Doves and Hawks and Hypocrites
“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.”
Matthew 10:16.
Jesus here is making a very clear statement, he was sending the disciples out defenceless into a world that could be very dangerous. He therefore tells us to be as careful what we say and do and above all be harmless.
No normal person will ever attack someone who is doing good or they perceive as harmless.
Sadly however many people see what Mahatma Gandhi saw when he said,
“Jesus is ideal and wonderful, but you Christians - you are not like him.”
Mahatma Gandhi
It all comes down to who are Christians.
Dwight L. Moody said,
“We are told to let our light shine and if it does we wont need to tell anyone it does. Lighthouses don’t fire cannons to call attention to their shining.”
Dwight L. Moody.
Unfortunately today in the media and out, many non-Christians see Christians as hawks or hypocrites.
But are these people who are acting like hawks and hypocrites truly Christians. Jesus said,
“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 7:22,23.
Sometimes I think we Christians who get our civil rights granted to us by a secular governments, use them to attack civil authorities and others we disagree with. This should not be so.
Jesus and the disciples never once spoke out against the secular civil authorities of Rome. Thus setting the example for us.
Unless our freedom to worship, speak freely and the freedoms of other are being taken away I don’t think we should be protesting against anything or anyone.
Freedom of speech and to worship is very much a civil matter. Not a religious one.
Christians have had their rights to worship taken away from them many times over the centuries, starting with Rome, and still are having that right restricted. Never-the-less we still worship and florish.
What Gandhi and others are saying, is that from their observations they are not seeing those calling themselves Christians acting like Christ. Something we should be doing at all times.
Francis of Assisi said,
“Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”
Francis of Assisi
I do not believe that Christians have the right to protest against another group who does not threaten our rights to worship freely or our freedom of speech and association.
We must never, never attempt to put our morality on, or judge those who disagree with us, it will turn them against us.
The apostle Paul said,
"What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”
1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
We must enter into open and free discussion with the non-believer wherever and whenever we can.
Jesus made it clear what the Christians duty to him is. Matthew records,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20
In order for us to reach the world we Christians must be willing to discuss what we believe with others and to listen to what they have to say.
This is what it is to be a Christian.
To reach out to the world with the love of Christ.
To present to anyone who will listen the teachings of Christ.
To give every man and woman who will listen the opportunity to decide for themselves who Jesus is.
Think about it.
Monday, 3 November 2014
Sunday, 2 November 2014
A manger, carpenter's bench and a crown of thorns
A manger, carpenter’s bench and a crown of thorns
“They gave him a manger for a cradle, a carpenter's bench for a pulpit, thorns for a crown, and a cross for a throne. He took them and made them the very glory of his career.”
W.E. Orchard
Let’s face it Christians are an odd bunch. We worship a carpenter from Nazareth, a back water town in a back water province of the mighty Roman empire. A man that preached for only three years and died a hideous death on a cross without raising a fist in anger.
This is not what man would consider great. Yet today Jesus Christ is considered by many to be the greatest man that ever lived.
It defies human logic.
General George S. Patton defined greatness this way
"For over a thousand years Roman conquerors returning from the wars enjoyed the honour of triumph, a tumultuous parade. In the procession came trumpeteers, musicians and strange animals from conquered territories, together with carts laden with treasure and captured armaments. The conquerors rode in a triumphal chariot, the dazed prisoners walking in chains before him. Sometimes his children robed in white stood with him in the chariot or rode the trace horses. A slave stood behind the conqueror holding a golden crown and whispering in his ear a warning: that all glory is fleeting."
Gen. George Patton.
Patton’s definition doesn’t take into account Jesus. He was nothing like Patton described. He was not a great general and his glory is not fleeting.
Earthly glory is indeed fleeting but then Jesus never claimed to be an earthly hero.
Another General who knew what he was talking about was Napoleon he 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.”
“I search in vain history to find similar to Jesus Christ, or anything which can approach the gospel. Neither history nor humanity, nor ages, nor nature, offer me anything with which I am able to compare it or to explain it. Here everything is extraordinary.”
Napoleon Bonaparte.
I do not believe Jesus to be a man. True while he walked this earth he acted as nothing more than a man. Because I believe that in order to be fair with man upon judgement day he had to know what it was to truly be human. Never the less I believe Jesus was the Son of God, God incarnate.
I believe what the apostle John said,
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
In him was life, and that life was the light of men....
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
John 1:1-4, 12-14.
For me Jesus was and is the Son of God, God incarnate who came to earth not only to show how far in earthly terms he would go to reconcile man to God, but I believe he came to experience all it was to be a man.
No one can stand before God today and say you do not know what it is to be a man because he does. He walked this earth and truly know what it is to be human.
The question is to you the reader, Do you believe Jesus is who He said he is or not?
To the believer the question is, if you truly believe in him and trust him, do you feel if you are doing enough for him.
Think about it.
“They gave him a manger for a cradle, a carpenter's bench for a pulpit, thorns for a crown, and a cross for a throne. He took them and made them the very glory of his career.”
W.E. Orchard
Let’s face it Christians are an odd bunch. We worship a carpenter from Nazareth, a back water town in a back water province of the mighty Roman empire. A man that preached for only three years and died a hideous death on a cross without raising a fist in anger.
This is not what man would consider great. Yet today Jesus Christ is considered by many to be the greatest man that ever lived.
It defies human logic.
General George S. Patton defined greatness this way
"For over a thousand years Roman conquerors returning from the wars enjoyed the honour of triumph, a tumultuous parade. In the procession came trumpeteers, musicians and strange animals from conquered territories, together with carts laden with treasure and captured armaments. The conquerors rode in a triumphal chariot, the dazed prisoners walking in chains before him. Sometimes his children robed in white stood with him in the chariot or rode the trace horses. A slave stood behind the conqueror holding a golden crown and whispering in his ear a warning: that all glory is fleeting."
Gen. George Patton.
Patton’s definition doesn’t take into account Jesus. He was nothing like Patton described. He was not a great general and his glory is not fleeting.
Earthly glory is indeed fleeting but then Jesus never claimed to be an earthly hero.
Another General who knew what he was talking about was Napoleon he 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.”
“I search in vain history to find similar to Jesus Christ, or anything which can approach the gospel. Neither history nor humanity, nor ages, nor nature, offer me anything with which I am able to compare it or to explain it. Here everything is extraordinary.”
Napoleon Bonaparte.
I do not believe Jesus to be a man. True while he walked this earth he acted as nothing more than a man. Because I believe that in order to be fair with man upon judgement day he had to know what it was to truly be human. Never the less I believe Jesus was the Son of God, God incarnate.
