Let Love

Let Love

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

                                                                                                              Romans 12:9-18.
Do you Love? If you claim to be Christian do you love in the way the Bible intended you to love?
The apostle Paul gave Christians the standard for Christian love in 1 Corinthians 13 he wrote,

“Love is patient, love is kind. 

It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, 

it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

 Love does not delight in evil

 but rejoices with the truth.  

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes,

 always perseveres. 

Love never fails....

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. 

But the greatest of these is love.”  

                                                                                         1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13.
It seems our society is becoming less loving. As connected as we are through technology we are I think a less loving society. One just has to look at the murder rate. One figure I heard was ninety-nine people die from gun violence in the United States every day. On top of that there are thousands of other violent crimes that show a lack of love.
Politicians argue in the United States about whether to give affordable universal  health care to all, something considered a human right in all other western democracies. While they themselves have good health care.
In Canada as I write this there are several Native communities in Canada’s north that have declared a state of emergency due to a rise in suicides. Many Native communities lack safe drinking water, and adequate housing. Again something considered a human right.
All of this could be solved by a government who acted swiftly out of true love for their citizens.
Canada and the United States are not alone. Every country around the world has their problems. Places where if only Love is shown the problem could end quickly.
The Talmud has a story I like to quote. One which I can see happening to all people eventually it states,
“When a man appears before the Throne of Judgment, the first question he is asked is not, “Have you believed in God?”  Or “Have you prayed and observed the ritual?  “He is asked: “have you dealt honourably and faithfully in all your dealings with your fellow men?”
                                                                                                              The Talmud.
I believe not only politicians but all people will one day be held accountable to God for all we do. For our lack of love toward our fellow man.
Jesus said,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets”
             Matthew 7:12.
I believe all of us want to be loved therefor we should be doing to others as we would have others do to us.
Please think about it.

On Giving

On giving

The Apostle James wrote,
“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.  
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. 
You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?” 
                                                                                                         James 2:14-20.
There are approximately 2000 scriptures commanding us to look after the poor.
As Christians we are called to help the poor in what ever way we can even if it’s only giving a glass of water.
Christians are one of the largest contributors to helping the needy. However there is much we can learn from our Jewish friends. Who for centuries have been among the largest contributors to helping the poor irrespective of their faith.
The Talmud tells this story,
“When a man appears before the Throne of Judgment, the first question he is asked is not, “Have you believed in God?”  Or “Have you prayed and observed the ritual?  “He is asked: “have you dealt honourably and faithfully in all your dealings with your fellow men?”
                                                                                                                The Talmud.
The concept of dealing honourably and fairly with one’s fellow man is a Christian concept also. We are called not to judge our fellow man but to show love and understanding to those around us.
The Talmud also tells 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.
Another concept Christians can understand.
There is however one other interesting concept from Judaism that Christians should latch on to. Its called Tzedakah
The following is as good an explanation of Tzedakah. It comes from a Jewish website,
“Tzedakah is the Hebrew word for acts that we call charity in English: giving assistance and money to the poor and needy or to other worthy causes. However the nature of tzedakah is very different from the idea of charity. The word “charity suggests benevolence and generosity, a magnanimous act by the wealthy and the powerful for the benefit of he poor and needy.
The word “tzedakah” is derived form the Hebrew root Tzadei-dalet-Qof, meaning righteousness, justice or fairness. In Judaism giving to the poor is not viewed as a generous, magnanimous act, it is simply and act of righteousness, performance of a duty giving the poor their due.
The Obligation of Tzedakah
Giving to the poor is an obligation in Judaism, a duty that cannot be forsaken even by those who are themselves in need. Some sages have said that tzedakah is the highest of all commandments, equal to all of them combined, and that a person who does not perform tzedakah is equivalent to an idol worshipper. This is probably hyperbole, but it illustrates the importance ot tzedakah in Jewish thought. Tzedakah is one of the three acts that gain us forgiveness from our sins. The High Holiday liturgy repeated states that G-d has inscribed a judgement against all who have sinned, but teshuvah (repentance) tefila (prayer) and tzedakah can alleviate the decree.
According to Jewish law, we are requiered to give one-tenth of our income to the poor. This generally interpreted as one-tenth of our net income after payment of taxes. Taxes themselves do not fulfill our obligation to give tzedakah even though a significant proportion of tax revenues in America and many other countries are used to provide for the poor and needy. Those who are dependent on public assistance or living on the edge of subsistence my give less but must still give to the extent they are able; however, no person should give so much that he would become a public burden.
The obligation to perform tzedakah can be fulfilled by giving money to the poor, to health care institutions, to Synagogues or educational institutions. It can also be fulfilled by supporting your children beyond the age when you are legally required to, or supporting your parents in their old age. The obligation includes giving both to Jews and gentiles; contrary to popular belief, Jew do not just care for our own. Quite the contrary a study of reported in the Jewish journal indicated that Jewish ‘mega-donors’ (who give more than $10 million a year to charity found that only 6% if their mega-dollars went to specifically Jewish causes.
Judaism acknowledges that many people who ask for charity have no genuine need. In fact, the Talmud suggest that this is a good thing: if all people who asked for charity have no were in genuine Need we would be subjected to punishment for G-d for refusing anyone who asked. The existence of frauds diminishes our liability for failing to give to all who ask. Because we have some legitimate basis for doubting a beggar’s sincerity. It is permissible to investigate the legitimacy of charity before donating to it.
We have an obligation to avoid becoming in need of Tzedakah. A person should take any work available, even if he thinks it is beneath his dignity to avoid become a public charge.
However, if a person is truly in need and has no way of obtaining money on his own he should not feel embarrassed to accept tzedakah. No person should feel to proud to take money from others. In fact it is considered a transgression to refuse tzedakah. One source says that to make yourself suffer by refusing to accept tzedakah is equivalent to shedding your own blood.
Levels of Tzedakah
Certain kinds of tzedakah are considered more meritorious than others. The Talmud describes these different levels of tzedakah, and Rambam organized them into a list. The levels of charity from the least meritorious to the most meritorious, are: 

