Rest for your Soul

Rest for your soul
“I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”Ecclesiastes 1:14
Over the years I have met many men and women who are looking for meaning in life. They have looked for that meaning in wealth, in science, in the arts, even in drugs and alcohol. Some have even gone off to join extremists and terrorist groups all in the hopes of finding meaning for their lives.
Sadly many unable to find meaning in the things of this life and what our secular society has to offer have committed suicide.
They concluded that what the writer of Ecclesiastes stated was right when he said,
“I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. 
Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 2:10,11.
And looking at life from man’s prospective. From a secular prospective where all there is, is this life, I can see how someone would think that way.
However Rick Warren said,

“You were made by God and for God, 

and until you understand that, 

life will never make sense.” 

                                                                                     Rick Warren.
Rick Warren is right until you understand that you were made by God and for God life will never make sense.
It is when we realize that life does not end in death. That man is an eternal being who was created by God to live on through eternity and to have a personal relationship with Him that we can truly find meaning in life.
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.
Jesus offers to all who will believe in him rest and peace. A peace that reaches to a persons soul. A peace the world cannot take away.
It is a peace that anyone can have if they would simply turn to Jesus in prayer and truly ask Him into their life.
Are you willing to ask Jesus into your life today?
Please think about it.

I make no excuses

I make no excuses
I make no excuses I am a Christian I believe the Bible.
I believe the words of the Apostle Paul who said,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8,9
I believe the words of Jesus recorded in John’s Gospel 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.
I believe the writer of Hebrews who wrote,
“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.  
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” Hebrews 1:1-3.
All of what I believe take faith. The writer of Hebrews telling us,

“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.
I know what I believe may to some seem foolish even the apostle Paul said,

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, 

but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” 

                                                                                         1 Corinthians 1:18.
However as foolish as it seems I believe Jesus is the Son of God, The Saviour of Mankind. I admit many people will not agree with me. That is their choice. Each individual I believe must read the New Testament for themselves and decide who Jesus is. Christ will never force himself on anyone.
Thus the choice is your’s. Who do you believe Jesus to be?
Please think about it

Food for Thought

Food for thought
For the last little while now most of what I have written has been aimed at Christians, Christian living, belief and lifestyle. I however want to take this post to look at belief, and faith in God. Listed are several quotes from both the Bible and sources outside the Bible. I put them here for you to think about.
The Psalmist states,

“The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” 

Psalm 14:1

Voltaire said

“I cannot imagine how the clockwork of the universe

 can exist without a clockmaker.” 

Voltaire

C. S. Lewis said,

“We may ignore, but we can nowhere evade,

 the presence of God.” 

C.S. Lewis.

Abraham Lincoln said,

"I can see how it might be possible for a man to look down upon the earth and be an atheist, 

but I cannot conceive how he could look up into the heavens 

and say there is no God."

Abraham Lincoln

     The Psalmist declares,

“The heavens declare the glory of God; 

the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” 

Psalm 19:1.

Billy Graham the American Evangelist said,

I can't prove it scientifically, that there's a God, 

but I believe.

Billy Graham

The apostle Paul wrote,

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, 

but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” 

1 Corinthians 1:18

A person has two choices in life. Either you believe in God or you do not. The choice is yours.
Blaise Pascal 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.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving

“Worship the LORD with gladness; 

come before him with joyful songs. 

Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, 

and we are his; we are his people, 

the sheep of his pasture. 

Enter his gates with thanksgiving 

and his courts with praise;

 give thanks to him and praise his name. 

For the LORD is good 

and his love endures forever; 

his faithfulness continues 

through all generations.” 

Psalm 100:2-5

Today is the Thanksgiving holiday here in Canada. A time when we give thanks for all we have.
As a Christian I praise God for all He has done for me. My life has not been a constant high. Even the American Evangelist Billy Graham said,
“The Christian life is not a constant high. I have my moments of deep discouragement. I have to go to God in prayer with tears in my eyes, and say, 'O God, forgive me,' or 'Help me.'” Billy Graham.
Still in Good times and in bad times God has always been there for me. Helping me thorough the bad times. Giving me peace knowing that no matter what I am going thorough He is with me.
I as a Christian can honestly say with the Psalmist,

“The LORD is my shepherd, 

I shall not be in want. 

