Foolishness
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom,
but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,
but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.”
1 Corinthians 1:18-25
The above is what Christians believe. We present to the world a Saviour that is the Son of God. A Suffering Messiah.
We ask people to believe by faith that Jesus is the One and Only Son of God. That he came to earth died, was buried, rose from the dead, walked the earth briefly, before ascending to heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father.
We ask people to believe in the trinity, The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit one being existing in three parts.
These are hard things to accept yet they are the basics of Christianity.
They are truths that a true seeker of God will find to be true if they read the Bible particularly the New Testament. It however takes faith. The writer of Hebrews stating,
“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 if you are truly seeking God, pray and ask God to show you these truths.
Monday, 9 March 2015
Sunday, 8 March 2015
All are one
“You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus,
for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Galatians 3:26-28
The above is a fact for all who believe in Christ Jesus. We are all children of God and we are all equal.
The apostle John writes,
“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.”
He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.
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 1:1-4,11-13.
This is something totally unique to Christians. We believe that once we receive Jesus into our lives we actually become Children of God. That all people whoever they are become equal.
This belief arose at a time when such things as slavery were common place and women were far from equal with men.
The apostle Paul making the clear statement,
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
As Christians we believe we have a personal relationship with God.
The apostle Paul writing to the Romans writes,
“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 the sins of each of us.
C. S. Lewis states of Jesus,
“He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less.”
C.S. Lewis.
The key to becoming a Christian, to becoming a Child of God is to accept Christ as your personal Lord and saviour.
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
Faith is the key to becoming a Christian. The writer of Hebrews stating,
'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.
The Apostle Paul writing to Timothy wrote,
“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.
But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.”
1Timothy 1:15,16
The final word goes to the apostle John who recorded the words of Jesus 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.
Ultimately the decision is up to you on whether you believe what the New Testament says or not.
Please think about it.
“You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus,
for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Galatians 3:26-28
The above is a fact for all who believe in Christ Jesus. We are all children of God and we are all equal.
The apostle John writes,
“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.”
He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.
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 1:1-4,11-13.
This is something totally unique to Christians. We believe that once we receive Jesus into our lives we actually become Children of God. That all people whoever they are become equal.
This belief arose at a time when such things as slavery were common place and women were far from equal with men.
The apostle Paul making the clear statement,
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
As Christians we believe we have a personal relationship with God.
The apostle Paul writing to the Romans writes,
“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 the sins of each of us.
C. S. Lewis states of Jesus,
“He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less.”
C.S. Lewis.
The key to becoming a Christian, to becoming a Child of God is to accept Christ as your personal Lord and saviour.
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
Faith is the key to becoming a Christian. The writer of Hebrews stating,
'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.
The Apostle Paul writing to Timothy wrote,
“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.
But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.”
1Timothy 1:15,16
The final word goes to the apostle John who recorded the words of Jesus 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.
Ultimately the decision is up to you on whether you believe what the New Testament says or not.
Please think about it.
Saturday, 7 March 2015
Sign over an Alter
Sign over and Alter
“WHAT THINK YE OF CHRIST”
The first church I ever attended back in the 1970's had been built in the 1940's it could only hold a hundred or so people. But when you entered the church the first thing you seen was the sign over the Alter asking the question, What think ye of Christ.
I’m sure many people over the years have read that sign both saints and sinners. It was there to make you think.
So dear reader What think Ye of Christ?
C.S. Lewis an oxford intellectual and friend of R.R. Tolkin of Lord of the Rings fame, wrote these three statements about Christianity.
“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.
“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 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
Throughout the centuries men have declared God is dead or Christianity is of no effect.
Yet over the centuries some governments and extremists groups have feared it so much that they’ve felt a need to repress it. To throw it’s followers into prison or put them to death.
As you read this every eleven minutes a Christian dies for their faith. That tells you how much some groups fear the truth about Christianity.
Yet true Christians believe the words of the apostle Paul who wrote,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Romans 12:18-21.
Neither Jesus or his followers ever called for any kind of revolution. They never spoke against anyone outside their faith. Quite the contrary, Jesus said,
“Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
Matthew 22:21a
The apostle Paul writing,
“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”
Romans 13:1.
Christians believe that as long as we have the right to worship and follow the precepts of our faith we should submit to the governing authorities.
Many people over the centuries have predicted the end of Christianity yet it hasn’t happened nor will it.
The book of acts recalls a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, speaking at the trial of two of the apostles saying,
“But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”
Acts 5:39.
