When was the last time?

  When was the last time

The Psalmist writes,

“Praise the LORD. 

Praise God in his sanctuary; 

praise him in his mighty heavens. 

Praise him for his acts of power; 

praise him for his surpassing greatness. 

Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, 

praise him with the harp and lyre, 

praise him with tambourine and dancing, 

praise him with the strings and flute, 

praise him with the clash of cymbals, 

praise him with resounding cymbals. 

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. 

Praise the LORD.” 

                                  Psalm 150.

If you claim to be a Christian, a true believer in Christ Jesus, are you taking time during your day to praise God?

When was the last time outside of Church that you praised God?

Please think about it.

The Lord God is One

  The Lord God is One

In the book of Deuteronomy we read.

"Hear O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.

You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk to them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up

You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." Deuteronomy 6:4-9   

       There is I believe a simple way to say this.

God should be central in the life of all believers. We should be teaching all we know and believe about God to our children. We should talk about him to with other believers and with those who don’t believe who are willing to listen to us.

We should pray to him all the time and praise Him as often as we can.

Question; If you consider yourself a true believer in Christ Jesus, a true believer in God are you doing this?

Please think about it.

Do you have faith?

  Do you have faith?

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1.

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6 

Blaise Pascal wrote,

“In faith there is enough light for those who want to believe and enough shadows to blind those who don't.” Blaise Pascal.

To my mind faith in anything or anyone is the most difficult thing one can be asked to have. That is doubly so if you can’t see that person or thing. I think that is why God asks us to have faith in Him.

People of faith are the strongest believers. Those who have faith especially in a person are those who would literary die for what they believe in.

At the same time the requirement to have faith in someone quite often rules out those who would doubt the person. After all why would you put your life on the line for someone you can’t see or hear?

Thus the question becomes; Do you have enough faith to believe in an unseen God?

Please think about it. 

I Know God exists

  I know God exists

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 

Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. 

There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.” 

                                                                                            Psalm 19:1-3.

Ben Zion Bokser wrote,

“I have not seen the robin but I know he is there because I heard him singing through my window from the tree-top outside.

I have not seen God.  But I have looked at my child’s eyes, and have been overwhelmed by the miracle of unfolding life.

I have watched the trees bedeck themselves with new garbs of green in the spring, and have been stirred by the miracle of continual rebirth.

I have looked at the stars, and have been overcome by the miracle of the grandeur and majesty of the universe.

I know that God exists, because I have heard the song of His presence from all the tree-tops of creation.” Ben Zion Bokser.

I like what Ben Zion Bokser is saying. He in essence is saying that while we cannot see God we can see Him in His creation.

Stephen Hawking one of the arguably one of the greatest minds of the twentieth century said,

“The universe and the laws of physics seem to have been specifically designed for us" Stephen Hawking.

God is real. Ultimately however it comes down to what you believe.

The way I see it however is the decision you make about God, can affect your life throughout eternity.

Your decision is as Blaise Pascal said, a wager. He wrote,

“Belief is a wise wager. Granted that faith cannot be proved, what harm will come to you if you gamble on its truth and it proves false? If you gain, you gain all; if you lose, you lose nothing. Wager, then, without hesitation, that He exists.” Blaise Pascal

Please think about it.

Lord make me an instrument

 Lord make me an instrument

In the book of Hebrews we read,

"God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them." Hebrews 6:10.

Francis of Assisi wrote this prayer. One we who claim to be true believers in Christ Jesus need to take to heart.

"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

Please think about it.

Let your light

  Let your light 

Jesus said,

"In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16.

The apostle Peter writes,

“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 2:11,12.

Are you known for your good deeds? Are you presenting Christ through your words and deeds in a good light?

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 those around you?

Please think about it.

Proof of Commitment

  Proof of Commitment 

Jesus talking to the rich man said,

“And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, ‘You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.’” Mark 10:21.

To me the true test of a Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus is if you can give up everything and follow Him.

I see this in the persecuted Church around the world. In order to follow Jesus many of them are forced to give up house and home. Many are shunned by their family. Some are imprisoned. Some are the object of violence. Yet they continue to put their trust in Christ Jesus.