I believe what the apostle John said,
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
In him was life, and that life was the light of men....
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
John 1:1-4, 12-14.
For me Jesus was and is the Son of God, God incarnate who came to earth not only to show how far in earthly terms he would go to reconcile man to God, but I believe he came to experience all it was to be a man.
No one can stand before God today and say you do not know what it is to be a man because he does. He walked this earth and truly know what it is to be human.
The question is to you the reader, Do you believe Jesus is who He said he is or not?
To the believer the question is, if you truly believe in him and trust him, do you feel if you are doing enough for him.
Think about it.
Saturday, 1 November 2014
Faith of a Prostitute
Faith of a prostitute
Did you know there, are only four woman other than Mary, the mother of Christ mentioned in the genealogy of Christ in Matthew. The woman are, Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Uriah’s wife. Neither are Jewish by birth, and one is a prostitute.
We hear constantly about the great leaders, Abraham, Moses, Jacob, Peter, Paul, John and the others. But there are other “little people” who are just as important.
Rahab was a prostitute in Jericho who seen the Israelites coming and feared God.
She believed what she had heard. She believed and acted on her beliefs.
She clearly seen the power of God, and at the risk of her own life hid the spies sent to Jericho by Joshua.
As a result, she was a recipient of the blessing given to Abram by God in
Genesis 12:3 when it states:
“I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Genesis 12:3
If we consider what happened to Rahab after the fall of Jericho, she was truly a recipient of God’s blessing. Her great grandson would be king David. Twenty-eight generations from David was the Messiah. The Saviour of the world.
From her lineage came the greatest blessing God could bestow on mankind.
Rahab is an example to us all. She shows that God will and does use anyone He pleases irrespective of gender or profession. All they have to do is believe and act on their faith.
No one remembers the leaders of Jericho, but the lowly prostitute Rahab is remembered in the very opening words of the New Testament. Her faith is remembered in the book of Hebrews amid the mention of great men of God.
She is remembered with great men such as Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephathah, David, Samuel and the prophets. All who acted on their faith.
The lesson to be learned here is that:
"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.".
Think about it.
By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days.
By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe,
when she had received the spies with peace.
Hebrews11:30,31Did you know there, are only four woman other than Mary, the mother of Christ mentioned in the genealogy of Christ in Matthew. The woman are, Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Uriah’s wife. Neither are Jewish by birth, and one is a prostitute.
We hear constantly about the great leaders, Abraham, Moses, Jacob, Peter, Paul, John and the others. But there are other “little people” who are just as important.
Rahab was a prostitute in Jericho who seen the Israelites coming and feared God.
She believed what she had heard. She believed and acted on her beliefs.
She clearly seen the power of God, and at the risk of her own life hid the spies sent to Jericho by Joshua.
As a result, she was a recipient of the blessing given to Abram by God in
Genesis 12:3 when it states:
“I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Genesis 12:3
If we consider what happened to Rahab after the fall of Jericho, she was truly a recipient of God’s blessing. Her great grandson would be king David. Twenty-eight generations from David was the Messiah. The Saviour of the world.
From her lineage came the greatest blessing God could bestow on mankind.
Rahab is an example to us all. She shows that God will and does use anyone He pleases irrespective of gender or profession. All they have to do is believe and act on their faith.
No one remembers the leaders of Jericho, but the lowly prostitute Rahab is remembered in the very opening words of the New Testament. Her faith is remembered in the book of Hebrews amid the mention of great men of God.
She is remembered with great men such as Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephathah, David, Samuel and the prophets. All who acted on their faith.
The lesson to be learned here is that:
1, God is the God of all people
2, no one is exempt from the salvation He offers
3, He will use anyone, including you.
All God wants from us is faith. Hebrews 11:6 states:"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.".
Think about it.
Friday, 31 October 2014
A thought from Exodus
A thought from Exodus
Rabbi J. H. Hertz late chief Rabbi of the British Empire states, “...to long for possessions of anything that we cannot get in an honest and legal manner.”
Matthew Henry in his commentary put it this way,
“the forgoing commands implicitly forbid all desire for doing that which will be an injury to our neighbour; this forbids all inordinate desire of having that which will be a gratification to ourselves.”
In Joshua chapter seven we read about Achan’s sin. Jericho had been defeated but God had said not to take anything from Jericho. Achan by his own admission coveted what he saw.
“Achan replied, “It is true! I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel. This is what I have done:
When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath.”
Joshua 7:20,21
Achan’s sin was a sin against God. God had specifically said not to take anything. Achan because he coveted stole.
In our “must have” society where day after day, we are told by advertisers that we “must have this” “we can’t do without this” it’s easy to see how someone can covet things of their neighbours.
Temptation is always there. The world makes it easy to covet things of our neighbours. Especially for our kids and youth.
Our youth see the latest brand name thing, and it becomes a status thing for them. One teacher told me one of the biggest problems they were having in her school was with clothing.
Kids were looked down on, if they didn’t have “the right clothes.” Translation the right designer label.
Teens have been beaten by other teens, so they could take their two hundred dollar running shoes.
When it comes to anything in this day and age, society doesn’t make life easy, be it for teen or adult. It’s still no excuse for coveting anything of your neighbours.
We must all come to the mind set, that we will not necessarily become rich, but rather that as Paul told the Philippians:
and we will have a better life.
Think about it.
“You shall not covet your neighbour’s house;
you shall not covet your neighbour’s wife,
nor his male servant,
nor his female servant,
nor his ox, nor his donkey,
nor anything that is your neighbour’s.
Exodus 20:17
Covet the Oxford dictionary defines it as: “yearning to possess something that belongs to someone else.”Rabbi J. H. Hertz late chief Rabbi of the British Empire states, “...to long for possessions of anything that we cannot get in an honest and legal manner.”
Matthew Henry in his commentary put it this way,
“the forgoing commands implicitly forbid all desire for doing that which will be an injury to our neighbour; this forbids all inordinate desire of having that which will be a gratification to ourselves.”
In Joshua chapter seven we read about Achan’s sin. Jericho had been defeated but God had said not to take anything from Jericho. Achan by his own admission coveted what he saw.
“Achan replied, “It is true! I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel. This is what I have done:
When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath.”
Joshua 7:20,21
Achan’s sin was a sin against God. God had specifically said not to take anything. Achan because he coveted stole.
In our “must have” society where day after day, we are told by advertisers that we “must have this” “we can’t do without this” it’s easy to see how someone can covet things of their neighbours.
