True Greatness
"Former Secretary of State James Baker once said, "Someone asked me what was the most important thing I had learned since being in Washington. I replied that it was the fact that temporal power is fleeting." Baker went on to observe that once driving through the White House gates he saw a man walking alone on Pennsylvania Avenue and recognized him as having been Secretary of State in a previous administration. "There he was alone - no reporters, no security, no adoring public, no trappings of power. Just one solitary man alone with his thoughts. And that mental picture continually serves to remind me of the impermanence of power and the impermanence of place."
What is true greatness? Throughout history there has been many great men and women. Men and women who have done noble deeds. Most are lost to history.
Jesus said,
“The greatest among you will be your servant.
For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
Matthew 23:11,12.
Ben Zion Bokser wrote,
“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 aan 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 aa 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.
True greatness is doing one’s duty no matter how humble it is. It is to give of one’s self in an unselfish way. To show love to all men, even your enemy.
The greatest people are not necessarily men and women with political, religious or military power. They are the average person on the street who see a need and meet that need in what ever way they can.
James writes,
"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.
If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless ? "
James 2:14-20.
Greatness lies in our deeds no matter how big or small. It lies in our willingness to help and serve people without expectation of recognition or remuneration.
Think about it.
Sunday, 7 December 2014
Saturday, 6 December 2014
Of God, Faith, and Works
Of God, Faith and Works
Peter J. Kreeft said,
“think about that. How is it possible that over ninety percent of all human beings who have ever lived usually in far more painful circumstances than we, could believe in God? The objective evidence, just looking at the balance of pleasure and suffering in the world, would not seem to justify believing in an absolutely good God. Yet this has been almost universally believed.”
Peter John Kreeft ph.d
He also states,
“The evidence is that God is all-powerful. The point to remember is that creating a world where there’s free will and no possibility of sin is self contradiction and opens the door to people choosing evil over God, with suffering being the result. The overwhelming majority of pain in the world is cause by our choices to kill, to slander, to be selfish, to stray sexually, to break our promises, to be reckless.”
Peter John Kreeft ph.d.
In short we bring pain on ourselves and quite often on innocent people because of our choices. War be it global or local conflicts is drastic evidence of this.
Politicians and radical extremists make war and innocent men, women and children pay the price. Over fifty six million in world war two alone. Millions more in so called “dirty wars” since.
Even as I write this there are thousands dying because of radicals who have no regard for life.
War aside we as individuals bring grief on ourselves by the choices we make. Be they anything from smoking cigarettes to engaging in dangerous behaviour.
Our politicians who have the power to effect change to end suffering for the most needy and vulnerable in the world choose not to effect change largely because of politics.
God gave us free will and depending on how we use that free will, will determine where we will spend eternity.
While salvation is a free gift offered to all people we must reach out and receive that free gift. We must also I believe do our best to help our fellow man be we Christian or not.
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. 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 also said,
“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.’
“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 25:34-46.
James writes,
"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
God, I believe will one day judge both believers and non-believers.
When we stand before Him we will not be able to deny His existence. At that moment the words of Hebrews will ring true for that person.
The writer of Hebrews writing,
“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
Faith being defined as,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1
Do you believe in God?
Do you do what you can to help those in need?
Think about it.
Peter J. Kreeft said,
“think about that. How is it possible that over ninety percent of all human beings who have ever lived usually in far more painful circumstances than we, could believe in God? The objective evidence, just looking at the balance of pleasure and suffering in the world, would not seem to justify believing in an absolutely good God. Yet this has been almost universally believed.”
Peter John Kreeft ph.d
He also states,
“The evidence is that God is all-powerful. The point to remember is that creating a world where there’s free will and no possibility of sin is self contradiction and opens the door to people choosing evil over God, with suffering being the result. The overwhelming majority of pain in the world is cause by our choices to kill, to slander, to be selfish, to stray sexually, to break our promises, to be reckless.”
Peter John Kreeft ph.d.
In short we bring pain on ourselves and quite often on innocent people because of our choices. War be it global or local conflicts is drastic evidence of this.
Politicians and radical extremists make war and innocent men, women and children pay the price. Over fifty six million in world war two alone. Millions more in so called “dirty wars” since.
Even as I write this there are thousands dying because of radicals who have no regard for life.
War aside we as individuals bring grief on ourselves by the choices we make. Be they anything from smoking cigarettes to engaging in dangerous behaviour.
Our politicians who have the power to effect change to end suffering for the most needy and vulnerable in the world choose not to effect change largely because of politics.
God gave us free will and depending on how we use that free will, will determine where we will spend eternity.
While salvation is a free gift offered to all people we must reach out and receive that free gift. We must also I believe do our best to help our fellow man be we Christian or not.