All of what is happening to these Christians happened to those in the who believed in Christ in biblical times.

To these people Jesus promises,

“Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Matthew 10:39.

Question; Are you willing to give up everything for Christ?

Please think about it.

A duty to the poor

  A duty to the Poor

In the book of Leviticus we read,

"If your brother becomes poor and cannot maintain himself with you, you shall support him as though he were a stranger and a sojourner, and he shall live with you." Leviticus 25:35.

How many of us either don’t know about this duty or ignore this duty to the poor ordered by God?

How many of the politicians, pastors and evangelist who we support, who claim to be Christian, obey God and perform this duty?

Now I know the Talmud is not a Christian book. But it is full of Christian principles. One such principle is illustrated here,

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.

Question; Are you fulfilling your duty to the poor?

Please think about it.

Gods existence

 Gods existence 

In the book of Genesis we read,

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1.

The bible never argues when it comes to God. It was written to believers in God and believers need no explanation.

There are many in the world today that do not believe in God. There are many Atheist governments that do not believe there is a God. Yet they put Christians in prison for believing in Him. Someone they say does not exist. And if something does not exist it cannot be a threat can it?

C. S. Lewis stated,

“Atheist express their rage against God although in their view He does not exist,” C. S. Lewis.

Stephen Hawking perhaps one of the greatest minds of the twentieth century said,

“The universe and the laws of physics seem to have been specifically designed for us" Stephen Hawking.

Hawking also noted,

“It would be difficult to explain why the universe should have begun in just this way, except as the act of God who intended to create beings like us" Stephen Hawking.

William Philips, Nobel prize winning Physicist said,

“I believe in God more because of science than in spite of it"William Philips.

Werner Heisenberg, father of Quantum Mechanics, Nobel prize winner in physics noted,

“The first gulp from the glass of natural science will make you an atheist,

but at the bottom of the glass God is waiting for you"Werner Heisenberg.

Perhaps the reason Atheist and Atheist governments speak out against those who believe in The Lord God Almighty is that deep down they know God exists.

Blaise Pascal said,

“Belief is a wise wager. Granted that faith cannot be proved, what harm will come to you if you gamble on its truth and it proves false? If you gain, you gain all; if you lose, you lose nothing. Wager, then, without hesitation, that He exists.” Blaise Pascal.

Ultimately the wager Pascal talks about will be determined for each of us upon our death. By then to my way of thinking it, will, for many be too late. They will have placed the wrong bet.

Please think about it.

Madman, fool, demon, or Son of God?

  Madman, fool, demon or Son of God?

In the gospel of Mark we hear of this question being put to Jesus’ disciples by Jesus,

"Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, "Who do people say I am?" 

They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets." 

"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ.'" Mark 8:27-29.

In his book Mere Christianity C. S. Lewis referring to Jesus, points out,

"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." 

It has been pointed out that if Jesus was not the Son of God, The Christ, The Messiah. Jesus would have committed the greatest of heresies. Not only that He and his disciples would have perpetuated the greatest lie in human history.

Ultimately no one can force you to believe Jesus is the Son of God, the Saviour of mankind. It is a decision each individual must make for themselves.

Thus the question becomes;

Who do you believe Jesus is?

Please think about it.

To gain or to forfeit.

  To gain or to forfeit.

Jesus said,

"What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?" Mark 8:36.

Martin Luther King jr. in a prayer said,

“Then, finally, help us to realize that man was created to shine like stars and live on through all eternity.” Martin Luther King jr.

If there is one thing the people of the world need to know is that while this life is finite we are not. When we no longer need this body we are destined to live on throughout eternity. Where we will live however, depends on what we do in this life.

I as a Christian believe there is both a heaven and a hell. That it is here in this world where we make the decision as to where we will spend eternity.

I believe Jesus when He said,

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6.

The bottom line however is you dear reader must decide for yourself if what Jesus is quoted staying here is right or wrong.

Please think about it.

Riches you and God

  Riches, you, and God

Matthews gospel records this,

"Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?" "Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments." 

"Which ones?" the man inquired. Jesus replied, " ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony,  honor your father and mother,' and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.''" 