Temptation is always there. The world makes it easy to covet things of our neighbours. Especially for our kids and youth.
Our youth see the latest brand name thing, and it becomes a status thing for them. One teacher told me one of the biggest problems they were having in her school was with clothing.
Kids were looked down on, if they didn’t have “the right clothes.” Translation the right designer label.
Teens have been beaten by other teens, so they could take their two hundred dollar running shoes.
When it comes to anything in this day and age, society doesn’t make life easy, be it for teen or adult. It’s still no excuse for coveting anything of your neighbours.
We must all come to the mind set, that we will not necessarily become rich, but rather that as Paul told the Philippians:
“And my God shall supply all your needs
according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:19
If we remember this, we will have no need to covet anything of our neighbour’sand we will have a better life.
Think about it.
Thursday, 30 October 2014
The Need
The Need
I would recommend that we straighten out a few things before we contemplate any interplanetary transportation system. Suppose a man from Mars should suddenly appear on Earth? I think it would be terribly embarrassing if he learned that a second-rate singer in a night club makes four thousand dollars a week, and a high-school teacher makes three thousand eight hundred and ninety dollars a year. This and many other things should be straightened out first if we intend to maintain our dignity when planet folks start visiting us.
Harry Golden
I came across the above quote and realized just how profound those words are. Our priorities as a society are royally messed up.
Take for example the Ebola epidemic in Africa. One of the reasons it can’t be contained is because very little priority was given to finding a vaccine for it. Someone noted to me the big pharmaceutical companies couldn’t make a lot of money on developing it so it took a back seat to other research.
The same is true when it comes to looking for cures particularly for rare illnesses. People are dying due to rare illnesses daily, illnesses that a cure could be found for if only there was the financial resources available.
Look at world hunger. There is enough food in the world to feed the world but politics, war and money, symbols of man’s selfishness, stop the food from getting to where it’s needed.
The group calling itself the Islamic State (ISIS) has become a major threat to the world, why? Because of political inaction. It was the problem of someone else.
Young men and women are becoming radicalized by ISIS and other groups because society particularly in the west doesn’t seem to have anything to offer them.
Over the centuries the western world in particular has fallen away from the Christian faith and for that matter faith of any kind to be replaced with Atheism and materialism
Materialism and Atheism offers little in way of true fulfilment except a few theories and platitudes.
In the middle east with the exception of Israel, Christianity has been restricted banned out right and even persecuted. At the same time society in those countries in which Christianity has fallen out of favour seems to have become a harsher place to live.
What is needed is a firm foundation based on the love of one’s fellow man whoever he may be.
The book of Matthew records Jesus answering the following question,
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:37-40.
It is as love declines within our society be it for God, or for our neighbour that evil is taking its place.
The problem here in the west could in part, also be laid at the feet of many churches also.
I look around North America especially in the United States and the church quite often is becoming irrelevant. Yet it has the most important message one can give to the world.
It’s becoming irrelevant because the church is not in many ways keeping up with the times. It is to quote a phrase becoming “musty and dusty, and irrelevant”.
There are some wonderful churches around where we live. They sing the old hymns, Amazing Grace, To God be the Glory, What a friend we have in Jesus. Yet I look at their congregation and find almost no teenagers.
Teenagers are our future. These are the kids that are being radicalized by terrorist groups like ISIS and others.
I look at the church my Son attends it’s a large church to be sure, and they have over a hundred teens attending, I actually think it’s closer to two hundred attending.
Not only that but history within that church shows that many of the youth that have attended they youth group over the decades have gone on to work in the church.
Many have even gone on to be missionaries and pastors.
The reason is simple the youth attend because the message of Christ is relevant to them. Not only that it is presented in a twenty-first century package that they can relate to.
They do not sing Amazing grace. They sing music from Hillsong and other contemporary sources. They communicate through smart phones, the internet, twitter and what ever other technology they have.
These teens talk about relevant topics to the their age group. They talk about the problems they have.
Christ is presented to them in a way they can understand.
The message these young people age getting is the same Message John Newton the author of Amazing grace was giving to his congregation. It’s the same message the apostle Paul delivered in Athens. The only difference is that they can also get it on their smart phone.
As Christians we have a duty to society as a whole. We need to reach out to everyone.
We have the answer to the radicalization of our youth by terrorist and murders. That answer is Jesus Christ.
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.
This is a message not only for our youth but for every man, woman and child. A message that can change the world for the better.
Think about it.
I would recommend that we straighten out a few things before we contemplate any interplanetary transportation system. Suppose a man from Mars should suddenly appear on Earth? I think it would be terribly embarrassing if he learned that a second-rate singer in a night club makes four thousand dollars a week, and a high-school teacher makes three thousand eight hundred and ninety dollars a year. This and many other things should be straightened out first if we intend to maintain our dignity when planet folks start visiting us.
Harry Golden
I came across the above quote and realized just how profound those words are. Our priorities as a society are royally messed up.
Take for example the Ebola epidemic in Africa. One of the reasons it can’t be contained is because very little priority was given to finding a vaccine for it. Someone noted to me the big pharmaceutical companies couldn’t make a lot of money on developing it so it took a back seat to other research.
The same is true when it comes to looking for cures particularly for rare illnesses. People are dying due to rare illnesses daily, illnesses that a cure could be found for if only there was the financial resources available.
Look at world hunger. There is enough food in the world to feed the world but politics, war and money, symbols of man’s selfishness, stop the food from getting to where it’s needed.
The group calling itself the Islamic State (ISIS) has become a major threat to the world, why? Because of political inaction. It was the problem of someone else.
Young men and women are becoming radicalized by ISIS and other groups because society particularly in the west doesn’t seem to have anything to offer them.
Over the centuries the western world in particular has fallen away from the Christian faith and for that matter faith of any kind to be replaced with Atheism and materialism
Materialism and Atheism offers little in way of true fulfilment except a few theories and platitudes.
In the middle east with the exception of Israel, Christianity has been restricted banned out right and even persecuted. At the same time society in those countries in which Christianity has fallen out of favour seems to have become a harsher place to live.
What is needed is a firm foundation based on the love of one’s fellow man whoever he may be.
The book of Matthew records Jesus answering the following question,
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:37-40.
It is as love declines within our society be it for God, or for our neighbour that evil is taking its place.
The problem here in the west could in part, also be laid at the feet of many churches also.
I look around North America especially in the United States and the church quite often is becoming irrelevant. Yet it has the most important message one can give to the world.
It’s becoming irrelevant because the church is not in many ways keeping up with the times. It is to quote a phrase becoming “musty and dusty, and irrelevant”.