He makes me lie down in green pastures, 

he leads me beside quiet waters, 

he restores my soul. 

He guides me in paths of righteousness 

for his name’s sake. 

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

 I will fear no evil, for you are with me; 

your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. 

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, 

and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” 

Psalm 23

Can you?
Please think about it.

Praise the Lord

Praise the Lord

Praise the LORD. 

Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. 

Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. 

Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, 

praise him with the harp and lyre, 

praise him with tambourine and dancing,

 praise him with the strings and flute, 

praise him with the clash of cymbals, 

praise him with resounding cymbals. 

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. 

Praise the LORD. 

Psalm 150

If you claim to be a Christian. When was the last time you sat down on your own and praised the Lord?
I don’t mean listen to praise music. I mean you on your own in word or in song praising the Lord.
Sadly all too many Christians do not praise the Lord enough. They listen to praise music because it sounds good. It even makes them feel good. However they don’t praise the Lord themselves.
I think it’s important whenever we get a chance, to praise the Lord. Yes you can put on praise music and sing along with it. But mean what you are singing. Put your mind and soul into your words.
Give glory to God. Thank Him for all He has done for you. Magnify his name for he is worthy of your praise.
Here’s a simple task for you. Take a few minutes now to sit back in a chair, or stand or praying on your knees and praise God either in word or in song.
Perhaps even write words of praise to God. If you play an instrument use it to praise God. Don’t be afraid to give God the glory He is due.
Please think about it.

A Talk

A talk

“For the word of God is living and active. 

Sharper than any double-edged sword, 

it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; 

it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.  

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. 

Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him 

to whom we must give account.” 

Hebrews 4:12,13

C. S. Lewis said,
“A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word 'darkness' on the walls of his cell.” C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain.
Lewis is right, you can say there is no God, but that dose not change the fact there is a God and that he one day will judge everyone. Someone once wrote,

A Conversation

A man:

”you can’t be!”

God: 

“but I am”

A Man: 

“You don’t exist!”

God, 

“I do.”

A Man: 

“But I couldn’t see you.”

God: 

“I know I asked you to have faith. Through Hebrews I told you,

 “Now faith is being sure of what we hope

 for and certain of what we do not see.”  

Hebrews 11:1

A Man: 

“if only I could have seen you.”

God: 

“You could have seen all I did. The Psalmist told you 

“The heavens declare the glory of God; 

the  skies proclaim the work of his hands.”

Psalm 19:1. 

Didn’t you look?

A Man:

 “Of course I looked. 

I seen evolution!”

God,

 “So you seen an orderly universe and thought 

it just dropped perfectly into place

 randomly? 

You didn’t think I could do it be it that way or any other way 

I felt like doing it?”

A man: 

“But I didn’t believe you existed.”

God: 

“so you never had faith in me?”

A Man: 

“I didn’t.... 

I don’t...

 I must be delusional.”

God: 

“No I am really here and through the words of Hebrews I warned you saying, 

“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.

Man:

“So what will happen to me?”

God:

“The Apostle Paul wrote,

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith

and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 

 not by works, so that no one can boast.”

 Ephesians 2:8,9 

Did you accept my free gift of Grace?

Dear reader
Please think about it.

Who do you follow?

