Take up your cross

Take up your cross

   “Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.  
What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?  
Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?  
If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.” 
                                                                                                   Mark 8:34-38.
Here is a clear statement of what it can be to be a Christian. Jesus makes it abundantly clear that we must be willing to take up our cross and follow Him.
The cross is a symbol of suffering and pain. We must be aware that as Christians we may have to suffer and die for our faith. We must take this into account when we decide to accept Christ into our lives.
Jesus also makes it clear that, “...whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.”
As Christians I am convinced we cannot lose. While we may go through much suffering and pain be it simply from health problem or persecution from our enemies we still win.
I am reminded of a sixteen year old Christian boy who was told to renounce his faith in Christ by the terrorist group IS or die. He refused and was murdered.
This is the kind of thing we as Christians must be willing to do for the sake of the gospel.
Those of us who live in the democracies of the west enjoy incredible freedoms. Sometimes I believe we take our faith too much for granted.
We in the west can pop into a church without fear anytime in any city, town or village. We can worship without fear. That’s why I think we all to often put a golf game or football or dance classes ahead of our service to God. We forget how costly our faith is.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote,

“Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again and again, 

the gift which must be asked for, 

the door at which a man must knock. 

Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, 

and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. 

It is costly because it costs a man his life, 

and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. 

It is costly because it condemns sin, 

and grace because it justifies the sinner.

 Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son: 

'Ye were bought at a price', 

and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us. 

Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon 

his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us. 

Costly grace is the Incarnation of God.” 

                                                   Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, was a German Lutheran pastor, theologian and anti-Nazi dissident. A founding member of the Confessing Church. He knew what it was to be a believer in Christ and stand up for your faith.
He was Born 4 February 1906 Breslau, Silesia Province, Prussia, German Empire Died 9 April 1945 (aged 39) Flossenbürg concentration camp, Nazi Germany just two weeks prior to the Allied forces liberating the camp.
Dear reader,
if you consider yourself a believer in Christ. If you consider yourself a Christian. How valuable is your faith to you? Is it so costly you would be willing to give everything up for it?
Is your faith in Christ the most important thing in your life?
Are you willing to take up your cross and follow Jesus wherever He will lead you?
To the Christians living in North America I would ask. Is Christ more important than the golf game, the soccer, baseball, dance classes, and other secular events?
Think about it

Love Honour and Faithfulness

Love, Honour and Faithfulness
Here is a quote from the Talmud that very much applies to Christians. It says,
“When a man appears before the Throne of Judgment, the first question he is asked is not, “Have you believed in God?”  Or “Have you prayed and observed the ritual?  “He is asked: “have you dealt honourably and faithfully in all your dealings with your fellow men?”
                                                                                      The Talmud
As believers we know God exists and that one day we will have to stand before Him and give account for our lives.
While belief in Christ and His saving grace gets us to heaven, we are called to do more, to go the extra mile.
The book of James states,
“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,  
because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?  
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.  
If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?  
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.”                                                                                                                                                  James 2:12-18.
As Christians we are called to take the Gospel of Christ to the world. However it’s very hard to reach a person if they are in need of food, clothing, housing and healthcare. That’s why we need to do our best to meet the needs of people around us, be they in the city where we live or in distant lands.
I like what Tony Campolo the American Evangelist said,
“These issues are biblical issues: to care for the sick, to feed the hungry, to stand up for the oppressed. I contend that if the evangelical community became more biblical, everything would change.”
         Tony Campolo.
Long before I gave my life to Christ I watched a musical called Goodby Mr Chips the theme song of the movie had these words,

In the Morning of My Life

In the morning of my life

I will look to the Sunrise

At a moment in my life 

When the world is new.

And the Question

I shall ask only God can answer.

Will I be brave and strong and true,

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

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

In the 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 Musical Good by Mr Chips

 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.” 
                                                                                            1 Corinthians 13:4-8a.
If we as Christians live up to the standard of love the apostle Paul defines, then we will truly fill the world with love and in doing so bring many people into the kingdom of God.
Please think About it.