The Christian faith is founded on the solid Rock of Christ the one and only Son of God. And no person of government is ever going to destroy it.
Napoleon said of Christ,
"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,
Think about it.
“WHAT THINK YE OF CHRIST”
The first church I ever attended back in the 1970's had been built in the 1940's it could only hold a hundred or so people. But when you entered the church the first thing you seen was the sign over the Alter asking the question, What think ye of Christ.
I’m sure many people over the years have read that sign both saints and sinners. It was there to make you think.
So dear reader What think Ye of Christ?
C.S. Lewis an oxford intellectual and friend of R.R. Tolkin of Lord of the Rings fame, wrote these three statements about Christianity.
“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.
“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 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
Throughout the centuries men have declared God is dead or Christianity is of no effect.
Yet over the centuries some governments and extremists groups have feared it so much that they’ve felt a need to repress it. To throw it’s followers into prison or put them to death.
As you read this every eleven minutes a Christian dies for their faith. That tells you how much some groups fear the truth about Christianity.
Yet true Christians believe the words of the apostle Paul who wrote,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Romans 12:18-21.
Neither Jesus or his followers ever called for any kind of revolution. They never spoke against anyone outside their faith. Quite the contrary, Jesus said,
“Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
Matthew 22:21a
The apostle Paul writing,
“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”
Romans 13:1.
Christians believe that as long as we have the right to worship and follow the precepts of our faith we should submit to the governing authorities.
Many people over the centuries have predicted the end of Christianity yet it hasn’t happened nor will it.
The book of acts recalls a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, speaking at the trial of two of the apostles saying,
“But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”
Acts 5:39.
The Christian faith is founded on the solid Rock of Christ the one and only Son of God. And no person of government is ever going to destroy it.
Napoleon said of Christ,
"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,
Think about it.
Friday, 6 March 2015
Not all are Christians
Not all are Christians
“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 write this as a Christian to non-Christians.
I over the years have heard many say, “why should I become a Christian because I am better than those who say they are Christians. I know what they do and I’m better than them.”
Most of the time I would agree with that statement especially if someone has to tell you their a Christian.
Francis of Assisi wrote,
“Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”
Francis of Assisi.
It’s a true statement. If someone has to tell you they are a Christian they probably are not.
Not all people who go to church are Christians. Not all people who preach from the pulpit or claim to be evangelist either in the media or out, are Christian. There are a lot of charlatans out there just trying to make a quick buck.
A person who is truly a Christian will make mistakes. They are far from perfect but they are trying to live a good life.
C. S. Lewis said of Christians,
“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.
A true Christian will never force their faith on anyone. They will present the message of Christ to you simply and honestly.
Put simply it’s this is what a Christian will present. Jesus said,
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6.
He also 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.
For a Christian there is no nobler thing they can do than present the good news of Jesus Christ to those who don’t believe. Then leave it for them to decide.
Please think about it.
“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 write this as a Christian to non-Christians.
I over the years have heard many say, “why should I become a Christian because I am better than those who say they are Christians. I know what they do and I’m better than them.”
Most of the time I would agree with that statement especially if someone has to tell you their a Christian.
Francis of Assisi wrote,
“Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”
Francis of Assisi.
It’s a true statement. If someone has to tell you they are a Christian they probably are not.
Not all people who go to church are Christians. Not all people who preach from the pulpit or claim to be evangelist either in the media or out, are Christian. There are a lot of charlatans out there just trying to make a quick buck.
A person who is truly a Christian will make mistakes. They are far from perfect but they are trying to live a good life.
C. S. Lewis said of Christians,
“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.
A true Christian will never force their faith on anyone. They will present the message of Christ to you simply and honestly.
Put simply it’s this is what a Christian will present. Jesus said,
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6.
He also 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.
For a Christian there is no nobler thing they can do than present the good news of Jesus Christ to those who don’t believe. Then leave it for them to decide.
Please think about it.
Thursday, 5 March 2015
Jesus
Jesus
For centuries the enemies of Christianity have persecuted Christians. There have been many secular prophets for centuries predicting the end to Christianity, yet still it continues on.
The reason it continues on is because Christians are telling the truth. There is a God that loves them, that sent His one and only Son to earth to die for the sins of each man and woman.
When two of Jesus Apostles were brought up before the Sanhedrin for preaching the salvation message of Christ. They were going to put them to death but a wise man, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law stood up and said,
“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 5:38,39
Gamaliel was right Jesus came from God. He is everything he said he was.
