What is life?
“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.
The other day while going through some boxes my son left when he moved out I found a corduroy winter coat that had been my fathers.
My father died ten years ago. My son had liked the coat so he kept it. I called him up and asked him about it. He said he and his new wife didn’t have a lot of room so he had left it and thought I might want it. Something to remember my father by.
It got me to thinking and looking around my house. There were quite a few things lying around that had been my fathers, a couple of over stuffed, very comfortable arm chairs as well as a large hutch or cabinet.
When dad had died my siblings and I had got together and divided his things between us. Dad had particularly said he wanted me to have the hutch.
It’s large to say the least seven feet high, six feet long and three or so wide. It dominates my livingroom. At the same time it holds what is important to my wife and I, pictures of our children and parents. Things brought back by our younger son from his travels around the world. A few things from my older son who’s just got married, as well as a family Bible that was once my mother in laws, two shofar’s, a big one and a small one. A nativity scene given to us by my wife’s late sister. Our graduation diploma’s from Bible school and numerous assorted letters of thanks from people who have enjoyed my clown act over the years.
None of these things are worth more than a few dollars but to us they are priceless. Still I got to thinking. What is life.
I look at the things my parents left behind take away the furniture and everything they left could fit in a large trunk.
Is that all life is? Some furniture, perhaps a house and a trunk of odds and ends.
I think not. We are much more than the things we collect in this life.
While the writer of Ecclesiastes says these words.
“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.
He comes to the right conclusion saying,
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.”
Ecclesiastes12:13,14.
There is a poignant piece written by Ben Zion Bosker called the Rose talked back it goes like this,
The man sweeping the synagogue paused for a moment. He looked at the flowers lying about in disorder, ‘What waste!’ He said too himself. Those roses had adorned the pulpit at a wedding an hour before. Now all was over and they were waiting to be discarded.
The attendant leaning on his sweeper was lost in thought when suddenly he heard a strange sound. One of the roses replied to him.
‘Do you call this a waste?” the flower protested, ‘What is life anyway, yours or mine, but a means of service? My mission was to create some fragrance and beauty, and when I have fulfilled it my life has not been wasted. And what greater privilege is there than to adorn a bride’s way to her beloved, what greater privilege than to help glorify the moment when a bride and groom seal their faith in each other by entering the covenant of marriage?’
Our little flower paused for a moment too watch the man’s face, and then continued her discourse.
‘Roses are like people. They live in deeds, not in time. My glory was but for a brief hour, but you should have seen the joy in the bride’s eye. I like to believe that I had something to do with it, by creating a suitable setting for the moment of her supreme happiness. So don’t grieve for me. My life has been worthwhile.
Having spoken her little piece, the rose was once more silent. The attendant, startled from his reverie and a little wiser, pushed the sweeper again and continued with his work.
Ben Zion Bokser
We each have I believe a purpose in life. We are not the sum total of the shiny metal, precious stones and a few odds and ends. We are much more than that.
God has more for us than just acquiring things or simply existing doing nothing with our lives.
God first and foremost wants to have a personal relationship with each one of us. 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.
We, every day of our lives, whether we realize it or not stand on the precipice that overlooks eternity. One day whether we want to or not we will make that final step into and eternity that will place us before the thrown of God.
At that point he will not ask do you believe in me for you will not be able to deny it. He will however I believe look at what Christians call the lambs book of life and see if your name is written in it.
Will yours be written in that book?
Tony Campolo the American evangelist said,
“When you were born, you cried and everybody else was happy. The only question that matters is this - when you die, will you be happy when everybody else is crying?”
Tony Campolo
Think about it...
Monday, 17 November 2014
Sunday, 16 November 2014
A difference
A difference
I’m hope in writing this I don’t hit on too many nerves because I write it to make people think.
Some time ago I was going to speak to two groups about what it’s like to live with Bi-polar disorder. One group was Christians from an evangelical church that knew me. The other was at a secular meeting that had never heard me speak before.
During my talk to church group I mentioned that I had, had cancer surgery, that it had been successful, but that thirty days after the surgery I’d been rushed to hospital with what doctors told me were two very large blood clots in my lungs and one in my groin. I almost died.
I do believe that thanks to prayer, to God and some very good doctors I lived.
I mentioned to the group however that the experience with the cancer as extremely bad as that was, was not quite as bad as living with Bi-polar disorder.
I noted that when you are a Christian with cancer you have two possible outcomes. Either you live and enjoy life or you die and go to heaven where there is no pain and suffering.
The one thing Bi-polar disorder gives you is it draws you closer to God each day because there is no cure. Quite often I find I have to rely on God to just get me through the day.
Sadly Bi-polar at times can be like living with the worst pain known to man times ten. At times especially if you are depressed, even with medication you must force yourself go on one day, one hour, one minute at a time. It can be mentally and physically exhausting.
It is something that never seems to end. At least cancer can be beaten or like I said if you are a Christian you pass on to meet your Lord and saviour.
The Christians I spoke to understood this.
Still my friend noticing my notes for the secular audience were the same notes I’d used for the church audience drew me to one side and said,
“you can’t say cancer is better than Bi-polar, because secular audiences unlike Christians who see death as a doorway to heaven, secular people see it as finality an end.”
I’d never though of it that way before so I did change my script and left out the comparison.
I still do believe that death is not an end for those who believe in Jesus Christ. Death is a beginning of a life with God.
The Bible gives me this hope.
The apostle John said,
“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
The Apostle Paul wrote,
“You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Galatians 3:26-28
Paul writing to the Ephesians reminds us that Salvation is a gift from God for all who will receive it. He writes,
“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
The writer of Hebrews explaining faith as,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1
Then in chapter ten the writer of Hebrews explains our hope saying,
“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body,
and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”
Hebrews 10:19-23
I do believe in Jesus Christ. That He is my Lord and Saviour. That when I die I will meet Him.
I cannot see death as an end. It is simply a door way to eternity an eternity with God or without Him. The choice is up to the individual.
So the question is, where will you spend eternity.
Think about it.
I’m hope in writing this I don’t hit on too many nerves because I write it to make people think.
