Christian Responsibility
“He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”
Revelations 20:21
The second last verse in the New Testament makes it clear Jesus is coming soon.
Thus if he was coming soon when Revelations was written the time of Christ’s appearing is much nearer now.
With all that is happening in the middle east and around the world today Christians seem to be talking more and more about the coming of Christ. The internet is drowning in Christian material from a myriad of sources pointing to the fact that Jesus will be hear soon.
Evangelist and pastors in the media are sorting through every speck of information that is coming in on the news wires and trying to read prophetic significance into it.
I’m sure some are right about what they say. I am equally sure that many are wrong. Some may even be out and out charlatans trying to lead people down the wrong path.
When it comes to prophecy we must be careful who we listen to. We must read the scriptures and compare what we are being told with the Bible. Just because it sounds good doesn’t mean it is right.
Now I’ve said all that to say this. While the study of prophesy is nice and the speculation as to what is going to happen is interesting. It is not the responsibility of Christians to worry about prophesy.
When it comes to Christ’s return Jesus said,
“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left.
Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come”
Matthew 24:36-42.
We are to keep watch and do our appointed task. That task is winning souls for Christ. I firmly believe that instead of spending our time speculating on prophesy and buying books and recordings on prophesy we need to spend that time and money on reaching people for Christ.
Jesus said,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20.
As Christians this is what we should be doing because not doing so could condemn someone to a Christless eternity.
Think about it.
Saturday 31 January 2015
Friday 30 January 2015
Hope for Christians and mental illness
Hope
The other day I was watching a television program I believe called Final twenty-four. It portrayed the final twenty-four hours in a famous persons life. The person despite all the fame and fortune had committed suicide.
The person simply couldn’t find peace in his life. He’d tried it all including drugs sex and alcohol.
He seemed to echo the words of the writer of Ecclesiastes who wrote,
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.
As I’ve mentioned in other writings, I live with Bi-polar effective disorder. I volunteer as a speaker with the Canadian Mental Health Association here where I live. Telling various groups what it is like to live with a mental illness.
Let me tell you my story,
As I said I have Bipolar Affective disorder,
Bipolar disorder is characterized by alternating manic episodes in which the individual feels abnormally euphoric, optimistic, and energetic and depressive periods in which the individual feels sad, hopeless, guilty, and sometimes suicidal. Manic or depressive periods may last for days, weeks, or months and run the spectrum from mild to severe. These episodes may be separated by periods of emotional stability in which the individual functions normally.
For me my journey started as I headed home from work. I’d been working long hours and travelling over a hundred kilometres one way to work. When suddenly without waring a fear of dread welled up inside of me, tears filled my eyes and I was forced to pull over to the side of the road.
When I gained enough of my equilibrium to go down to the next rest stop where I pulled into a far corner of the parking lot and cried for half an hour.
My doctor told me I was stressed out and to take time off work. Which I did going back just before Christmas.
Things went well then one night on my way to work in a snow storm, my car spun out, no one was hurt thanks to a snow bank, but my moods went out of control.
On that occasion my fathers house being nearest I’d pulled in and called in to work sick.
On that day my world shattered. Life would never be the same.
I went back to see my doctor the next day and it was then he suggested I see my first psychiatrist.
At the time I had my preconceived idea of psychiatrist was a witch doctor who pushed pills.
Still I trusted my family doctor and began fighting the dragon in my head.
My first psychiatrist was a strong believer in trying to change things by changing lifestyle and eating habits. But after a while he diagnosed me with Bipolar affective disorder and placed me on a low dose of Lithium the gold standard at the time.
Unfortunately he passed away as a result of cancer before I was stabilized and my care went briefly back to my family doctor. Who eventually got me in with my second Psychiatrist.
He agreed with the Bipolar diagnosis and started me on a trial and error treatment trying various combination of drugs. (There is no definitive test at this time for Bipolar, no single drug treatment that works for every one. Thus the need to try various combinations)
Some worked briefly others had side effects I couldn’t handle.
I at one point began to believe the words of William, Wordsworth who said
“We poets in our youth begin in gladness: but therefore come in the end to despondency and madness”
My second Psychiatrist got me reasonably stabilised then retired my treatment going back to my family doctor then to my current psychiatrist. An excellent doctor well versed in her pharmacology.
Someone who had worked with to help me through some very hard times.
That’s the key finding a good Psychologist that works with you and understands you.
Bipolar is like being in a storm a massive storm that billows all around you.
You try to out run it but you never seem to be able too.
Another way to describe it is imagine you’re in a snow globe, simultaneously you’re holding the snow globe and inside it.
You’re shaking it in causing the storm rage all around you.
Intellectually you know you’re shaking it causing the storm but you’re powerless to stop it. So you continue with that storm pounding to the very roots of your inner psyche.
Another way of putting it is imagine your in a high powered sports car, you’re flying down the road with the wind whipping your hair. The adrenaline rush is fantastic.
Then all of a sudden you stop and jump into a pool of mud up to your neck and just wallow there is despair until you think you can’t take it any more.
Then without warning the cycle repeats.
For me and I think, even for the professionals there are a lot of things that are not understood. Goblins if you will in your mind.
Then in my case there’s the anxiety. Anxiety is faceless automatons that wander through your mind causing irrational fear. Trying to control your life.
But there is hope. For me, almost without me realizing it I put together a team consisting of my psychiatrist, my family doctor, my pastor and church family and equally important my wife and family.
All of whom are there for me when I need them.
There is also my faith. My faith means a lot to me and I am convinced that it has saved me on many occasion from doing something stupid, because suicide at times has lurked in the back of my mind.
The words of Jesus have proved a reality in my life when he said,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30.
Today I am on a magnificent journey. I still have some very bad days, day, I can’t
fully function. But I take things one day sometimes one moment at a time.
To the Christian who is reading this I have a caution.
Sadly within some church circles I have had people tell me that mental illness is a sign of weakness and that I should just pull myself up by my boot straps and get on with life.
I have even had people say mental illness is demon possession and that I needed someone to pray for me.
Mental illness is no more demon possession than diabetes, a broken arm or any other physical injury. Nor is it a sign of weakness.
If you have symptoms similar to what I’ve described above see a doctor. As good as prayer may be sometimes you need professional help.
After all God put doctors in place for a reason so why not seek their help.
The key for me is not just the successful cocktail of medications I’m on, which is absolutely necessary. But it’s also my faith.
Through all the highs and lows I’ve gone through with this illness I firmly believe God has been there for me giving me reassurance and hope in what at times has been a very darkened world.
As I say if you recognize the symptoms above in your life, talk to a health care professional. It never hurts.
Please remember Mental Illness is very real. Don’t try to go it alone.
Bi-polar disorder is a two headed dragon. The key is not to try and fight it there is no cure. The key is to medicate it correctly, and learn to live with it. Something a good Psychiatrist can help you with.
For me it is a case most days of taking things one step at a time.
Reinhold Niebuhr once wrote,
In Canada all provincial health care systems cover Psychiatrist.
In Canada you can also go speak to the Canadian Mental Health association who can steer you in the right direction if you have any doubts.
Please remember Mental Illness is very real don’t try to go it alone.
There is help. There is hope.
The other day I was watching a television program I believe called Final twenty-four. It portrayed the final twenty-four hours in a famous persons life. The person despite all the fame and fortune had committed suicide.
The person simply couldn’t find peace in his life. He’d tried it all including drugs sex and alcohol.
He seemed to echo the words of the writer of Ecclesiastes who wrote,
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.
As I’ve mentioned in other writings, I live with Bi-polar effective disorder. I volunteer as a speaker with the Canadian Mental Health Association here where I live. Telling various groups what it is like to live with a mental illness.
Let me tell you my story,
As I said I have Bipolar Affective disorder,
Bipolar disorder is characterized by alternating manic episodes in which the individual feels abnormally euphoric, optimistic, and energetic and depressive periods in which the individual feels sad, hopeless, guilty, and sometimes suicidal. Manic or depressive periods may last for days, weeks, or months and run the spectrum from mild to severe. These episodes may be separated by periods of emotional stability in which the individual functions normally.