There are some wonderful churches around where we live. They sing the old hymns, Amazing Grace, To God be the Glory, What a friend we have in Jesus. Yet I look at their congregation and find almost no teenagers.
Teenagers are our future. These are the kids that are being radicalized by terrorist groups like ISIS and others.
I look at the church my Son attends it’s a large church to be sure, and they have over a hundred teens attending, I actually think it’s closer to two hundred attending.
Not only that but history within that church shows that many of the youth that have attended they youth group over the decades have gone on to work in the church.
Many have even gone on to be missionaries and pastors.
The reason is simple the youth attend because the message of Christ is relevant to them. Not only that it is presented in a twenty-first century package that they can relate to.
They do not sing Amazing grace. They sing music from Hillsong and other contemporary sources. They communicate through smart phones, the internet, twitter and what ever other technology they have.
These teens talk about relevant topics to the their age group. They talk about the problems they have.
Christ is presented to them in a way they can understand.
The message these young people age getting is the same Message John Newton the author of Amazing grace was giving to his congregation. It’s the same message the apostle Paul delivered in Athens. The only difference is that they can also get it on their smart phone.
As Christians we have a duty to society as a whole. We need to reach out to everyone.
We have the answer to the radicalization of our youth by terrorist and murders. That answer is Jesus Christ.
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.
This is a message not only for our youth but for every man, woman and child. A message that can change the world for the better.
Think about it.
Wednesday, 29 October 2014
Christians and Terrorism
Christians and Terrorism
As I write this it is October 28th 2014. Sadly I watched the funeral of Cpl. Nathan Cirillo the soldier murdered while guarding the National War Memorial in Ottawa.
This man was proud to be a Canadian and serve his country.
The man that killed him was nothing more than a hate filled misguided evil man.
What causes a man to do such a thing?
Chedly Belkhodja, principal of Concordia University’s School of Community and Public Affairs states,
“Radical Islamic groups can appeal both to lonely lost souls and Muslims in Western countries who feel excluded and marginalised,... A lot of young people can be an easy prey,”
Studies by John Horgan seems to agree.
John Horgan, is a psychologist and professor at the University of Massachusetts Lowell’s Centre for Terrorism and Security Studies, who study the minds of terrorists.
He notes foreign fighters are drawn to join ISIS by the need to “belong to something special.”
They want to find something meaningful for their life,” he said. “Some are thrill seeking, some are seeking redemption.”
Max Abrahms, an expert on terrorism from Northeastern University notes that
from most of the terrorism research available, those who join terrorist groups like ISIS are the most "ignorant people with respect to religion and they are generally the newest members to the religion.... They would probably fail the most basic test on Islam,"
Christians do have an answer for these terrorist groups but sadly the church here in North America, Europe and the west in general have fallen down on the job so to speak.
Much of the church has fallen into an institution dripping with ritual and out of date methods of reaching the word.
Those who’s heads are turned toward terrorist groups undoubtedly find the church outdated, uninteresting and uninspiring.
You only have to look around at the declining enrolment in churches today. These churches generally have ornate buildings and rituals that are fine for a previous generation and in and of themselves are good at reminding people, if they understand, what Christ stands for.
Unfortunately they mean little to those of the twitter verse or the world wide web.
One only has to take a look around the world at the churches that are truly growing. These churches are “adding value” to the life of those that are coming to them. The are preaching the same core message that the apostles preached but in a modern way. A way youth and young adults can relate too.
My son is an adult youth leader who attends a large and growing church. This church has been on the forefront of evangelism in out small city for some time.
It encourages its youth to live differently. To make a positive difference in the lives of those around them.
The message they give to these young people is relevant to their generation and it is preached through various social media.
One only has to look back at the first century church to see what needs to be done. The church fathers, the disciples, the apostle Paul and others in the early church used the most modern methods of their day.
Peter and the other disciples preached in the temple, in synagogues and other places. Paul spoke in the Areopagus and at many more venues. They all sent letters to the various churches.
So prominent was the teaching of the Apostles in Jerusalem that the apostles were brought before the religious authorities of their day.
The book of Acts recoding the authorities reaction,
“We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”
Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men!”
Acts 5:28,29.
The apostles were radicals in their day. They were radical for the Prince of Peace, Jesus. They never preached rebellion or hate.
Jesus who said,
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:37-40
“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.
We in the church need to be looking beyond church buildings, the rituals, and traditions. We need to be speaking without compromise about salvation that can only come from Christ.
We need to be out there in social media showing those who are disenfranchised with society that there is a better way. That violence and hate are not the solution to their problems.
We need to be like the good Samaritan. being there to bandage, not only the physical wounds of individuals, but their psychological wounds also.
It is only when those who feel marginalised or outcasts from our society realize that Christ is the answer to their problems that they will turn from violence.
Think about it.
As I write this it is October 28th 2014. Sadly I watched the funeral of Cpl. Nathan Cirillo the soldier murdered while guarding the National War Memorial in Ottawa.
This man was proud to be a Canadian and serve his country.
The man that killed him was nothing more than a hate filled misguided evil man.
What causes a man to do such a thing?
Chedly Belkhodja, principal of Concordia University’s School of Community and Public Affairs states,
“Radical Islamic groups can appeal both to lonely lost souls and Muslims in Western countries who feel excluded and marginalised,... A lot of young people can be an easy prey,”
Studies by John Horgan seems to agree.
John Horgan, is a psychologist and professor at the University of Massachusetts Lowell’s Centre for Terrorism and Security Studies, who study the minds of terrorists.
He notes foreign fighters are drawn to join ISIS by the need to “belong to something special.”
They want to find something meaningful for their life,” he said. “Some are thrill seeking, some are seeking redemption.”
Max Abrahms, an expert on terrorism from Northeastern University notes that
from most of the terrorism research available, those who join terrorist groups like ISIS are the most "ignorant people with respect to religion and they are generally the newest members to the religion.... They would probably fail the most basic test on Islam,"
Christians do have an answer for these terrorist groups but sadly the church here in North America, Europe and the west in general have fallen down on the job so to speak.
Much of the church has fallen into an institution dripping with ritual and out of date methods of reaching the word.
Those who’s heads are turned toward terrorist groups undoubtedly find the church outdated, uninteresting and uninspiring.
You only have to look around at the declining enrolment in churches today. These churches generally have ornate buildings and rituals that are fine for a previous generation and in and of themselves are good at reminding people, if they understand, what Christ stands for.
Unfortunately they mean little to those of the twitter verse or the world wide web.