Giving begrudgingly

Giving less than you should, bu giving cheerfully,

Giving after being asked

Giving before being asked

Giving when you do not know the recipient’s identity, but the recipient knows yours

Giving when you know and the recipient’s identity, but the recipient doesn’t know yours.

Giving when neither party knows the other’s identity.

Enabling the recipient to become self-reliant. 

As Christians the above is something we should consider. It is perfectly in line with Christian belief.
Please Think about it.

A Christian

A Christian

“Jesus is ideal and wonderful, but you Christians - you are not like him.”
                                                                                                           Mahatma Gandhi.
I know little of Gandhi. However I can see why he made the above statement. He grew up with many who called themselves Christian and were far from Christian.
It happens today. Many in the west and particularly in North America where I live call themselves Christians that are not.
O they go to church. They may even read the Bible each day, even pray. But they are not Christians.
A Christian is someone who has confessed their sins directly to God and accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour.
It however does not stop there. Being a Christian is an on going process. A Christian needs to pray and read the Bible daily. Then put what they have learned into action in their life.
Christians, true Christians are doing their best to be Christ like. They are following the examples of Christ and the teachings of the apostles.
They are exhibiting the fruits of the Spirit as Paul explains,
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  
gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”  
                                                                                  Galatians 5:22,23.
A true Christian follows the teachings of Jesus who told us to Love, God, our neighbour, and even our enemy.
Jesus when asked,
 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  
This is the first and greatest commandment.  
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” 
                                                                                       Matthew 22:36-40
Prior to that Matthew’s gospel records,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
                              Matthew 5:43-45
They are following the teaching of the apostle Paul who wrote,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
                                                                                                                Romans 12:18.
A true Christian believes and practices what the apostle Peter wrote,
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  
Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 
Dear friends,
 I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.’"
                                                                                         1 Peter 2:9-12.  
A true Christian believes Jesus who said,
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” 
                                                                               Matthew 6:19-21.
A true Christian does not Judge those outside his or her own faith. The apostle Paul saying,
“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.
A true Christian obeys the words of Jesus who said,
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” 
                          Matthew 7:1,2.
A true Christian follows the words of the writer of Hebrews who wrote,
“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” 
Hebrews 12:14.
A true Christian obeys Jesus who said,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” 
    Matthew 7:12
This to me is in brief what it is to be a true Christian.
Please think about it.