Some time ago I was going to speak to two groups about what it’s like to live with Bi-polar disorder. One group was Christians from an evangelical church that knew me. The other was at a secular meeting that had never heard me speak before.
During my talk to church group I mentioned that I had, had cancer surgery, that it had been successful, but that thirty days after the surgery I’d been rushed to hospital with what doctors told me were two very large blood clots in my lungs and one in my groin. I almost died.
I do believe that thanks to prayer, to God and some very good doctors I lived.
I mentioned to the group however that the experience with the cancer as extremely bad as that was, was not quite as bad as living with Bi-polar disorder.
I noted that when you are a Christian with cancer you have two possible outcomes. Either you live and enjoy life or you die and go to heaven where there is no pain and suffering.
The one thing Bi-polar disorder gives you is it draws you closer to God each day because there is no cure. Quite often I find I have to rely on God to just get me through the day.
Sadly Bi-polar at times can be like living with the worst pain known to man times ten. At times especially if you are depressed, even with medication you must force yourself go on one day, one hour, one minute at a time. It can be mentally and physically exhausting.
It is something that never seems to end. At least cancer can be beaten or like I said if you are a Christian you pass on to meet your Lord and saviour.
The Christians I spoke to understood this.
Still my friend noticing my notes for the secular audience were the same notes I’d used for the church audience drew me to one side and said,
“you can’t say cancer is better than Bi-polar, because secular audiences unlike Christians who see death as a doorway to heaven, secular people see it as finality an end.”
I’d never though of it that way before so I did change my script and left out the comparison.
I still do believe that death is not an end for those who believe in Jesus Christ. Death is a beginning of a life with God.
The Bible gives me this hope.
The apostle John said,
“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
The Apostle Paul wrote,
“You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Galatians 3:26-28
Paul writing to the Ephesians reminds us that Salvation is a gift from God for all who will receive it. He writes,
“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
The writer of Hebrews explaining faith as,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1
Then in chapter ten the writer of Hebrews explains our hope saying,
“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body,
and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”
Hebrews 10:19-23
I do believe in Jesus Christ. That He is my Lord and Saviour. That when I die I will meet Him.
I cannot see death as an end. It is simply a door way to eternity an eternity with God or without Him. The choice is up to the individual.
So the question is, where will you spend eternity.
Think about it.
Saturday, 15 November 2014
True Christians
True Christians
Some one once asked me a simple thing the other day describe a Canadian coin as he presented it to me. I said it had the queens head on it with the words, Elizabeth II D. G. Regina.
He then turned to my friend and asked him to describe the coin as he presented it. He said it has a beaver in the center, with the words 5 cents with maple leave on each side of it. Below the Beaver is the word Canada and below that the date.
To someone who didn’t know any better we were describing different coins. The thing was I described the front and my friend the back of the same coin.
Mahatma Gandhi was a great thinker. A good man who said,
“Jesus is ideal and wonderful, but you Christians - you are not like him.”
Unfortunately Mahatma Gandhi probably didn’t know what a true Christian is. He had only met those who called themselves Christians.
He like many may have though people from the west, particularly the United Kingdom, and the United States are by default Christians. It is not so. You are not born a Christian simply because your parents were or you live in a particular country.
Jesus told this parable.
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,
I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?
When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?
When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’”
Matthew 25:34-40
Gandhi did not see this first group. He see the second of whom Jesus said,
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,
I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
“He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
Matthew 25:41-46
Many people call themselves Christians and the outside world generally believes them. That goes especially for preachers in the media.
Non-Christians generally don’t know how to tell a “real Christian” from one who is a fake.
Tony Campolo the American evangelist said,
“These issues are biblical issues: to care for the sick, to feed the hungry, to stand up for the oppressed. I contend that if the evangelical community became more biblical, everything would change.”
Tony Campolo
What Campolo is saying is correct. We Christians are called to not only go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature, but feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, cloth the needy, look after the sick, visit the prisoner and invite the stranger in.
The Apostle James wrote,
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.
If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.”
James 2:14-18
The bottom line here is that Christians are to show love to all whom they come in contact with.
Jesus when asked what the greatest commandment was said,
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.
Earlier in Matthew Jesus is recorded as saying,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
Matthew 5:43-45
The Apostle Paul writing,
“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.
This is what makes up a true Christian
Think about it.
Some one once asked me a simple thing the other day describe a Canadian coin as he presented it to me. I said it had the queens head on it with the words, Elizabeth II D. G. Regina.
He then turned to my friend and asked him to describe the coin as he presented it. He said it has a beaver in the center, with the words 5 cents with maple leave on each side of it. Below the Beaver is the word Canada and below that the date.
To someone who didn’t know any better we were describing different coins. The thing was I described the front and my friend the back of the same coin.
Mahatma Gandhi was a great thinker. A good man who said,
“Jesus is ideal and wonderful, but you Christians - you are not like him.”
Unfortunately Mahatma Gandhi probably didn’t know what a true Christian is. He had only met those who called themselves Christians.
He like many may have though people from the west, particularly the United Kingdom, and the United States are by default Christians. It is not so. You are not born a Christian simply because your parents were or you live in a particular country.
Jesus told this parable.
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,
I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?
When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?
When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’”
Matthew 25:34-40
Gandhi did not see this first group. He see the second of whom Jesus said,
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,
I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
“He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
Matthew 25:41-46
Many people call themselves Christians and the outside world generally believes them. That goes especially for preachers in the media.
Non-Christians generally don’t know how to tell a “real Christian” from one who is a fake.
Tony Campolo the American evangelist said,
“These issues are biblical issues: to care for the sick, to feed the hungry, to stand up for the oppressed. I contend that if the evangelical community became more biblical, everything would change.”
Tony Campolo
What Campolo is saying is correct. We Christians are called to not only go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature, but feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, cloth the needy, look after the sick, visit the prisoner and invite the stranger in.
The Apostle James wrote,
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.
If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.”
James 2:14-18
The bottom line here is that Christians are to show love to all whom they come in contact with.
Jesus when asked what the greatest commandment was said,
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.
Earlier in Matthew Jesus is recorded as saying,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
Matthew 5:43-45
The Apostle Paul writing,
“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.