One only has to take a look around the world at the churches that are truly growing. These churches are “adding value” to the life of those that are coming to them. The are preaching the same core message that the apostles preached but in a modern way. A way youth and young adults can relate too.
My son is an adult youth leader who attends a large and growing church. This church has been on the forefront of evangelism in out small city for some time.
It encourages its youth to live differently. To make a positive difference in the lives of those around them.
The message they give to these young people is relevant to their generation and it is preached through various social media.
One only has to look back at the first century church to see what needs to be done. The church fathers, the disciples, the apostle Paul and others in the early church used the most modern methods of their day.
Peter and the other disciples preached in the temple, in synagogues and other places. Paul spoke in the Areopagus and at many more venues. They all sent letters to the various churches.
So prominent was the teaching of the Apostles in Jerusalem that the apostles were brought before the religious authorities of their day.
The book of Acts recoding the authorities reaction,
“We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”
Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men!”
Acts 5:28,29.
The apostles were radicals in their day. They were radical for the Prince of Peace, Jesus. They never preached rebellion or hate.
Jesus who said,
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:37-40
“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.
We in the church need to be looking beyond church buildings, the rituals, and traditions. We need to be speaking without compromise about salvation that can only come from Christ.
We need to be out there in social media showing those who are disenfranchised with society that there is a better way. That violence and hate are not the solution to their problems.
We need to be like the good Samaritan. being there to bandage, not only the physical wounds of individuals, but their psychological wounds also.
It is only when those who feel marginalised or outcasts from our society realize that Christ is the answer to their problems that they will turn from violence.
Think about it.
Tuesday, 28 October 2014
The story of a man
The story of a man
“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.
Many years ago, perhaps thirty-five or so now I was doing what we call street witnessing with a friend on the streets of big city.
We’d do a three or four kilometre lap along a major street, from about nine at night until one in the morning depending on how many people were around. People and the police were use to us doing it.
We got our regulars some who simply wanted someone to talk or argue with us along with the drunks coming out of the bars and some new people.
On this particular occasion around midnight on a very cold February night, a very agitated man in his mid twenties came up to us. At first we though he might have a mental illness but that wasn’t the case.
He was very rational he just didn’t agree with anything we said. He had a lot of preconceived ideas that just didn’t add up.
He eventually told us he was a devil worshipper.
Over the space of an hour we tried to tell him about Christ although it was difficult because he didn’t want to listen. He seemed to be in attack mode, All he wanted to do was tell us what he believed.
Finally we were able to tell him what we believed, the very basics, the words of Jesus.
“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.
He told us quite bluntly he didn’t believe. That we were wrong and he was right then left us.
He gave us pause to think. Were we the last chance he had to receive Jesus into his life. Would he enter a Christless eternity?
It caused us to want to reach more people something we did. I forget how many actually came to know Christ but I do remember we talked to a lot of people.
During the few years we were witnessing we talked to everything from members of bike gangs, to people living on the street, to the average person and everyone in between.
We planted a lot of seeds. Quite often that was all we could do. Still the message went out and I probably will not know what happened to those seeds this side of eternity.
It is important that we as Christians all plant seeds. That we speak about our faith to others even if they don’t agree with us.
We as best we can need to enter into dialogue with the people around us telling them in an unthreatening way what we believe.
We may not see the results of that seed in this life time but we will in eternity.
Are you planting seeds around you?
Think about it.
“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.
Many years ago, perhaps thirty-five or so now I was doing what we call street witnessing with a friend on the streets of big city.
We’d do a three or four kilometre lap along a major street, from about nine at night until one in the morning depending on how many people were around. People and the police were use to us doing it.
We got our regulars some who simply wanted someone to talk or argue with us along with the drunks coming out of the bars and some new people.
On this particular occasion around midnight on a very cold February night, a very agitated man in his mid twenties came up to us. At first we though he might have a mental illness but that wasn’t the case.
He was very rational he just didn’t agree with anything we said. He had a lot of preconceived ideas that just didn’t add up.
He eventually told us he was a devil worshipper.
Over the space of an hour we tried to tell him about Christ although it was difficult because he didn’t want to listen. He seemed to be in attack mode, All he wanted to do was tell us what he believed.
Finally we were able to tell him what we believed, the very basics, the words of Jesus.
“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.
He told us quite bluntly he didn’t believe. That we were wrong and he was right then left us.
He gave us pause to think. Were we the last chance he had to receive Jesus into his life. Would he enter a Christless eternity?
It caused us to want to reach more people something we did. I forget how many actually came to know Christ but I do remember we talked to a lot of people.
During the few years we were witnessing we talked to everything from members of bike gangs, to people living on the street, to the average person and everyone in between.
We planted a lot of seeds. Quite often that was all we could do. Still the message went out and I probably will not know what happened to those seeds this side of eternity.
It is important that we as Christians all plant seeds. That we speak about our faith to others even if they don’t agree with us.
We as best we can need to enter into dialogue with the people around us telling them in an unthreatening way what we believe.
We may not see the results of that seed in this life time but we will in eternity.
Are you planting seeds around you?
Think about it.
Monday, 27 October 2014
Blessed is the man
Blessed is the man
“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgement, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.”
Psalm 1
Do you delight in the ways of the Lord? Do you meditate on His word day and night.
The only way we will get to know the Lord is by studying the scriptures ourselves.
We should not rely strictly on what pastors and evangelist say about God. The best way to know anyone is to spend time with them. Which is what we need to do with God.
The more we study the word of God the more we meditate on His word and pray the deeper our roots will go down. The stronger our faith becomes. Then when things do happen to us we are able to stand our ground.
I remember after hurricane Katrina hit the southern United states. My son went down to help rebuild some of the houses. He came back with pictures that showed how devastating the power of the hurricane was.
I remember seeing one picture of this big old tree it was battered but it was still standing. By contrast the houses around it were nothing more than rubble.
That trees roots must have been very deep because it looked like it hadn’t moved.
This is how we should be. Our roots should go deep into the scriptures. Our faith in God should be as deep as we can possibly get it.
All those who oppose God however will come to nothing. The Psalmist making it clear
“...the wicked will not stand in the judgement, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.”
How deep is your faith?
Are your roots still growing deep in the Lord?
Are you meditating on God’s word often enough?
Think about it.
“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgement, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.”
Psalm 1
Do you delight in the ways of the Lord? Do you meditate on His word day and night.
The only way we will get to know the Lord is by studying the scriptures ourselves.
We should not rely strictly on what pastors and evangelist say about God. The best way to know anyone is to spend time with them. Which is what we need to do with God.