Headed to Hell?

Headed to Hell?
My wife at one time was a librarian and to say she has a few books is an understatement. The walls of our house are lined with books.
One book entitled "Essentials in Christian Faith" by John B. Harrington, published in 1958, could have been written yesterday.
   It opens with this quote from Paul Gallico in Esquire Magazine in 1948:
"A writer in a popular magazine has written the following words; 'We are all, if you will pardon the expression, Headed for Hell in a handbarrow. If, ever the people of the world stood in need of a spiritual revival, it is now. We are beginning to poison the face of the earth with our miserable presence. The brakes are off. The cart of the world is sliding down the way greased with hatred, ambition, lies, self-seeking and avarice toward the pit.’"
Harrington notes that Gallico makes no pretense of being "a religious man" noting that "...for him it is precisely religion in its organized forms which has in part caused the situation he deplores. He is careful to state that it is not "religion" for which he is looking. For in his opinion, religion throughout the history of our culture has advanced its control over human beings by the investment of bigotry and persecution. 
Yet, out of despair over the current human situation he says; ‘The voice for which my heavy spirit is yearning must reach us all... 
For if it is not heard, we are lost. Something beyond our material enrichment and lust for power and position, some rewards founded on good will, selflessness, and the innate dignity of the human spirit...honour, humility, decency  courage."
Another Paul writing to a member of the first century church wrote the following,
"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God" 
                                                                                                         2 Timothy 3:1-4
If Paul Gallico is right and I believe he is, mankind is considerably nearer the bottom of that slope than he was in 1948. Moreover at the bottom of that slope is a very deep lake filled with fire and brimstone.
   We only have to look around us to see the world is filled with people who are out to feed their lusts. Men and women who seek power no matter the cost.
We look to the terrorist of the world who wish to force their ideologies on people. Who seek power by the sword.
There are also such people within the western world. Men and women who use their power and influence to feed their greed.
While there are many super rich and others of wealth that have pledged to help the poor. There are many, many more that are using the poor and weak of our society to fill their pockets.
Many owners of industry have refused to think about the environment or worker safety until laws were passed forcing them to think about it.
Our society has fallen away from God and the further it falls the worse it gets. Man needs God. Man needs to realize that there is ultimately a God to answer too.
The writer of Ecclesiastes states,
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole  duty  of man. 
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” 
Ecclesiastes12:13,14.
 Until all men realize there is a God to answer to however our world is destined to get a lot worse.
I truly believe the answer to the worlds problems lies in having faith in God and following his precepts who Jesus said,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” 
                                                         Matthew 11:28-30.
Please think about it.

Not so distant drummer

Not so distant drummer.
“Human beings vegetables  or cosmic dust. We all dance to a mysterious tune, intoned in the distance by an invisible player.”
                                       Albert Einstein 
From what I understand Einstein did not believe in God. Yet in the above statement he, from the way I see it at least, said there is a common thing that binds all things, vegetable, mineral, animal and humans.
I believe Einstein and in deed all scientist can make the discoveries they make because God created the universe to be mathematically perfect.
Mathematics is a pure science. Properly used I believe it will one day link all things in one unified formula.
As I look around me I am astounded by the universe. From the smallest subatomic particle to the largest galaxies and stars all were predicted through mathematics.
There is nothing random in the universe even though at first we may think so. Everything has a purpose.
As I understand it the very earth we live on is the perfect distance from not only the sun but from other objects in space thus allowing life to exist on it.
The psalmist writes,
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” 
                                                                                                                                Psalm 19:1.
I believe that statement.
I believe that science done correctly can prove there is a creator or at least the mathematical formula God used to created the universe we live in.
I also believe that even when that formula is found there will be people who say there is no God.
It takes faith to believe in God. Faith defined is,
“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.
What as always amazed me is that scientist and brilliant men who have had faith in their scientific theories for decades (or as in Einstein’s case a century), cannot have faith that there is a God who created the Universe.
Still whether to believe in God or not, is a freedom God has given all of us.
C. S. Lewis said,
“We may ignore, but we can nowhere evade, the presence of God.” 
                                                                                                 C.S. Lewis.
The Apostle Paul speaking to the learned men in Athens said,
"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 17:22-34.
Whether to believe in God and the fact Jesus is God’s one and Only Son is up to you. Jesus speaking of Himself gave us all a choice when he said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.   Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son”. 
                                                                                                                                  John 3:16-18.
Please think about it.