C.S. Lewis wrote,
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
The choice however to believe in Jesus is up to you the reader.
Please think about it.
Last eve I passed beside a blacksmith’s door,
And heard the anvil ring the vesper chime;
Then, looking in, I saw upon the floor
Old hammers, worn with beating years of time.
“How many anvils have you had,” said I,
“To wear and batter all these hammers so?”
“Just one,” said he, and then, with twinkling eye,
The anvil wears the hammers out, you know.”
And so, thought I, the anvil of God’s Word,
For ages skeptic blows have beat upon;
Yet, though the noise of falling blows was heard,
The anvil is unharmed - and hammers gone.
AnonymousFor centuries the enemies of Christianity have persecuted Christians. There have been many secular prophets for centuries predicting the end to Christianity, yet still it continues on.
The reason it continues on is because Christians are telling the truth. There is a God that loves them, that sent His one and only Son to earth to die for the sins of each man and woman.
When two of Jesus Apostles were brought up before the Sanhedrin for preaching the salvation message of Christ. They were going to put them to death but a wise man, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law stood up and said,
“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 5:38,39
Gamaliel was right Jesus came from God. He is everything he said he was.
C.S. Lewis wrote,
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
The choice however to believe in Jesus is up to you the reader.
Please think about it.
Wednesday, 4 March 2015
Real Love
Real Love
“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.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a
Poets throughout the ages have tried to express what love is. Yet I believe there is no better words for describing love than the words of the apostle Paul.
It’s a check list for true love.
We live in a society where marriage is easy and divorce is easier. Divorce statistics are unbelievably high.
I think the reason we have such high rates of divorce is that we don’t know what love is.
Love in the twenty-first century seems to be mistaken for that bubbly feel good thing that we get around someone we like, or the feeling we get from having intimate relationships with someone.
While that may be part of an overall love relationship it is not entirely what love is. Love is more.
Love is there for the long haul.
I’ve been on this earth as of my last birthday sixty plus years. Thirty-four years of which have been in a loving marriage relationship.
My wife and I have gone through the feel good stage at one end and at the other end of the spectrum we’ve been totally ticked off at each other.
We’ve done things that drive each other insane. We still do. Never the less in the end we make up, cuddle up and still after all of these years enjoy being with each other.
I can honestly say that I can’t remember what our last disagreement was about. I just asked my wife if she could remember and she couldn’t.
We know we’ve argued, and had disagreements especially when we were younger. We are both very strong willed with very definite ideas on things. Our arguments at one time I’m sure could be heard across town. But in the end we kissed and made up.
But over the years our disagreements have actually become less and less. And we honestly upon reflection as I was preparing to write this, can’t remember much of what our arguments were about.
What we do remember is when we lived in the Toronto area travelling to Niagara Falls walking hand in hand for a short time before returning home, only to have to rush to the hospital so my wife could give birth to our first son.
We remember the little things, like holding hands when we went to church on Sunday. The reasons she has an artificial rose beside her computer.
When we were about to get married our pastor at the time quoted the above verses from 1 Corinthians Thirteen to us. He reminded us that true love is not a physical thing although that is a part of it.
He reminded us that true love is a spiritual union of two souls that become one.
Over the years we in our marriage we have proven that to be true. We look at what Paul wrote,
And we know it’s true.
Think about it.
“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.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a
Poets throughout the ages have tried to express what love is. Yet I believe there is no better words for describing love than the words of the apostle Paul.
It’s a check list for true love.
We live in a society where marriage is easy and divorce is easier. Divorce statistics are unbelievably high.
I think the reason we have such high rates of divorce is that we don’t know what love is.
Love in the twenty-first century seems to be mistaken for that bubbly feel good thing that we get around someone we like, or the feeling we get from having intimate relationships with someone.
While that may be part of an overall love relationship it is not entirely what love is. Love is more.
Love is there for the long haul.
I’ve been on this earth as of my last birthday sixty plus years. Thirty-four years of which have been in a loving marriage relationship.
My wife and I have gone through the feel good stage at one end and at the other end of the spectrum we’ve been totally ticked off at each other.
We’ve done things that drive each other insane. We still do. Never the less in the end we make up, cuddle up and still after all of these years enjoy being with each other.
I can honestly say that I can’t remember what our last disagreement was about. I just asked my wife if she could remember and she couldn’t.
We know we’ve argued, and had disagreements especially when we were younger. We are both very strong willed with very definite ideas on things. Our arguments at one time I’m sure could be heard across town. But in the end we kissed and made up.