Of Jesus and Christianity

Of Jesus and Christianity

“At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them.  
“If you are the Christ,’” they said, “tell us.” Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe me,  and if I asked you, you would not answer.  
But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.” 
They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?” He replied, “You are right in saying I am.” 
Then they said, “Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips.” 
Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate.  
And they began to accuse him, saying, “We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Christ, a king.” 
So Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” 
“Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied.” 
                                     Luke 22:66-23:3.
A noted archaeologist Sir William Ramsey who initially rejected the writings of Luke went on later to say,
“Luke is a historian of the first rank.… This author should be placed along with the very greatest historians.… Luke’s history is unsurpassed in respect of its trustworthiness.”
Two other noted historians William Albright and A. T. Robinson date the New Testament books to the first century. Albright to between 50 A.D. and 75 A.D. and Robinson to between 40-65 AD.
These dates place the writings of Luke within living memory of the events he describes. He certainly had access to the witnesses of the life of Jesus.
Thus for Luke or any of the other writers of the Bible to lie about what was said about Jesus would be to put in peril fledgling Christian movement.
In the scripture I quoted from Luke, Luke 22:66 to 23:3 we see that Jesus admits that he indeed is the Son of God.
To the religious leaders of Jesus day to make yourself equal to God is a crime punishable by death. The religious leaders did not believe Jesus was the Son of God and therefore demanded his death. As they had no right to put someone to death under Roman law they turned to the Roman governor to let them put him to death.
Here is another prove that Jesus was who he said he was.
If Jesus was not the Christ why would he risk death and the potential end of the movement he was starting.
C. S. Lewis puts it this way,
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.” 
                                                                                                   C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
Jesus was everything he said he was the Son of God, the Way to Heaven, the Saviour of all who would believe in him.
Christianity today is being attacked by extremist around the world and by it seems predominantly Atheist groups in a mild way in the west. They will not prevail.
The book of Acts records an incident in which two of Christ’s disciples were preaching about him not long after his death.
Luke the writer of Acts records, what they said and the resulting outcome.
 “We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” (Peter tells them)
“When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death.  
But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while.  
Then he addressed them: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men.  
Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing.  
After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered.  
Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.  
But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” 
               Acts 5:32-39
I believe that the fact many principalities and groups great and small have come against Christianity both by force of arms and in courts of law and have been unable to defeat it, shows Christianity is from God.
And the gates of hell will not prevail against it.
Think about it.

A Good Gift

A good gift

“When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;  but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.  
Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. 
Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers.  
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.  
He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all he created.” 
James 1:13-18
Here is some simple truths.
James makes a very clear statement when we are tempted it is not God who tempts us. God will not tempt us.
Instead he makes it clear that we are tempted by our own evil desires that drag us away from the Lord and give birth to sin.
James points out that,
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”  
Our God is a good and unchanging God. The phrase “God is the same yesterday to day and forever” is true. Our God does not change.
Every good and prefect gift is from God.
God the Father of “heavenly lights” sent His one and Only Son to this earth to light the way to heaven. Scripture tells us,
“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
“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.
God wants all men everywhere to turn to Him. To look to Jesus and accept the Salvation He offers freely.
The greatest gift God gave to mankind is His One and Only Son Jesus Christ. The question is to everyone, everywhere will you believe he is who he says he is and accept the salvation he offers or not.
Please think about it