"All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?" 

Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." 

When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth." Matthew 19:16-22.

I’m speaking here to those rich people who claim to be Christian. Now let me make one thing clear here. There is nothing wrong with being rich. It’s what priority you put on your riches that count. The apostle Paul tells us,

"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 here in Canada and the United States too many people listen to false Preachers and evangelist (all of whom are very wealthy. Many of whom who have as the apostle Paul said wandered from the faith) who preach if give to their ministry and God will bless you with even more than you give. Such teaching is wrong.

The true test of a Christian preacher or evangelist or any Christian is are you willing for the cause of Christ to give up all you have?

I see this happening around the world where people who choose to follow Christ quite often are rejected by their families. Cast out of their villages. Forced to leave their homes. Thrown into prison. Even murdered for believing in Christ.

When I see this I wander if those preachers who preach the prosperity doctrine would be willing to give away all they have? Believing God to supply their daily needs.

Thus my question to you; If you claim to be a Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus are you willing to give up everything for the cause of Christ?

Please think about it.

Permissible but not constructive

  Permissible but not constructive

The apostle Paul writing to the Corinthians states,

"Everything is permissible"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"—but not everything is constructive.  

Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others."1 Corinthians 10:23,24.

Simply put we have the freedom to do anything we want. That being said we should use our freedom to build up others.

Paul here teaches the Corinthians that true freedom isn’t the right to do as one pleases, but the liberty to do what is right for God.

The true Christian life is doing what is right toward others, even our enemies, 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,"  Matthew 5:43,44

The apostle Paul wrote,

“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.” Romans 12:14.

Question: If you consider yourself a Christian, a true follower of Christ Jesus how are you using your freedom? To bless or curse those around you? To honour or dishonour God?

Transforming

 Transforming

Jesus said,

"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” Luke 6:27,28. 

This verse of scripture is to my way of thinking emphatic. We are to love our enemies. That to me means loving those we disagree with. Irrespective of who they are, their lifestyle, race religion or for that matter their political views.

That also means we have no right to judge those around us. Jesus made that clear when He said,

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven."  Luke 6:37. 

Our job as Christians and the apostle is to win souls for Christ and we can only do that by loving them. 

The great American civil rights leader Martin Luther King jr. wisely said,

Love is 

the only force capable of transforming an enemy

 into friend.

                                                   Martin Luther King, Jr.

Please think about it.

Living at Peace

Living at peace

The apostle Paul wrote,

"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, 

live at peace with everyone." 

                                                           Romans 12:18.

I always look with amazement at Christians around the world who are persecuted for their faith. These believers are doing their best to live at peace with those around them. Yet time after time I hear of those who believe in Christ Jesus, being expelled from their village, or expelled from their family for their beliefs. I over and over again I hear believers in Jesus being verbally and physically attacked. Even put in jail. And time and time again I hear of those believers praying for and forgiving their persecutors. These believers are putting into practice what Jesus did on the cross. When he said,

“Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." Luke 23:34.

This is the sign of a true believer.

It is something those of us who live in Canada and America who claim to be true believers in Christ Jesus need to show in our lives.

Question; when people act negatively in any way to you, do you pray for them?

Are you doing your best to live at peace with those around you, Even those you disagree with, or you perceive as your enemy?

Please think about it. 

A Ministry of Reconciliation

 A ministry of reconciliation

The apostle Paul wrote,

“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.  

We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. " 2Corinthians5:18-20

The apostle Paul tells us that we who truly believe in Christ Jesus are Christs Ambassadors. Jesus speaking of himself tells us,

“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.

Thus we are to show God’s love to those around us. We are not to judge them. As Martin Luther king Jr, said,  

"Love is 

the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend."

                                                                                    Martin Luther King, Jr.

The apostle Paul defined Christian love as,

“Love is patient, love is kind. 

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

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

it is not easily angered, 

it keeps no record of wrongs. 

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 

Love never fails....

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

But the greatest of these is love.”  

                                                                     1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13.

If you consider yourself a true believer in Christ Jesus is this the kind of love you are showing those around you? 

Are you truly an Ambassador for Christ?

