On Love

On Love

Corrie ten Boom said
“Surely there is no more wretched sight that the human body unloved and uncared for.” 
Corrie ten Boom, The Hiding Place
Miss ten Boom was right and she should know. Corrie spent time in a Nazi concentration camp and seen the worst mankind could inflict on another human being.
Hitler and his henchmen certainly within living memory inflicted more pain and suffering on humanity than any other group, perhaps even in human history.
Rabbi Benjamin Blech said,
“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)
He was right. Even the most cultured nation, the most intellectually advanced nation can do horrible things against its people. Jews have suffered discrimination in all nations throughout history.
It doesn’t stop with the Jews however in the United States segregation of African Americans and restriction on other ethnic groups stands as a blot on their history.
Even in Canada there were laws that restricted some minorities from entering the country. Canada’s record toward it’s indigenous peoples is far from stellar to say the least.
All major western nations from time to time throughout history have embraced slavery and persecuted people be it in their homeland or in their colonies.
Today we point to terrorist and see extreme disregard for the dignity and basic human rights of the individual.
All this proves to me there is a need for the Christian message to go forth to all nations. The need to recognize there is a God who will one day call each person to account.
Abba Hillel Silver wrote,
“Faith in God is the strongest bulwark of a free society.  Human freedom began when men became conscious that over and above society and nature there is a God who created them...who fashioned them in His likeness, and that they are, therefore, possessed of intrinsic and independent significance and are endowed, as individuals, with original and irrevocable rights and authority.”
Abba Hillel Silver
The writer of Ecclesiastes said,
“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.
It is when man does not recognize God or loses his fear of God that the society falls apart.  If man has no fear of judgment then many will do as they please. This is true as much for a terrorist, as for serial killer, a thief or for that matter a corrupt politician or preacher or anyone who thinks they can get away with evil.
Jesus when asked,
 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  
This is the first and greatest commandment.  
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” 
                                        Matthew 22:36-40.
Jesus however did not stop there He 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.  
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?  
 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?’ Matthew 5:43-47.
The apostle Paul set the standard for love when he said,
“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.
The truth of what Jesus and Paul said is universal. You don’t have to be a Christian to appreciate what they say.
Anne Frank a young Jewish girl while in hiding from the Nazis 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
Anne Frank was right. If we as individuals showed love and kindness to those around us the world would be a much better place.
Why not express love to someone you meet today.
Please think about it.

You are Important

You are Important

On February 14, 1990, NASA at a distance of 6 billion kilometres (3,7 billion miles) had the Voyager 1 space probe take a picture of the Solar system. It showed earth as a pail blue dot smaller than the head of a pin.
Carl Sagan said of that dot,
"From this distant vantage point, the Earth might not seem of any particular interest. But for us, it's different. Consider again that dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every "superstar," every "supreme leader," every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there – on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam."
                               Carl Sagan.
Sagan was obviously right. In light of the vastness of the universe earth may not seem all that interesting. Yet it is all we have, that is if you think of it from a purely human prospective.
I believe however we have more. I believe there is life after this one. Life beyond death. I believe there is a God who created the universe and everything in it.
How God created it means little to my faith in God. It means nothing whether God used the “Big Bang” and billions of years or he simply took six days. He is an almighty God and He could have done it either way.
My faith is in God and Jesus Christ, His One and Only Son.
I believe God show He exists in the universe itself the Psalmist states,
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." Psalm 19:1.
Everything from the smallest subatomic particle to the largest object in space is in perfect order. An order so perfect we can use mathematics to discover them and know how they work.
I cannot believe the universe became so mathematically perfect by chance. There has to be a creator behind it all.
At the same time I believe God entered His creation to point our way to Himself the writer of Hebrews speaking 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.” 
Hebrews 1:1-4.
I know it may seem far fetched to non-Christians. Some would ask why would God come to earth in the form of His one and Only Son,
The answer was given by Jesus who when 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.
Put simply to God this seemingly insignificant dot in space is not insignificant to Him. God love you and everyone on this Earth. Thus God gives everyone of us a choice. To follow His ways that lead to heaven or to go our own way that leads to destruction.
I believe there is a question we all have to answer it is a question Jesus asked Martha,
“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 is your answer to the question.
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.
The choice is yours.
Please think about it.