The Way

The Way

“Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  
If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” 
Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” 
Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?  
Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.  
Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.”
                                                John 14:5-11.
Hear Jesus makes a statement that makes it clear who he is.
Jesus said,
1/ Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  
2/ “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father...”
3/ “I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me”
4/ “The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.”
These are basic beliefs of Christianity. Christians base their faith on the fact that Jesus is the One and Only Son of God. God incarnate.
We believe what the apostle Paul said,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” 
Romans 5:8
Jesus died for us even though we were sinners separated from Him. As C. S. Lewis puts it,
“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
We believe what Simeon said as recorded in the book of Luke.
“Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 
“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. 
For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” 
                                                                                                  Luke 2:28-32.
Jesus is God’s salvation, for all people. A light to show Gentiles (non-Jews) the way to heaven. And to glorify the People of Israel.
  We Christians believe the apostle Paul who 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.
It is by the grace of God we get to heaven not our works. Our salvation is an act of faith. The writer of Hebrews stating,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” 
                                                                                                                          Hebrews 11:1
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
                                                                                                         Hebrews 11:6
  We also believe in what Jesus said when speaking of him self he said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son”. 
                                                                                                            John 3:16-18.
We believe God showed his love for each individual by sending His One and Only Son down to earth to save us from our sins.
In doing so he offers all people everywhere the opportunity to enter heaven by simply believing Jesus is The Saviour of man. The one and Only Son of God.
The choice however is up to the individual.
Will you pray and ask Jesus into your heart and life today. Will you accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour?
The choice is up to you. It requires nothing more than a simple prayer like this.
Dear Heavenly Father
I believe Jesus is your one and Only Son. That He came to earth to pay the price for my sins. I admit that I am a sinner and ask your forgiveness in the name of Jesus.
Please Lord Jesus come into my heart and life right now. Show me your ways and direct my life from this day forward.
                           Amen.
If you truly believe Jesus is the Son of God, the Saviour of Man and have prayed that prayer, I would ask that you start praying directly to God and reading the Bible. Ask God to direct you to a good church congregation.
Even if you don’t believe in Jesus I would ask that you at least visit a church and learn more about Jesus. Talk to the pastor of the church and ask him any questions you might have.
An honest pastor will readily answer all the questions you have.
I recommend that you visit a Baptist Church as I have found them to be well balanced, knowledgeable, and firmly rooted in the basics of Christianity.
Please think about it.

Are you a Christian?

Are you a Christian?
Jesus said,
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  
Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” 
                                                                                                                  Matthew 7:21-23.
I firmly believe there are many who attend church that are not Christians. There are many out there that say they are Christians but are not. I believe this is true of everyone from the person who sits in the pew, to pastors and evangelist.
It’s easy to say I believe in Jesus. There are some who can quote huge chapters of the bible but are not Christians. There are those who can tell you all you need to know about how to be saved but are not saved themselves.
I worked with youth for sometime and we always use to say the hardest people to reach were those who’d grown up in the church. They knew when to say something and when not. They knew how to conduct themselves in church. We use to say they knew “church speak”.
Sadly to some church is a social club they have grown up in. A place their grandparents and parents brought them. They have friends in the church and they find it a good place to socialize.
There are others who come simply to feel good. They like the music, the people and the atmosphere at the church they attend.
Both these groups lack a heart knowledge of who Jesus is. They may say they have accepted Christ as their Lord and Saviour but the reality is they have only an intellectual knowledge.
What I wold ask anyone who claims to be a Christian that is reading this is, Are you sure you are going to heaven? Have you truly made Jesus Lord of your life?
Do you believe Jesus when he said,
“...I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” 
                                                                                                                                               John 14:6 
      Do you really believe what the apostle Paul said,
“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.  
As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”  
For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,  for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved”
                                                                                                                                    Romans 10:9-13
Is your faith, true faith?
The writer of Hebrews states,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” 
                                                                                                                        Hebrews 11:1 
Is this the kind of faith you have?
Were you to die today are you certain you would enter heaven?
Please think about it.