For me my journey started as I headed home from work. I’d been working long hours and travelling over a hundred kilometres one way to work. When suddenly without waring a fear of dread welled up inside of me, tears filled my eyes and I was forced to pull over to the side of the road.
When I gained enough of my equilibrium to go down to the next rest stop where I pulled into a far corner of the parking lot and cried for half an hour.
My doctor told me I was stressed out and to take time off work. Which I did going back just before Christmas.
Things went well then one night on my way to work in a snow storm, my car spun out, no one was hurt thanks to a snow bank, but my moods went out of control.
On that occasion my fathers house being nearest I’d pulled in and called in to work sick.
On that day my world shattered. Life would never be the same.
I went back to see my doctor the next day and it was then he suggested I see my first psychiatrist.
At the time I had my preconceived idea of psychiatrist was a witch doctor who pushed pills.
Still I trusted my family doctor and began fighting the dragon in my head.
My first psychiatrist was a strong believer in trying to change things by changing lifestyle and eating habits. But after a while he diagnosed me with Bipolar affective disorder and placed me on a low dose of Lithium the gold standard at the time.
Unfortunately he passed away as a result of cancer before I was stabilized and my care went briefly back to my family doctor. Who eventually got me in with my second Psychiatrist.
He agreed with the Bipolar diagnosis and started me on a trial and error treatment trying various combination of drugs. (There is no definitive test at this time for Bipolar, no single drug treatment that works for every one. Thus the need to try various combinations)
Some worked briefly others had side effects I couldn’t handle.
I at one point began to believe the words of William, Wordsworth who said
“We poets in our youth begin in gladness: but therefore come in the end to despondency and madness”
My second Psychiatrist got me reasonably stabilised then retired my treatment going back to my family doctor then to my current psychiatrist. An excellent doctor well versed in her pharmacology.
Someone who had worked with to help me through some very hard times.
That’s the key finding a good Psychologist that works with you and understands you.
Bipolar is like being in a storm a massive storm that billows all around you.
You try to out run it but you never seem to be able too.
Another way to describe it is imagine you’re in a snow globe, simultaneously you’re holding the snow globe and inside it.
You’re shaking it in causing the storm rage all around you.
Intellectually you know you’re shaking it causing the storm but you’re powerless to stop it. So you continue with that storm pounding to the very roots of your inner psyche.
Another way of putting it is imagine your in a high powered sports car, you’re flying down the road with the wind whipping your hair. The adrenaline rush is fantastic.
Then all of a sudden you stop and jump into a pool of mud up to your neck and just wallow there is despair until you think you can’t take it any more.
Then without warning the cycle repeats.
For me and I think, even for the professionals there are a lot of things that are not understood. Goblins if you will in your mind.
Then in my case there’s the anxiety. Anxiety is faceless automatons that wander through your mind causing irrational fear. Trying to control your life.
But there is hope. For me, almost without me realizing it I put together a team consisting of my psychiatrist, my family doctor, my pastor and church family and equally important my wife and family.
All of whom are there for me when I need them.
There is also my faith. My faith means a lot to me and I am convinced that it has saved me on many occasion from doing something stupid, because suicide at times has lurked in the back of my mind.
The words of Jesus have proved a reality in my life when he said,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30.
Today I am on a magnificent journey. I still have some very bad days, day, I can’t
fully function. But I take things one day sometimes one moment at a time.
To the Christian who is reading this I have a caution.
Sadly within some church circles I have had people tell me that mental illness is a sign of weakness and that I should just pull myself up by my boot straps and get on with life.
I have even had people say mental illness is demon possession and that I needed someone to pray for me.
Mental illness is no more demon possession than diabetes, a broken arm or any other physical injury. Nor is it a sign of weakness.
If you have symptoms similar to what I’ve described above see a doctor. As good as prayer may be sometimes you need professional help.
After all God put doctors in place for a reason so why not seek their help.
The key for me is not just the successful cocktail of medications I’m on, which is absolutely necessary. But it’s also my faith.
Through all the highs and lows I’ve gone through with this illness I firmly believe God has been there for me giving me reassurance and hope in what at times has been a very darkened world.
As I say if you recognize the symptoms above in your life, talk to a health care professional. It never hurts.
Please remember Mental Illness is very real. Don’t try to go it alone.
Bi-polar disorder is a two headed dragon. The key is not to try and fight it there is no cure. The key is to medicate it correctly, and learn to live with it. Something a good Psychiatrist can help you with.
For me it is a case most days of taking things one step at a time.
Reinhold Niebuhr once wrote,
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time...
That for me says is all, accepting what I cannot change, changing what I can, living one day sometimes one moment at a time and enjoying the good things that are in my life.In Canada all provincial health care systems cover Psychiatrist.
In Canada you can also go speak to the Canadian Mental Health association who can steer you in the right direction if you have any doubts.
Please remember Mental Illness is very real don’t try to go it alone.
There is help. There is hope.
Thursday 29 January 2015
Love
Love
The above is a quote from the Apostle Paul to the Corinthians. It to my mind is the purest definition of love ever written. It defines love perfectly.
Christian or not, one has to admit if there were more love in the world there would be less violence.
Love is about humility. Love, true Love, does not place any conditions on anyone.
For me as a Christian Love is what I am called to do,
Jesus made three very important statements about love,
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 22:37-40.
In Matthew Jesus is quotes as saying
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,”
Matthew 5:43.44.
“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
I think these sayings are universal truths no matter what faith you are or whether you believe in God at all.
Love is about giving of one’s self something I believe is quite often lacking in our world today.
Anne Frank a young girl hiding from the Nazi’s in World War two Holland 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.
This is what love is all about.
When I was in my teens I watched a movie musical called “Good by Mr. Chips.” it’s theme song was called “Fill the World with Love”. The words still have meaning to me all these years later.
Good By Mr. Chips
At the end of your life will you be able to say, “I filled the world with Love my whole Life through?
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....
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13The above is a quote from the Apostle Paul to the Corinthians. It to my mind is the purest definition of love ever written. It defines love perfectly.
Christian or not, one has to admit if there were more love in the world there would be less violence.
Love is about humility. Love, true Love, does not place any conditions on anyone.
For me as a Christian Love is what I am called to do,
Jesus made three very important statements about love,
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 22:37-40.
In Matthew Jesus is quotes as saying
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,”
Matthew 5:43.44.
“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
I think these sayings are universal truths no matter what faith you are or whether you believe in God at all.
Love is about giving of one’s self something I believe is quite often lacking in our world today.
Anne Frank a young girl hiding from the Nazi’s in World War two Holland 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.
This is what love is all about.
When I was in my teens I watched a movie musical called “Good by Mr. Chips.” it’s theme song was called “Fill the World with Love”. The words still have meaning to me all these years later.
In the morning of my life
I will look to the Sunrise
At a moment in my life
When the world is new.
And the Question
I shall ask only God can answer.
Will I be brave and strong and true,
Will I fill the world with love my whole life through?
Will I fill the world with love my whole life through?
In the evening of my life
I will look to the sunset
At a moment in my life
When my life is through.
And the question I shall ask only I can answer
Was I brave and strong and true.
Did I fill the world with love my whole life through?
Did I fill the world with love my whole life through?
From the MusicalGood By Mr. Chips
At the end of your life will you be able to say, “I filled the world with Love my whole Life through?
Think About it.
Wednesday 28 January 2015
From the Psalms
From the Psalms
Where is your trust. Is it in the Lord. Do you desire to do the work of the Lord. Our lives should be fully devoted to God.
We live in a very uncaring world. We live and for that matter have always lived in a world that has been hostile to Christians. That’s life.
The Psalmist here is asking God to be with him. He saying God is with him through everything that happens to him.
As Christians we should remember this. That no matter what we are going through God is with us.
The cry of the Psalmist is for God to lead him in the strait path to teach him His ways.
No matter what circumstance we are in God is there. I think it was Cory Tenboon that said “there is no pit to deep that God cannot reach into and touch us.” This is true.
I fully believe the book of Acts was put there to show Christians throughout the generations what they can expect.
Within the book of act there is great rejoicing. While at the same time those who took the Gospel out underwent a great deal. Peter and John heal a man, preached to the people as a result they were arrested and put in prison. Stephen was stoned to death. Paul shipwrecked, stoned left for dead and put in prison where he witnessed to his jailor.