But over the years our disagreements have actually become less and less. And we honestly upon reflection as I was preparing to write this, can’t remember much of what our arguments were about.
What we do remember is when we lived in the Toronto area travelling to Niagara Falls walking hand in hand for a short time before returning home, only to have to rush to the hospital so my wife could give birth to our first son.
We remember the little things, like holding hands when we went to church on Sunday. The reasons she has an artificial rose beside her computer.
When we were about to get married our pastor at the time quoted the above verses from 1 Corinthians Thirteen to us. He reminded us that true love is not a physical thing although that is a part of it.
He reminded us that true love is a spiritual union of two souls that become one.
Over the years we in our marriage we have proven that to be true. We look at what 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.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8aAnd we know it’s true.
Think about it.
Tuesday, 3 March 2015
Creation
Creation
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“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1.
This is what I believe. God created the heavens and the earth. Whether he created it using the big bang or some other method I do not care. It’s unimportant to my faith.
Whether it took us six billion years, six thousand years or six days is unimportant to my faith.
The bible states,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1.
Creation is one a faith thing with me but not blind faith.
The Psalmist wrote,
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
Psalm 19:1
I see a universe from the largest galaxies to the smallest microbes and atoms all governed by laws. There is no randomness in nature. The universe is mathematically perfect.
Where it seems like randomness I think it’s just a case that man has not found the formula or the pattern. There is a lot man has yet to learn.
The lack of randomness and perfect order of the universe tells me there is a God of creation.
By that same faith I believe that Jesus is the incarnation of God. The Bible stating,
“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....
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 1:1-3,14.
As I look into the heavens, study science and read the Bible I am amazed at how they compliment each other. Keeping in mind especially that the Bible is a book of faith not intended to be used as a science book.
I believe those who believe in God, Jesus Christ and the Bible have no fear of science because I believe good science will point to the existence of God.
At the beginning of this article I’ve put a picture of the earth taken from the space probe Voyager. It has travelled further in space than any man made object. At this point it is beyond the solar system.
From trillions of kilometres away N.A.S.A. turned its cameras around and took the picture.
As I look at it I am amazed and humbled that the God of creation did consider every individual human being on that “mote of dust” as Carl Sagan put it, worthy of his personal love.
C. S. Lewis wrote,
“He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less.”
C.S. Lewis
Jesus died for me as an individual and he died for you.
Jesus wants to have a personal relationship with your dear reader. Would you open your heart and mind to Him today?
Please think about it.
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1.
This is what I believe. God created the heavens and the earth. Whether he created it using the big bang or some other method I do not care. It’s unimportant to my faith.
Whether it took us six billion years, six thousand years or six days is unimportant to my faith.
The bible states,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1.
Creation is one a faith thing with me but not blind faith.
The Psalmist wrote,
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
Psalm 19:1
I see a universe from the largest galaxies to the smallest microbes and atoms all governed by laws. There is no randomness in nature. The universe is mathematically perfect.
Where it seems like randomness I think it’s just a case that man has not found the formula or the pattern. There is a lot man has yet to learn.
The lack of randomness and perfect order of the universe tells me there is a God of creation.
By that same faith I believe that Jesus is the incarnation of God. The Bible stating,
“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....
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 1:1-3,14.
As I look into the heavens, study science and read the Bible I am amazed at how they compliment each other. Keeping in mind especially that the Bible is a book of faith not intended to be used as a science book.
I believe those who believe in God, Jesus Christ and the Bible have no fear of science because I believe good science will point to the existence of God.
At the beginning of this article I’ve put a picture of the earth taken from the space probe Voyager. It has travelled further in space than any man made object. At this point it is beyond the solar system.
From trillions of kilometres away N.A.S.A. turned its cameras around and took the picture.
As I look at it I am amazed and humbled that the God of creation did consider every individual human being on that “mote of dust” as Carl Sagan put it, worthy of his personal love.
C. S. Lewis wrote,
“He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less.”
C.S. Lewis
Jesus died for me as an individual and he died for you.
Jesus wants to have a personal relationship with your dear reader. Would you open your heart and mind to Him today?
Please think about it.
Monday, 2 March 2015
Christians and Persecution
Christians and Persecution
“From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.”
Matthew 11:12.
Jesus is saying here that from the time of John the Baptist what has become known as the Christian message has been moving forcefully ahead. While at the same time there have been men who have at times violently opposed it, from the time of it’s inception until the present day.