Your Choice

Your choice

There is a very important set of verses in the New Testament. It is Jesus speaking of himself he states,
“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.
If these verses are true and I believe they are. They are of the uttermost importance to anyone reading them. They ask a person to believe Jesus is the Son of God. That it is through Him you get to heaven.
These verses are the key to Christian belief.
C. S. Lewis said of 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.
As a Christian I am told to by Jesus to tell people about Jesus and let them make up their own mind about Him.
So if what Jesus is saying is true then your eternal resting place is determined by who you think Jesus is.
Please think about it very carefully.

Your Actions

Your Actions
Jesus told this parable,
“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.  
At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores  and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 
“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.  
In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.  
So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ 
“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.  
And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ 
“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house,  
for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ 
“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ 
“ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 
“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’ ”    Luke 16:19-31.
Question how do you treat others? If you are an employer, do you pay your employees a living wage with good benefits?  Do you treat them with respect and dignity.
Jesus gave us a universal truth when He said,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:12.
I am a firm believer that God will one day bring every man and woman on this earth to account for their actions.
In the above parable Jesus points to the rich man who treated Lazarus badly. Didn’t seem to believe in God. If he did the rich man obviously didn’t believe the words of Ecclesiastes who said,
“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 way I see it however whether you believe in God or not He still exists. C. S. Lewis states,
“We may ignore, but we can nowhere evade, the presence of God.” 
                                                                                   C.S. Lewis.
And I believe one day all men will have to give an account to God of their actions whether they believe in Him or not. We will have no choice,
I can imagine a scenario like the one described by the Talmud that 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.
What will you say to God?
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
As I write this an American has been sentenced to hard labour in North Korea. One of the charges was he was trying to “subvert North Korean society with religion”. A similar thing happened to a Canadian pastor who had visited North Korea openly numerous times and was bringing aid to the country.
North Korea say’s there is no God yet they fear that these Christian pastors will subvert their society? Could it be that the government of North Korea believes there just might be a God and fears Him?
Other countries fear Christianity also. Christianity is considered the most persecuted faith in the world today.
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.”
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is on record as declaring that Christianity is "the most persecuted religion in the world." 
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.
Christianity is a faith based on Love. Love of God for His creation and individual. Christians are called to love God, their neighbour and even their enemy.
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
Jesus also reminding His followers,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,”  Matthew 5:43,44
The apostle Paul telling Christians
“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.
As I said Christianity is a faith based on Love.
And just as importantly 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
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 to the Christian in the west not facing persecution I would ask to pray for our brothers and sisters around the world. For strength and that eventually the persecution they face will end. Pray also for all groups who are persecuted even though they are not Christian because no one deserves to be persecuted.
To all people irrespective of their faith I would ask you to tell your congressman, president, your member of parliament, your prime minister about not only persecuted Christians but about other persecuted groups.
 Ask them to bring up the persecution of Christians and other groups with officials of countries that oppress and imprison anyone.
Please think about doing it today.

Who is Jesus?

Who is Jesus?
C. S. Lewis speaking about God said,
“He shows much more of Himself to some people than to others-not because He has favourites, but because it is impossible for Him to show Himself to a man whose whole mind and character are in the wrong condition.”  C.S. Lewis.
There are many out there in the world who say “why doses God not show Himself to me. If he did I’d believe in Him.”
When anyone says that I quite often think they quiet often have already made up their minds. They don’t believe God exists.
When Jesus was crucified there were many who didn’t believe He was the Son of God. Even though He had performed miracles and wonders. Miracles and wonders that were well known around the area.
Luke’s gospel records this incident that happened at Christ’s crucifixion.
“The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.” 
The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar  and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”  Luke 23:35-37.
Paul writing to the Corinthians explains
“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.”  1 Corinthians 1:22-24.
I firmly believe that it doesn’t matter how much proof a Christian offers regarding Jesus and God either from inside the Bible or from outside, people will not believe. They have simply made up their minds and nothing will change it.
In the parable of Lazarus and the rich man told by Jesus there is this point made.
“He (the rich man) answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house,  for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ 
“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ 
“ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 
“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’ ” Luke 16:27-31.
Well some one did rise from the dead His name was Jesus and He speaking of himself said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son”. John 3:16-18.
Thus the decision is up to you. Jesus said to Martha,
“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
Do you believe in God? Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God the Saviour of mankind?
Please think about it.