There was also a lot of evangelization. Peter preaching from the house top on the day of Pentecost. Peter and John witnessing to the crowd and the religious leaders of their day. Philip leading the Ethiopian Eunich to Christ. Paul being asked by Stoic and Epicurean philosophers to speak at the Areopagus in Athens. Telling non believing intellectuals of his day about Christ.
These men went through a lot for the sake of the gospel and they laid the foundation of the church. They showed God is with them no matter the circumstances.
They believed the words of the Psalmist,
Think about it.
The Lord is my light and my salvation -
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life-
of whom shall I be afraid.
Psalm 27:1Where is your trust. Is it in the Lord. Do you desire to do the work of the Lord. Our lives should be fully devoted to God.
We live in a very uncaring world. We live and for that matter have always lived in a world that has been hostile to Christians. That’s life.
The Psalmist here is asking God to be with him. He saying God is with him through everything that happens to him.
As Christians we should remember this. That no matter what we are going through God is with us.
The cry of the Psalmist is for God to lead him in the strait path to teach him His ways.
No matter what circumstance we are in God is there. I think it was Cory Tenboon that said “there is no pit to deep that God cannot reach into and touch us.” This is true.
I fully believe the book of Acts was put there to show Christians throughout the generations what they can expect.
Within the book of act there is great rejoicing. While at the same time those who took the Gospel out underwent a great deal. Peter and John heal a man, preached to the people as a result they were arrested and put in prison. Stephen was stoned to death. Paul shipwrecked, stoned left for dead and put in prison where he witnessed to his jailor.
There was also a lot of evangelization. Peter preaching from the house top on the day of Pentecost. Peter and John witnessing to the crowd and the religious leaders of their day. Philip leading the Ethiopian Eunich to Christ. Paul being asked by Stoic and Epicurean philosophers to speak at the Areopagus in Athens. Telling non believing intellectuals of his day about Christ.
These men went through a lot for the sake of the gospel and they laid the foundation of the church. They showed God is with them no matter the circumstances.
They believed the words of the Psalmist,
“The Lord is my light and my salvation -
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life-
of whom shall I be afraid.”
We need to be witnessing like the early church. We need to be using our abilities to further the gospel of Christ, even if that ability is just to invite someone to church.Think about it.
Tuesday 27 January 2015
The Holocaust Remembered
A time to remember
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Today is International Holocaust remembrance day. A day set aside by the United Nations to remember the victims of the Nazi genocide.
The numbers are staggering for Jews alone, 6,258,673
Jews Killed by country,
Africa 526, Hungary 305,000, Albania 200,
Italy 8,000, Austria 65,000, Latvia 85,000
Belgium 24,387, Lithuania 135,000,
Czechoslovakia 277,000, Luxembourg 700, Denmark
77 Netherlands 106,000, Estonia 4,000,
Norway 728, France 83,000, Poland 3,001,000
Germany160,000, Romania 364,632, Greece 71,301,
Soviet Union 1,500,000, Yugoslavia 67,122
TOTAL: 6,258,673
Included in this count an estimated 1,100,000 Children.
Add to that in excess of 5,000,000 non-jews who were murdered in the death camps.
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Even after listening to the first hand accounts of those who lived through it I still find it hard to comprehend.
It amazes me how the free and democratic nations could allow such things to happen. Yet it did. Men like Neville Chamberlain the prime minister of England at the time, with all the best of intentions wanting peace, failed to see that you cannot bargain with despots like Hitler.
Even the American government at the time refused, at the start of the war to get involved. Many nations including Canada turned Jewish refugees away.
At the same time in Nazi occupied Europe there were many individuals at the risk of their own life, Christians, even Muslims hid Jewish families. Some would pay with their lives for doing the right thing, but because of their actions many Jews lived to tell their story.
Today there are those in the world who would deny Israel the right to exist. Many who wish to destroy Israel and murder the Jewish people.
Those who wish to do such atrocities are no better than that despotic Austrian corporal and his followers who plunged the world into world war.
These men are evil and are proving they will, like Hitler kill anyone from anywhere and of any faith who will not conform to their ways.
If world war two and the holocaust has shown us anything, it is that we cannot bargain with such men. They like Hitler and his henchmen need to be destroyed. They need to be at the very least put on trial for crimes against humanity.
We who live in the free democracies of the west need to be doing all we can to stop those who would murder innocent men women and children.
We need to stand with the Jewish people. Stand with Israel and all the peace loving countries of the world against a great evil that is before us.
As individual citizens we need to urge our politicians to do the right thing and stand up to the terrorist. We need to stand behind and support our troops as they stand in harms way protecting our way of life.
I believe it was Stephen Harper Canada’s prime minister who said we are in a war. I believe we are.
Our war may not consist of massive tank battles and daily air raids but it is no less a war a war that affects us all.
So as we remember the millions that died in the holocaust of world war two. Let us not forget the message it sends.
The message that we will never be able to appease evil men. Chamberlain waving his little piece of paper and proclaiming peace in our time could not in 1939. Nor will we be able to in 2015.
Let us remember the words of Martin Niemoller an anti-Nazi who wrotes,
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“When they came for the Communists, I did not stand up, because I was not a Communist. When they came for the Jews, I did not stand up, because I was not Jewish. When they came for the Catholics, I did not stand up, because I was not a Catholic. When they came for me, there was no one left to stand up.”
Martin Niemoller
It will take the might of the free world to ensure our freedom of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
So pray that our politicians to do the right thing. Pray for our the men and women of our military that they may be safe.
And pray for Israel, the Jewish community the world over and for the peace of Jerusalem. For I believe it is only when the Jews and Jerusalem are at peace will the world truly be at peace.
Think about it
Today is International Holocaust remembrance day. A day set aside by the United Nations to remember the victims of the Nazi genocide.
The numbers are staggering for Jews alone, 6,258,673
Jews Killed by country,
Africa 526, Hungary 305,000, Albania 200,
Italy 8,000, Austria 65,000, Latvia 85,000
Belgium 24,387, Lithuania 135,000,
Czechoslovakia 277,000, Luxembourg 700, Denmark
77 Netherlands 106,000, Estonia 4,000,
Norway 728, France 83,000, Poland 3,001,000
Germany160,000, Romania 364,632, Greece 71,301,
Soviet Union 1,500,000, Yugoslavia 67,122
TOTAL: 6,258,673
Included in this count an estimated 1,100,000 Children.
Add to that in excess of 5,000,000 non-jews who were murdered in the death camps.
Poles, Romani gypsies,
Mentally and Physically disabled,
Freemasons, Slovenes,
homosexuals, Jehovah’s witnesses,
Christians of all faiths,
Spanish republicans,
Soviet prisoners of war,
Prisoners of war of other allied nations,
and many thousands more.
As someone who has always lived in the relative freedom of the west born after world war two, I cannot imagine the horrors those sentenced to the death camps underwent. Even after listening to the first hand accounts of those who lived through it I still find it hard to comprehend.It amazes me how the free and democratic nations could allow such things to happen. Yet it did. Men like Neville Chamberlain the prime minister of England at the time, with all the best of intentions wanting peace, failed to see that you cannot bargain with despots like Hitler.
Even the American government at the time refused, at the start of the war to get involved. Many nations including Canada turned Jewish refugees away.
At the same time in Nazi occupied Europe there were many individuals at the risk of their own life, Christians, even Muslims hid Jewish families. Some would pay with their lives for doing the right thing, but because of their actions many Jews lived to tell their story.
Today there are those in the world who would deny Israel the right to exist. Many who wish to destroy Israel and murder the Jewish people.
Those who wish to do such atrocities are no better than that despotic Austrian corporal and his followers who plunged the world into world war.
These men are evil and are proving they will, like Hitler kill anyone from anywhere and of any faith who will not conform to their ways.
If world war two and the holocaust has shown us anything, it is that we cannot bargain with such men. They like Hitler and his henchmen need to be destroyed. They need to be at the very least put on trial for crimes against humanity.
We who live in the free democracies of the west need to be doing all we can to stop those who would murder innocent men women and children.
