesterday I heard a news report that anti-gay protesters from a church in Orlando were protesting against homosexuality at one of the funerals for one of these killed. They attended a church apparently and called themselves Christians.
As a Christian I am mortified that those claiming to be Christians would do such a thing. I do not know if these people are truly Christian or not. That is between them and God.
If however they are Christians they are misguided and insensitive to those who need to see the Love of Jesus. They exhibit the worst in Christians, which sadly seems to be the norm for many calling themselves particularly evangelical Christians both in the United States and Canada.
The apostle Paul said,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
According to what Paul says those people who protested against the LGBT community are wrong in doing so.
Jesus makes it clear
“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.
If these anti-gay demonstrators claim to be Christian then they must believe what Jesus said here in Matthew 7:12. Which leads to the conclusion that they would like people to demonstrate outside their church.
I have been a Christian for over forty years now. I have taught the Bible for most of those years. I do not see anywhere, where Christ or the apostles spoke against those outside of their faith. I do not see where they ever demonstrated against anything that was against their beliefs or moral values.
Jesus and his disciples showed unconditional love toward all people. It was Jesus who 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.
Not only that Jesus 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.”Matthew 5:43-45.
Love your God, your neighbour, and your enemy, pray for your persecutors. These are Christian values. Not standing with a placard judging people. That is not the role of any Christian.
Jesus said,
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.
These words are very true and I believe those who protested against the LGBT community at that funeral will be judged according to how they judged.
I as a Christian however extend my prayers and condolences to the families of those who died and all those who were injured both physically and emotionally from the shootings.
My God bless you and shine His peace upon you.
Yours in Christ.
Neal W.

Teach Love

Teach Love
The Talmud says,

“Whoever teaches his son teaches not alone his son 

but also his son’s son, and so on to the end of generations.” 

 The Talmud.

The writer of the book of Proverbs states,

“Train a child in the way he should go,

 and when he is old he will not turn from it.” 

Proverbs 22:6.

There is a need in the world today to teach our children tolerance, love and understanding.
Jesus when asked said,
 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  
This is the first and greatest commandment.  
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40.
Jesus also said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”Matthew 5:43-45
The apostle Paul defined love when he wrote,

“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.

We need to be people who are remembered for our love. Love, true unconditional love is a universal truth all faiths that even atheist can understand.
In a sermon in 1940 Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver wrote,
“There is one other fundamental difference between love and hate.  Love is always a refuge.  Hate is never a refuge.  Only a mentally sick person can find refuge in his hates.  But love is the enduring sanctuary of life.  Life may rob you of many things.  It often does.  But it can never bereave us of love itself.  That remains.” Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver.
There is a lot of hate in the world both from secular non-religious sources and sadly from people claiming to be men and women of faith. This should not be so.
In the light of what has happened in Florida at he night club in recent days with forty-nine dead many others injured it is incumbent on men and women of all faiths to come out strongly against hatred, bigotry and all forms of discrimination.
We need to be etching on the hearts of our Children, who are the future of the world, the need for tolerance and unconditional love for all. God, our neighbours, even our enemies.
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.
If we all did this the world would be a better place.
Please think about it.

Freedom and Morality

Freedom and Morality
“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 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. That is provided that is they are not harming anyone or restricting another persons freedoms. As it has been said,
 “your freedom stops short of your fist hitting my face.”
That being said man needs I believe, a moral compass only God can provide,
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.”
We only have to look at the history of the twentieth century to see that governments without a moral compass can destroy a society.
Hitler and his cohorts killed six million Jews as well as million of others in the death camps. In all the war he started cost the lives of between fifty-six and sixty million depending on the estimates you take.
Today terrorist groups around the world are substituting their morality for that of God’s and killing millions of innocent men women and children.
These men like those before them have turned from God they do not believe the words of the writer of Ecclesiastes,
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole  duty  of man. 
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” Ecclesiastes12:13,14.
 The same can be said of immoral businessmen and women who defraud millions from trusting men and women. Street thugs, gang members, petty thieves all lack fear of God.
Rabbi Benjamin Blech noted,
“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)
 As I look at the presidential race taking place in the United States I and may others are appalled at what one candidate in particular is saying about various groups.
Yet all that is needed to stop him or anyone else from doing such a thing is to make all candidates sign a morality clause. A clause that would forbid attacks on any group. A clause that would require candidates to uphold the dignity of all people.
Sadly however a common morality system is slipping away not just in the United States but in all nations around the world.
The teachings of God are being thrown to the gutter and society is the worse for it. If ever there was a time mankind needed to turn back to God it is now.
Please think about it.

How Important?

How important?
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.
This is a question all people everywhere that are presented with Christianity need to consider.
What Christians believe is summed up by the Apostles Creed. While it was not written by an apostle of Christ it is universally accepted by all Christians as a good brief explanation of what we believe. It reads,

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.

Christians believe God in the form of His one and Only Son Jesus entered the world to point each individual to heaven. 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.
Eternal life with God is a free gift offered by God through faith. The writer of Hebrews telling us,

“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.