This is what makes up a true Christian
Think about it.
Friday, 14 November 2014
Not all
Not All
“I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.
So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.
“Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”
Acts 20:29-32
Beware of the wolves!
Paul knowing it is the last time, he will see the believers in Ephesus leaves
them with a warning to watch for those who would come as wolves. Those who would even rise up among the believers and pull them away from the faith.
Most people are easily swayed. I think sometimes, that is why they are called sheep.
When I grew up in England, there were a large number of sheep. Quite often, you would hear the shepherd whistling directions to his sheep dog. That dog would easily keep the sheep under control, and direct them to where the shepherd wanted them.
As kids, on the way to the beach, we, frequently, passed flocks of sheep in the meadows, grazing. Being kids, we’d run into the flocks yelling, they’d immediately scatter. We also found, even as ten year olds, that we could easily get them to go wherever we wanted to.
A farmer one day, seeing us do this called out to us, to chase them his way. We did and he even paid us a shilling each for doing it, a king’s ransom for ten year olds in the early 1960's. We found out, later, they were on their way to the slaughter house.
It’s the same with many in the church, today. They are easily rounded up and led to the slaughter so to speak.
Many within the church, do not read the Bible. If they do, they don’t read it enough. They hardly ever pray, and they are so busy, that they don’t stop long enough to hear the voice of God.
Anyone will tell you no church congregation is perfect. Still, it is important for us as believers to get involved with a congregation that preaches the Word of God.
We need to read the Scriptures, and pray asking God to lead us to a church that will meet our spiritual needs and not just make us feel good.
If you’re a leader within your church congregation be it pastor, board member, deacon, teacher, or whatever. You have a duty to watch out for those within the congregation that God has put you over.
You have a duty to read the Word of God, to pray, and take time to listen for the
voice of God. To look and listen for ways to help those in the flock. So that the wolves do not come in and steal the flock.
As individual Christians we need to be mindful of the words of Jesus who 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
The people Jesus was talking about are with us today in our churches, and in the media. They look good they sound good but they are not from God. That’s why Paul wrote these words to the Ephesians and through them to us. Saying,
“I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.
So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.
“Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”
Acts 20:29-32
Think about it.
“I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.
So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.
“Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”
Acts 20:29-32
Beware of the wolves!
Paul knowing it is the last time, he will see the believers in Ephesus leaves
them with a warning to watch for those who would come as wolves. Those who would even rise up among the believers and pull them away from the faith.
Most people are easily swayed. I think sometimes, that is why they are called sheep.
When I grew up in England, there were a large number of sheep. Quite often, you would hear the shepherd whistling directions to his sheep dog. That dog would easily keep the sheep under control, and direct them to where the shepherd wanted them.
As kids, on the way to the beach, we, frequently, passed flocks of sheep in the meadows, grazing. Being kids, we’d run into the flocks yelling, they’d immediately scatter. We also found, even as ten year olds, that we could easily get them to go wherever we wanted to.
A farmer one day, seeing us do this called out to us, to chase them his way. We did and he even paid us a shilling each for doing it, a king’s ransom for ten year olds in the early 1960's. We found out, later, they were on their way to the slaughter house.
It’s the same with many in the church, today. They are easily rounded up and led to the slaughter so to speak.
Many within the church, do not read the Bible. If they do, they don’t read it enough. They hardly ever pray, and they are so busy, that they don’t stop long enough to hear the voice of God.
Anyone will tell you no church congregation is perfect. Still, it is important for us as believers to get involved with a congregation that preaches the Word of God.
We need to read the Scriptures, and pray asking God to lead us to a church that will meet our spiritual needs and not just make us feel good.
If you’re a leader within your church congregation be it pastor, board member, deacon, teacher, or whatever. You have a duty to watch out for those within the congregation that God has put you over.
You have a duty to read the Word of God, to pray, and take time to listen for the
voice of God. To look and listen for ways to help those in the flock. So that the wolves do not come in and steal the flock.
As individual Christians we need to be mindful of the words of Jesus who 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
The people Jesus was talking about are with us today in our churches, and in the media. They look good they sound good but they are not from God. That’s why Paul wrote these words to the Ephesians and through them to us. Saying,
“I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.
So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.
“Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”
Acts 20:29-32
Think about it.
Thursday, 13 November 2014
Stepping out of the boat
Stepping out of the boat
“Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd.
After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.
When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
“Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down.
Matthew14:24-32
What a wonderful illustration of how we let Christ work in our lives. Here the apostles have just seen Jesus perform a miracle feeding five thousand men plus women and children. They had witnessed other things Jesus had done and in this simple incident we see at least Peter still had doubts.
Peter recognized it was Jesus and said, “LORD, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”
Peter then got out of the boat and as soon as he realized the wind was “boisterous” as the king James version puts it, his faith started to fade and he started to sink causing him to call to Jesus for help.
I think on many occasions we are like Peter.
We say “LORD do this for me.” God does it and we start on our way, then when things start getting “boisterous” we start doubting and have to call out to God for help.
We have little faith at times. Like Peter we have doubts and fears and have to call out to Christ for help.
Being a Christian is a growing experience. We all have doubts and fears times when we feel God is not with us.
We, however, can take heart from the example of Peter. Peter, here doubted, and he even ran away at the trial of Jesus. However, on the Day of Pentecost Peter stood on the top of the house, and preached the Gospel. He went onto stand before the Jewish leaders and proclaim the Gospel, seemingly, fearlessly.
Peter and the other Apostles were people just like us. They had their doubts at times, as they learned from Christ. They had their fears, but, as they listened to the teaching of Jesus, they grew into powerhouses, that quite literally changed the world in which they lived. We must do the same.
In order for us to grow to overcome our doubts and fears, we must study the words of our LORD. Study the Scriptures, and as Peter and the others in that upper room did, allow the Holy Spirit to come into our lives and work in us.
We must be wholly committed to God.
Where is your faith?
Are you willing to step out of the boat and walk on the water?
Are you taking what you learned of Christ to the world?
Think about it.
“Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd.
After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.
When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
“Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down.