Who do you follow?
The writer of Proverbs tells us,
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5,6.
A question for Christians:
Who do you follow?
I live in a town were there seems to be a church on every corner. In many ways it’s good. It’s good, because anyone living in this town can never say “I couldn’t find a church congregation that I liked.”
We have every denomination from Pentecostals with lively contemporary services, to conservative old order Mennonites, to Roman Catholic, Anglican, to independent churches and everything in between.
It however doesn’t really matter what church you attend as long as you are following God, as long as your trust is in Jesus.
All too often however too many Christians put their trust in the preacher not and not Christ.
In our town there was one prominent minister he had a big church, big being eight hundred plus. He was a dynamic speaker who introduced many to Christ and did build people up in the Lord. However the man was caught in adultery and fathered a child to younger woman who was not his wife.
The man said he was sorry but he refused to step down as pastor of “his” church even temporarily. The way he seen things was he had built that church and he would remain the senior pastor.
There was a lot of objections to him and eventually he left but not before he, for lack of a better term, “cleaned out the church”.
The way he had set up the church was that he owned everything from the sound equipment to the computers and almost everything except the building itself.
While he moved on to another place, the congregation eventually dissolved and is no more.
Some of the congregation moved to other churches but a lot didn’t. Those who didn’t were disillusioned with what had happened. The way many seen it was this pastor, supposedly a Christian was no better than a heathen.
I believe the one’s who were disillusioned by this pastor were following the man and not Christ.
It’s easy to follow a man especially if the person has the right kind of personality. People like a good speaker who tells them what they want to hear. Who makes them feel good.
All too often throughout the years I’ve spent in the Church when I’ve asked a person about something in the Bible or of importance in Christian teaching, I’ve heard people say “such and such a preacher said”. They go by what the evangelist or pastor says. They have not checked things out themselves.
In extreme cases following a preacher has led to mass suicide as happened in the late seventies. At that time a dynamic American pastor by the name of Jim Jones, led a group of people down to South America when he had them commit mass suicide.
Such a thing was tragic but following a the wrong pastor, or evangelist can have eternal consequences.
We need to check out what we are being taught. We need to study the Bible, to pray and ask God to show us what is right.
Above all our trust MUST be in Jesus Not a man.
Men make mistakes. Men can mislead people. 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.
The apostle Peter said,
“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.” 2 Peter 2:1-3.
It is imperative that all Christians follow the teachings of Jesus not the interpretations of an given pastor or evangelist. In order to do this we need to study the scriptures.
Studying the Bible is something I cannot emphasize enough.
There will be differences of opinions over minor things in the bible, however we should never, never compromise on the basics.
For me the best expression of basic Christian belief is in the apostles creed. It was not written by the apostles but it expresses what true foundations of the Christian faith is. It reads,
1.I believe in God the Father the almighty maker of heaven and earth
2. I believe in Jesus Christ God’s on and only Son, our Lord and Saviour.
3. I believe Jesus was conceived by the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary
4. I believe Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate; That He was Crucified, died, was buried. That he descended in hell.
5. I believe He rose again on the third day from the dead.
6. I believe that he ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
7. I believe Jesus will one day Judge the living and the dead.
8. I believe in the Holy Ghost
9. I believe in the Church which is the communion of the saints,
10. I believe in the forgiveness of sin.
11. I believe in the resurrection of the body.
12. I believe in life everlasting.
The key however to a good Christian life is to follow Christ and not a man. To serve God and not an particular Pastor or Evangelist blindly.
Question: Who are you following?
          Please think about it.

A fundamental Truth

A fundamental truth.
Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver wrote,
“There is one other fundamental difference between love and hate.  Love is always a refuge.  Hate is never a refuge.  Only a mentally sick person can find refuge in his hates.  But love is the enduring sanctuary of life.  Life may rob you of many things.  It often does.  But it can never bereave us of love itself.  That remains.’
-Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver, rabbinic leader, from a December 22, 1940, sermon,    quoted in Therefore Choose Life: Selected Sermons, Addresses and Writings of    Abba Hillel Silver, Volume One, edited by Herbert Wiesner (1997)
Hate we see it we see it everywhere. Many look at the acts of terrorist groups around the world and see hate in its extreme.
However hate is prevalent in all nations. We see it in everything from road rage incidents to murders to hate crimes, to various crimes of violence. Even in nonviolent ways where a person simply hates their next door neighbour.
Mankind it seems is good at hating people. Hate is easy. Showing love can be much, much more difficult, especially if someone disrespects you or does something against you. Yet we must love. For if we don’t our society will eventually fall into anarchy.
Jesus set the ideal for all people everywhere. Whether you believe who Jesus was or not you cannot disagree with what He taught.
Jesus when asked,
 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  
This is the first and greatest commandment.  
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40.
Jesus however went one step further saying,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 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.
The apostle Paul went on to define what true love is, saying,
“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.
Martin Luther King jr. a leader of the civil rights movement in the United States in the early 1960's said,
“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.” Martin Luther King, Jr.
He was right. If we love God, our neighbour and even our enemy we can bring change to the world. This is what Jesus and the apostles taught.
Napoleon Bonaparte Emperor of France who tried to conquer Europe said,
"You speak of Caesar, of Alexander, of their conquests and of the enthusiasm which they enkindled in the hearts of their soldiers; but can you conceive of a dead man making conquests, with an army faithful and entirely devoted to his memory? My armies have forgotten me even while living, as the Carthaginian army forgot Hannibal. Such is our power.”
“I know men and I tell you, Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour, millions would die for him.” Napoleon Bonaparte.
Billy Graham said of the apostles of Jesus,
“The men who followed Him (Christ), 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.
Love truly is the only way to change the world. All those who have ever hated and tried to conquer the world have failed and are assigned a note in history.
By contrast Jesus and His followers have showed love to the world and their work continues to this day. Christianity continues to grow even if places where it is persecuted.
Question do you show love to those around you?
What do you consider true love to be?
Please think about it.