Christians and Persecution

Christians and Persecution

“From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.” 
                                           Matthew 11:12.
Jesus is saying here that from the time of John the Baptist what has become known as the Christian message has been moving forcefully ahead. While at the same time there have been men who have at times violently opposed it, from the time of it’s inception until the present day.
According to human rights watchers Christians are among the most persecuted people on the planet.
In December of 2013 the United Kingdom parliament heard that one Christian is killed every eleven minutes for their faith.
“MP Jim Shannon said the persecution of Christians is “the biggest story in the world that has never been told”
He said that although the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, there are many countries in which these rights are not given.
Shannon alleged that 200 million Christians will be persecuted for their faith this year, while he said 500 million live in dangerous neighbourhoods.”
Writing in the World Post Kelly James Clark states,
“In early November, German Chancellor Angela Merkel declared that Christianity is "the most persecuted religion in the world." Although met with predictable criticism, Rupert Short's recent research report for Civitas UK confirms Merkel's claim -- we may not want to hear it, but Christianity is in peril, like no other religion. While this is a contest no one wants to win, Short shows that "Christians are targeted more than any other body of believers." Short is the author of the recently published Christianophobia: A Faith Under Attack. He is concerned that "200 million Christians (10 percent of the global total) are socially disadvantaged, harassed or actively oppressed for their beliefs."
According to a report in Reuters news the top ten countries in which Christianity is persecuted in are, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Maldives, Mali, Iran, Yemen and Eritrea.
Still despite all of this Christians every day present their message. A message that simply calls mankind to be reconciled to God through faith in Jesus Christ.
Jesus making it clear when he said
“... ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  
This is the first and greatest commandment.  
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’” 
                                                                     Matthew 22:37-39
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?  
 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?  Matthew 5:43-47
And just as importantly Jesus said,
“...I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” 
                                                                                                                                                John 14:1.
This is why we as Christians continue despite the persecution to take our message to the world.
We truly believe that the decision to accept Jesus as ones Lord and Saviour is the most important thing anyone can do. It is a guarantee of eternal life with God.
Sadly in many parts of the world we Christians do this at our peril.
So to the Christian in the west not facing persecution I would ask to pray for our brothers and sisters around the world. For strength and that eventually the persecution they face will end.
To everyone Christian or not, who believes in freedom of thought, conscience, and religion. Freedoms that are enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Freedoms that make up great democracies, write to your congressman, your President your member of parliament, or prime minister.
 Ask them to bring up the Universal Declaration of Human Rights with officials of countries that oppress not only Christians but other groups also.
Please for the sake of those who are dying for their faith and their beliefs every day, think about it.

True Greatness

True Greatness
 Napoleon Bonaparte, who wrote this,
"You speak of Caesar, of Alexander, of their conquests and of the enthusiasm which they enkindled in the hearts of their soldiers; but can you conceive of a dead man making conquests, with an army faithful and entirely devoted to his memory? My armies have forgotten me even while living, as the Carthaginian army forgot Hannibal. Such is our power.”
“I know men and I tell you, Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour, millions would die for him.”
“I search in vain history to find similar to Jesus Christ, or anything which can approach the gospel.  Neither history nor humanity, nor ages, nor nature, offer me anything with which I am able to compare it or to explain it. Here everything is extraordinary.”
                                                                               Napoleon Bonaparte,
I like what Napoleon said about Jesus,
“I know men and I tell you, Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison... Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour, millions would die for him.”
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 neighbour as yourself.’  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” 
Matthew 22:37-40
“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?  
 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?  
Matthew 5:43-47
Today as I write this there are militant groups. Terrorist and revolutionaries who are trying to impose their way of life on others by the sword. They will fail. Trying to imposing ones will on someone by force has never worked. This is something that is lost on revolutionaries today,
T.H. White wrote,
“There was just such a man when I was young—an Austrian who invented a new way of life and convinced himself that he was the chap to make it work. He tried to impose his reformation by the sword, and plunged the civilized world into misery and chaos. But the thing which this fellow had overlooked, my friend, was that he had a predecessor in the reformation business, called Jesus Christ. Perhaps we may assume that Jesus knew as much as the Austrian did about saving people. But the odd thing is that Jesus did not turn the disciples into strom troopers, burn down the Temple at Jerusalem, and fix the blame on Pontius  Pilate. On the contrary, he made it clear that the business of the philosopher was to make ideas available, and not to impose them on people.” 
                                                           T. H. White, The Once and Future King
I believe it was Dr James Allan Francis who wrote the following,
One Solitary Life
Nearly two thousand years ago in an obscure village, a child was born of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village where He worked as a carpenter until He was thirty. Then for three years He became an itinerant preacher.
This man never went to college or seminary. He never wrote a book. He never held a public office. He never had a family nor owned a home. He never put His foot inside a big city nor traveled even 200 miles from His birthplace. And though He never did any of the things that usually accompany greatness, throngs of people followed Him. He had no credentials but Himself.
While He was still young, the tide of public opinion turned against Him. His followers ran away. He was turned over to His enemies and sentenced to death on a cross between two thieves. While He was dying, His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had on earth – the simple coat He had worn. His body was laid in a borrowed grave provided by a compassionate friend.
But three days later this Man arose from the dead – living proof that He was, as He had claimed, the Saviour whom God had sent, the Incarnate Son of God.
Nineteen centuries have come and gone and today the risen Lord Jesus Christ is the central figure of the human race. On our calendars His birth divides history into two eras. One day of every week is set aside in remembrance of Him. And our two most important holidays celebrate His birth and resurrection. On church steeples around the world, His cross has become the symbol of victory over sin and death.
This one Man’s life has furnished the theme for more songs, books, poems and paintings than any other person or event in history. Thousands of colleges, hospitals, orphanages and other institutions have been founded in honour of this One who gave His life for us.
All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the governments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned have not changed the course of history as much as this One Solitary Life."
                Dr James Allan Francis.
The message of Jesus is a message for today. To love God, one’s fellow man and even one’s enemies.
The message of Jesus is simple He said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
John 3:16,17
The Apostle Paul reminds us,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” 
Romans 5:8.
Christians understand that it was Christ that died to set us free. Not we who had to die for Him.
The Apostle John reminding us,
“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
Please think about it,