We need to stand with the Jewish people. Stand with Israel and all the peace loving countries of the world against a great evil that is before us.
As individual citizens we need to urge our politicians to do the right thing and stand up to the terrorist. We need to stand behind and support our troops as they stand in harms way protecting our way of life.
I believe it was Stephen Harper Canada’s prime minister who said we are in a war. I believe we are.
Our war may not consist of massive tank battles and daily air raids but it is no less a war a war that affects us all.
So as we remember the millions that died in the holocaust of world war two. Let us not forget the message it sends.
The message that we will never be able to appease evil men. Chamberlain waving his little piece of paper and proclaiming peace in our time could not in 1939. Nor will we be able to in 2015.
Let us remember the words of Martin Niemoller an anti-Nazi who wrotes,
“When they came for the Communists, I did not stand up, because I was not a Communist. When they came for the Jews, I did not stand up, because I was not Jewish. When they came for the Catholics, I did not stand up, because I was not a Catholic. When they came for me, there was no one left to stand up.”Martin Niemoller
It will take the might of the free world to ensure our freedom of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
So pray that our politicians to do the right thing. Pray for our the men and women of our military that they may be safe.
And pray for Israel, the Jewish community the world over and for the peace of Jerusalem. For I believe it is only when the Jews and Jerusalem are at peace will the world truly be at peace.
Think about it
Monday 26 January 2015
Our desire
Our desire
This should be our desire to proclaim the love of God to everyone. To use our skills our talents and abilities to tell the world about Jesus. Even if that world is just the people we work with or the person next door.
The salvation message is not one to be held secretly in our heart. It is to be told to all who will listen.
We shouldn’t force it on anyone but we should be willing to be a witness for Christ at any time in word and deed.
People should know we are Christians by the way we live and act.
Francis of Assisi said,
“Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”
Francis of Assisi
Quite often I’ve found that the way we act in both word and deed around none Christians sends a message to those around us about our faith in Christ be it positive or negative.
We need to be aware of this and make sure our actions are always showing our faith in the best possible way.
Think about it.
I desire to do your will, O my God;
your law is within my heart.
I proclaim righteousness in the assembly;
I do not seal my lips, as you know, O Lord.
I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;
I speak your faithfulness and salvation.
I do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly.
Psalm 40: 8-10This should be our desire to proclaim the love of God to everyone. To use our skills our talents and abilities to tell the world about Jesus. Even if that world is just the people we work with or the person next door.
The salvation message is not one to be held secretly in our heart. It is to be told to all who will listen.
We shouldn’t force it on anyone but we should be willing to be a witness for Christ at any time in word and deed.
People should know we are Christians by the way we live and act.
Francis of Assisi said,
“Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”
Francis of Assisi
Quite often I’ve found that the way we act in both word and deed around none Christians sends a message to those around us about our faith in Christ be it positive or negative.
We need to be aware of this and make sure our actions are always showing our faith in the best possible way.
Think about it.
Sunday 25 January 2015
Do to others
Do to others
“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
Dear Christian,
Would you want others judging and heaping condemnation on you simply because they disagreed with you?
Would you want people restricting your rights to marry simply because they disagreed with you?
Would you want any of your rights restricted simply because someone disagreed with your faith or lifestyle? I don’t think you would.
So as a Christian if you don’t want your rights restricted. If you believe in life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. If you believe the word of Jesus as recorded in Matthew 7:12, why would you want to restrict the rights of those in our society to do the same?
We live in a secular democracy where all are considered equal. So why would you protest against anyone who simply wants the same rights as you.
I strongly believe if you try to restrict the rights of others ultimately you will come back to hurt you.
In a democracy freedom for all has to be freedom for all.
As Christians we need to be supporting that concept.
Jesus made things very clear 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 22:37-40
Jesus also said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour 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?
Matthew 5:43-46.
The apostle Paul wrote,
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails....
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13
If we are truly Christian we will be showing such love to all people. We will even be willing to stand up for the rights of those we disagree with, irrespective of who they are.
Billy Graham said,
“Racial prejudice, anti-Semitism, or hatred of anyone with different beliefs has no place in the human mind or heart.”
Billy Graham
Tony Campolo said,
“These issues are biblical issues: to care for the sick, to feed the hungry, to stand up for the oppressed. I contend that if the evangelical community became more biblical, everything would change.”
Tony Campolo
think about it.
“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
Dear Christian,
Would you want others judging and heaping condemnation on you simply because they disagreed with you?
Would you want people restricting your rights to marry simply because they disagreed with you?
Would you want any of your rights restricted simply because someone disagreed with your faith or lifestyle? I don’t think you would.
So as a Christian if you don’t want your rights restricted. If you believe in life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. If you believe the word of Jesus as recorded in Matthew 7:12, why would you want to restrict the rights of those in our society to do the same?
We live in a secular democracy where all are considered equal. So why would you protest against anyone who simply wants the same rights as you.
I strongly believe if you try to restrict the rights of others ultimately you will come back to hurt you.
In a democracy freedom for all has to be freedom for all.
As Christians we need to be supporting that concept.
Jesus made things very clear 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 22:37-40
Jesus also said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour 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?
Matthew 5:43-46.
The apostle Paul wrote,
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails....
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13
If we are truly Christian we will be showing such love to all people. We will even be willing to stand up for the rights of those we disagree with, irrespective of who they are.
Billy Graham said,
“Racial prejudice, anti-Semitism, or hatred of anyone with different beliefs has no place in the human mind or heart.”
Billy Graham
Tony Campolo said,
“These issues are biblical issues: to care for the sick, to feed the hungry, to stand up for the oppressed. I contend that if the evangelical community became more biblical, everything would change.”
Tony Campolo
think about it.
Saturday 24 January 2015
Jesus for all
Jesus for All
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30.
I believe that every one needs to come into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Sadly I think way to many people calling themselves Christians both in the media and out are turning people away from Christ.
I see this particularly in North America pastors and evangelist using their so called freedom of speech to jump all over and condemn those they disagree with.
Many point to homosexuals and bash them as if they have some special sin. They protest outside of abortion clinics and heap condemnation on those who work there and those who go into them. This should not be so.
Jesus who is the Son of God and has the right to judge, never once said to the secular authorities of Rome that they were sinners.
Paul standing before the learned men of Athens in a city filled with pagan Gods and practising things that would have been very abhorrent to him never pointed to what the Athenians were doing and calling them a bunch of sinners.
If he did the wouldn’t have listened to him.
Paul in his letter to the Corinthians said,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”
1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
It is not our business to judge those outside the church. It is our job as Christians to win souls for Christ.
In order to do that we need to be reaching out to the world with the Love of Christ. This is not to say we must give up our moral values.
Paul when speaking to the Athenians never gave up his beliefs. Paul simply presented the love of Christ to non-believing Athenians.
What he said should be an example to us as to how we witness to people. This is what he said,
“While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols.
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 17:16-32 (NIV)
Paul won some to Christ. And others even wanted to hear more. This is how it should be for Christians.
If you disagree with someone’s lifestyle that is your choice in a free and democratic society.
If you disagree with Abortion the place to protest is not in front of an abortion clinic it’s in front of the houses of parliament or congress that pass the laws.
We should be showing the love of God to those whom we disagree with. We need to be reaching out to those of any lifestyle irrespective of who they are, and truly showing God’s love.
We should not be judging anyone or putting something in their way that would turn them from God.
I believe the words of Paul to the Corinthians when he wrote,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”
1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
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 believe that every one needs to come into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Sadly I think way to many people calling themselves Christians both in the media and out are turning people away from Christ.
I see this particularly in North America pastors and evangelist using their so called freedom of speech to jump all over and condemn those they disagree with.
Many point to homosexuals and bash them as if they have some special sin. They protest outside of abortion clinics and heap condemnation on those who work there and those who go into them. This should not be so.
Jesus who is the Son of God and has the right to judge, never once said to the secular authorities of Rome that they were sinners.
Paul standing before the learned men of Athens in a city filled with pagan Gods and practising things that would have been very abhorrent to him never pointed to what the Athenians were doing and calling them a bunch of sinners.
If he did the wouldn’t have listened to him.