The Cross

The Cross

“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 cross, the death and resurrection of Jesus does not seem right to many in the world today. Many ask the question, Why would God come into the world? Why would He become a man? And especially why would He choose to die for the man he created? Couldn’t he just wave a hand and show His power to everyone?
It’s true God could show his power to everyone in a miraculous way but that would not necessarily create true followers.
God does not want to force people to follow Him. He asks people to do that voluntarily.
God wants true followers. That’s why he asks that we exercise our faith.
The writer of Hebrews states,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”       Hebrews 11:6.
The apostle Paul reminds us,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.”
                                                                   Ephesians 2:8,9. 
Our salvation and our eternity with God is determined by our faith in him not necessarily our intellectual knowledge.
It’s easy to say “I believe there is a God.” but not have faith in Him.
True followers believe in something even if they don’t necessarily have physical proof.
Scientist do this all the time. Look at Albert Einstein. He believed in his theories all his life. Yet it is only recently a hundred years after he proposed the theories that some of them are being proved.
So it is with faith in God. We may not see God but we can by deduction say there is a God. The psalmist states,
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” 
                                                                                                                         Psalm 19:1.
By looking around us from the smallest subatomic particle to the largest galaxy all are in order all are mathematically perfect allowing scientist to predict not only their presence but how they work.
This I believe is the hand of God the creator pointing man to himself. So no one can deny there is a God.
C. S. Lewis said,
“We may ignore, but we can nowhere evade, the presence of God.”
                                                                                               C. S. Lewis.
Lewis also 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.
The choice is up to you.  The gospel of John records Jesus putting a question to Martha we all must answer in our life,
“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.

What if?

What if?
Jesus asked,
“What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?  
  Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?”  
                                                                   Mark 8:36,37.
My brother a none Christian, has a saying he likes, “Life’s rough but he who has all the toys at the end wins”.
Nothing could be further from the fact. At the end of you life all your toys are divided up among others, you leave this world with the material wealth you entered it with, nothing.
The writer of Ecclesiastes states,
“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
From a strictly human stand point if all we are to do on this earth is live procreate and die then it too me seems a waste. What good is a few decades of life in light of eternity.
I think of those millionaires on the Titanic when it sunk all their millions did not save them as good at those people may have been.
The Writer f Ecclesiastes notes,
“To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.” 
                                                        Ecclesiastes 2:26.
It seems like earthly things are meaningless. All that we work for all our lives, ultimately is given away to others.
Jesus tells us,
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” 
                                                                     Matthew 6:19-21.
I as a Christian believe there is a God and an eternity and whether you spend eternity with God or not is determined in this life. Jesus speaking of himself said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son”. 
                                                                                                           John 3:16-18.
The Choice is yours.
Please think about it.

Against God?

Against God?
The book of Acts records,
“We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.” 
Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men!  
The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead—whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree.  
God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.  
We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” 
When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death.  
But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while.  
Then he addressed them: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men.  
Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing.  
After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered.  
Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.  
But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these.” 
                                                                                  Acts 5:28-39.
Here is the story of two of Christ’s disciples after being told by the authorities to stop preaching in the name of Jesus were caught doing so and brought before the religious authorities.
The authorities demanded now wanted to put them to death. However cooler heads prevailed. With a Pharisee named Gamaliel standing up giving them a brief history lesson on how other men had claimed to be the Messiah and after their deaths their followers had dispersed and the movement come to nothing.
He then states,
“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.” 
Two thousand years have gone by and today Christians number close to three billion world wide depending on what estimates you look at.
Christianity is surviving and even flourishing around the world both in democracies and in places were they are heavily persecuted. Not only that Christians have done this without resorting to the sword. Napoleon said of Jesus,
"You speak of Caesar, of Alexander, of their conquests and of the enthusiasm which they enkindled in the hearts of their soldiers; but can you conceive of a dead man making conquests, with an army faithful and entirely devoted to his memory? My armies have forgotten me even while living, as the Carthaginian army forgot Hannibal. Such is our power.”
“I know men and I tell you, Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. 
Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour, millions would die for him.”
“ I search in vain history to find similar to Jesus Christ, or anything which can approach the gospel.  Neither history nor humanity, nor ages, nor nature, offer me anything with which I am able to compare it or to explain it. Here everything is extraordinary.”
                                                                                              Napoleon Bonaparte.
Jesus is extraordinary because He is the Son of God the Saviour of the World. And this Jesus offers all people everywhere a choice. Speaking of Himself he said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son”. 
                                                                                                            John 3:16-18.
You dear reader therefor have a choice.
Please think about it carefully.