The Cross

The Cross

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.  
For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” 
Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?  
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.  
Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom,  but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,  but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  
For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.” 
                  1 Corinthians 1:18-25.
The cross, the death and resurrection of Jesus does not seem right to many in the world today. Many ask the question, Why would God come into the world? Why would He become a man? And especially why would He choose to die for the man he created? Couldn’t he just wave a hand and show His power to everyone?
It’s true God could show his power to everyone in a miraculous way but that would not necessarily create true followers.
God does not want to force people to follow Him. He asks people to do that voluntarily.
God wants true followers. That’s why he asks that we exercise our faith.
The writer of Hebrews states,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”       Hebrews 11:6.
The apostle Paul reminds us,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.”
                                                                   Ephesians 2:8,9. 
Our salvation and our eternity with God is determined by our faith in him not necessarily our intellectual knowledge.
It’s easy to say “I believe there is a God.” but not have faith in Him.
True followers believe in something even if they don’t necessarily have physical proof.
Scientist do this all the time. Look at Albert Einstein. He believed in his theories all his life. Yet it is only recently a hundred years after he proposed the theories that some of them are being proved.
So it is with faith in God. We may not see God but we can by deduction say there is a God. The psalmist states,
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” 
                                                                                                                         Psalm 19:1.
By looking around us from the smallest subatomic particle to the largest galaxy all are in order all are mathematically perfect allowing scientist to predict not only their presence but how they work.
This I believe is the hand of God the creator pointing man to himself. So no one can deny there is a God.
C. S. Lewis said,
“We may ignore, but we can nowhere evade, the presence of God.”
                                                                                               C. S. Lewis.
Lewis also said,
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”
                                                  C. S. Lewis.
The choice is up to you.  The gospel of John records Jesus putting a question to Martha we all must answer in our life,
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;  and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
“Yes Lord” she told Him, “I believe you are the Christ the Son of God, who was to come into the world.”
John 11:25,26.
What do you believe?
Please think about it.

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.

God, Jesus and you

God, Jesus and you
The apostle Paul writes,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
                                                                               Romans 3:23.
Christians believe that everyone who has ever lived has sinned, and Sin separates us from God. Christians believe that we cannot live lives good enough to live with a holy God.
We also believe that God recognized this that is why He sent His one and only Son to die for our sins,
Paul immediately after saying “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” says,
“...and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
                                                                                                                                          Romans 3:24.
Still speaking to the Romans Paul explains,
“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.
Speaking to the Ephesians Paul states,
“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 it is by the grace of God we get there though having faith in Christ. By truly believing that Jesus died for our sins that we may have eternal life with God.
Paul explains,
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  
Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.  
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 
Since we have now been justified by his blood, 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 5:6-11.
Believing in and accepting God’s grace that comes through Jesus is the way to heaven. Jesus saying,
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 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.  
So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. 
For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father’” ? 
Or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son” ? 
And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” 
  Hebrews 1:3-6
Jesus is God incarnate, God in the flesh. No other faith in the world as far as this writer knows believes that the founder of their faith is God incarnate.
I as a Christian believe that God came into this world for several reasons. First and foremost he came to as Paul said reconcile man to Himself. To show man in human terms how far He would go.
Secondly ultimately God will judge every person on the earth. By His entering the world in the form of Jesus, He experienced all it was to be a man. We can never stand before God and say “You didn’t understand what it was to be a man, because you have never experienced what it is to be one. Someone all powerful cannot rightly judge someone as frail and full of flaws as a man.”
However when we stand before God that argument will not hold because he does understand. Jesus while on this earth never functioned more than a man.
He grew up in an average family for his day. He went to weddings. Wept at the death of a friend. Experienced the love of family and friends.
Experienced the hate of his enemies. He experienced a vicious beating at the hands of the Romans who’s governor had said he found nothing wrong with him worthy of death. Yet Jesus despite being beaten for a crime he did not commit was crucified.
Thus when we stand before Him and are judged, He can judge justly.
We today can however know the outcome of that judgement. Jesus while on the earth speaking of Himself said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son”. 
                                                                                                                              John 3:16-18.
As the apostle Paul wrote,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.”
                                                                  Ephesians 2:8,9.
Are you willing to accept the Grace of God today?
Please think about it.