Speak and Act

Speak and Act

“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,  
because judgement without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgement!” 
              James 2:12,13.
Christian, do you speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom?
It’s easy to point out the sins of the world. I hear some televangelist and preachers in the media doing it all the time. They present the good news of Christ as a lot of do’s and don’t’s. This turns people away.
We as Christians are called to present the gospel in a positive manner. In such a way as people will understand their need for salvation.
If we want to see how this is done right all we have to do is look at Paul’s speech to the Athenians. The book of Acts recording,
“So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.  
A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.  
Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?  
You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean.”  
(All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.) 
Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.  
For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. 
“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.  
And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.  
From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.  
God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.  
‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ 
“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man’s design and skill.  
In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.  
For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.” 
When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.”  
At that, Paul left the Council.  
A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.”
                                                                                Acts 17:17-34
Note at the beginning the author of Acts Luke mentions,
“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.”
Paul reasoned with people, he didn’t argue or preach hell fire and brimstone. He didn’t point out their sins. He reasoned with them and presented the gospel in a logical respectful manner.
When he was asked to speak in the Areopagus he was also respectful. He started at a point they understood the temple to the unknown god.
The Greeks of Paul’s day were to say the least careful. They wanted to make sure they didn’t upset any god. They knew they were fallible. Thus the temple to an unknown god.
This temple to an unknown God however gave Paul a starting point to introduce them to the one true God.
This is how we should be today. We should be respectful to the beliefs of our audience we must meet them where they are. We must reason with them and present our beliefs giving them the option to accept or reject what we say.
We cannot win souls for Christ pointing out the sins of the world. We must always present the Love of God in a positive respectful manner.
Please think about it.

Be Ready

Be Ready
“then He said to his disciples, ‘the time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it.
 Men will tell you, ‘there his is!’ Or ‘Here he is!’ do not go running off after them.”
                                                                                  Luke17:22,23
Throughout the years there have been many groups that have arisen that have claimed Christ is returning at such and such a time. There are many that have claimed doom and gloom because various things have happened.
When world war one came some claimed Christ would return then. When it didn’t happen there the next major social up evil was the great depression. Of course we know it didn’t happen then, so world war two came with Hitler thought to be the anti-Christ. It wasn’t so.
Group over the years have looked at the world around them and seen what they thought were signs of the coming of Christ only to find they were wrong.
At the turn of the new millennium some said the computers of the world were going to melt down causing doom and gloom. It didn’t happen.
Sometimes I think Christians spend more time predicting the end of the world than they do evangelizing.
Lately the latest thing is this “Blood Moon” theory. Another wrong teaching.
Many years ago I had a pastor that I believe set me on the right foot when it comes to predictions of Christ’s return and serving as Christian in general.
There were a half dozen of us all in our early twenties that would meet at his house Sunday afternoons and just relax. The conversations not always but quite often revolved around Christian thinking.
He was the first to tell me of the three theories of the rapture, the pre tribulationist who believed that the Christians would be taken before the tribulation period. The mid tribulationist who said it would happen in the middle and the post tribulationist who thought it would happen at the end of the tribulation.
He however said it didn’t bother him who was right, that he was quote “a pan-tribulationist”.
That it would all pan out in the end and all that mattered was that he was doing his best for Christ when it happened. Good advise.
Matthew records,
“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.