Please think about it.

Showing our Love

  Showing our love

In the book of James we read,

"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.

One of the best ways to show our love for someone, is to help them in their time of need. It doesn’t really matter why a person came to be in need. All that matters is that we help them to the extent that we are able. And as believers in Christ Jesus we should be doing so in the name of Christ.

While the Talmud is not a Christian book it has many things Christians should take to heart, that line up perfectly with Christian teaching.

One such teaching is this,

“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.

There are many, many wealthy Christians in the world today that do help those in need.

    Sadly there are many wealthy Christians, and even more sadly, men and women calling themselves Christian pastors and evangelist, who are not helping the poor and needy.

That being said God will ultimately judge all of us. And here’s another quote from the Talmud to think about,

"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.

If this is true then what would your answer be?

Please think about it.

A Prayer for you

  A Prayer for you

In the book of Jude we read this blessing. A blessing I’d like to send out all those believers who read my blogs. It reads,

"To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Saviour be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. Jude 1:24,25.

Dear Heavenly Father,

It is my prayer for those true believers in Christ Jesus, that no matter where they may be living around the world, that you God will bless them richly.

That You will keep them safe. Give them strength for each day, and give them wisdom in all situations.

In Jesus name I pray

Amen

Forgotten Scriptures

  Forgotten scripture

Jesus 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.

I think this is the most forgotten text in the Bible Here in North America. We as believers in Christ Jesus must remember we cannot judge anyone except those within the church. And even then we must only judge those within the church to see that they are preaching sound doctrine. 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.

Sadly Christians do not do much expelling. They don’t stand up to men and women who are preaching wrong doctrine. 

The apostle Peter wrote,

"But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.  

Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.

In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping."2Peter2:1-3.

What Peter is saying here is happening in the church today and men and women of God need to stand up to them.

They need to stand up to them because they are bringing the word of God into disrepute.

Please think about it.

God seen in Science

 God seen in Science

In the Book of Genesis we read,

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” 

                                                                             Genesis 1:1

The Bible was written to believers. Therefore it does not defend the existence of God, simply because believers need no proof. They believe by faith God exists.

However there are those out there who debate the existence of God. So listed below are several quotes from men that have much better education than I have. Men, scientist who believe in God.

Dr. Arno Penzias 1978 Nobel Prize winner in Physics, states,

"Astronomy leads us to a unique event, a universe which was created out of nothing, one with a very delicate balance needed to provide exactly the conditions required to permit life and one which has an underlying (one might say ‘supernatural') plan." Dr. Arno Penzias

    William Philips, Nobel prize winning physicist,

“I believe in God more because of science than in spite of it" William Philips.

Werner Heisenberg father of Quantum Mechanics, Nobel prize winner in Physics states,

"The first gulp from the glass of natural science will make you an atheist,

but at the bottom of the glass God is waiting for you” Werner Heisenberg.

Even the late Stephen Hawking one of the greatest scientific minds of the twentieth century wrote,

"It would be very difficult to explain why the universe should have begun in just this way, except as the act of a God who intended to create beings like us," Stephen Hawking.

Each of these men seen the evidence of God in science. The question is do you believe them. Do you believe the Bible that God exists and are you willing to put your trust in Him?

Please think about it.

The way the truth and the life

The way the truth and the life

John’s gospel records Jesus saying this,

"Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6.

C. S. Lewis said of Jesus,

"I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him (Jesus): 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.

Lewis says it all. It is something every person who is presented with Jesus must decide for themselves.

To my way of thinking if Jesus is not the Son of God, God Incarnate, The Saviour of Mankind, Then both Jesus and His apostles have created the greatest lie in the history of mankind. 

The truth however is that Jesus is all He said He was, and is. A truth that is believed by billions of people around the world today.

So who do you believe Jesus is?

Please think about it.

Showing your faith

  Showing your faith

In the book of Acts we read this conversation between the apostle Paul and King Agrippa 

"So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven.  

First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.  Acts 26:19,20.

The apostle John writes,

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  

If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives." 1John 1:9-10.

The proof that we have confessed our sins directly to God and accepted Christ as our Saviour come in the form of the deeds we do. 