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. 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 also said,
“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.’
“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 25:34-46.
James writes,
"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
God, I believe will one day judge both believers and non-believers.
When we stand before Him we will not be able to deny His existence. At that moment the words of Hebrews will ring true for that person.
The writer of Hebrews writing,
“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
Faith being defined as,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1
Do you believe in God?
Do you do what you can to help those in need?
Think about it.
Friday, 5 December 2014
Of Christianity
Of Christianity
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”
C. S. Lewis.
The first church I ever attended had a huge sign emblazoned above the alter saying, “What think ye of Christ.”
Throughout the ages there have always been men and women who have questioned the credentials of Jesus. Men and women who have chose to simply call him a good man.
Likewise there have been many who deny both the existence of God and Jesus, calling them a myth. That is there choice.
That’s the nice thing about God, he gave us a choice whether to believe in him or not.
The evidence is all around us not just in the scriptures but in the world as a whole.
The Psalmist wrote,
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
Psalm 19:1.
The bible is a book of faith but it does not ask us to accept what it says with blind faith. Quite the contrary it asks us to read it with an open mind and see the truths that are in it.
It challenges us to look around at the world, the universe, we live in and see just how perfect it is. So perfect that it could only have been created.
Once we have read the bible and looked around at the world, we are then asked to make that leap of informed faith. The writer of Hebrews saying,
“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
If the Bible is wrong it is then as C. S. Lewis states,
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance,...” but if it is true then it is also true what Lewis said, it is “...if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”
Think about it.
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”
C. S. Lewis.
The first church I ever attended had a huge sign emblazoned above the alter saying, “What think ye of Christ.”
Throughout the ages there have always been men and women who have questioned the credentials of Jesus. Men and women who have chose to simply call him a good man.
Likewise there have been many who deny both the existence of God and Jesus, calling them a myth. That is there choice.
That’s the nice thing about God, he gave us a choice whether to believe in him or not.
The evidence is all around us not just in the scriptures but in the world as a whole.
The Psalmist wrote,
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
Psalm 19:1.
The bible is a book of faith but it does not ask us to accept what it says with blind faith. Quite the contrary it asks us to read it with an open mind and see the truths that are in it.
It challenges us to look around at the world, the universe, we live in and see just how perfect it is. So perfect that it could only have been created.
Once we have read the bible and looked around at the world, we are then asked to make that leap of informed faith. The writer of Hebrews saying,
“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
If the Bible is wrong it is then as C. S. Lewis states,
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance,...” but if it is true then it is also true what Lewis said, it is “...if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”
Think about it.
Thursday, 4 December 2014
Who is Jesus to You?
Who is Jesus to you?
“Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”
Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.”
John 14:8-11.
Jesus couldn’t have made things more clear He and God are one. To say this at the time he said this would be to invoke the death penalty.
Jesus makes it very clear that his is indeed the Son of God. That he is God incarnate. C. S. Lewis said of Jesus,
I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity.
The New Testament makes it clear as to who Jesus is. It lays down the facts for all who wish to read them.
Be we Christians or not we must all decide who Jesus is. Is he the Son of God the Saviour of the World or is he a fraud who along with is disciples has perpetuated the greatest lie in human history.
Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God?
Think about it.
“Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”
Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.”
John 14:8-11.
Jesus couldn’t have made things more clear He and God are one. To say this at the time he said this would be to invoke the death penalty.
Jesus makes it very clear that his is indeed the Son of God. That he is God incarnate. C. S. Lewis said of Jesus,
I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity.
The New Testament makes it clear as to who Jesus is. It lays down the facts for all who wish to read them.
Be we Christians or not we must all decide who Jesus is. Is he the Son of God the Saviour of the World or is he a fraud who along with is disciples has perpetuated the greatest lie in human history.
Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God?
Think about it.
Wednesday, 3 December 2014
A common Obligtion
A Common Obligation
“Not until the creation and maintenance of decent conditions of life for all men are recognized and accepted as a common obligation of all men and all countries—not until then shall we, with a certain degree of justification, be able to speak of mankind as civilized.”
Albert Einstein
As I write this thousands of Children here in Canada and the United States are living below the poverty line.
Twenty-five years ago all the parties in the Canadian parliament in an act of unanimity promised to end child poverty within twenty years. Now twenty-five years later and the number of children living in poverty is still the same. This, in one of the richest nations in the world.
Sadly new statistics just released show that the number of families using food banks is increasing right across the country.
We have enough food and resources to end poverty. No man, woman or child should ever have to worry about having a roof over their head, enough food to eat and clothing.
Sadly for all the idealistic words that comes from the government there is no real action.
As Christians we should be doing what we can to help the poor.