Message from a Rose

Message from a Rose
There is a delightful story with quiet a meaning woven into it by Ben Zion Bokser it’s entitled the Rose talked Back. It goes like this,
The Rose Talked Back

“The man sweeping the synagogue paused for a moment.  He looked at the flowers lying about in disorder, ‘What waste!’  He said too himself.  Those roses had adorned the pulpit at a wedding an hour before.  Now all was over and they were waiting to be discarded.
The attendant leaning on his sweeper was lost in thought when suddenly he heard a strange sound.  One of the roses replied to him.
‘Do you call this a waste?” the flower protested, ‘What is life anyway, yours or mine, but a means of service?  My mission was to create some fragrance and beauty, and when I have fulfilled it my life has not been wasted.  And what greater privilege is there than to adorn a bride’s way to her beloved, what greater privilege than to help glorify the moment when a bride and groom seal their faith in each other by entering the covenant of marriage?’
Our little flower paused for a moment too watch the man’s face, and then continued her discourse.
‘Roses are like people.  They live in deeds, not in time.  My glory was but for a brief hour, but you should have seen the joy in the bride’s eye.  I like to believe that I had something to do with it, by creating a suitable setting for the moment of her supreme happiness.  So don’t grieve for me.  My life has been worthwhile.
Having spoken her little piece, the rose was once more silent.  The attendant, startled from his reverie and a little wiser, pushed the sweeper again and continued with his work.”
                                                                                                                 Ben Zion Bokser
I like what the rose said, “Roses are like people.  They live in deeds, not in time.”
Question, What will people say about the deeds in your life?
Sadly for lack of anything to say all people will say about some Christians is “they were a good person”.
All too many Christians do not put their faith to work. James said,
“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.  
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. 
You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?”   
                                                                                                                       James 2:14-20.
We can all do something for someone. We can all work for Christ. It may not get national or international attention but we can still work in our corner of the world to do things.
I think of my late sister in law. She lived most of her life in poverty. She struggled with alcoholism yet managed to stay sober for the last twenty-five years of her short fifty-six years on this earth.
At her funeral however she was remembered as a person who gave of herself. Who helped the poor. Who worked through her church and in other ways to help as many people as she could.
At her funeral there were people from all walks of life who praised her good deeds and her faith in God.
She was far from perfect yet she did what she could do to help others and serve her Saviour Jesus Christ.
There’s an old expression that my first pastor use to quote often it said,
“You have only one life and it will soon be past only what’s done for Christ will last.”
Dear Christian what are you doing for Christ?
At your funeral what will people say? What will God say?
Please think about it.

Will you?