Matthew14:24-32
What a wonderful illustration of how we let Christ work in our lives. Here the apostles have just seen Jesus perform a miracle feeding five thousand men plus women and children. They had witnessed other things Jesus had done and in this simple incident we see at least Peter still had doubts.
Peter recognized it was Jesus and said, “LORD, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”
Peter then got out of the boat and as soon as he realized the wind was “boisterous” as the king James version puts it, his faith started to fade and he started to sink causing him to call to Jesus for help.
I think on many occasions we are like Peter.
We say “LORD do this for me.” God does it and we start on our way, then when things start getting “boisterous” we start doubting and have to call out to God for help.
We have little faith at times. Like Peter we have doubts and fears and have to call out to Christ for help.
Being a Christian is a growing experience. We all have doubts and fears times when we feel God is not with us.
We, however, can take heart from the example of Peter. Peter, here doubted, and he even ran away at the trial of Jesus. However, on the Day of Pentecost Peter stood on the top of the house, and preached the Gospel. He went onto stand before the Jewish leaders and proclaim the Gospel, seemingly, fearlessly.
Peter and the other Apostles were people just like us. They had their doubts at times, as they learned from Christ. They had their fears, but, as they listened to the teaching of Jesus, they grew into powerhouses, that quite literally changed the world in which they lived. We must do the same.
In order for us to grow to overcome our doubts and fears, we must study the words of our LORD. Study the Scriptures, and as Peter and the others in that upper room did, allow the Holy Spirit to come into our lives and work in us.
We must be wholly committed to God.
Where is your faith?
Are you willing to step out of the boat and walk on the water?
Are you taking what you learned of Christ to the world?
Think about it.
Wednesday, 12 November 2014
Away from the Way
Away from the Way
“An aged man, whom Abraham hospitality invited to his tent, refused to join him in prayer to the one spiritual God. Learning that he was a fire-worshipper. Abraham drove him from his door. That night God appeared to Abraham in a vision and said: ‘I have borne with that ignorant man for seventy years: could you not have patiently suffered him one night?”
The Talmud.
Do you drive people away from God. It is very easy to do so. Christians I think do it all the time. The principle reason they judge others. The other reason is we don’t see them as “normal” or “like us” or that their “lifestyle” is different from ours.
That’s what Abraham essentially did in the quote from the Talmud.
Jesus made it clear we are not to judge.
Matthew recording,
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Matthew 7:1,2.
Jesus said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?
Matthew 5:43-46
If we as Christians are judging anyone, especially those outside the church we cannot expect to win them to Christ.
Paul states,
"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 live in a secular society, with a secular government. It is that government that God allows to govern, that gives us our rights and freedoms. It is that same government that allows other groups we disagree with to have the freedoms they have.
We should never be doing anything to that will restrict another person or groups freedoms.
We are not to judge. We have no right to say who gets to heaven or who doesn’t
Jesus 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.
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.
Our job is to point people in the direction of heaven. To do what Jesus would want us to do.
Tony Campolo an American evangelist wrote,
“These issues are biblical issues: to care for the sick, to feed the hungry, to stand up for the oppressed. I contend that if the evangelical community became more biblical, everything would change.”
Tony Campolo.
When the disciples went out into the world particularly as they moved into the greater Roman empire, they must have seen things that to them as Jews were morally appalling.
Yet we have no record of them ever trying to impose their beliefs on others. They simply presented their beliefs to others and let them decide for themselves.
Paul speaking to the Athenians as recorded in Acts 17 is a classic example of how Christians should present the gospel.
Paul wandered through Athens and seen temples to every conceivable god, yet he didn’t criticize. Instead he met them where they were at and presented the gospel. The result was some believed and some wanted to ask him back.
This is how we should be as Christians. Presenting the Gospel of Christ in a none threatening way in a way that makes people want to think.
Our message should never change. We should not be judging people because of their life style, or whether or not they are like us.
We should be showing love even to our enemies, neighbours, and friends alike.
We should be keeping watch within our own church congregations to see that no evil is going on.
Should we find evil within the midst of our congregations we should be expelling it as Paul said.
We should never be judging those outside the church. The churches job is to reach the lost souls of this world for Christ.
Think about it.
“An aged man, whom Abraham hospitality invited to his tent, refused to join him in prayer to the one spiritual God. Learning that he was a fire-worshipper. Abraham drove him from his door. That night God appeared to Abraham in a vision and said: ‘I have borne with that ignorant man for seventy years: could you not have patiently suffered him one night?”
The Talmud.
Do you drive people away from God. It is very easy to do so. Christians I think do it all the time. The principle reason they judge others. The other reason is we don’t see them as “normal” or “like us” or that their “lifestyle” is different from ours.
That’s what Abraham essentially did in the quote from the Talmud.
Jesus made it clear we are not to judge.
Matthew recording,
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Matthew 7:1,2.
Jesus said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?
Matthew 5:43-46
If we as Christians are judging anyone, especially those outside the church we cannot expect to win them to Christ.
Paul states,
"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 live in a secular society, with a secular government. It is that government that God allows to govern, that gives us our rights and freedoms. It is that same government that allows other groups we disagree with to have the freedoms they have.
We should never be doing anything to that will restrict another person or groups freedoms.
We are not to judge. We have no right to say who gets to heaven or who doesn’t
Jesus 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.
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.
Our job is to point people in the direction of heaven. To do what Jesus would want us to do.
Tony Campolo an American evangelist wrote,
“These issues are biblical issues: to care for the sick, to feed the hungry, to stand up for the oppressed. I contend that if the evangelical community became more biblical, everything would change.”
Tony Campolo.
When the disciples went out into the world particularly as they moved into the greater Roman empire, they must have seen things that to them as Jews were morally appalling.
Yet we have no record of them ever trying to impose their beliefs on others. They simply presented their beliefs to others and let them decide for themselves.
Paul speaking to the Athenians as recorded in Acts 17 is a classic example of how Christians should present the gospel.
Paul wandered through Athens and seen temples to every conceivable god, yet he didn’t criticize. Instead he met them where they were at and presented the gospel. The result was some believed and some wanted to ask him back.