Jesus said,
“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.
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
We as Christians need to be speaking out for the poor. To partitioning our government leaders asking them to do more to help those less fortunate in our society.
We as individuals need to be doing what we can to help those in need.
Francis of Assisi wrote,
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
The Prayer of St Francis of Assisi
Think about it.
“Not until the creation and maintenance of decent conditions of life for all men are recognized and accepted as a common obligation of all men and all countries—not until then shall we, with a certain degree of justification, be able to speak of mankind as civilized.”
Albert Einstein
As I write this thousands of Children here in Canada and the United States are living below the poverty line.
Twenty-five years ago all the parties in the Canadian parliament in an act of unanimity promised to end child poverty within twenty years. Now twenty-five years later and the number of children living in poverty is still the same. This, in one of the richest nations in the world.
Sadly new statistics just released show that the number of families using food banks is increasing right across the country.
We have enough food and resources to end poverty. No man, woman or child should ever have to worry about having a roof over their head, enough food to eat and clothing.
Sadly for all the idealistic words that comes from the government there is no real action.
As Christians we should be doing what we can to help the poor.
Jesus said,
“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.
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
We as Christians need to be speaking out for the poor. To partitioning our government leaders asking them to do more to help those less fortunate in our society.
We as individuals need to be doing what we can to help those in need.
Francis of Assisi wrote,
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
The Prayer of St Francis of Assisi
Think about it.
Tuesday, 2 December 2014
Your Legacy
Your Legacy
“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”
Proverbs 22:6
Joshua Loth Liebman wrote
“Give your children unconditional love, a love that is not dependent on report cards, clean hands, or popularity. Give your children a sense of your whole-hearted acceptance, acceptance of their human frailties as well as their abilities and virtues. Give your children your permission to grow up to make their own lives independent of you. Give them a sense of truth; make them aware of themselves as citizens of a universe in which there are many obstacles as well as fulfilments. Bestow upon your child the blessings of your faith. These are the laws of honouring your son and your daughter. Out of these laws will be built the Declaration of Independence for the coming generation, a spiritual and emotional independence that, in turn, will make the world free, democratic, safe, creative.”
Joshua Loth Liebman
We as Christians need to bring our children up in our faith but not force it on them. I know of many Christian families that a lot of the time without knowing it force their faith on their children.
I know of families that will not let their children watch secular television or allow them to go to the movies. Who hit their children over the head with the bible. Correcting them with scripture.
As a result I’ve seen most of these children rebel and turn away from God at the first chance they get.
These children I have found over the years are hard to reach. They attend church they know “church speak”. In other words they know what to say when they pray, they know the music, they know when its appropriate to say Amen and Hallelujah. The thing is they do not know the Lord.
My wife and I are along way from perfect and over the years we were criticized by well intentioned friends for letting our then young boys watch secular television. They were horrified when they found out my young teenagers watched the Simpsons.
Yet the Simpsons was a chance for my boys and I to talk about various things. It opened doors for me to teach biblical truths.
The only rule we had when our boys were growing up was that they must go to church with us. We also encouraged them to ask questions about everything. Nothing, and I mean nothing was off limits.
My wife and I tried to put into action the words of Francis of Assisi who said,
“Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”
Francis of Assisi.
We encouraged them to try thing to do things for the Lord.
We were and are not alone. By enlarge the majority of successful Christian families I know had this same philosophy.
They didn’t bash their children over the head with the Bible. They didn’t try and isolate them from the world. Quite the contrary they encouraged them to watch the news, and yes the Simpsons also.
At the same time the parents were always there for their children to answer the questions and yes, at times to pick up the pieces of mistakes made.
As a result the children grew up to know and serve the Lord.
My boys today are in their late twenties and early thirties respectively. Ever since they were in their early teens they were helping around the church.
Today one volunteers at his church that ministers to the less fortunate in our cities downtown. While my younger son a carpenter, volunteers at another campus of the same church and during the winter months when his business is slow goes on short term missions trips for four to six weeks helping orphanages and schools overseas.
I had not realized how well respected they were until just recently at my Sons wedding when people came up to us and complimented us on how appreciated and respected both were.
It proved to me truth of Proverbs 22:6
“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”
Proverbs 22:6.
Like I said my wife and I are not special. We know of a lot of parents who like us lived the Christian life in front of their children. Who admitted to them that we were along way from perfect. Who admitted they made mistakes and used it as a learning experience.
As Christians we have a great legacy to give to our children. What better legacy can we give than that of our faith and eternal life.
Billy Graham wrote,
“The greatest legacy one can pass on to one's children and grandchildren is not money or other material things accumulated in one's life, but rather a legacy of character and faith.”
Billy Graham
Think about it.