Paul in his letter to the Corinthians said,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”
1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
It is not our business to judge those outside the church. It is our job as Christians to win souls for Christ.
In order to do that we need to be reaching out to the world with the Love of Christ. This is not to say we must give up our moral values.
Paul when speaking to the Athenians never gave up his beliefs. Paul simply presented the love of Christ to non-believing Athenians.
What he said should be an example to us as to how we witness to people. This is what he said,
“While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols.
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 17:16-32 (NIV)
Paul won some to Christ. And others even wanted to hear more. This is how it should be for Christians.
If you disagree with someone’s lifestyle that is your choice in a free and democratic society.
If you disagree with Abortion the place to protest is not in front of an abortion clinic it’s in front of the houses of parliament or congress that pass the laws.
We should be showing the love of God to those whom we disagree with. We need to be reaching out to those of any lifestyle irrespective of who they are, and truly showing God’s love.
We should not be judging anyone or putting something in their way that would turn them from God.
I believe the words of Paul to the Corinthians when he wrote,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”
1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
Think about it.
Friday 23 January 2015
Praise the Lord
Praise the Lord!
“Praise the LORD.
Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens.
Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness.
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre,
praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute,
praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.
Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD.”
Psalm 150.
How do you praise the Lord? Do you praise the Lord?
When your at home do you praise God? By praising the Lord I don’t mean throwing on praise music and listening to it. I mean actually singing to the Lord and not only singing but if you know how to play an instrument praise God with it. Even dance to the Lord.
I know dancing in some churches is frowned on but the Psalmist here clearly says, “praise him with tambourine and dancing,...”
Even in your private time have you ever considered praising God in the dance. You may not be a good dancer or singer but God understands and the scriptures tell us to praise God in the dance. So we should.
We don’t have to do it all the time but we should strive to praise God in any way we are comfortable with.
We need to set fifteen or twenty minutes a day aside to praise God.
Christians set aside time to read a devotional or inspirational message about God but we quite often forget to praise God.
In the book of acts we are told that Paul and Silas while in jail after a beating were praying and singing hymns to God.
I believe we as Christians don’t praise God enough. We don’t take time to just sit back and praise him.
We live quite often in a very busy world. Our lives are full of ‘things’. As a result we quite often to take time just to come before God and simply praise and than Him.
Why not take a few minutes now to praise God.
If you don’t have music simply read the psalms starting at psalm 145 and on to 150 these are psalms of praise.
Make them your own and give glory to the God of heaven and earth.
Please think about it.
“Praise the LORD.
Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens.
Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness.
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre,
praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute,
praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.
Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD.”
Psalm 150.
How do you praise the Lord? Do you praise the Lord?
When your at home do you praise God? By praising the Lord I don’t mean throwing on praise music and listening to it. I mean actually singing to the Lord and not only singing but if you know how to play an instrument praise God with it. Even dance to the Lord.
I know dancing in some churches is frowned on but the Psalmist here clearly says, “praise him with tambourine and dancing,...”
Even in your private time have you ever considered praising God in the dance. You may not be a good dancer or singer but God understands and the scriptures tell us to praise God in the dance. So we should.
We don’t have to do it all the time but we should strive to praise God in any way we are comfortable with.
We need to set fifteen or twenty minutes a day aside to praise God.
Christians set aside time to read a devotional or inspirational message about God but we quite often forget to praise God.
In the book of acts we are told that Paul and Silas while in jail after a beating were praying and singing hymns to God.
I believe we as Christians don’t praise God enough. We don’t take time to just sit back and praise him.
We live quite often in a very busy world. Our lives are full of ‘things’. As a result we quite often to take time just to come before God and simply praise and than Him.
Why not take a few minutes now to praise God.
If you don’t have music simply read the psalms starting at psalm 145 and on to 150 these are psalms of praise.
Make them your own and give glory to the God of heaven and earth.
Please think about it.
Thursday 22 January 2015
The Message
The Message
The Apostle Paul wrote,
“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
When it comes down to Christianity it very much comes down to what you the individual wants to believe about it.
As Paul said to the believer the message of Christ crucified is the power of God. The Apostles creed pretty well sums up what Christians believe it states,
There are those out there that say there is another revelation of Christ. We must be careful not to follow them.
Jesus is the Son of God, God in the flesh, the bible makes that clear.
The Apostles Creed while not written by the apostles is a true statement of what all true Christians believe.
Christianity is God reaching down to man. Taking a small part of his infiniteness and coming to earth to show man how much he does love him.
C. S. Lewis wrote,
“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
Think about it.
The Apostle Paul wrote,
“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
When it comes down to Christianity it very much comes down to what you the individual wants to believe about it.
As Paul said to the believer the message of Christ crucified is the power of God. The Apostles creed pretty well sums up what Christians believe it states,
1. I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:
2. And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord:
3. Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary:
4. Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried: He descended into hell:
5. The third day he rose again from the dead:
6. He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty:
7. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead:
8. I believe in the Holy Ghost:
9. I believe in the holy catholic church: the communion of saints:
(Meaning the true church not just the Roman Catholic church of today. And the saints which are what the Bible calls all believers in Christ)
10. The forgiveness of sins:
11. The resurrection of the body:
12. And the life everlasting. Amen.
Today there are people creeping into the church that would deny even the deity of Christ.There are those out there that say there is another revelation of Christ. We must be careful not to follow them.
Jesus is the Son of God, God in the flesh, the bible makes that clear.
The Apostles Creed while not written by the apostles is a true statement of what all true Christians believe.
Christianity is God reaching down to man. Taking a small part of his infiniteness and coming to earth to show man how much he does love him.
C. S. Lewis wrote,
“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
Think about it.
Wednesday 21 January 2015
The One Percent
One Percent
The Jesus said,
“But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the menservants and maidservants and to eat and drink and get drunk.
The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.
“That servant who knows his master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows.
But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.”
Luke 12:45-48.
I heard in the news yesterday that 1% of the worlds population own the majority of the worlds wealth if so it’s a sad state of affairs.
There are those in government that hold to the theory that by keeping taxes low on the rich it will cause a trickle down effect that will help the poor. It does not seem to be working.
Those who do the math tell us that the wealthy are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. This should not be so.
Now there is nothing wrong with being wealthy if it’s earned honestly. But with such wealth I believe one has the responsibility to help others. A good example is Bill Gates founder of Microsoft and Warren Buffet who are using their money to help the poor and needy around the world.
The Talmud tells us this story,
“Rabbi Akiba was asked by a Roman general, “Why does your God who loves the needy not provide for their support Himself?” He answered, “God the Father of both the rich and poor, wants the one to help the other so as to make the world a household of love.”
The Talmud.
The rich have a responsibility I believe to the poor, because while it may be their money and ideas that started them on the road to being rich. It is usually the blood, sweat and toil of the poor and middle class that helped them accomplish their goals.
I believe whether you are a believer in Christ or not. Whether you believe in God or not. God has given you the wealth to you and no matter how little or how much you have, God will, as he will with all people ultimately judge you.
Regardless of whether you believe in God or not is it not the humane thing to do. To help your fellow man.
Not everyone can be rich, but no one, anywhere in the world should be dying because of starvation or preventable illness.
If you are a Christian businessman or woman consider your work practices. Are you doing what God would have you do?
Are you paying your workers a good honest wage with good benefits? Are those who work for you able to live without need? Do they have the basics of life, good food, good housing, good health and medical benefits?
Even if you are not Christian are not what I’ve listed above only right if you are truly a good human being?
Think about it.
The Jesus said,
“But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the menservants and maidservants and to eat and drink and get drunk.
The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.
“That servant who knows his master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows.
But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.”
Luke 12:45-48.
I heard in the news yesterday that 1% of the worlds population own the majority of the worlds wealth if so it’s a sad state of affairs.
There are those in government that hold to the theory that by keeping taxes low on the rich it will cause a trickle down effect that will help the poor. It does not seem to be working.
Those who do the math tell us that the wealthy are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. This should not be so.
Now there is nothing wrong with being wealthy if it’s earned honestly. But with such wealth I believe one has the responsibility to help others. A good example is Bill Gates founder of Microsoft and Warren Buffet who are using their money to help the poor and needy around the world.