The more we study the word of God the more we meditate on His word and pray the deeper our roots will go down. The stronger our faith becomes. Then when things do happen to us we are able to stand our ground.
I remember after hurricane Katrina hit the southern United states. My son went down to help rebuild some of the houses. He came back with pictures that showed how devastating the power of the hurricane was.
I remember seeing one picture of this big old tree it was battered but it was still standing. By contrast the houses around it were nothing more than rubble.
That trees roots must have been very deep because it looked like it hadn’t moved.
This is how we should be. Our roots should go deep into the scriptures. Our faith in God should be as deep as we can possibly get it.
All those who oppose God however will come to nothing. The Psalmist making it clear
“...the wicked will not stand in the judgement, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.”
How deep is your faith?
Are your roots still growing deep in the Lord?
Are you meditating on God’s word often enough?
Think about it.
Sunday, 26 October 2014
Who is He?
Who is he?
“So he(Paul) 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?”
Acts 17:17-19.
I am a professional clown as a result I get invited to a lot of corporate and private Christmas parties over the year.
These parties are all about the Children which is a good thing.
The parties range from very elaborate affairs that have the big jump and bounce blow up castles along with various entertainers and of course Father Christmas, to very small gatherings in which I generally am the entertainment along with Santa.
The children always seem to have a lot of fun and I admit for me as an entertainer I leave them feeling extra good.
Whenever I go to these events I wear a small badge that says, “Jesus is the reason for the season”.
Sadly, and it’s getting more frequent, many children are asking me who Jesus is even teenagers are asking. What’s worse I think is that adults are asking me who Jesus is. They know the name but know nothing about him.
Now one must keep in mind that in the area where I live and work not counting cable stations, there are five over the air Christian television channels and several radio stations.
When I get a chance, I do tell the people who ask, just who Jesus is. I even refer them to my Blogs.
Still we as Christians need to do more.
I live in a town were one church alone has a Sunday attendance equal to that of one percent of the cities population. And I would guess that by the number of churches in our town there is between five and perhaps as high as ten percent of the city’s population go to church. That being said people are not being reached. I can only imagine what it is like in bigger cities.
It needs to begin with each individual. We need to be inviting people over for coffee or to bible studies, to church.
We need to just be friends with non-believers and show the love of God toward them. To live a Christlike life in front of them.
Matthew records,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20.
This is what we need to be doing any way we can, especially now that Christmas is on the horizon.
Think about it.
“So he(Paul) 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?”
Acts 17:17-19.
I am a professional clown as a result I get invited to a lot of corporate and private Christmas parties over the year.
These parties are all about the Children which is a good thing.
The parties range from very elaborate affairs that have the big jump and bounce blow up castles along with various entertainers and of course Father Christmas, to very small gatherings in which I generally am the entertainment along with Santa.
The children always seem to have a lot of fun and I admit for me as an entertainer I leave them feeling extra good.
Whenever I go to these events I wear a small badge that says, “Jesus is the reason for the season”.
Sadly, and it’s getting more frequent, many children are asking me who Jesus is even teenagers are asking. What’s worse I think is that adults are asking me who Jesus is. They know the name but know nothing about him.
Now one must keep in mind that in the area where I live and work not counting cable stations, there are five over the air Christian television channels and several radio stations.
When I get a chance, I do tell the people who ask, just who Jesus is. I even refer them to my Blogs.
Still we as Christians need to do more.
I live in a town were one church alone has a Sunday attendance equal to that of one percent of the cities population. And I would guess that by the number of churches in our town there is between five and perhaps as high as ten percent of the city’s population go to church. That being said people are not being reached. I can only imagine what it is like in bigger cities.
It needs to begin with each individual. We need to be inviting people over for coffee or to bible studies, to church.
We need to just be friends with non-believers and show the love of God toward them. To live a Christlike life in front of them.
Matthew records,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20.
This is what we need to be doing any way we can, especially now that Christmas is on the horizon.
Think about it.
Saturday, 25 October 2014
The greatest commandment
The Greatest Commandment
“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.”
Matthew 22:36-38.
How much do you love God? Do you really love God?
Many people say they love God here in North America but all too often their lifestyle say’s they only ‘like God’. They put him in second place, third place or even last place in their priorities of life.
I found this quote from the Zohar that sums up how we should be if we truly love not only God but anyone.
“A man fell in love with a woman who resided in the street of the tanners. If she had not lived there, he would never have entered this evil-smelling section; but, since she dwells there, the street seems too him like the street of the perfumers.”
From the Zohar
A tannery can be a foul smelling place. In ancient days when the Zohar was written a street full of tanners must have been truly horrible.
The point the Zohar is making here is that if you truly love someone it doesn’t matter what the circumstances you will want to be with them no matter what.
That’s how we should be with God and Jesus. We should want to be with him as often as we can.
All to many Christians in this day and age get their priorities mixed up. Serving the Lord or even going to Church is secondary in their lives.
I knew a man he said he loved the Lord. He went to Bible School part time to get his masters degree in theology while he worked full time.
What he was doing was laudable.
He said he wanted to serve the Lord by setting up a church. But the way he spoke to me it seemed that he was doing it in his time, not the Lords.
The company he worked for came first. In addition he worked at a second job to bring in extra income that he really didn’t need. His wife worked and they liked their ‘toys’. He had a nice house, two cars, a boat among other things.
When it came to attending church it seemed that every time it came between overtime at his primary job or extra time at his secondary job he chose them over coming to church.
He seemed to always be putting God second in his life.
Now don’t get me wrong. There are times when people need that second pay cheque. Many people here in North America are living sadly, below the poverty line.
There are also times when we may need to work overtime at our job. That’s just the way life is sometimes.
And having cars, boats, and a nice house is perfectly fine provided they don’t pull us away from God.
We need to look at our priorities. We need to ask ourselves the question do we have any god’s, materialistic things, that we are putting ahead of the Living God?
We may not have graven images or carved idols. But we do have dollar bills, fancy cars, boats, luxury houses and other items we bow down to.
We need to ask our self do we need a boat, the latest smart phone or computer? Is it really necessary for us to have a three hundred thousand dollar house when a hundred fifty thousand one would do just as well?
As I’ve said in the past there is nothing wrong with being wealthy or having all the ‘toys’ our society has to offer but it should not take us away from God.
We need to be asking ourselves is God truly first in our lives?
The writer of Deuteronomy states,
“Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.
Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.
Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”
Deuteronomy 6:5-9.
We need to ask ourselves if we are doing what is said here in Deuteronomy.
Jews have an interesting way of following the command set out here in Deuteronomy. They not only keep God in their hearts. But they literally wear God’s words on their foreheads or arms.