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.
These are what all true Christians believe. If what we believe is not important Christians who follow the teachings of Jesus have nothing to worry about as they have lived good moral lives.
If on the other hand we correct in our beliefs it at the very least gives non-Christians a lot to consider.
Please think about it.

A Treasure

A Treasure

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. 

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.  

When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it Matthew 13:44-46.

If you had something of great value you wanted to share with the world. Something so important that it could change the lives of people for the better, would you not want to tell the world about it? That is the way Christians feel about the message Jesus gave to them.
For me as a Christian I truly believe that having a personal relationship with Jesus can change your life. You may never become wealthy by knowing Jesus but you can have a peace in your life that this world and it’s materialistic value system cannot offer.
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.
Jesus speaking to Martha asked a question all people hearing about Jesus need to answer for themselves. Jesus 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.
Jesus is the Christ the Messiah the Saviour of mankind. The writer of Hebrews tells us,
“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.
The apostle Paul wrote,
“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.” Romans 5:6-8
Christians believe God realizing mankind could not live a life good enough for Him reached down in love and offered us a clear way to 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.
This is the message Christians feel is so valuable that we are even ready to die for. 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.
Ultimately no one can make the decision for you. It is an act of faith. The writer of Hebrews saying,

“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.

My Testimony

My Testimony
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”
                                    The Apostle Paul writing to the Romans 3:23.
Forty-two years ago in a small church that an old girlfriend had taken me to. I became a youth leader. I believed there was a God but didn’t have what I can only describe as a heart that acknowledged of God.
The girlfriend and I split. She stopped going to the church but I continued on.
One day I was asked to give a message to the youth. I began with the above verse.“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23.
  Why I don’t really know. I just know that’s where I felt I had to start. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
I remember I stumbled over the meaning of the words as I spoke but those words stuck with me.
A few weeks later I went to a Doug Oldham concert a gospel music concert, and accepted Jesus as my Lord and Saviour.
The words I’d started my teaching with a few weeks earlier suddenly had meaning. I realized that I was indeed a sinner. That I couldn’t live a life good enough to reach heaven that I needed Jesus in my life.
I realized the truth of John 3:16-18 that says,
“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 realized the truth of Ephesians 2:8,9
“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 realized that God through Jesus Christ had reached down to me, because I was not good enough to reach up to Him.
I realized the words of C. S. Lewis who 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
Over the forty plus years since then life had thrown a lot of things both good and bad at me. I have done things I’ve regretted but I have never regretted letting Christ into my life.
I can attest that the words of Jesus are true when he said,

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,

 for I am gentle and humble in heart, 

and you will find rest for your souls.  

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” 

                                              Matthew 11:28-30.

That is why I write these blogs, present the gospel to anyone who will listen, and teach the Bible at church and any other place I’m asked to.
I believe it is the most important message the world needs to hear are 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 14:6
Dear reader please consider reading the Bible learning about Jesus and letting Jesus into your life.
Please think about it

Stand for Freedom

Stand for Freedom
As I wright this the worst mass murder in United States history has just taken place. At this writing at least 49 are dead and many, many more injured. All at the hands of a lunatic claiming ties to terrorist groups. Someone who hated Gays
I as a heterosexual Christian I recoil in horror at such an act.
I believe it is time for Christians to stand up against those who would not only try to restrict the rights of homosexuals but the rights of all others who are not hurting others.
Christians particularly in the United States need to realize that the government is a secular democracy. That within a secular democracy the government does its best to ensure the rights and freedoms of all people.
No matter what Christians feel about Gay rights, same sex marriage or any other group we have no right to judge them. The apostle Paul states,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
The way I see it Paul is telling Christians to refrain from judging anyone who is not Christian and getting rid of anyone who claims to be Christian and is not following the teachings of Jesus.
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 means if you want to live in freedom with the right to practice your faith. Then don’t speak out against any group that is living in peace and not hurting anyone. Let them enjoy the same rights and freedoms you enjoy.
Jesus and the apostles lived in the Roman Empire a place that allowed almost any kind of practice. I’m sure the apostle Paul and the other disciples saw many things they would not have liked. Yet they didn’t speak out against them. Instead they presented the Love of Jesus and the Salvation only He could bring to the world.
Today especially, Christian leaders should be sending their condolences to the families of the dead and injured at that night club.
They should be standing up against bigotry, prejudice and violence in any form against any group. They should be extending the hand of friendship and love to all.
We must remember that to restrict the rights of even one person could ultimately lead to the restriction of our rights one day.
Martin Niemoller during the reign of the Nazis in Germany 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.”