Will you?
“The great question of our time is, 'Will we be motivated by materialistic philosophy or by spiritual power?”
     Billy Graham.
I live in what I believe is perhaps the most materialistic society on earth, North America
Each day you are inundated with thousands of images and words wanting us to buy the latest gadget. The advertisers tell us that this thing or that thing will make our life easier.
People are drowning in debt because they swallowed the mantra of buy now pay later. People work long hours, take work home with them, all to have enough money to have “the good life”.
Now there’s nothing wrong with having money, with being rich and having all the latest gadgets. Money and the things it buys are not sinful in themselves. Many of the things we buy do in fact make our life easier.
The apostle Paul writing to Timothy said,
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” 
                                                                                        1 Timothy 6:10.
Sadly materialism has entered the church.
My pastor is quick to point to what he calls the “blab it grab it” crowd, or so called “name it claim it crowd”.
Preachers that are telling people to give to God and he will give you a return on your money of one hundred or even a thousand fold. As if God is a super banker giving you incredible interest on your investment. What garbage!
God is not a banker giving interest.
Sadly as apparently in the apostle Paul’s time materialism has entered the church.
From where I live here in Canada I can see how the materialism of secular society affects the church and how false teachers feed on that.
After all who wouldn’t want a thousand percent return on their money.
Christians however should not be looking for riches. The apostle Paul writes,
“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”  
Philippians 4:12
As Christians we shouldn’t be looking for great wealth at all costs. There’s nothing wrong with asking God for a comfortable lifestyle. However our desire should not be focused on wealth it should be focused on serving God.
Jesus said,
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 
“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.  
But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! 
“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” 
                                                                                                                Matthew 6:19-24
Jesus went on to say,
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?  
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”
                                                                                                  Matthew 6:25,26 .
As Christians our live should be focused on God. On serving God to the best of our ability. We should not worry about money and getting rich.
As the apostle Paul said,
The apostle Paul said,
“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
                                                                                                                                    Philippians:4:19.
Dear Christian,
Please think about it. 

Your Life

Your Life
The apostle Peter writes,
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  
Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 
Dear friends,
 I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.’ 
                                                                                     1 Peter 2:9-12.
Francis of Assisi wrote,
“The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today” 
                                                                                                          Francis of Assisi
What is your sermon telling the people around you? Is your life reflecting the love of God to those around you.
Jesus said,
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. 
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
                          Matthew 5:13-16
A great light shines on the Christian. The eternal resting place of people we come in contact with may depend on us. By our deeds will people will judge, not only us, but Christ.
We must at all times act in an ethical and moral way toward those around us. We cannot afford to do less.
All too often I’ve heard “Why should I go to church. I know people who say they are Christians and I live lives that are better than them.”
As Christians we need to be going before God each day and asking him to show us how we can live a better life. How we can live a life acceptable to Him.
Billy Graham said,
“The men who followed Him were unique in their generation. They turned the world upside down because their hearts had been turned right side up. The world has never been the same.”
                                                                                                                                         Billy Graham.
Is your heart turned right side up?
When people look at you and your life do they see a morally and ethically good person? Do they see Christ reflected in your life and lifestyle?
For many years I was a professional clown. I did everything from Children’s birthday parties to major events to which thousands showed up. Before I left my home to perform I said a simple prayer that I still say each morning. I pray,
Dear Heavenly Father,
May your will be done in my life this day. May I perform to the best of my ability. May I bring a little joy, happiness, and laughter to those whom I preform in front of. May all who see me see Jesus reflected in my life.
                            Amen.
You may not think you are performing but you are. Your life is a performance. Each day when you meet people they consciously or subconsciously are judging your performance.
So what will they see in your performance?
Please think about it.

Draw Near

Draw near
The apostle Peter wrote,
“His (Christs) divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.  
Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;  and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;  and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.  
For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
                                                                                                          2 Peter 1:3-8.
Christ has given all true believers in everything we need for life and to live a life of godliness. God through Christ has given us, great and precious promises, so that through them we may participate in the divine nature of God and escape corruption in the world we live in.
Faith, true faith in Christ is the beginning of a Christian life. However it should not stop there. We need to grow in the Lord. We need to have a life that reflects the goodness of God.
Peter tells us to add to our faith goodness

to 

goodness,

 knowledge, 

to 

knowledge, 

self-control, 

to 

self control, 

perseverance, 

to 

perseverance 

godliness, 

to 

godliness, 

brotherly kindness,

to 

brotherly kindness 

love. 

In order to do this we need to be studying the scriptures for ourselves. We need to be praying that God will give us insight into the scriptures. That He will draw us closer to Himself.
We need to ask God daily to show us how we can improve our lives.
The apostle Paul tells us,
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
                                                               Galatians 5:22,23
As Christians the fruits of the Spirit exhibit who we are. When people see them at work in our lives they will be drawn to what we have. They will want what we have.
As Christians we need to do two very important things. Draw near to God daily, and present to the world in word and deed the fruits of the Spirit that shows the Love of God.
Francis of Assisi said it best when he wrote,

“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 Assisi
As Christians if we are drawing closer to God daily it will result in good works. That the world can see. Works that will bring people into a personal relationship with God.
Please think about it.