In the book of James we read,

"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 2:17,18.

So if you claim to be a Christian, a follower of Christ Jesus, how are you showing your faith?

Please think about it.

Wisdom is supreme

  Wisdom is supreme 

In the book of Ecclesiastes we read,

“For wisdom is a shelter, and money is a shelter, but the advantage is that wisdom keeps the one who has it alive.” Ecclesiastes 7:12.

In the book of proverbs we read,

“Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them. 

Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. 

Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. 

Esteem her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you. 

She will set a garland of grace on your head and present you with a crown of splendour." Proverbs 4:5-9.

Wisdom is supreme. Far too many Christians don’t see this. They quite often blunder into situations say the wrong things and turn people away from Christ.

We as believers in Christ Jesus need wisdom. It keeps us safe and it can show us how to present the Gospel message to those around us.

Therefore as the writer of proverbs tells us “get wisdom”. 

Pray often, and especially pray asking God how to present His word to those around you.

Please think about it.

Making the right decision

  Making the right decision. 

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.

The Eleven O Clock Parable

It's eleven o clock. Inside the court house a judge is about to make his ruling. A community,... a nation, awaits. 

Will the new law be legal? 

Outside the court house men and women with placards chant. 

On one side of the street stand a group of gay men and women. All in favour of the new law.

On the other side of the street separated by a line of police stand radical evangelicals, denouncing the new law.

One man among them screams angrily . "HOMOSEXUALS ARE GOING TO HELL!!!"

Approached by the media he says it again, "homosexuals are going to Hell." 

From my office window I watch asking myself the question, ‘is this man a Christian?"

Is he treating others the way he would like to be treated?

Wasn't it Christ who told us not only to love our neighbour, but our enemy also?

Wasn't it Jesus who told us not to judge, lest we be judged likewise?

Wasn’t it Christ who said,

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:16,17.  

Is this man and those who agree with him showing Gods love?

Can they be effective in reaching the whole world for Christ, of which a percentage are homosexual?

Are they truly Christian?

A question keeps rolling through my mind for which I know the answer, "Can we truly know what is in someone else's head?

Do we really know why a person is like they are?"

For a moment I stare down at the crowd. All the time asking myself who is on the way to Hell this day, and how can I reach them for my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ?

Turning away from my window I kneel down and pray, "Lord guide me this day. Let me make the right decision on this law."

I personally believe this judge if he was truly a believer in Christ Jesus, made the right decision. Even if the radical evangelicals didn’t agree with it. What do you think?

Please think about it.

A Parents Duty

 A Parents duty

In the book of Proverbs we read,

“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” Proverbs 22:6

In the Talmud we read,

“Whoever teaches his son teaches not alone his son but also his son’s son, and so on to the end of generations.”  The Talmud.

Your child sees you. They see what you do in word and in deed. Usually without saying a thing. What they see, whether you like it or not, will be passed on to their children. Your grandchildren. 

Thus it is imperative that if you claim to be a follower of Christ Jesus, that you live a life that is pleasing to God, no matter what situation you find yourself in.

Please think about it.

I will sing Gods Praise

I will sing Gods praise!

The psalmist writes,

"I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart;

 before the "gods" I will sing your praise.” 

                                                            Psalm 138:1.

Question if you consider yourself a Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus do you praise the Lord with your whole heart before “the gods”?

Where I live in North America too many people worship the wrong gods. The god of money, materialism, political figures among other things.

And these “gods” have slipped into the church. There are many evangelist and preachers filling stadiums with thousands of people who live by every word these people say.

Most of these pastors and evangelist are pedalling ‘christian copies’ of the secular world. Playing on the emotions of people want to get rich or healed or delivered from a bad situation.

    These so called “prosperity preachers” are little more than conmen. Who in another era would have called “snake oil salesmen”. 

They attract people with promises of wealth and health, saying if you will give what you have to their ministry. And when the giver doesn’t get rich or healthy, they say it’s a lack of faith or a need to give more money.

God is not a cosmic banker giving to his followers millions of dollars. If so those that are a part of the persecuted church around the world would be the richest Christians in the world. Because persecuted Christians, believers in Christ Jesus remain faithful to God no matter what they are going through.