What better thing for the Christian to be doing than reaching out to the world when he returns. Than serving God to the best of our ability rather than spending our time on empty speculation.
Jesus said,
“Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning,  like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him.  
It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.  
It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night.  
But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.  
You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” 
                                                                                                                                    Luke 12:35-40.
Please think about it

Christian Belief

I as a Christian believe

The Apostle Paul when writing to Timothy said,
"All Scripture is God-breathed  and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
                                                                                                                             2 Timothy 3:16,17
I believe we must therefore study scripture thoroughly and in its correct context. To take scripture out of context is wrong and can have eternal consequences.
I believe that the only infallible source of teaching is the Bible. And that when there seems to be an error in teaching it is the person teaching not the Bible who is in error.
I believe that it is every Christians duty to serve God in what ever capacity they can within the church  be that an usher, cook, teacher, secretary, cleaner, worship leader, pastor or in any other way possible.
I believe also that Christianity is a way of life. That we must live that life to the best of our ability to honour God, in word, and in deed.
I believe we should live that life humbly as a servant. That it is only with a servants heart that we can truly win souls for Christ.
I believe people should not have to be told we are a Christian. That the actions of our life should tell those around us that we are true servants of the Lord of Lords and King of Kings, without us having to utter a word.
Like Francis of Assisi wrote
“Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”
                                                                                    Francis of Assisi
I believe what Matthew recorded in his Gospel,
“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
I believe that  we must do this first of all because it is a command from our Lord himself and that our failure to do so has eternal consequences. 
I believe that we have no right to judge a person that is God’s place not ours. That we must be very careful what we say. Matthew 7:1,2 states clearly,
“Judge not that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged, and with the measure you use,  it will be measured back to you.”
I believe the words of the Apostle Paul who 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

I believe the words of Jesus recorded by Luke,
“Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. 
Forgive and you will be forgiven.”
                                          Luke 6:36,37
We cannot afford to go into a sinful world, a world that does not recognize God or the law of God, with a judgmental attitude.
They will only turn us off and look for thing with which to judge us. Such actions also have eternal consequences.
I believe that the only way we can reach the world for Christ is to love the world. To show the pure love of Christ  to the best of our ability to all people. Just as Jesus did.
John’s gospel recording,
“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 believe true Christian love is expressed in the words of the apostle Paul to the Corinthians who said,
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 
Love never fails....
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”  
                                                                                                                  1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13
I believe this is what it is to be a true Christian.
A great light is shining on the Christian. We cannot do things lightly. Our words, our deeds, all have the potential for eternal consequences. We are called to reflect the love of Jesus to the world around us. To illuminate the way to heaven.
Remember the words of Francis of Assisi who wrote,
“The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today” 
                                                                                               Francis of Assisi 
Please think about it.

About Jesus

About Jesus

Luke Writes,
“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.  (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)  
And everyone went to his own town to register. 
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.  
He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.  
While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,  and she gave birth to her first born, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” 
           Luke 2:1-7.
The apostle John writing from a spiritual point of view writes,
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  
He was with God in the beginning. 
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  
In him was life, and that life was the light of men.  
The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.... 
The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. 
He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.  
He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.  
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—  children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. 
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. 
John 1:1-5, 9-14.
Here are two versions of the birth of Jesus. Luke’s version that describes the physical birth of Jesus. That he was born in Bethlehem in barn.
The other version the apostle John’s version tells spiritually who Jesus is. He makes it clear that,
“He was with God in the beginning. 
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”
Simply put Jesus was there at the dawn of creation. That all things were made by him. Jesus is God in other words.
  He makes it clear that,
“The Word (Jesus), became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”
In other words Jesus whom John refers to as the “Word” who is God came into His creation.
He came to show us the way to heaven. Jesus said of himself,
‘Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” 
John 14:6.
Jesus never shied away from this. He claimed to be the way to God. The religious leaders of his day would have seen this as Jesus making himself equal to God.
John records this incident during the trial of Jesus before the Roman Governor
“Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” 
“Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?” 
“Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?” 
Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.” 
“You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” 
                           John 18:33-37
The very reason Jesus was on trial was two fold. First the religious leaders of his day seen him as a threat to their authority. Second the he claimed to be God, which was blasphemy and punishable by death.
C.S. Lewis said of Jesus,
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.” 
                    C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
Please think about it