Images of Love

Images of Love

Today is Easter Sunday the day Christians celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and the peace He brings to all who would accept Him as their Lord and Saviour.
The poet wrote,
                                                                   Images of Love
                                          

                                    Mary:                                         

What would she do now?  

Her mind vacillated, uncontrollably between joy and uncertainty.  

She could hide it, at least for a while.  

But, then tongues would wag.  

It was a small village.  Everyone knew everyone.  

Word of her condition would spread along the gossip highway.  

She’d be disgraced!  And...And what of her fiancé? 

What of Joseph?

 He’d have no choice, but to let her go.  

He hadn’t done a thing, yet, he’d get the blame.  

Just for the sake of his reputation, she’d have to go. 

She’d have to face this alone.

For a moment, her racing mind slowed, as she thought about what she’d been told. ELIZABETH!

Elizabeth.

 The angel had said Elizabeth was with child. 

 She would understand, she would know what to do.  

She’d go to Elizabeth.

Joseph:

PREGNANT!  

What has she done!  

How could she have done such a thing!  

He loved her.  

He thought she loved him...

For a moment, his mind became a whirling dervish of thoughts and emotions out of control.

How could she bring such a disgrace down on both of them, like this.

  How was it possible...

Then as suddenly as it started, the tirade in his mind abated, 

allowing the love he felt for her to surface.  

Despite what she had apparently done, he still loved her.  

Yet, her condition seemed to say, she did not love him.  

Perhaps, by divorcing her quietly, it would make it easier for her. 

 Joseph lay back on his bed and fell asleep.

O what joyous night!  

What blessed revelation!  

What blessed assurance!  

He would make  Mary, his wife!  

Just as the angel had commanded.  

Together, they would rejoice that Mary had been chosen to give birth to the Messiah.

The Two:

Together, they would rejoice with the shepherds, 

as they told of the visit from the heavenly host.

They would give praises to God with Simeon and Anna,

 as they gave thanks for the fulfillment of His promise to Israel!

They would make haste fleeing along the dusty roads to Egypt 

and weep with the mothers of Rama as their children died.  

Mary,

 would feel the anguish of a mother 

 watching her own son die in agony on a Gentile cross 

under a blackened sky.

She would also experience the elation of 

the empty tomb!

the resurrection of her LORD !

and the love of her God.

Have you?
Jesus speaking of himself said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
           John 3:16,17
The apostle John states,
“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—  children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” 
                     John 1:12,13.
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
On this day Easter Sunday 2016 would you consider accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour That you may have rest for your soul?
Please think about it.

The Christian Message

The Christian Message
The Christian message has been spreading around the world for over two thousand years now. That message has never changed. As this is Easter weekend, the holiest weekend on the Christian calender I thought it only right that I present the Christian message by presenting what is perhaps one of the best sermons ever spoken.
It was spoken by the apostle Paul in Athens. The Book of Acts records,
“So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.  
A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.”    They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.  
Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?  
You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean.”  
(All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.) 
Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.  
For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. 
“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.  
And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.  
From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.  
God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.  
‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ 
“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man’s design and skill.  
In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.  
For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.” 
When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.”  
At that, Paul left the Council.  
A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.”
                                                                                                    Acts 17:17-34.
Paul’s message is as important today as it was when he spoke it. It is a message I believe all people everywhere need to hear and decide for themselves who Jesus is.
So the question is, Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God the Saviour of Mankind or not. The decision is up to you.
Please think carefully about it.