The Talmud tells us this story,
“Rabbi Akiba was asked by a Roman general, “Why does your God who loves the needy not provide for their support Himself?” He answered, “God the Father of both the rich and poor, wants the one to help the other so as to make the world a household of love.”
The Talmud.
The rich have a responsibility I believe to the poor, because while it may be their money and ideas that started them on the road to being rich. It is usually the blood, sweat and toil of the poor and middle class that helped them accomplish their goals.
I believe whether you are a believer in Christ or not. Whether you believe in God or not. God has given you the wealth to you and no matter how little or how much you have, God will, as he will with all people ultimately judge you.
Regardless of whether you believe in God or not is it not the humane thing to do. To help your fellow man.
Not everyone can be rich, but no one, anywhere in the world should be dying because of starvation or preventable illness.
If you are a Christian businessman or woman consider your work practices. Are you doing what God would have you do?
Are you paying your workers a good honest wage with good benefits? Are those who work for you able to live without need? Do they have the basics of life, good food, good housing, good health and medical benefits?
Even if you are not Christian are not what I’ve listed above only right if you are truly a good human being?
Think about it.
Tuesday 20 January 2015
A Libertine
A Libertine
“Thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondsman in the land of Egypt, and the Lord thy God redeemed thee.” Deuteronomy 15:15.
I believe it’s at St. Mary Woolnoth an Anglican church in the City of London, that there is a plaque with the words,
“John Newton, clerk, once an infidel and libertine, a servant of slaves in Africa, was, by the rich mercy of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, preserved, restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach the faith he had long labored to destroy.”
To quote R. J. Morgan from the book 365 scriptures that changed the world (copy right Thomas Nelson Publishers 1998.)
“As a young man, Newton had been a seaman and slave trader whose mouth was a cesspool of profanity, and who liberally helped himself to the female slaves he transported.
But he also became a deserter, flogged by the British Navy, who was reduced to being the slave of a sadistic woman, herself a slave, in Africa.
Out of all this he was saved. And he became one of England’s greatest preachers, the author of the beloved hymn Amazing Grace.”
Over his study desk he had this verse from Deuteronomy
“Thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondsman in the land of Egypt, and the Lord thy God redeemed thee.” Deuteronomy 15:15.
He reportedly told a friend later in life “My memory is nearly gone; but I remember two things, that I am a great sinner and that Christ is a Great Saviour.”
John Newton’s conversion was dramatic. He went from being a man without principles. A man without a conscience to a man of great principles.
He spoke out against the slave trade and would go on to write hundreds of hymns 280 of which he combined with 68 hymns of William Cowper to form the Olney Hymnal.
We today can look on Newton and see how bad he was and say thank God I am nowhere near as bad as him. He needed a conversion experience. I am far better than him.
Many non Christians I believe today also look at people who go to church. People who claim to be Christians and say, “I know them. I know what they do outside of Church and it isn’t very Christian. Why should I become a Christian because I am better all around than they are.”
That may be so but not everyone who goes to church is a Christian. No everyone who say’s they are Christian are.
Many people as well as Preachers and evangelist will one day stand before God and find they are not accepted into heaven. Jesus saying,
“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.
When it comes to knowing Jesus as one’s Lord and Saviour it is up to the individual to decide.
We should not look on those who are going to church or who claim to be Christians. Simply because many who claim to be Christians are not.
Each individual needs to look within themselves and ask themselves am “I truly good enough to go to heaven?”
I believe if we are honest with ourselves the answer will be no.
No one is good enough to stand before a holy God.
Isaiah the prophet said,
“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.
That is why Jesus came.
Another self admitted sinner the apostle Paul wrote these words,
“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.”
1 Timothy 1:15,16
I firmly believe that we as individuals must search our heart of hearts and in all humility admit that there is sin in our life.
Then we must turn to Jesus, recognize that he is the One and only Son of God, who died for our sins and ask him to forgive our sins and come into our hearts and lives.
For it is only through Christ that we can truly have our sins forgiven and have our lives changed.
It happened to John Newton. It happened to the Apostle Paul and it can happen to you.
Think about it.
“Thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondsman in the land of Egypt, and the Lord thy God redeemed thee.” Deuteronomy 15:15.
I believe it’s at St. Mary Woolnoth an Anglican church in the City of London, that there is a plaque with the words,
“John Newton, clerk, once an infidel and libertine, a servant of slaves in Africa, was, by the rich mercy of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, preserved, restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach the faith he had long labored to destroy.”
To quote R. J. Morgan from the book 365 scriptures that changed the world (copy right Thomas Nelson Publishers 1998.)
“As a young man, Newton had been a seaman and slave trader whose mouth was a cesspool of profanity, and who liberally helped himself to the female slaves he transported.
But he also became a deserter, flogged by the British Navy, who was reduced to being the slave of a sadistic woman, herself a slave, in Africa.
Out of all this he was saved. And he became one of England’s greatest preachers, the author of the beloved hymn Amazing Grace.”
Over his study desk he had this verse from Deuteronomy
“Thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondsman in the land of Egypt, and the Lord thy God redeemed thee.” Deuteronomy 15:15.
He reportedly told a friend later in life “My memory is nearly gone; but I remember two things, that I am a great sinner and that Christ is a Great Saviour.”
John Newton’s conversion was dramatic. He went from being a man without principles. A man without a conscience to a man of great principles.
He spoke out against the slave trade and would go on to write hundreds of hymns 280 of which he combined with 68 hymns of William Cowper to form the Olney Hymnal.
We today can look on Newton and see how bad he was and say thank God I am nowhere near as bad as him. He needed a conversion experience. I am far better than him.
Many non Christians I believe today also look at people who go to church. People who claim to be Christians and say, “I know them. I know what they do outside of Church and it isn’t very Christian. Why should I become a Christian because I am better all around than they are.”
That may be so but not everyone who goes to church is a Christian. No everyone who say’s they are Christian are.
Many people as well as Preachers and evangelist will one day stand before God and find they are not accepted into heaven. Jesus saying,
“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.
When it comes to knowing Jesus as one’s Lord and Saviour it is up to the individual to decide.
We should not look on those who are going to church or who claim to be Christians. Simply because many who claim to be Christians are not.
Each individual needs to look within themselves and ask themselves am “I truly good enough to go to heaven?”
I believe if we are honest with ourselves the answer will be no.
No one is good enough to stand before a holy God.
Isaiah the prophet said,
“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.
That is why Jesus came.
Another self admitted sinner the apostle Paul wrote these words,
“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.”
1 Timothy 1:15,16
I firmly believe that we as individuals must search our heart of hearts and in all humility admit that there is sin in our life.
Then we must turn to Jesus, recognize that he is the One and only Son of God, who died for our sins and ask him to forgive our sins and come into our hearts and lives.
For it is only through Christ that we can truly have our sins forgiven and have our lives changed.
It happened to John Newton. It happened to the Apostle Paul and it can happen to you.
Think about it.
Monday 19 January 2015
Are you like Jesus?
Like Jesus?
“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.
Paul makes it clear that if we have accepted Jesus into our lives by faith we are sons of God. That there is no difference who we are, what our status in this life was, whether we are male or female. All according to Paul are one in Christ Jesus.
The question I would ask is are you acting like Christ would have you act?
Mahatma Gandhi looked around his world at those who said they were Christians and said,
“Jesus is ideal and wonderful, but you Christians - you are not like him.”
Mahatma Gandhi.
When I grew up in England we all called ourselves Christians even if we hadn’t made a commitment to Christ by faith. Even if we didn’t go to church regularly. The way we looked at it we were growing up in a “Christian country” so we were Christians.
Especially as kids and teens we didn’t understand what it was to give our lives to Christ and there was no one there to tell us the difference.
A lot of people I knew then adults and Children called themselves Christian but were not. They went to church but were not Christian in the true sense of the Bible.
To be a Christian one must in faith accept Jesus as the Son of God. Admit that we are sinners and fall short of the glory of God. We must confess our sins to God and accept Christ’s sacrifice on the cross for our sins.
We must then let Christ into our hearts and minds and begin to live as he would have us live.