As Christians who if statistics are correct, are the most persecuted group on earth at the moment we need to stand up for the oppressed.
Tony Campolo the American evangelist said,
“These issues are biblical issues: to care for the sick, to feed the hungry, to stand up for the oppressed. I contend that if the evangelical community became more biblical, everything would change.”Tony Campolo
He is right. We need to stand up for the rights of all people irrespective of whether we agree with them or not.
God in creating man gave man a freewill to do as he wished. We as Christians in a democracy should be upholding peoples freedom and right to live as they wish as long as they are not hurting or restricting the rights of others.
I as a Christian for one offer my condolences to the families of those who died.
It is my sincere hope that those who were injured will make a full recovery in body, mind and spirit.
May God bless and keep you, and your families, strong in what has to be one of the worst times in your life.
            Neal W.

Jesus Is

Jesus Is
Here in brief is what Christians believe about Jesus, direct from the New Testament.
The apostle John’s Gospel records the following,
“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.” John 10:24-30.
Jesus said,
“...“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6.
The apostle John’s gospel records this incident at the trial of Jesus,
“Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” 
“Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?” 
“Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?” 
Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.” 
“You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” John 18:33-37.
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 writer of Hebrews writing of Jesus said,
“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’” ? 
Or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son” ? 
And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” In speaking of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, his servants flames of fire.” 
But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom. 
You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.” Hebrews 1:1-9.
All of this is believed by Christians.
Jesus is,
God in the flesh, 
King of heaven, 
King of kings, 
Saviour of mankind, 
The Way to heaven, 
The exact representation of God,
I firmly believe all people who are told about Jesus must answer the same question Jesus posed to Martha when he 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.
What do you believe?
Please think about it.

Who is Jesus?

Who is Jesus?

The apostle John’s gospel 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.
Here Jesus gives a definitive answer as to who he is and the crowd rejects him. They’d made up their minds before hand. They had no faith in Jesus.
So it is in the world outside the Church people refuse to believe in Jesus also. Even when confronted with what the bible says or for that matter evidence about Jesus from sources outside the bible, they still refuse to believe because their mind is made up.
The bottom line however is Jesus is all he says he is. Each individual whether they have been in church all their lives, or never been in a church, when confronted with the truth about Jesus must make a decision. 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.
Thus the choice is yours do you truly believe who Jesus is or not.
Please think about it.

True Christians, False Christians

True Christians, False Christians
Mahatma Gandhi said,
“Jesus is ideal and wonderful, but you Christians - you are not like him.”
Gandhi I believe saw too many people who were Christians in name only.
Jesus said,
“Many will say to me  on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  
  Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!” Matthew 7:22,23.
The apostle Paul said,
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 2Timothy 4:3,4.
There are many calling themselves Christians who by their very actions you can see are not.
These people heap judgement on non-Christians which is contrary to what the apostle Paul said when he wrote,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
Then again there are frauds in every group of people. People who say they are something they are not.
Advice I would give to non-Christians is not to judge all Christians by the actions of a few. By in large the majority of people who call themselves Christians are indeed Christians. Men and women who want to tell you about the most important thing in their life. Eternal life through faith in Christ Jesus.
The writer of Hebrews tells us,
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’” ? 
Or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son” ? 
And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”  Hebrews 1:3-6
Jesus is the Son of God, God incarnate.
The apostle Paul wrote,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8,9.
The writer of Hebrews tell us,
“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.
This is the simple message a true Christian wants to tell the world. Beyond that a true Christian will follow the teachings of Jesus who when asked,
 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  
This is the first and greatest commandment.  
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40.
Jesus also said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” Matthew 5:43-45.
Finally a true Christian takes to heart the words of Jesus who said,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” Matthew 7:12.
Please if you are a non-Christian wanting to know more about Christ don’t let false Christians turn you away.
Read the New Testament for yourself. Visit a church. I recommend Baptist churches. Ask the pastor what he believes and learn for yourself what it is to be Christian.
Please think about it.

Faith

Faith

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1.
Faith we all have faith. We practice faith all the time. We have faith in our employer that they are not going to fire us. We have faith that when we turn the key of our car it will start. That when we turn on the light switch the lights will go on. These are everyday things we here in North America at least put our faith in and don’t think about.
Some people go even further they put their faith in the stock market in the hope of getting a good return on their money. They put their faith in banks that they will keep their money safe and give at least some interest on the money deposited.
Scientist exercise faith all the time. They postulate a theory from information and observations they see around them then put the theory out there for their peers to look at.
For many scientific theories such as Einstein and others have postulated the proof was not produced in their lifetime. Yet these men and women believed all their life in these theories.
So it is with God. Those of us who believe in God and particularly Christians believe in God because of what we see around us, and what we read in the Bible.
We see a world and indeed a universe that is in perfect mathematical order. Designed in such a way that life can exist as we know it here on earth. A world that we feel could not be formed by chance.
We believe the Psalmist who wrote,
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” Psalm 19:1.  
We believe the writer of Genesis when he wrote,
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1.
We may not be able to prove it in this life time, but then Einstein could not prove some of his theories in his life time.
Christians have faith there is a God who created the universe. Faith as defined by 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
Who went on to say,
“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.
            This is most certainly something we will have proven upon our death.
         What do you believe?
Please think about it.