According to human rights watchers Christians are among the most persecuted people on the planet.
In December of 2013 the United Kingdom parliament heard that one Christian is killed every eleven minutes for their faith.
“MP Jim Shannon said the persecution of Christians is “the biggest story in the world that has never been told”
He said that although the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, there are many countries in which these rights are not given.
Shannon alleged that 200 million Christians will be persecuted for their faith this year, while he said 500 million live in dangerous neighbourhoods.”
In early November, German Chancellor Angela Merkel declared that Christianity is "the most persecuted religion in the world."
Writing in the World Post Kelly James Clark states,
“In early November, German Chancellor Angela Merkel declared that Christianity is "the most persecuted religion in the world." Although met with predictable criticism, Rupert Short's recent research report for Civitas UK confirms Merkel's claim -- we may not want to hear it, but Christianity is in peril, like no other religion. While this is a contest no one wants to win, Short shows that "Christians are targeted more than any other body of believers." Short is the author of the recently published Christianophobia: A Faith Under Attack. He is concerned that "200 million Christians (10 percent of the global total) are socially disadvantaged, harassed or actively oppressed for their beliefs."
According to a report in Reuters news the top ten countries in which Christianity is persecuted in are, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Maldives, Mali, Iran, Yemen and Eritrea.
Still despite all of this Christians every day present their message. A message that simply calls mankind to be reconciled to God through faith in Jesus Christ.
Jesus making it clear when he said
“... ‘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 neighbour as yourself.’”
Matthew 22:37-39
And just as importantly said,
“...I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:1.
This is why we as Christians continue despite the persecution to take our message to the world.
We truly believe that the decision to accept Jesus as ones Lord and Saviour is the most important thing anyone can do. It is a guarantee of eternal life with God.
Sadly in many parts of the world we Christians do this at our peril.
So the question to the none believer becomes, Why would anyone in their right mind ever want to follow Christ if it were not the truth.
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
For the Christian Christianity is of infinite importance.
As for Christianity's enemies there must be something they see as threatening. Otherwise why would they persecute a faith that promotes, love of God, love of ones neighbour and even love of one’s enemies?
A true Christian want nothing more than to present the eternal life offered by God to the rest of the world that they might decide for themselves if it is true or not.
Yet sadly in many parts of the world this is not permitted.
Think about it.
“From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.”
Matthew 11:12.
Jesus is saying here that from the time of John the Baptist what has become known as the Christian message has been moving forcefully ahead. While at the same time there have been men who have at times violently opposed it, from the time of it’s inception until the present day.
According to human rights watchers Christians are among the most persecuted people on the planet.
In December of 2013 the United Kingdom parliament heard that one Christian is killed every eleven minutes for their faith.
“MP Jim Shannon said the persecution of Christians is “the biggest story in the world that has never been told”
He said that although the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, there are many countries in which these rights are not given.
Shannon alleged that 200 million Christians will be persecuted for their faith this year, while he said 500 million live in dangerous neighbourhoods.”
In early November, German Chancellor Angela Merkel declared that Christianity is "the most persecuted religion in the world."
Writing in the World Post Kelly James Clark states,
“In early November, German Chancellor Angela Merkel declared that Christianity is "the most persecuted religion in the world." Although met with predictable criticism, Rupert Short's recent research report for Civitas UK confirms Merkel's claim -- we may not want to hear it, but Christianity is in peril, like no other religion. While this is a contest no one wants to win, Short shows that "Christians are targeted more than any other body of believers." Short is the author of the recently published Christianophobia: A Faith Under Attack. He is concerned that "200 million Christians (10 percent of the global total) are socially disadvantaged, harassed or actively oppressed for their beliefs."
According to a report in Reuters news the top ten countries in which Christianity is persecuted in are, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Maldives, Mali, Iran, Yemen and Eritrea.
Still despite all of this Christians every day present their message. A message that simply calls mankind to be reconciled to God through faith in Jesus Christ.
Jesus making it clear when he said
“... ‘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 neighbour as yourself.’”
Matthew 22:37-39
And just as importantly said,
“...I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:1.
This is why we as Christians continue despite the persecution to take our message to the world.
We truly believe that the decision to accept Jesus as ones Lord and Saviour is the most important thing anyone can do. It is a guarantee of eternal life with God.
Sadly in many parts of the world we Christians do this at our peril.
So the question to the none believer becomes, Why would anyone in their right mind ever want to follow Christ if it were not the truth.