A true Christian is far from perfect but he or she is doing there best to live a life that reflects the values of Christ.
Gandhi apparently from his comment didn’t see many people claiming to be Christians living according to Christian values. I can understand that.
Today in North America we have many people who go to church and claim to be Christians but have not given their lives to Christ.
I see also both in the media and out pastors and evangelist who claim to be Christian. Who may even be Christian but are not following the right teachings of Christ.
They are heaping judgment on those outside the Church. By doing so they are alienating the very people they should be reaching.
The apostle Paul wrote,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”
1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
As Christians we must be very careful how we live our lives. We must be very careful what we say and do towards others.
Gandhi was obviously turned off Christianity because of those who claimed to be Christians were doing. How sad.
How sad also that many here in North America are turned from Christ because of the actions and words of those who claim to Christians.
I am an admirer of Francis of Assisi who said,
We as Christians are called to present the good news of Jesus Christ and the eternal life that he offers to all people. In order to do this we must live the life that Jesus would.
We cannot afford to judge people. We are called to offer hope.
It has been said Christians have a great responsibility. The greatest responsibility God has ever given to man. That is to offer love, hope and eternal life to all mankind.
Our actions have eternal consequences.
By our actions or lack thereof we may be sentencing people to a Christless eternity.
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.
Paul makes it clear that if we have accepted Jesus into our lives by faith we are sons of God. That there is no difference who we are, what our status in this life was, whether we are male or female. All according to Paul are one in Christ Jesus.
The question I would ask is are you acting like Christ would have you act?
Mahatma Gandhi looked around his world at those who said they were Christians and said,
“Jesus is ideal and wonderful, but you Christians - you are not like him.”
Mahatma Gandhi.
When I grew up in England we all called ourselves Christians even if we hadn’t made a commitment to Christ by faith. Even if we didn’t go to church regularly. The way we looked at it we were growing up in a “Christian country” so we were Christians.
Especially as kids and teens we didn’t understand what it was to give our lives to Christ and there was no one there to tell us the difference.
A lot of people I knew then adults and Children called themselves Christian but were not. They went to church but were not Christian in the true sense of the Bible.
To be a Christian one must in faith accept Jesus as the Son of God. Admit that we are sinners and fall short of the glory of God. We must confess our sins to God and accept Christ’s sacrifice on the cross for our sins.
We must then let Christ into our hearts and minds and begin to live as he would have us live.
A true Christian is far from perfect but he or she is doing there best to live a life that reflects the values of Christ.
Gandhi apparently from his comment didn’t see many people claiming to be Christians living according to Christian values. I can understand that.
Today in North America we have many people who go to church and claim to be Christians but have not given their lives to Christ.
I see also both in the media and out pastors and evangelist who claim to be Christian. Who may even be Christian but are not following the right teachings of Christ.
They are heaping judgment on those outside the Church. By doing so they are alienating the very people they should be reaching.
The apostle Paul wrote,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”
1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
As Christians we must be very careful how we live our lives. We must be very careful what we say and do towards others.
Gandhi was obviously turned off Christianity because of those who claimed to be Christians were doing. How sad.
How sad also that many here in North America are turned from Christ because of the actions and words of those who claim to Christians.
I am an admirer of Francis of Assisi who said,
“Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love,
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.”
Francis of AssisiWe as Christians are called to present the good news of Jesus Christ and the eternal life that he offers to all people. In order to do this we must live the life that Jesus would.
We cannot afford to judge people. We are called to offer hope.
It has been said Christians have a great responsibility. The greatest responsibility God has ever given to man. That is to offer love, hope and eternal life to all mankind.
Our actions have eternal consequences.
By our actions or lack thereof we may be sentencing people to a Christless eternity.
Think about it.
Sunday 18 January 2015
Towards eternity
Toward eternity
“Each day is a step we make towards eternity and we shall continue thus to step from day to day until we take the last step, which will bring us into the presence of God.”
The Venerable Mother Catherine Elizabeth McAuley (29 September 1778 – 11 November 1841)
The one thing Christians those of other faiths and even atheist agree on is that from the moment we are born we are walking to eternity.
Some say life is a constant cycle of rebirth in various forms. Others say we will one day stand before a just and holy God who will judge us by the right and wrong we do.
The atheist would say that when life ends here, that is it for all eternity, life simply ends.
Christianity however makes some very distinctive claims.
We believe the apostle John when he wrote,
“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.”
John 1:1-4
“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 1:14
We believe that Jesus is God incarnate. God in the flesh that he came to earth to show man how much he loved him.
Jesus saying,
“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
Jesus also said,
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6.
The Apostle 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.
Christians believe that we cannot be good enough to get into heaven. That we must accept Jesus Christ into our life. That we must believe that he is the one and only Son of God that died for our sins.
That such a move is an act of faith on our part. The writer of Hebrews saying,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Hebrews 11:6
Not only do we believe the above but we go one step further believing the words of John who wrote,
“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”
John 1:,12,13.
The way I look at it if I as a Christian am wrong in my beliefs I have nothing to worry about because I have lived a good and happy life.
If I as a Christian am right however the consequences for those who do not believe are eternal.
As Christians therefore it is imperative that we present the gospel to as many People as we can. To all who will listen to us.
Think about it.
“Each day is a step we make towards eternity and we shall continue thus to step from day to day until we take the last step, which will bring us into the presence of God.”
The Venerable Mother Catherine Elizabeth McAuley (29 September 1778 – 11 November 1841)
The one thing Christians those of other faiths and even atheist agree on is that from the moment we are born we are walking to eternity.
Some say life is a constant cycle of rebirth in various forms. Others say we will one day stand before a just and holy God who will judge us by the right and wrong we do.
The atheist would say that when life ends here, that is it for all eternity, life simply ends.
Christianity however makes some very distinctive claims.
We believe the apostle John when he wrote,
“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.”
John 1:1-4
“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 1:14
We believe that Jesus is God incarnate. God in the flesh that he came to earth to show man how much he loved him.
Jesus saying,
“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
Jesus also said,
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6.
The Apostle 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.
Christians believe that we cannot be good enough to get into heaven. That we must accept Jesus Christ into our life. That we must believe that he is the one and only Son of God that died for our sins.
That such a move is an act of faith on our part. The writer of Hebrews saying,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Hebrews 11:6
Not only do we believe the above but we go one step further believing the words of John who wrote,
“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”
John 1:,12,13.
The way I look at it if I as a Christian am wrong in my beliefs I have nothing to worry about because I have lived a good and happy life.
If I as a Christian am right however the consequences for those who do not believe are eternal.
As Christians therefore it is imperative that we present the gospel to as many People as we can. To all who will listen to us.
Think about it.
Saturday 17 January 2015
Freedom
Freedom
“Your freedom ends a moment before your fist hits a persons face”
Anonymous
Freedom is not a blank slate to do as we wish, for this would lead to anarchy and anarchy is not freedom.
Freedom comes with responsibility. The responsibility to respect the rights and beliefs of others.
Nelson Mandela wrote,
“For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”
Nelson Mandela.
While I would support the right of the French magazine Charlie Hebdo to exercise it’s freedom of speech. I would wonder at the wisdom of them portraying the prophet Mohamad in the way they did.
As a Christian I’ve seen lots of cartoons portraying Jesus in a negative way. It offends me but I certainly would not pick up a gun or bomb and attack anyone over it.
Still those involved with Charlie Hebdo knew to draw the prophet would cause trouble yet in the name of freedom of speech they went ahead with it.
Had they been respectful of the beliefs of those Muslims who believe it is wrong to picture their prophet in such a way there may not have been any funerals to go to.
Read the words of Nelson Mandela again,
“For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”
Nelson Mandela.
We should never, never give into terrorist or anyone who would restrict our freedoms. We should never let anyone use the gun to stop us criticizing what we disagree with.
At the same time we need to show respect.
I as a Christian understand what it is to have one’s beliefs come under attack. In Saudi Arabia the home of Islam, Christianity is not allowed to practice. Nor is it in North Korea and many other places around the world.
Christians die at the rate of one every four to seven minutes for their faith without them even saying a word in anger.
Yet true Christians still hold to their beliefs of, love of God, love their neighbour, love their enemy and even pray for their persecutors.