This is how we should be as Christians. Presenting the Gospel of Christ in a none threatening way in a way that makes people want to think.
Our message should never change. We should not be judging people because of their life style, or whether or not they are like us.
We should be showing love even to our enemies, neighbours, and friends alike.
We should be keeping watch within our own church congregations to see that no evil is going on.
Should we find evil within the midst of our congregations we should be expelling it as Paul said.
We should never be judging those outside the church. The churches job is to reach the lost souls of this world for Christ.
Think about it.
Tuesday, 11 November 2014
November 11th 2014 a Day to Remember
November 11th 2014 a day to Remember.
Twenty million, the estimated number of people killed in the first world war. Fifty-five million, the estimated number of people killed in the second world war. Estimated because no one will ever know the real number.
To ring a bell once a second, to remember the deaths of each of those killed in the two world wars alone it would take two point three years. And that just to remember the deaths of the soldiers, and civilians in two world wars that took place prior to the first half of the twentieth century.
Since then untold thousands if not millions have died as a result of small wars, in what has been called the bloodiest century in history.
War is a terrible thing forced on peace loving men and women by despots who deal in hate.
Rabbi Abb Hillel Silver 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 writer of Proverbs wrote,
“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.”
Proverbs 3:3,4
No one who has ever forced war on someone has ever been called good or called a man of peace. For to impose war on anyone is to break the commandment “do not kill”.
Sadly in the last century and now in this, the peace loving nations are being forced to take up arms to protect our freedoms.
The killing of Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent, age 53, in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, south of Montreal and Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, 24, a reservist based out of Hamilton, Ontario, on duty at the National war memorial in Ottawa. Illustrates that we must be vigilant.
The terrorist group that inspired the killers of these two men are not men of God. They are at best misguided at worst instruments of Satan himself.
We as Christians must stand up to such people. We must support our troops who defend our freedoms.
While I am not a Canadian I am thankful and proud that I come from a country and can live in this country, where young men and women like Warrant officer Vicent and Corporal Cirillo stand on guard that I may live in peace.
Today if you can take time to attend a remembrance day service in your town or city. If that’s not possible watch on television.
Either way as you go about your daily tasks take two minutes to simply be silent and pray for our men and women not only in the military, but for first responders, police, fire fighters, and paramedics. All of whom make our lives as individuals a safer and better place to live.
Twenty million, the estimated number of people killed in the first world war. Fifty-five million, the estimated number of people killed in the second world war. Estimated because no one will ever know the real number.
To ring a bell once a second, to remember the deaths of each of those killed in the two world wars alone it would take two point three years. And that just to remember the deaths of the soldiers, and civilians in two world wars that took place prior to the first half of the twentieth century.
Since then untold thousands if not millions have died as a result of small wars, in what has been called the bloodiest century in history.
War is a terrible thing forced on peace loving men and women by despots who deal in hate.
Rabbi Abb Hillel Silver 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 writer of Proverbs wrote,
“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.”
Proverbs 3:3,4
No one who has ever forced war on someone has ever been called good or called a man of peace. For to impose war on anyone is to break the commandment “do not kill”.
Sadly in the last century and now in this, the peace loving nations are being forced to take up arms to protect our freedoms.
The killing of Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent, age 53, in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, south of Montreal and Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, 24, a reservist based out of Hamilton, Ontario, on duty at the National war memorial in Ottawa. Illustrates that we must be vigilant.
The terrorist group that inspired the killers of these two men are not men of God. They are at best misguided at worst instruments of Satan himself.
We as Christians must stand up to such people. We must support our troops who defend our freedoms.
While I am not a Canadian I am thankful and proud that I come from a country and can live in this country, where young men and women like Warrant officer Vicent and Corporal Cirillo stand on guard that I may live in peace.
Today if you can take time to attend a remembrance day service in your town or city. If that’s not possible watch on television.
Either way as you go about your daily tasks take two minutes to simply be silent and pray for our men and women not only in the military, but for first responders, police, fire fighters, and paramedics. All of whom make our lives as individuals a safer and better place to live.
Monday, 10 November 2014
Building each other up
Build each other up
“But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.
For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
1 Thessalonians 5:8-11
Put on faith and love as a breastplate and the hope of salvation as a helmet. That’s what Paul says. Do you.
Is your faith in God or in the things you have?
Faith according to Hebrews is,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1
Faith is not what we see. It’s not the amount of cash in our bank account or the big house or any other treasure we have. “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Do you have love, the apostle Paul states of Love,
“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.
Is this the kind of love you have?
Paul tells us to put on “the hope of salvation as a helmet”
Are you sure of your salvation. Do you know for certain if you were to die to night that you would go to heaven?
If not it’s time to pray. To pray, confess your sins to God and let Jesus come into your heart and life today.
Salvation is a free gift the apostle Paul writing,
“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
The apostle John telling us,
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.”
1John 1:9-10
If you are truly saved are you doing what Paul tells the Thessalonians “encouraging one another and building each other up.”
Encouraging your brothers and sisters in Christ.
Are you?
Think about it.
“But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.
For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
1 Thessalonians 5:8-11
Put on faith and love as a breastplate and the hope of salvation as a helmet. That’s what Paul says. Do you.
Is your faith in God or in the things you have?
Faith according to Hebrews is,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1
Faith is not what we see. It’s not the amount of cash in our bank account or the big house or any other treasure we have. “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Do you have love, the apostle Paul states of Love,
“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.
Is this the kind of love you have?
Paul tells us to put on “the hope of salvation as a helmet”
Are you sure of your salvation. Do you know for certain if you were to die to night that you would go to heaven?
If not it’s time to pray. To pray, confess your sins to God and let Jesus come into your heart and life today.
Salvation is a free gift the apostle Paul writing,
“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
The apostle John telling us,
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.”
1John 1:9-10
If you are truly saved are you doing what Paul tells the Thessalonians “encouraging one another and building each other up.”
Encouraging your brothers and sisters in Christ.
Are you?
Think about it.
Sunday, 9 November 2014
A Testimony
A Testimony
She stood for a long moment, looking at him, snow blowing around her in swirls, glistening in the bright light.