A Bold Belief

A bold belief
John’s Gospel records,
“Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  
If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” 
Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” 
Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?  
Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.  
Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.”  
                                                        John 14:5-11.
The above quote from John’s gospel tells who Jesus is. Jesus talking to His disciples states,
“I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Jesus goes on to say,
“Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.”
“I am in the Father and the Father is in me:...”
These are bold statements. Jesus equates Himself with God something punishable by death in the time in which Jesus lived. Something Jesus was well aware of yet still equated Himself with God.
Jesus being God incarnate is a fundamental belief of Christianity. You cannot be a Christian and not believe this.
The writer of Hebrews states,
“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”
                                             Hebrews 1:3.
Note the writer of Hebrews states,
“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being” 
Note also the writer says Jesus provided purification for our sins. The sins of the individual. The apostle Paul writing to the Romans said,
“Since we have now been justified by his blood (the blood of Jesus), how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!  
For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!  
Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” 
                                         Romans 5:9-11.
There is no middle ground with Christianity. Either you believe Jesus is who he said he is or you do not. He is either the Son of God, Saviour of mankind, God incarnate, or He is not. You must decide.
C. S. Lewis said,
Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.
                                                  C. S. Lewis.
I as a Christian believe the decision you make about Jesus, has eternal implications.
Please think about it.

A Servants Attitude

A Servants Attitude.
“Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.  
Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,  
and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.  
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  
     Mark 10:42-45.
Do you have a servants attitude?
A few years ago now I had a pastor that attended a pastoral convention. Going there his airline lost his luggage and he was forced to attend the first meeting wearing a jacket white shirt and blue jeans. He just happened to be one of the speakers so he found himself on the stage.
He was neat and tidy but he looked around him and seen everyone in a suit and tie all the same. As he looked at those pastors on the stage and off, he realized there was a disconnect between the pastors and the general public.
At the same time he realized that some people didn’t come to church because they thought they had to dress a particular way, ie in suit and tie.
He then noted that most of the churches he visited had special parking places for their pastors near the church entrance.  There were also other odds and ends pastors seemed to get treated too that the average person in the congregation didn’t get.
None of these things were wrong in themselves. In fact it even showed respect to the pastor.
Still he came back to his congregation and eliminated his parking spot. He told his pastoral staff to dress casual rather than in a suit all the time. He encouraged people to come to church as they were.
He became more available to people.
He started two services one a traditional one with hymns. The other with more contemporary music.
It lead to a change within the congregation as a whole. People were no longer worried about coming to church in their “Sunday best”. People from various walks of life noticed and started coming.
Word got out that people were accepted as they are. The result of those changes and his very dynamic speaking cause the church to grow.
God’s hand was on that church. The pastoral staff regard themselves as servants and it permeated the whole church.
It essentially stemmed back to what Jesus said,
“Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.  
Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,  
and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.  
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  
            Mark 10:42-45.  
When people see people with a servants attitude they tend to respect them.
A servants attitude however is not always easy for many people.
I am now a retired professional clown and magician. I attended occasions from children’s birthday parties to major events. In the houses of poor people, to people with great wealth.
When people hired me I became their servant for however long I was there. I was hired as the entertainment and that was all. For me that was fine.
There were times when I was offered a drink or something to eat but I never expected it. All I expected was my pay.
I took on a partner that unfortunately couldn’t see that we were servants. She quite often would leave the event and grumble that we were not offered anything. As a result our partnership was short lived.
As Christians no matter how long we have known the Lord we need to realize that we are servants, especially any of us who are in leadership positions.
Once we take that servants attitude to heart our ministry for the Lord improves drastically.
Francis of Assisi wrote,

“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 Assisi.
While Francis of Assisi’s work is not from scripture it reflects Christian principles we all should be practising.
Please think about it.