Likewise I believe as a Christian I need to respect the rights Islam to practice and I would never think to make fun of their beliefs.
Respect is the only way we can expect to have open dialogue with those whom we disagree. To make friends of enemies.
Certainly the members of Al-Qaeda, ISIS and other terrorist groups do not believe in respecting the rights of others. They are nothing more that modern day Hitler’s intent on waging world war three. They are evil, oppressive and need to be destroyed.
We need to stand up to the terror threat coming from the extremist of the Islamic world. We need to be stomping them out. We need to be fighting against anyone who would restrict our freedoms.
No one should die for words on a page or a pen and ink cartoon no matter how offensive it may be.
At the same time however we should respect the beliefs of others.
If we do not respect the beliefs of others and use our freedom to mock and wrongly persecute others we become like those who would try to destroy our way of life.
In showing respect and love to those whom we disagree with we may just win a friend and ally.
It’s a delicate balancing act to be sure but we need to do it. In order to truly be called a free people.
Think about it.
“Your freedom ends a moment before your fist hits a persons face”
Anonymous
Freedom is not a blank slate to do as we wish, for this would lead to anarchy and anarchy is not freedom.
Freedom comes with responsibility. The responsibility to respect the rights and beliefs of others.
Nelson Mandela wrote,
“For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”
Nelson Mandela.
While I would support the right of the French magazine Charlie Hebdo to exercise it’s freedom of speech. I would wonder at the wisdom of them portraying the prophet Mohamad in the way they did.
As a Christian I’ve seen lots of cartoons portraying Jesus in a negative way. It offends me but I certainly would not pick up a gun or bomb and attack anyone over it.
Still those involved with Charlie Hebdo knew to draw the prophet would cause trouble yet in the name of freedom of speech they went ahead with it.
Had they been respectful of the beliefs of those Muslims who believe it is wrong to picture their prophet in such a way there may not have been any funerals to go to.
Read the words of Nelson Mandela again,
“For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”
Nelson Mandela.
We should never, never give into terrorist or anyone who would restrict our freedoms. We should never let anyone use the gun to stop us criticizing what we disagree with.
At the same time we need to show respect.
I as a Christian understand what it is to have one’s beliefs come under attack. In Saudi Arabia the home of Islam, Christianity is not allowed to practice. Nor is it in North Korea and many other places around the world.
Christians die at the rate of one every four to seven minutes for their faith without them even saying a word in anger.
Yet true Christians still hold to their beliefs of, love of God, love their neighbour, love their enemy and even pray for their persecutors.
Likewise I believe as a Christian I need to respect the rights Islam to practice and I would never think to make fun of their beliefs.
Respect is the only way we can expect to have open dialogue with those whom we disagree. To make friends of enemies.
Certainly the members of Al-Qaeda, ISIS and other terrorist groups do not believe in respecting the rights of others. They are nothing more that modern day Hitler’s intent on waging world war three. They are evil, oppressive and need to be destroyed.
We need to stand up to the terror threat coming from the extremist of the Islamic world. We need to be stomping them out. We need to be fighting against anyone who would restrict our freedoms.
No one should die for words on a page or a pen and ink cartoon no matter how offensive it may be.
At the same time however we should respect the beliefs of others.
If we do not respect the beliefs of others and use our freedom to mock and wrongly persecute others we become like those who would try to destroy our way of life.
In showing respect and love to those whom we disagree with we may just win a friend and ally.
It’s a delicate balancing act to be sure but we need to do it. In order to truly be called a free people.
Think about it.
Friday 16 January 2015
The way to heaven
The way to heaven
Every so often I like to tell people what I believe is the way to heaven.
The following is what I believe, it is simple and open to anyone, and I mean anyone to follow.
Ultimately salvation is an act of faith, Hebrews stating,
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him”
Hebrews 11:6
Faith defined as,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1
Next it come down to who you think Jesus is and what his purpose on this earth was for, The gospel of John 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.”
John 3:16,17.
Jesus himself said,
"Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6
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 and everyone no matter who they are sins, be they the Pope, some evangelist in the media, a pastor of a church someone sitting in the pews, someone on the street or a criminal on the cross with Jesus. Everyone of us sins,
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.
Paul make it clear salvation 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
Ultimately however like I said, salvation is an act of faith, Hebrews stating,
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him”
Hebrews 11:6
Faith defined as,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1
Will you consider accepting Christ into your life today. If you are willing you can pray this prayer,
Dear Heavenly Father,
I believe in You. I believe that Jesus is your one and only Son. That he came to earth to die for my sins.
Please forgive my sins this day and come into my life. That I may spend eternity with you.
Amen.
If you have prayed that prayer in all sincerity I would suggest that you now find a copy of the Bible. There is a free down load called the ‘you version’ bible app that allows you to download various version of the bible. It’s a good app.
When it comes to the Bible there are a lot of translations, I personally use the New International version and the New King James versions. They are in modern English and easy to read. If your English is not that good then the easiest English translation is the Good News Bible.
I recommend starting in the New Testament. You don’t have to read a lot each day. A chapter is good.
When you come to a genealogy such as in the first chapter of Matthew you might want to skip it, although it shows the link between Jesus and those in the Old Testament.
Before you read, pray and ask God to show you the truths within the scriptures, ask him to open your understanding to what is written.
Also pray and ask God to direct you to a good church congregation. One that you are comfortable in.
Congregations vary even within denominations and where you may not be comfortable in one you may in another. So look around.
As these blogs are read all over the world I cannot recommend a specific church. I tend to recommend Baptist churches as they in my opinion tend to interpret the scriptures correctly and their method of worship is fairly consistent around the world.
In Canada I also know that the Pentecostal Assemblies of God are a good organization as are the Assemblies of God in the United States.
Please take sometime and consider what I have written above.
Ultimately the decision to accept Christ into your life is between you and God. All I have done here is place before you what I believe.
Please think about it.
Every so often I like to tell people what I believe is the way to heaven.
The following is what I believe, it is simple and open to anyone, and I mean anyone to follow.
Ultimately salvation is an act of faith, Hebrews stating,
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him”
Hebrews 11:6
Faith defined as,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1
Next it come down to who you think Jesus is and what his purpose on this earth was for, The gospel of John 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.”
John 3:16,17.
Jesus himself said,
"Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6
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 and everyone no matter who they are sins, be they the Pope, some evangelist in the media, a pastor of a church someone sitting in the pews, someone on the street or a criminal on the cross with Jesus. Everyone of us sins,
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.
Paul make it clear salvation 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
Ultimately however like I said, salvation is an act of faith, Hebrews stating,
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him”
Hebrews 11:6
Faith defined as,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1
Will you consider accepting Christ into your life today. If you are willing you can pray this prayer,
Dear Heavenly Father,
I believe in You. I believe that Jesus is your one and only Son. That he came to earth to die for my sins.
Please forgive my sins this day and come into my life. That I may spend eternity with you.
Amen.
If you have prayed that prayer in all sincerity I would suggest that you now find a copy of the Bible. There is a free down load called the ‘you version’ bible app that allows you to download various version of the bible. It’s a good app.
When it comes to the Bible there are a lot of translations, I personally use the New International version and the New King James versions. They are in modern English and easy to read. If your English is not that good then the easiest English translation is the Good News Bible.
I recommend starting in the New Testament. You don’t have to read a lot each day. A chapter is good.
When you come to a genealogy such as in the first chapter of Matthew you might want to skip it, although it shows the link between Jesus and those in the Old Testament.
Before you read, pray and ask God to show you the truths within the scriptures, ask him to open your understanding to what is written.
Also pray and ask God to direct you to a good church congregation. One that you are comfortable in.
Congregations vary even within denominations and where you may not be comfortable in one you may in another. So look around.
As these blogs are read all over the world I cannot recommend a specific church. I tend to recommend Baptist churches as they in my opinion tend to interpret the scriptures correctly and their method of worship is fairly consistent around the world.
In Canada I also know that the Pentecostal Assemblies of God are a good organization as are the Assemblies of God in the United States.
Please take sometime and consider what I have written above.
Ultimately the decision to accept Christ into your life is between you and God. All I have done here is place before you what I believe.
Please think about it.
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