They pray morning and evening.
They wear a Tefillin. Tefillin are the two small leather boxes containing verses from the Torah that Jewish men above bar mitzvah age wear during morning prayer services. (They are not worn on Shabbat or most Jewish holidays.)
The boxes are attached to lengthy leather straps that hold the boxes onto the head and the arm. attached to their head and to their arm containing scripture. It is a requirement of all Jewish men above bar mitzvah age. They are not worn on the Sabbath or most Jewish holidays.
On all of the door posts throughout their home they place a Mezuzah a small glass, wood or metal case, containing the most famous Jewish prayer the Shema. A prayer declaring God’s unity and their devotion to Him.
All of what they do has deep spiritual meaning to each individual Jew. As they move through the house they see the Mezuzah and it reminds them of God, and their relationship to Him.
As Christians, we need to I believe remind ourselves daily of our relationship with God.
We need to put God first even if it cost us some overtime at work or a few dollars.
We need to make God the first priority in our life.
Is he in yours?
Think about it.
“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.”
Matthew 22:36-38.
How much do you love God? Do you really love God?
Many people say they love God here in North America but all too often their lifestyle say’s they only ‘like God’. They put him in second place, third place or even last place in their priorities of life.
I found this quote from the Zohar that sums up how we should be if we truly love not only God but anyone.
“A man fell in love with a woman who resided in the street of the tanners. If she had not lived there, he would never have entered this evil-smelling section; but, since she dwells there, the street seems too him like the street of the perfumers.”
From the Zohar
A tannery can be a foul smelling place. In ancient days when the Zohar was written a street full of tanners must have been truly horrible.
The point the Zohar is making here is that if you truly love someone it doesn’t matter what the circumstances you will want to be with them no matter what.
That’s how we should be with God and Jesus. We should want to be with him as often as we can.
All to many Christians in this day and age get their priorities mixed up. Serving the Lord or even going to Church is secondary in their lives.
I knew a man he said he loved the Lord. He went to Bible School part time to get his masters degree in theology while he worked full time.
What he was doing was laudable.
He said he wanted to serve the Lord by setting up a church. But the way he spoke to me it seemed that he was doing it in his time, not the Lords.
The company he worked for came first. In addition he worked at a second job to bring in extra income that he really didn’t need. His wife worked and they liked their ‘toys’. He had a nice house, two cars, a boat among other things.
When it came to attending church it seemed that every time it came between overtime at his primary job or extra time at his secondary job he chose them over coming to church.
He seemed to always be putting God second in his life.
Now don’t get me wrong. There are times when people need that second pay cheque. Many people here in North America are living sadly, below the poverty line.
There are also times when we may need to work overtime at our job. That’s just the way life is sometimes.
And having cars, boats, and a nice house is perfectly fine provided they don’t pull us away from God.
We need to look at our priorities. We need to ask ourselves the question do we have any god’s, materialistic things, that we are putting ahead of the Living God?
We may not have graven images or carved idols. But we do have dollar bills, fancy cars, boats, luxury houses and other items we bow down to.
We need to ask our self do we need a boat, the latest smart phone or computer? Is it really necessary for us to have a three hundred thousand dollar house when a hundred fifty thousand one would do just as well?
As I’ve said in the past there is nothing wrong with being wealthy or having all the ‘toys’ our society has to offer but it should not take us away from God.
We need to be asking ourselves is God truly first in our lives?
The writer of Deuteronomy states,
“Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.
Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.
Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”
Deuteronomy 6:5-9.
We need to ask ourselves if we are doing what is said here in Deuteronomy.
Jews have an interesting way of following the command set out here in Deuteronomy. They not only keep God in their hearts. But they literally wear God’s words on their foreheads or arms.
They pray morning and evening.
They wear a Tefillin. Tefillin are the two small leather boxes containing verses from the Torah that Jewish men above bar mitzvah age wear during morning prayer services. (They are not worn on Shabbat or most Jewish holidays.)
The boxes are attached to lengthy leather straps that hold the boxes onto the head and the arm. attached to their head and to their arm containing scripture. It is a requirement of all Jewish men above bar mitzvah age. They are not worn on the Sabbath or most Jewish holidays.
On all of the door posts throughout their home they place a Mezuzah a small glass, wood or metal case, containing the most famous Jewish prayer the Shema. A prayer declaring God’s unity and their devotion to Him.
All of what they do has deep spiritual meaning to each individual Jew. As they move through the house they see the Mezuzah and it reminds them of God, and their relationship to Him.
As Christians, we need to I believe remind ourselves daily of our relationship with God.
We need to put God first even if it cost us some overtime at work or a few dollars.
We need to make God the first priority in our life.
Is he in yours?
Think about it.
Friday, 24 October 2014
Evacuate
Evacuate?
The other day I watched a documentary called Evacuate Earth. It was a fascinating film that presented what could possibly be done if the earth was threatened by an object from outer space.
The premise was simply that we’d be searching the stars for an earthlike planet that we could go to should we find earth was in danger of being destroyed.
In fact the search for earth like planets is happening today.
Should such a cataclysmic even appear to be imminent. The powers to be would carefully select people from all over the world using genetic selection and other means, to go onto a large space craft for a journey that would at the minimum take a generation or more to that new earth.
I realized that the people making the movie were not Christians.
For me the premise that the human race would die out due to some cataclysm perhaps in theory is more than possible. After all our existence on this planet is defined by razor thin margins.
Still I do not believe for one second the human race would die out. Human beings while here on earth are have bodies of flesh and bone but that is not what makes up a man. Men and women were crated by God as eternal beings. Let me quote loosely from Martin Luther King Jr who said,
“We thank thee, O God, for the spiritual nature of man.We are in nature but we live above nature....
Then, finally, help us to realize that man was created to shine like stars and live on through all eternity...”
King recognized the one thing all Christians and other faith groups know. First of all man is not just a corporeal being, but a spiritual being who is destined to live on through eternity.
A comet, asteroid, neutron star, nuclear holocaust, or for that matter a mass murderer, cannot sent people into oblivion.
To me the thought that all there is, is this life is very sad.
Every man, woman and child has so much potential. For it to be limited to a few years or decades or even just over a century seems such a waste.
I do believe the words of Martin Luther King when he said, mankind was created to live on like the stars through eternity.
I know to the unbeliever that may seem silly even stupid, it is never the less what I believe.
I have read the Bible with an open mind and truly believe what it says. The apostle Paul writing to Timothy wrote,
“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.
But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.