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
For the Christian Christianity is of infinite importance.
As for Christianity's enemies there must be something they see as threatening. Otherwise why would they persecute a faith that promotes, love of God, love of ones neighbour and even love of one’s enemies?
A true Christian want nothing more than to present the eternal life offered by God to the rest of the world that they might decide for themselves if it is true or not.
Yet sadly in many parts of the world this is not permitted.
Think about it.
Saturday, 28 February 2015
The way to Heaven
The Way to Heaven
The way to heaven is I believe simple and open to anyone, and I mean anyone to follow.
It come down to who you think Jesus is and what his purpose on this earth was for.
For me the following is what I believe is the way to heaven. I do not wish to force my beliefs on anyone, I simply put them here for you to decide.
First of all it is an act of faith. Faith defined by the writer of Hebrews as,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1
The writer going 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
The Apostle Paul make it clear salvation and the eternal life it brings is not something we can work for. Paul writing to the Ephesians stating,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:8,9
Salvation come from God to man. It is God in love reaching down to mankind. The apostle John writing,
“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.
When asked the way to heaven,
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6
The apostle 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.
Sinning is falling short of what God wants for you life. Sin separates us from God.
Isaiah telling us,
“All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.”
Isaiah 64:6
The Apostle John noting,
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.”
1 John 1:9,10.
Simply put salvation and eternal life with God comes through accepting Jesus as God’s one and only Son. Believing that he came to die for our sins. Confessing in prayer our sins directly to God. Accepting that forgiveness. And letting Christ into our hearts and mind.
Please think about it.
The way to heaven is I believe simple and open to anyone, and I mean anyone to follow.
It come down to who you think Jesus is and what his purpose on this earth was for.
For me the following is what I believe is the way to heaven. I do not wish to force my beliefs on anyone, I simply put them here for you to decide.
First of all it is an act of faith. Faith defined by the writer of Hebrews as,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1
The writer going 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
The Apostle Paul make it clear salvation and the eternal life it brings is not something we can work for. Paul writing to the Ephesians stating,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:8,9
Salvation come from God to man. It is God in love reaching down to mankind. The apostle John writing,
“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.
When asked the way to heaven,
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6
The apostle 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.
Sinning is falling short of what God wants for you life. Sin separates us from God.
Isaiah telling us,
“All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.”
Isaiah 64:6
The Apostle John noting,
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.”
1 John 1:9,10.
Simply put salvation and eternal life with God comes through accepting Jesus as God’s one and only Son. Believing that he came to die for our sins. Confessing in prayer our sins directly to God. Accepting that forgiveness. And letting Christ into our hearts and mind.
Please think about it.
To those thinking of
To those thinking of
“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 look at the news and see young people especially heading off to join radical Islamic groups such as ISIS and I ask myself why.
The answer seems to me strait forward. The Western democracies appear to offer them nothing.
While the latest electronic gadget, fine automobile, jewellery, brand name clothing may appeal to the majority of people in the west. It does not to the minority that are slipping away to join the radical groups.
Our western society with all its rights and freedoms while to my mind the best possible way of life is not for those who have become radicalized.
Back in the 1958 John B. Harrington published a book entitled "Essentials in Christian Faith" it could have been written yesterday.
It opens with this quote from Paul Gallico in Esquire Magazine in 1948:
"A writer in a popular magazine has written the following words; 'We are all, if you will pardon the expression, Headed for Hell in a handbarrow. If, ever the people of the world stood in need of a spiritual revival, it is now. We are beginning to poison the face of the earth with our miserable presence. The brakes are off. The cart of the world is sliding down the way greased with hatred, ambition, lies, self-seeking and avarice toward the pit.’"
Harrington notes that Gallico makes no pretense of being "a religious man" noting that "...for him it is precisely religion in its organized forms which has in part caused the situation he deplores. He is careful to state that it is not "religion" for which he is looking. For in his opinion, religion throughout the history of our culture has advanced its control over human beings by the investment of bigotry and persecution.
Yet, out of despair over the current human situation he says; ‘The voice for which my heavy spirit is yearning must reach us all... For if it is not heard, we are lost. Something beyond our material enrichment and lust for power and position, some rewards founded on good will, selflessness, and the innate dignity of the human spirit...honour, humility, decency courage."
Another Paul writing to a member of the first century church wrote the following,
"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"
2 Timothy 3:1-4
If Paul Gallico is right and I believe he is, mankind is considerably nearer the bottom of that slope than he was in 1948. Moreover at the bottom of that slope is a very deep lake filled with brimstone.