Sons of God

Sons of God

“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.
What a wonderful thing to be called Sons of God.
The gospel of John records,
“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.
When we believe in Jesus. When we accept Christ by faith and allow him to come into our heart and mind we become children of God. Christians should never forget this.
As believers in Christ we must remember that we are representing him at all times be it on the street in the work place or wherever we go.
People whether or not we realize it notice what we do and what we say. They see our actions they even know if we attend church or not and they judge us.
We must be cognisant of this.
Francis of Assisi said two things that cannot be stressed enough to the true Christian,
“Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”
                                                                                Francis of Assisi
“The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today” 
                                                                                               Francis of Assisi.
Our life and our lifestyle should reflect Christ. We should be open and honest with all people.
We should also be real not “bible thumpers” hitting people, especially non-
Christians over the head with scripture.
We should not try to be as my friend puts it “holier than thou”.
We should live in the real world. A world that we will not always agree with or approve of. But we should not be quick to criticize it. The apostle Paul stating,
"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.
Our job as Christian is to win as many souls for Christ as possible. In order to do that we must be able to talk to people on their level. Starting with something they understand.
The apostle Paul when invited to speak to the Athenians started by noting the temple to an unknown god. Then from that point of commonality presented the gospel of Christ. We should be doing likewise today.
Think about it.

Sit with Sinners

Sit with Sinners

“When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the “sinners” and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” 
On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” 
                                     Mark 2:16,17.
Each Wednesday evening I lead a Bible study at our church. While we study the scriptures systematically I encourage discussion. We have no set period of time for going through the scriptures. Our aim is to make sure everyone at the study understands what is being said.
As a result there are times when we’ve spent the entire study on just a few verses or phrases that people don’t understand. Thanks to being in the computer age we have a multitude of resources to help us.
Our aim at the study is to show people how to live a life more acceptable to God. While at the same time showing them how to reach out to others in a positive Godly way. The way Jesus would want us to do.
Quite often after the study we end up talking for sometime. This casual talk sometimes brings up some interesting things.
At one session an older couple who love the Lord dearly. Who work as hard as they can to live Godly lives mentioned that they’d been invited to a ballet recital for their granddaughter. When they got there they were horrified at the “skimpy costumes”.
What brought it up was a picture I’d shown them on my Ipad. A picture of a ballerina pirouetting with hands raised in praise praising God in front of a cross. They found the picture offensive. Apparently this was a similar costume to what they’d seen at the recital.
I and my pastor had thought nothing of the picture. We seen it as praise to God. The costume was in no way revealing.
This couple with the best of intents had told their granddaughter and their daughter that they disapproved of the costumes. The girls had simply said they disagree and wouldn’t change.
Fortunately that event and apparently several others had not caused a rift between them but it did turn them from Christ. From what I gather they looked on the bible as a book of do’s and don’t’s.
This incident showed me that we as Christians need to be careful what we do and how we act around non-Christians especially within our families.
It turns out this couple has no television and listens almost exclusively to Christian radio and music. They have a very limited view of the world. I don’t think Jesus would want us to be like that.
I think Jesus were he walking the earth today would watch television and perhaps even use some of the content to illustrate scriptural messages.
In the above scripture from Mark, Jesus is accused of sitting with sinner and talking to them. We have no record of him ever criticizing them or speaking against their lifestyle.
Throughout the New Testament there is no mention of either Jesus or the Apostles ever criticizing those outside their faith.
They lived in the world and were it seems well aware of the society around them, Jewish, Roman and Greek.
The apostle Paul most certainly had cause to criticize the Greeks in Athens yet he didn’t he presented Christ crucified and risen. His speech in Athens is what we should pattern our witnessing after. The book of acts recording,
“So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.  
A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.  
Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?  
You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean.”  
(All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.) 
Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.  
For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. 
“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.  
And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.  
From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.  
God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.  
‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ 
“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man’s design and skill.  
In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.  
For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.” 
When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.”  
At that, Paul left the Council.  
A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.”
                                                                                               Acts 17:17-34
Note some disagreed, but some were saved and just as importantly some wanted to hear him again on the subject.
This is how we should be when we witness for Christ. We should be doing it in such a way as people get saved and we are invited back to speak with them again.
Think about it.