1Timothy 1:15,16
Eternal life to a Christian is a gift from God. C. S. Lewis said,
“The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.”
C.S. Lewis.
The Apostle Paul wrote,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8.
Writing to the Ephesians Paul 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
When all is said and done however what will happen to mankind and each individual on this earth comes down to a matter of where you put your faith, in Science or in God.
The writer of Hebrews noting,
“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
Think about it
The other day I watched a documentary called Evacuate Earth. It was a fascinating film that presented what could possibly be done if the earth was threatened by an object from outer space.
The premise was simply that we’d be searching the stars for an earthlike planet that we could go to should we find earth was in danger of being destroyed.
In fact the search for earth like planets is happening today.
Should such a cataclysmic even appear to be imminent. The powers to be would carefully select people from all over the world using genetic selection and other means, to go onto a large space craft for a journey that would at the minimum take a generation or more to that new earth.
I realized that the people making the movie were not Christians.
For me the premise that the human race would die out due to some cataclysm perhaps in theory is more than possible. After all our existence on this planet is defined by razor thin margins.
Still I do not believe for one second the human race would die out. Human beings while here on earth are have bodies of flesh and bone but that is not what makes up a man. Men and women were crated by God as eternal beings. Let me quote loosely from Martin Luther King Jr who said,
“We thank thee, O God, for the spiritual nature of man.We are in nature but we live above nature....
Then, finally, help us to realize that man was created to shine like stars and live on through all eternity...”
King recognized the one thing all Christians and other faith groups know. First of all man is not just a corporeal being, but a spiritual being who is destined to live on through eternity.
A comet, asteroid, neutron star, nuclear holocaust, or for that matter a mass murderer, cannot sent people into oblivion.
To me the thought that all there is, is this life is very sad.
Every man, woman and child has so much potential. For it to be limited to a few years or decades or even just over a century seems such a waste.
I do believe the words of Martin Luther King when he said, mankind was created to live on like the stars through eternity.
I know to the unbeliever that may seem silly even stupid, it is never the less what I believe.
I have read the Bible with an open mind and truly believe what it says. The apostle Paul writing to Timothy wrote,
“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.
But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.
1Timothy 1:15,16
Eternal life to a Christian is a gift from God. C. S. Lewis said,
“The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.”
C.S. Lewis.
The Apostle Paul wrote,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8.
Writing to the Ephesians Paul 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
When all is said and done however what will happen to mankind and each individual on this earth comes down to a matter of where you put your faith, in Science or in God.
The writer of Hebrews noting,
“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
Think about it
Thursday, 23 October 2014
October 22nd 2014 Ottawa
October 22nd 2014 Ottawa
As I write this Canada’s capital has just been shocked by a radicalized individual who shot and killed a soldier on duty at the national war memorial in Ottawa then tried to get to others inside the parliament buildings.
Fortunately the man doing the shooting was shot and killed by the sergeant at arms before he could kill others.
This is the second attack on Canadian military personal in less than a week. A few days earlier a man deliberately attacked two soldiers in Quebec killing one of them. The attacker in this incident was also killed.
My condolences and prayers go out to the families of those soldiers who have died.
Such attacks are done by men who are far from God. Men who harbour hate within their heart. Men who know nothing of honour. Men devoid of love.
Rabbi Abba Hill Silver during the dark days of world war two said,
“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,
The men that killed those soldiers were no better than Adolf Hitlers, Gestapo. The leaders of IS who inspired them, nothing more than modern day Nazis who murder innocent men women and children. Such men are far from God.
These murders deserve to be brought to trial and convicted of the crimes they are so guilty of committing and inspiring.
We however as civilized people should not stoop to their level. We should never hate.
Martin Luther King Jr. knew what it was to experience hate, yet he was able to say.
“We thank thee, O God, for the spiritual nature of man. We are in nature but we live above nature. Help us never to let anybody or any condition pull us so low as to cause us to hate.
Give us strength to love our enemies and to do good to those who despitefully use us and persecute us...
Keep us, we pray, in perfect peace; help us to walk together, pray together, sing together, and live together until that day when all God’s children, Black, White, Red, and Yellow will rejoice in one common bond of humanity in the kingdom of our LORD and of our God, we pray.
Amen.
Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Let us never hate. Let us hold the banners of Freedom, Justice, and Democracy high never for one minute letting them be tarnished by hate.
We need to pray for our brave men and women in the military as well as the first responders who risk their lives to keep us safe and free.
Pray for the protection of those who are fighting against the evil that IS and other terrorist groups around the world.
Pray for our political leaders that God will give them protection. That He will grant them wisdom in all their decisions.
Pray for peace.
As I write this Canada’s capital has just been shocked by a radicalized individual who shot and killed a soldier on duty at the national war memorial in Ottawa then tried to get to others inside the parliament buildings.
Fortunately the man doing the shooting was shot and killed by the sergeant at arms before he could kill others.
This is the second attack on Canadian military personal in less than a week. A few days earlier a man deliberately attacked two soldiers in Quebec killing one of them. The attacker in this incident was also killed.
My condolences and prayers go out to the families of those soldiers who have died.
Such attacks are done by men who are far from God. Men who harbour hate within their heart. Men who know nothing of honour. Men devoid of love.
Rabbi Abba Hill Silver during the dark days of world war two said,
“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,
The men that killed those soldiers were no better than Adolf Hitlers, Gestapo. The leaders of IS who inspired them, nothing more than modern day Nazis who murder innocent men women and children. Such men are far from God.
These murders deserve to be brought to trial and convicted of the crimes they are so guilty of committing and inspiring.
We however as civilized people should not stoop to their level. We should never hate.
Martin Luther King Jr. knew what it was to experience hate, yet he was able to say.
“We thank thee, O God, for the spiritual nature of man. We are in nature but we live above nature. Help us never to let anybody or any condition pull us so low as to cause us to hate.
Give us strength to love our enemies and to do good to those who despitefully use us and persecute us...
Keep us, we pray, in perfect peace; help us to walk together, pray together, sing together, and live together until that day when all God’s children, Black, White, Red, and Yellow will rejoice in one common bond of humanity in the kingdom of our LORD and of our God, we pray.
Amen.
Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Let us never hate. Let us hold the banners of Freedom, Justice, and Democracy high never for one minute letting them be tarnished by hate.
We need to pray for our brave men and women in the military as well as the first responders who risk their lives to keep us safe and free.
Pray for the protection of those who are fighting against the evil that IS and other terrorist groups around the world.
Pray for our political leaders that God will give them protection. That He will grant them wisdom in all their decisions.
Pray for peace.
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