I think those who are becoming radicalized agree, be it subconsciously or consciously with Paul Gallico. Our very materialistic western society despite all it’s rights and freedoms is lacking in many ways.
Man is more than a physical being. Man has a soul, that materialism as much as it may try cannot fill.
There is nothing wrong with the latest gadget, the nice car, brand name clothing but unfortunately they have become demigods in our society. A society that is turning away from the one true God.
For me as a Christian I feel our society has failed and all the best secular programs as good as they may be will not succeed in reaching those who are truly looking for meaning in life.
It has been my experience that such people are looking for a spiritual answer to the aching in their soul.
The radicals of this world try to offer that fulfilment but ultimately fail just as miserably as our secular society.
I truly believe there is but one solution to stopping the radicalization, particularly of youth and that is by offering them peace for their souls.
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 the message of Love for God, one’s neighbour, and even one’s enemy. The message Jesus gave to the world is as relevant to, the individual today as it was when Jesus walked on the earth.
I also believe it is truly the only answer that can stop the radicalization of people today.
Think about it.
“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 look at the news and see young people especially heading off to join radical Islamic groups such as ISIS and I ask myself why.
The answer seems to me strait forward. The Western democracies appear to offer them nothing.
While the latest electronic gadget, fine automobile, jewellery, brand name clothing may appeal to the majority of people in the west. It does not to the minority that are slipping away to join the radical groups.
Our western society with all its rights and freedoms while to my mind the best possible way of life is not for those who have become radicalized.
Back in the 1958 John B. Harrington published a book entitled "Essentials in Christian Faith" it could have been written yesterday.
It opens with this quote from Paul Gallico in Esquire Magazine in 1948:
"A writer in a popular magazine has written the following words; 'We are all, if you will pardon the expression, Headed for Hell in a handbarrow. If, ever the people of the world stood in need of a spiritual revival, it is now. We are beginning to poison the face of the earth with our miserable presence. The brakes are off. The cart of the world is sliding down the way greased with hatred, ambition, lies, self-seeking and avarice toward the pit.’"
Harrington notes that Gallico makes no pretense of being "a religious man" noting that "...for him it is precisely religion in its organized forms which has in part caused the situation he deplores. He is careful to state that it is not "religion" for which he is looking. For in his opinion, religion throughout the history of our culture has advanced its control over human beings by the investment of bigotry and persecution.
Yet, out of despair over the current human situation he says; ‘The voice for which my heavy spirit is yearning must reach us all... For if it is not heard, we are lost. Something beyond our material enrichment and lust for power and position, some rewards founded on good will, selflessness, and the innate dignity of the human spirit...honour, humility, decency courage."
Another Paul writing to a member of the first century church wrote the following,
"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"
2 Timothy 3:1-4
If Paul Gallico is right and I believe he is, mankind is considerably nearer the bottom of that slope than he was in 1948. Moreover at the bottom of that slope is a very deep lake filled with brimstone.
I think those who are becoming radicalized agree, be it subconsciously or consciously with Paul Gallico. Our very materialistic western society despite all it’s rights and freedoms is lacking in many ways.
Man is more than a physical being. Man has a soul, that materialism as much as it may try cannot fill.
There is nothing wrong with the latest gadget, the nice car, brand name clothing but unfortunately they have become demigods in our society. A society that is turning away from the one true God.
For me as a Christian I feel our society has failed and all the best secular programs as good as they may be will not succeed in reaching those who are truly looking for meaning in life.
It has been my experience that such people are looking for a spiritual answer to the aching in their soul.
The radicals of this world try to offer that fulfilment but ultimately fail just as miserably as our secular society.
I truly believe there is but one solution to stopping the radicalization, particularly of youth and that is by offering them peace for their souls.
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 the message of Love for God, one’s neighbour, and even one’s enemy. The message Jesus gave to the world is as relevant to, the individual today as it was when Jesus walked on the earth.
I also believe it is truly the only answer that can stop the radicalization of people today.
Think about it.
Thursday, 26 February 2015
The seeker
The Seeker
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
Matthew 7:7,8.
I believe that I will never be able, no matter how many words I write, or how persuasive my arguments are convince an atheist who’s mind is made up that there is a God. That being said I believe such people are small in number. Further more I believe even the most ardent Atheist is not beyond God’s ability to show him that He exists.