The Bible never promised us riches. Jesus and his disciples were not rich men. All but one of them died a martyred death.

And as believers in 2022 we should not expect any better. We should learn from the disciples of Christ and do what the writer of Hebrews states,

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" Hebrews 12:2.

We should as the Psalmist states,

"I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart;

 before the "gods" I will sing your praise." 

                                                            Psalm 138:1.

Are you doing this?

Please think about it.

It's our faith

  It’s our faith

The apostle Paul writes,

“Consider Abraham: "He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." Galatians 3:6.

Paul also writes,

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."Galatians 2:20.

The apostle Paul reminds all believers,

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18.

The writer of Hebrews telling us,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.  This is what the ancients were commended for.” Hebrews 11:1,2.

The apostle Paul telling us,

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8,9.

We cannot work our way to heaven. That takes an act of faith on our part. Thus the question I have for you is;

 Do you like the Apostle Paul have faith in the Son of God?

Please think about it.

Love Hangs on Two Commandments

 Love  Hangs on two commandments

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 neighbour as yourself.'  

All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:36-40

The apostle Paul defined what true Christian love is when 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.

Thus the question to you dear reader. If you consider yourself a Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus do you love as God loves?

Please think about it.

Kissing the feet of Jesus

  Kissing the feet of Jesus

Luke’s gospel records this 

“Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you." "Tell me, teacher," he said. 

"Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.  

Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he cancelled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?" 

Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt cancelled." "You have judged correctly," Jesus said. 

Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.  

You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet.  

You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet.  

Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little." 

Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." Luke 7:40-48.

Here in North America the church talks a lot about forgiveness of sin. Many people come to church pray “the sinners prayer”. A prayer that is not in the bible. A prayer that is suppose to give assurance to the one who prays it that they will get to heaven, IF they truly mean it.

Sadly however as the late evangelist Leonard Ravenhill has said,

“The sinners prayer has sent more people to hell than all the bars in America.” Leonard Ravenhill.

The sinners prayer sadly while useful at times. Can and does give a false sense of security. When we come to Christ, we need to be like the woman who washed and kissed Jesus’ feet. 

We need to realize how much He truly did for us. So much so that we worship Him and thank Him by literally will kissing His feet. 

Is this the kind of Love you show toward Jesus?

Are you willing to kiss the feet of Jesus?

Please think about it.

You and your dealings with your fellow man

 Your dealings with your 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

In the book of James we read,

"If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right."James 2:8.

Doing what is right toward others is one of the most important messages in the whole of Scripture. It is seen throughout the New and Old Testament, as well as in Jewish writings,

In the book of Leviticus we read,

“You shall not take vengeance of bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbour as yourself : I am the Lord." Leviticus 19:18.

The Jewish scholar Hillel wrote,

“That which is hateful to you, 

do not do to your neighbour.” 

                                               Hillel

In the Talmud we read,

“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

Doing what is right toward others is one of the most important messages in the whole of Scripture.

So the question becomes are you doing to others what you would have them do to you?

Are you dealing honourably and faithfully in all your dealings with your fellow man?

Please think about it.

Canada Day

  Canada Day

The apostle Peter wrote,

"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 2:11,12.

Today is Canada day. The day Canada in 1867 gained its independence from England. A day when Canadians celebrate. And while I celebrate with them I am an alien in Canada. I was born elsewhere in the world. I have however for over fifty plus years chose to live in Canada which in my opinion is one of the best countries in the world.

Being an alien means I must obey the laws of Canada and live at peace. Thus I can understand what the apostle Peter wrote to Christians.

As Christians we are called to abstain from sinful desires, live good lives, perform good deeds. That those around us may see them and give God the glory.

Francis of Assisi wrote,

"The deeds you do

 may be the only sermon some persons will hear today" 

                                                                                  Francis of Assisi.

As believers and servants of our Lord Jesus Christ we need to, in word, and deed, do our best to represent God in the best possible light.

We need I believe not only to listen to the words of the apostle Peter, but consider putting the words of the Prayer of St. Francis into practice that states,

“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

Please think about it.