Good Friday

Good Friday

“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.” 
                     Isaiah 53:5
Today is Good Friday a seemingly contradiction in terms considering Christians remember the death of Jesus.
Good Friday is the day Christians believe Jesus paid the price for our sins.
The apostle Paul writes,
“And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. 
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  
Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.  
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 
Romans 5:5-8.
The death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus are key beliefs of Christianity without them Christianity is nothing.
Christians believe:
1/ Jesus is the messiah. The suffering Messiah as described in Isaiah 53. Who died for the sins of all who would believe in Him.
C. S. Lewis said of Jesus
“He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less.” 
                           C.S. Lewis.
2/ Jesus did not remain in the grave he rose from the dead. 
3/ Jesus will judge the all mankind
The Apostle Paul when speaking to the Athenians saying,
“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.” 
                                                                                                   Acts 17:30,31.
Without the resurrection Christian beliefs mean nothing. Jesus conquered death. As far as I know Christianity is the only religion in the world that claims its founder died and rose from the dead walked the earth briefly then rose into heaven from where he will judge mankind.
The writer of Hebrews states,
“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways,  but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.  
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.  
So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. 
For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father?" 
Or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son” ? 
  And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” In speaking of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, his servants flames of fire.” 
But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom. 
You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.” 
                                                                                    Hebrews 1:1-9.
As C. S. Lewis said,
“He (Jesus) died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less.” 
                                       C.S. Lewis.
The Easter weekend is considered the holiest weekend of the year. It is a time when we as Christians celebrate the fact that God reached down in the form of His one and Only Son, Jesus.
God reached down to us His creation and offered salvation to anyone who would believe in Him and accept Jesus into their hearts and lives.
Jesus speaking of himself said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son”. 
                                                                                                                John 3:16-18.
When God created man, He gave man complete freedom to do as he wished. That includes to believe in Him and the saving grace Jesus offers. Thus the choice to you this day is the same as was given to Martha by Jesus. He said to her,
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;  and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
“Yes Lord” she told Him, “I believe you are the Christ the Son of God, who was to come into the world, 
John 11:25,26.
Do you?
Please think about it.

The Good Shepherd

The Good Shepherd
Jesus said,
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. 
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” 
                                                                                                                     John 1:10,11.
The apostle Paul writes,
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  
Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.  
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 
Since we have now been justified by his blood, 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 5:6-11.
Christianity is all about God setting the example. God reaching down in the form of His one and Only Son Jesus.
The soul purpose of Jesus’ life was to reconcile man to God.
I firmly believe Jesus came to this world to show mankind how far God would go in human terms to reconcile bring salvation into the world. That he would actually die for us.
The other reason I believe Jesus came into the word is that one day He will judge everyone on this earth.
Had He not come to this world. We quite justifiably could have said, “you are divine and all powerful. You couldn’t possibly know what it is to have all the temptations and problems of a human being.”
With Christ coming to earth however we cannot say that. Jesus knew what it was like to do things that are very human. He knows what it is to be tempted because He was tempted. Jesus knows what it’s like to feel the sun and rain against his face. To have friends.  To celebrate at a wedding. To be accused of a wrong you didn’t do. To be beaten mercilessly. To be put to death.
Jesus knows all of this. That is what gives him the right to judge us.
The important thing to remember about Jesus is he did not come to the world to condemn the world but to save it. Jesus speaking of himself said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
         John 3:16,17.
Jesus was sent to save the world. You see it is by God’s grace we are saved and enter heaven. The apostle Paul saying,
“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.
Salvation is a gift from God. A gift you can accept or reject. The choice is yours. Jesus speaking of himself said,
 “Whoever believes in him (Jesus) 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.
Do you have the faith to believe Jesus is the Son of God?
The Writer of Hebrews states,
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
                                                                                                      Hebrews 11:6
The writer defining faith as,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” 
                                                                                                                             Hebrews 11:1
Please think about it.