A Message

A Message
The Gospel of Luke records this parable of Jesus,
“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.  
At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores  and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 
“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.  
In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.  
So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ 
“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.  
And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ 
“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house,  
for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ 
“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ 
“ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 
“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’ ” 
                                                   Luke 16:19-31
No matter what I or any Christian may say some people will not believe in God. I also believe that the more wealth a person has can make it harder for them to know Christ. Jesus said,
“Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 
                             Matthew 19:24.
That’s not to say a rich man can’t go to heaven. And it’s not to say that having wealth is bad. Quite the contrary there are a lot of wealthy people who are Christians and doing the work of the Lord.
The problem I believe with having riches and power is that a person can rely too much on what they have materially.
In 1929 when the stock market crashed there was a spike in suicides because people put their trust in the stock market then when it collapsed found themself broke and in debt.
There are also those in power that take advantage of others as the rich man in the parable did. Power can and frequently is wrongly used. All of this is against God’s law and the person will have to give account to God, whether they believe in Him or not.
C. S. Lewis said,
“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.
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 tells this story,
“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.
While the Talmud is not considered an inspired work of God by Christians the truth of the above story could happen. God will hold all people to account.
That being said anyone can get to heaven good or bad and can have assurance of getting to heaven here in this life.
The apostle John states,
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.” 
1John 1:9-10.
The apostle Paul tells us,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.” 
                                                                        Ephesians 2:8,9.
The apostle Paul writing to the Romans said,
“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.  
As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”  
For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,  for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved”
                                                                                                                                   Romans 10:9-13.
The key to getting to heaven is believing in God and that Jesus is the one and Only Son of God.
Confessing your sins to Jesus and turning from the wrong you have done. A true Christian is someone who has accepted Jesus as their Lord and Saviour, truly confessed their sins to God and turned from them. Replacing that wrong with Love for God, their neighbour and even their enemy.
The question is do you believe this?
Please think about it.

The exact representation

The exact representation
The writer of Hebrews states,
"In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.  
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.  
So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. 
For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father’” ? 
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 scepter 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.
The writer of Hebrews make it abundantly clear what true Christians believe of Jesus.
1. “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being”
2.  He provided purification for sin.
3. He is superior to the angels.
4. He is God’s Son.
5. He is God’s first born brought into the world.
6. His throne will last for ever and ever.
7. Righteousness is His sceptre 
8. God, has set Him above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.
That in a nutshell is what Christians believe about Jesus.
John’s gospel records what Jesus said about himself. He said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son”. 
                                                                                                         John 3:16-18.
Christians present these beliefs to people every day. To accept or reject.
C. S. Lewis made an interesting statement when he 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
There is no middle ground with Christianity, you either believer Jesus is the Son of God, God in the flesh and accept Him as your Lord and Saviour or you do not.
If what Christians believe is true and I believe they are. Your decision has eternal consequences.
So what do you believe?
Please think about it.

Let Love

Let Love

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.  

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  

Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.  

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.  

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” 

                                                                                                              Romans 12:9-18.
Do you Love? If you claim to be Christian do you love in the way the Bible intended you to love?
The apostle Paul gave Christians the standard for Christian love in 1 Corinthians 13 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.
It seems our society is becoming less loving. As connected as we are through technology we are I think a less loving society. One just has to look at the murder rate. One figure I heard was ninety-nine people die from gun violence in the United States every day. On top of that there are thousands of other violent crimes that show a lack of love.
Politicians argue in the United States about whether to give affordable universal  health care to all, something considered a human right in all other western democracies. While they themselves have good health care.
In Canada as I write this there are several Native communities in Canada’s north that have declared a state of emergency due to a rise in suicides. Many Native communities lack safe drinking water, and adequate housing. Again something considered a human right.
All of this could be solved by a government who acted swiftly out of true love for their citizens.
Canada and the United States are not alone. Every country around the world has their problems. Places where if only Love is shown the problem could end quickly.
The Talmud has a story I like to quote. One which I can see happening to all people eventually it 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.
I believe not only politicians but all people will one day be held accountable to God for all we do. For our lack of love toward our fellow man.
Jesus said,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets”
             Matthew 7:12.
I believe all of us want to be loved therefor we should be doing to others as we would have others do to us.
Please think about it.