My Testimony

 My Testimony
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”
                                    The Apostle Paul writing to the Romans 3:23.
Forty-two years ago in a small church that an old girlfriend had taken me to. I became a youth leader. I believed there was a God but didn’t have what I can only describe as a heart knowledge of God.
The girlfriend and I split. She stopped going to the church but I continued on.
One day I was asked to give a message to the youth. I began with the above verse. Why I don’t really know. I just know that’s where I felt I had to start. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
I remember I stumbled over the meaning of the words as I spoke but those words stuck with me.
A few weeks later I went to a Doug Oldham concert and accepted Jesus as my Lord and Saviour.
The words I’d started my teaching with a few weeks earlier suddenly had meaning. I realized that I was indeed a sinner. That I couldn’t live a life good enough to reach heaven that I needed Jesus in my life.
I realized the truth of John 3:16-18 that says,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”      
                                                                 John 3:16-18.
I realized the truth of Ephesians 2:8,9
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.” 
                                                        Ephesians 2:8,9.
I realized that God through Jesus Christ had reached down to me, because I was not good enough to reach up to Him.
Over the forty-one years since then life had thrown a lot of things both good and bad at me. I have done things I’ve regretted but I have never regretted letting Christ into my life.
I can attest that the words of Jesus are true when he said,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” 
                                                  Matthew 11:28-30.
That is why I write these blogs, present the gospel to anyone who will listen, and teach the Bible at church and any other place I’m asked to.
I believe it is the most important message the world needs to hear.
Dear reader please consider reading the Bible and letting Jesus into your life.

Prayers of Intercession and Thanksgiving

Prayers intercession and thanksgiving

"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—  for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.  
This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.  
For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time.  
And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles. 
I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing." 
                                                                                                   1Timothy 2:1-8.
The Apostle Paul here is living in the time of Nero. Nero was one of the most violent opponents of the church. It would be under Nero’s reign that many Christians including most of the disciple of Christ would be murdered.
This tyrant reportedly used Christians as human torches. History regards him as one of the worst despots in history. An ancient Hitler or in modern terms, ISIS.
Yet despite this Paul writes,
“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—  for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”
This is a call for today.
I once had a person say persecution brings out the pure believers. That may be true but Christianity is spread easiest when there is peace. So we should pray for peace in our country and in our world.
Peace allows us to get the message of Christ, which is the most important message of all time, out to the world.
Paul reminding us,
“This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” 
Jesus said
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,  that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous...”
Matthew5: 43-45.
I know it’s hard to pray for such a seemingly  satanically inspired group as ISIS. But we are called to do so. We are called to pray and have them change their ways. We are called to pray that they may find the way of salvation.
That they may let we and our Christian brethren live in peace and present the gospel to those around them.
The gospel of Mark records this,
“When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the “sinners” and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” 
On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” 
Mark 2:16,17
Please think about it.

Because

Because

Because...

“He (God) first loved us.”

1 John 4:19

I will...love God

Because...

“God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, 

that whoever believes in Him should not perish 

but have everlasting life.”  

John 3:16

I will...love God

Because... 

Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, 

that you love one another; as I have loved you,

 that you also love one another.  

By this shall all know that you are My disciples.  

If you have love for one another.  

John 13:34,35

I will...love my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Because...

Jesus said, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 

bless those who curse you, 

and pray for those who spitefully use you.”   

Luke 6:27,28

I will...love my enemies.

Because...

The Bible says, “Love suffers long and is kind: 

love does not envy; loves does not parade itself, is not puffed up;

 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, 

is not provoked, thinks no evil; 

does not rejoice in iniquity, 

but rejoices in the truth; 

bears all things; believes all things, 

hopes all things, 

endures all things. 

 I Corinthians 13:4-7 

I will...I will love.

Because...

The Bible says, “Now abides faith, hope and love, 

these three; 

but the greatest of these is love.  1

 Corinthians 13:13

I will...Have faith in God..

      For according to Ephesians 2:8,9:

“...by grace you have been saved through faith, 

and not of yourselves; 

it is a gift of God, not of works; lest anyone should boast.”

I have hope in Christ...

For 

according to Romans 5:1,2: 

“...having been justified by faith, we have peace with God

 through our LORD Jesus Christ, 

through whom also we have access by faith into this grace 

which we stand, and rejoice in hope of glory of God.”

I have love...

For 

Jesus said in Matthew 22:37-40:

“...you shall love the LORD your God 

with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.  

This is the first and greatest commandment.  

And the second is like it: 

“You shall love your neighbour as yourself.  

On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Because of this and much more

I will love.

                                                                                       Scripture assembled by Neal W.                                                                                                                         with words from
                                                                                                 the apostles
                                                                                          Matthew, Luke, John & Paul