A few short hours ago, she’d thought him an inmate at the institution, they’d been visiting. Now, he was offering her a chance to find a job in the city.
Questions, dozens of questions went through her head. Was it God’s will? Did she want to take the chance, the risk? Could she move from the small town she’d known all her life? Was she ready to move?
For uncounted years, as a child she’d been abused by the hands of her stepfather. Had it not been for the love of Christian friends, she’d surely have gone mad. Now, she’d have to leave those friends. To go with a stranger.
Was this the door opening, allowing her to escape the stigma of her traumatic past?
Standing amid the arc lights of the prison parking lot, she would have to make a decision.
He stood there, watching her. The snow on the ground, reflecting the intense artificial lighting, making the midnight black as bright as day.
God had make it clear, she was the one. Yet, he couldn’t tell her. God made that clear. All he could do was invite her to come and look for a job.
In a few hours, a hundred miles would separate them. A seemingly, insurmountable obstacle. Yet, he knew she was the one and God would find a way.
He had no idea the LORD had opened a prison door that night, setting a captive free, and although the hallway to freedom would take some years to transverse, the journey had begun. A love story beginning with a single word, “yes.”
The above story I know is true. It is testimony to what the apostle Paul writes,
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28.
You see that is the beginning of a love story that has lasted from that moment until now. A love story that is still continuing.
It is how my wife and I met. I was with a gospel group invited to perform at a coffee shop in a small town in Northern Ontario and then at some minimum security prisons.
My now wife was with the organizers.
I know non-Christians might think our meeting was by chance. But I’m convinced it wasn’t. My wife and I were truly made for each other.
We are not as one would say ‘normal’ we are when it come down to it a little odd which in many ways has served us well.
In the thirty-seven years since our meeting have served the Lord in various capacities and never once in all that time has he let us down.
In another few days we will have been married thirty-five years.
True we have had our ups and downs we have seen our eight year old son hit by a car almost killing him and putting him into a coma. The doctors telling us he would have brain damage.
They didn’t take into account the power of prayer. Today some twenty-six or so years later there is no sign of brain injury.
While living in a rural area we watched our uninsured house burn down before the fire department could do anything taking with it all our belongings.
At the same time we seen God’s provision. In less than two days we had a house full of furniture, clothing and all we could ever need to start over. God has been very good to us.
More recently we received a call from Africa where our twenty-six year old youngest son had fallen from a roof and badly broken his leg. A break that would need special surgery.
Miraculously they were near one of the best hospitals in Kenya where there was an excellent bone specialist from England available to perform the surgery. God had once again provided.
We have never doubted what our Lord and Saviour can and does do for us.
We are not rich in a materialistic sense but we are rich in many other ways.
We have been blessed with wonderful children, all of whom are serving the Lord today.
We have been blessed with good friends and church family.
And we can sing with David,
“Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done.
Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.
Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.
Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.
Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,...”
1 Chronicles 16:8-12
Can you?
Think about it.
She stood for a long moment, looking at him, snow blowing around her in swirls, glistening in the bright light.
A few short hours ago, she’d thought him an inmate at the institution, they’d been visiting. Now, he was offering her a chance to find a job in the city.
Questions, dozens of questions went through her head. Was it God’s will? Did she want to take the chance, the risk? Could she move from the small town she’d known all her life? Was she ready to move?
For uncounted years, as a child she’d been abused by the hands of her stepfather. Had it not been for the love of Christian friends, she’d surely have gone mad. Now, she’d have to leave those friends. To go with a stranger.
Was this the door opening, allowing her to escape the stigma of her traumatic past?
Standing amid the arc lights of the prison parking lot, she would have to make a decision.
He stood there, watching her. The snow on the ground, reflecting the intense artificial lighting, making the midnight black as bright as day.
God had make it clear, she was the one. Yet, he couldn’t tell her. God made that clear. All he could do was invite her to come and look for a job.
In a few hours, a hundred miles would separate them. A seemingly, insurmountable obstacle. Yet, he knew she was the one and God would find a way.
He had no idea the LORD had opened a prison door that night, setting a captive free, and although the hallway to freedom would take some years to transverse, the journey had begun. A love story beginning with a single word, “yes.”
The above story I know is true. It is testimony to what the apostle Paul writes,
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28.
You see that is the beginning of a love story that has lasted from that moment until now. A love story that is still continuing.
It is how my wife and I met. I was with a gospel group invited to perform at a coffee shop in a small town in Northern Ontario and then at some minimum security prisons.
My now wife was with the organizers.
I know non-Christians might think our meeting was by chance. But I’m convinced it wasn’t. My wife and I were truly made for each other.
We are not as one would say ‘normal’ we are when it come down to it a little odd which in many ways has served us well.
In the thirty-seven years since our meeting have served the Lord in various capacities and never once in all that time has he let us down.
In another few days we will have been married thirty-five years.
True we have had our ups and downs we have seen our eight year old son hit by a car almost killing him and putting him into a coma. The doctors telling us he would have brain damage.
They didn’t take into account the power of prayer. Today some twenty-six or so years later there is no sign of brain injury.
While living in a rural area we watched our uninsured house burn down before the fire department could do anything taking with it all our belongings.
At the same time we seen God’s provision. In less than two days we had a house full of furniture, clothing and all we could ever need to start over. God has been very good to us.
More recently we received a call from Africa where our twenty-six year old youngest son had fallen from a roof and badly broken his leg. A break that would need special surgery.
Miraculously they were near one of the best hospitals in Kenya where there was an excellent bone specialist from England available to perform the surgery. God had once again provided.
We have never doubted what our Lord and Saviour can and does do for us.
We are not rich in a materialistic sense but we are rich in many other ways.
We have been blessed with wonderful children, all of whom are serving the Lord today.
We have been blessed with good friends and church family.
And we can sing with David,
“Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done.
Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.
Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.
Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.
Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,...”
1 Chronicles 16:8-12
Can you?
Think about it.
Saturday, 8 November 2014
Because
Because
The following is what I believe each individual Christian should be able to say and people able to see in their lives. It’s simply called Because and I present it hear for you to think about.
Because
Because...
“...He (God) first loved us.”
1 John 4:19
I will...
love God
Because...