The above scripture is the words of Jesus. He is speaking to those who are truly seeking for meaning in life. His call to them is to continue to seek God with all their heart and he will show himself to them.
The psalmist writes,
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
Psalm 19:1.
Nature does indeed show the evidence of a creator God.
If we look at nature it is mathematically prefect. We may not know all the formulas or simply the formula that run the universe yet, but they are there to find.
For me if there is no God and a life after this, life is meaningless. All our good deeds our great creative works, are simply a waste.
The writer of Ecclesiastes wrote,
“What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun”
Ecclesiastes 1:9
“I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”
Ecclesiastes 1:14
His ultimate conclusion,
“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
There is a God I’m convinced of that,
The Psalmist says.
“The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
Psalm 14:1.
The apostle Paul writes,
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1 Corinthians 1:18
I believe a true seeker of truth will prove the words of the psalmist and of Paul. I believe the true seeker will find God and come into a personal relationship with God.
Are you that seeker?
Are you looking for meaning to life?
Please take time to pray and ask God to show yourself to you. Take time read the Bible. Read the New Testament first and I am convinced God will show himself to you.
Please think about it.
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
Matthew 7:7,8.
I believe that I will never be able, no matter how many words I write, or how persuasive my arguments are convince an atheist who’s mind is made up that there is a God. That being said I believe such people are small in number. Further more I believe even the most ardent Atheist is not beyond God’s ability to show him that He exists.
The above scripture is the words of Jesus. He is speaking to those who are truly seeking for meaning in life. His call to them is to continue to seek God with all their heart and he will show himself to them.
The psalmist writes,
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
Psalm 19:1.
Nature does indeed show the evidence of a creator God.
If we look at nature it is mathematically prefect. We may not know all the formulas or simply the formula that run the universe yet, but they are there to find.
For me if there is no God and a life after this, life is meaningless. All our good deeds our great creative works, are simply a waste.
The writer of Ecclesiastes wrote,
“What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun”
Ecclesiastes 1:9
“I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”
Ecclesiastes 1:14
His ultimate conclusion,
“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
There is a God I’m convinced of that,
The Psalmist says.
“The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
Psalm 14:1.
The apostle Paul writes,
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1 Corinthians 1:18
I believe a true seeker of truth will prove the words of the psalmist and of Paul. I believe the true seeker will find God and come into a personal relationship with God.
Are you that seeker?
Are you looking for meaning to life?
Please take time to pray and ask God to show yourself to you. Take time read the Bible. Read the New Testament first and I am convinced God will show himself to you.
Please think about it.
Wednesday, 25 February 2015
Faith
Faith
“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.
Having faith in God is perhaps the hardest thing anyone can do.
While the Psalmist writes,
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
Psalm 19:1
It is easy for people to dismiss the mathematical perfection of the universe to the big bang and not see God.
Those who would dismiss God as not being there can’t conceive that He could have created the big bang to usher the universe into existence.
C.S. Lewis an Oxford scholar studied the life of Jesus and the Bible at the time he studied it he was not a believer as such but he was looking for truth. He came to the conclusion,
“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
With regards to Jesus he wrote,
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity.
As a Christian I believe there is a God and that Jesus is his one and only Son. That Jesus is indeed God incarnate.
As a Christian I see it as my duty before God to present Jesus to anyone who will listen to me.
I cannot impose my beliefs on anyone. I can only present them. What I believe is summed up by the Apostle Paul when he was speaking to the Philosophers in Athens.
The book of acts records,
“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
I leave the above for you the reader to believe it nor not.
Please think about it.
“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.
Having faith in God is perhaps the hardest thing anyone can do.
While the Psalmist writes,
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
Psalm 19:1
It is easy for people to dismiss the mathematical perfection of the universe to the big bang and not see God.
Those who would dismiss God as not being there can’t conceive that He could have created the big bang to usher the universe into existence.
C.S. Lewis an Oxford scholar studied the life of Jesus and the Bible at the time he studied it he was not a believer as such but he was looking for truth. He came to the conclusion,
“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
With regards to Jesus he wrote,
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity.
As a Christian I believe there is a God and that Jesus is his one and only Son. That Jesus is indeed God incarnate.
As a Christian I see it as my duty before God to present Jesus to anyone who will listen to me.
I cannot impose my beliefs on anyone. I can only present them. What I believe is summed up by the Apostle Paul when he was speaking to the Philosophers in Athens.
The book of acts records,
“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
I leave the above for you the reader to believe it nor not.
Please think about it.
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