“...God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
I will...
love God
Because...
Jesus said in Matthew 22:37-40:
“...you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."
I will...
love God and my neighbours whoever they may be.
Because...
Jesus said, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.” Luke 6:27,28
I will...
Love my enemy.
Because...
Jesus said,“A new command I give you:
Love one another. As I have loved you,
so you must love one another.
By this all men will know that you are my disciples,
if you love one another.”
John 13:34,35
I will...
love my brothers and sisters in Christ.
Because...
The apostle Paul said,
“Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered,
it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil
but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts,
always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails....
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,
I will...
I will show this kind of love to those around me.
Because...
The Bible says,
“Now abides faith, hope and love, these three;
but the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13
I will...
Have faith hope and love in God
and for my fellow man.
Because...
According to Ephesians 2:8,9:
“...by grace you have been saved through faith,
and not of yourselves; it is a gift of God,
not of works; lest anyone should boast.”
I will...
Have hope in Christ and present this hope to my fellow man.
Because
According to Romans 5:1,2:
“...having been justified by faith, we have peace with God
through our LORD Jesus Christ,
through whom also we have access by faith into this grace
which we stand, and rejoice in hope of glory of God.”
I have...
I have peace with God and rejoice in the glory of God
Because of this and much more
I will love both God, and my neighbour
who ever they may be.
Friday, 7 November 2014
Ideals to consider
God’s Welfare Plan
“Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God.”
Leviticus 19:10
“For six years you are to sow your fields and harvest the crops,
but during the seventh year let the land lie unplowed and unused. Then the poor among your people may get food from it, and the wild animals may eat what they leave. Do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove.”
Exodus 23:10,11.
“‘If one of your countrymen becomes poor and is unable to support himself among you, help him as you would an alien or a temporary resident, so he can continue to live among you.
Do not take interest of any kind from him, but fear your God, so that your countryman may continue to live among you.
You must not lend him money at interest or sell him food at a profit.”
Leviticus 25:35-37
“At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts.
This is how it is to be done: Every creditor shall cancel the loan he has made to his fellow Israelite. He shall not require payment from his fellow Israelite or brother, because the LORD'S time for canceling debts has been proclaimed.”
Deuteronomy 15:1,2.
Can you imagine modern financial institutions, governments or even individuals doing the above.
When it comes to money in particular instead of cancelling a debt when someone can’t pay financial institutions put up the interest rate making it even harder for the individual to pay.
Deuteronomy reminds us,
“There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.”
Deuteronomy 15:11.
Christians I know are among the most generous in the world when it comes to giving to the needy. Still do we as individual Christians live up to the ideals listed in the above scriptures?
To the Christian businessman I would ask do you forgive debts without making a fuss about it?
I know in my line of business I get written the occasional bad cheque. I’ve been fortunate only once was it deliberate. Most of the time it’s in error. But there have been times when the person has thought they could afford me a couple told me before the event another after the event but offered to pay me later.
I simply said it was on the house. They didn’t owe me anything I could tell it wasn’t deliberate and they probably needed the money more than me.
My son I found approaches things the same way. He owns several houses and two tenants that I know about left him without paying rent. One even damaged the house. When I asked him if he was going after them for the money he said no. “that God understood where those people were at. It wasn’t his place to case after them. Instead he fixed the damage and even without advertizing the house, people asked him if they could rent it. It was a blessing from God.
My son and I are no different. I know of Christian businessmen over the years that have done the same. That have forgiven debts not really looking for a blessing but have received one anyway.
God cares for the individual and he wants us to do the same.
The Talmud tells this story,
“Rabbi Akiba was asked by a Roman general, “Why does your God who loves the needy not provide for their support Himself?” He answered, “God the Father of both the rich and poor, wants the one to help the other so as to make the world a household of love.”
The Talmud.
The Jews have a word for giving to the poor, Tzedakah
“Tzedakah is the Hebrew word for acts that we call charity in English: giving assistance and money to the poor and needy or to other worthy causes.
However the nature of tzedakah is very different from the idea of charity. The word “charity suggests benevolence and generosity, a magnanimous act by the wealthy and the powerful for the benefit of he poor and needy.
The word “tzedakah” is derived form the Hebrew root Tzadei-dalet-Qof, meaning righteousness, justice or fairness.
In Judaism giving to the poor is not viewed as a generous, magnanimous act, it is simply an act of righteousness, performance of a duty giving the poor their due.”
One source told me there are various levels of Tzedakah
Something for we Christians to think about.
“Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God.”
Leviticus 19:10
“For six years you are to sow your fields and harvest the crops,
but during the seventh year let the land lie unplowed and unused. Then the poor among your people may get food from it, and the wild animals may eat what they leave. Do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove.”
Exodus 23:10,11.
“‘If one of your countrymen becomes poor and is unable to support himself among you, help him as you would an alien or a temporary resident, so he can continue to live among you.
Do not take interest of any kind from him, but fear your God, so that your countryman may continue to live among you.
You must not lend him money at interest or sell him food at a profit.”
Leviticus 25:35-37
“At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts.
This is how it is to be done: Every creditor shall cancel the loan he has made to his fellow Israelite. He shall not require payment from his fellow Israelite or brother, because the LORD'S time for canceling debts has been proclaimed.”
Deuteronomy 15:1,2.
Can you imagine modern financial institutions, governments or even individuals doing the above.
When it comes to money in particular instead of cancelling a debt when someone can’t pay financial institutions put up the interest rate making it even harder for the individual to pay.
Deuteronomy reminds us,
“There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.”
Deuteronomy 15:11.
Christians I know are among the most generous in the world when it comes to giving to the needy. Still do we as individual Christians live up to the ideals listed in the above scriptures?
To the Christian businessman I would ask do you forgive debts without making a fuss about it?
I know in my line of business I get written the occasional bad cheque. I’ve been fortunate only once was it deliberate. Most of the time it’s in error. But there have been times when the person has thought they could afford me a couple told me before the event another after the event but offered to pay me later.
I simply said it was on the house. They didn’t owe me anything I could tell it wasn’t deliberate and they probably needed the money more than me.
My son I found approaches things the same way. He owns several houses and two tenants that I know about left him without paying rent. One even damaged the house. When I asked him if he was going after them for the money he said no. “that God understood where those people were at. It wasn’t his place to case after them. Instead he fixed the damage and even without advertizing the house, people asked him if they could rent it. It was a blessing from God.
My son and I are no different. I know of Christian businessmen over the years that have done the same. That have forgiven debts not really looking for a blessing but have received one anyway.
God cares for the individual and he wants us to do the same.
The Talmud tells this story,
“Rabbi Akiba was asked by a Roman general, “Why does your God who loves the needy not provide for their support Himself?” He answered, “God the Father of both the rich and poor, wants the one to help the other so as to make the world a household of love.”
The Talmud.
The Jews have a word for giving to the poor, Tzedakah
“Tzedakah is the Hebrew word for acts that we call charity in English: giving assistance and money to the poor and needy or to other worthy causes.
However the nature of tzedakah is very different from the idea of charity. The word “charity suggests benevolence and generosity, a magnanimous act by the wealthy and the powerful for the benefit of he poor and needy.
The word “tzedakah” is derived form the Hebrew root Tzadei-dalet-Qof, meaning righteousness, justice or fairness.
In Judaism giving to the poor is not viewed as a generous, magnanimous act, it is simply an act of righteousness, performance of a duty giving the poor their due.”
One source told me there are various levels of Tzedakah
The Talmud describes these different levels of tzedakah, and the Rambam organized them into a list. The levels of charity from the least meritorious to the most meritorious, are:
Giving begrudgingly
Giving less than you should, bu giving cheerfully,
Giving after being asked
Giving before being asked
Giving when you do not know the recipient’s identity, but the recipient knows yours
Giving when you know and the recipient’s identity, but the recipient doesn’t know yours.
Giving when neither party knows the other’s identity.
Enabling the recipient to become self-reliant.
Something for we Christians to think about.
Thursday, 6 November 2014
Of Christians and Gay's
Of Christians and Gay's
Over the years I have been asked by many people can Gay people get to heaven.
Over those same years I have sadly witnessed many pastors and evangelist in the media say emphatically no. I disagree.
At the risk of alienating the Christians that read my blogs I say anyone can get to heaven to say otherwise or to judge any other group because they are not like us is wrong.
The apostle Paul writes,
“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
Simply put keep our own house clean and let God take care of those outside the church.
Jesus said,
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Matthew 7:1,2.
What Jesus said is true. If we judge someone, especially someone outside the church they are going to judge us also.
James makes it clear,
“If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbour as yourself,” you are doing right.
But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it....
Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!”
James 2:8-10,12, 13.
American evangelist Tony Campolo said,
“We ought to get out of the judging business. We should leave it up to God to determine who belongs in one arena or another when it comes to eternity. What we are obligated to do is to tell people about Jesus, and that's what I do.”
Tony Campolo
That’s what I as a Christian do and I truly believe all Christians should be doing.
When it comes to who gets to heaven I believe the following applies to all people.
First of all the Apostle Paul make it clear is a free gift. Writing to the Ephesians he 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
God sent His one and only Son to point mankind to the path that leads to Him. John recoding,
“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 answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6
Paul writing to the Romans said,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:23,24.
Sinning is falling short of what God wants for you life. Sin separates us from God.
There are many within our church walls today who are sinners, but know how to act like Christians. So they go unnoticed.
I would go as far as saying some of these people are even pastors and evangelist.
All who have not already need to admit they are sinners and accept Christ into their life.
John noting,
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.”
1 John 1:9,10.
Ultimately salvation is an act of faith, Hebrews stating,
Faith defined as,
“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
John recoding,
“Yet to all who received him,(Jesus) 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
No one has the right to tell someone whether or not they are saved. That is a personal decision between the individual and God.
Only God knows the heart of men. Only God knows why we are the way we are.
So ultimately, in the end, it come down to what do you believe?
Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God?
Have you accepted Him as your Lord and Saviour?
Jesus made it very clear, saying,
...“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6.
Do you believe this?
Think about it.
Over the years I have been asked by many people can Gay people get to heaven.
Over those same years I have sadly witnessed many pastors and evangelist in the media say emphatically no. I disagree.
At the risk of alienating the Christians that read my blogs I say anyone can get to heaven to say otherwise or to judge any other group because they are not like us is wrong.
The apostle Paul writes,
“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
Simply put keep our own house clean and let God take care of those outside the church.
Jesus said,
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Matthew 7:1,2.
What Jesus said is true. If we judge someone, especially someone outside the church they are going to judge us also.
James makes it clear,
“If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbour as yourself,” you are doing right.
But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it....
Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!”
James 2:8-10,12, 13.
American evangelist Tony Campolo said,
“We ought to get out of the judging business. We should leave it up to God to determine who belongs in one arena or another when it comes to eternity. What we are obligated to do is to tell people about Jesus, and that's what I do.”
Tony Campolo
That’s what I as a Christian do and I truly believe all Christians should be doing.
When it comes to who gets to heaven I believe the following applies to all people.
First of all the Apostle Paul make it clear is a free gift. Writing to the Ephesians he 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
God sent His one and only Son to point mankind to the path that leads to Him. John recoding,
“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 answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6
Paul writing to the Romans said,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:23,24.
Sinning is falling short of what God wants for you life. Sin separates us from God.
There are many within our church walls today who are sinners, but know how to act like Christians. So they go unnoticed.
I would go as far as saying some of these people are even pastors and evangelist.
All who have not already need to admit they are sinners and accept Christ into their life.
John noting,
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.”
1 John 1:9,10.
Ultimately salvation is an act of faith, Hebrews stating,
Faith defined as,
“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
John recoding,
“Yet to all who received him,(Jesus) 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
No one has the right to tell someone whether or not they are saved. That is a personal decision between the individual and God.
Only God knows the heart of men. Only God knows why we are the way we are.
So ultimately, in the end, it come down to what do you believe?
Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God?
Have you accepted Him as your Lord and Saviour?
Jesus made it very clear, saying,
...“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6.
Do you believe this?
Think about it.
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