“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”
Proverbs 22:6
Joshua Loth Liebman wrote
“Give your children unconditional love, a love that is not dependent on report cards, clean hands, or popularity. Give your children a sense of your whole-hearted acceptance, acceptance of their human frailties as well as their abilities and virtues. Give your children your permission to grow up to make their own lives independent of you. Give them a sense of truth; make them aware of themselves as citizens of a universe in which there are many obstacles as well as fulfilments. Bestow upon your child the blessings of your faith. These are the laws of honouring your son and your daughter. Out of these laws will be built the Declaration of Independence for the coming generation, a spiritual and emotional independence that, in turn, will make the world free, democratic, safe, creative.”
Joshua Loth Liebman
We as Christians need to bring our children up in our faith but not force it on them. I know of many Christian families that a lot of the time without knowing it force their faith on their children.
I know of families that will not let their children watch secular television or allow them to go to the movies. Who hit their children over the head with the bible. Correcting them with scripture.
As a result I’ve seen most of these children rebel and turn away from God at the first chance they get.
These children I have found over the years are hard to reach. They attend church they know “church speak”. In other words they know what to say when they pray, they know the music, they know when its appropriate to say Amen and Hallelujah. The thing is they do not know the Lord.
My wife and I are along way from perfect and over the years we were criticized by well intentioned friends for letting our then young boys watch secular television. They were horrified when they found out my young teenagers watched the Simpsons.
Yet the Simpsons was a chance for my boys and I to talk about various things. It opened doors for me to teach biblical truths.
The only rule we had when our boys were growing up was that they must go to church with us. We also encouraged them to ask questions about everything. Nothing, and I mean nothing was off limits.
My wife and I tried to put into action the words of Francis of Assisi who said,
“Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”
Francis of Assisi.
We encouraged them to try thing to do things for the Lord.
We were and are not alone. By enlarge the majority of successful Christian families I know had this same philosophy.
They didn’t bash their children over the head with the Bible. They didn’t try and isolate them from the world. Quite the contrary they encouraged them to watch the news, and yes the Simpsons also.
At the same time the parents were always there for their children to answer the questions and yes, at times to pick up the pieces of mistakes made.
As a result the children grew up to know and serve the Lord.
My boys today are in their late twenties and early thirties respectively. Ever since they were in their early teens they were helping around the church.
Today one volunteers at his church that ministers to the less fortunate in our cities downtown. While my younger son a carpenter, volunteers at another campus of the same church and during the winter months when his business is slow goes on short term missions trips for four to six weeks helping orphanages and schools overseas.
I had not realized how well respected they were until just recently at my Sons wedding when people came up to us and complimented us on how appreciated and respected both were.
It proved to me truth of Proverbs 22:6
“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”
Proverbs 22:6.
Like I said my wife and I are not special. We know of a lot of parents who like us lived the Christian life in front of their children. Who admitted to them that we were along way from perfect. Who admitted they made mistakes and used it as a learning experience.
As Christians we have a great legacy to give to our children. What better legacy can we give than that of our faith and eternal life.
Billy Graham wrote,
“The greatest legacy one can pass on to one's children and grandchildren is not money or other material things accumulated in one's life, but rather a legacy of character and faith.”
Billy Graham
Think about it.
Monday, 1 December 2014
Equal
Equal
“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.
All are equal in Christ. Once we accept Christ as our Lord and Saviour we are one with Christ. There is no discrimination and there should be no discrimination in the church.
The apostle James writes,
“My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism.
Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in.
If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?...
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.”
James 2:1-4, 9,10.
Sadly over the years I’ve seen discrimination in churches because someone has a few dollars.
Don’t get me wrong we need wealthy people in the church. They help fund the growth of the church and most that I know do it without fan fair.
In the churches I’ve attended you can’t tell who has large bank accounts and who doesn’t.
Still we do discriminate. Here in Canada racial discrimination within church congregations is as far as I can tell at a minimum. Most churches especially the larger ones are very multi cultural and diverse.
However many make Gay and Lesbians and other members of the LGBT community uncomfortable, even unwelcome. This should not be so.
Our churches need to get rid of any prejudges we have and concentrate on ministering to the souls of individuals.
We need to look around us and see nothing but men and women in need of the love of God.
We need to be calling out to all people within our cities, towns and villages with the words of Jesus who said,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30.
Jesus never turned anyone away. He never discriminated between saint or sinner, between believer and none believer. Both He and his disciples reached out to the world around them and in so doing changed the world.
This is what we should be doing.
Think about it.
“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.
All are equal in Christ. Once we accept Christ as our Lord and Saviour we are one with Christ. There is no discrimination and there should be no discrimination in the church.
The apostle James writes,
“My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism.
Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in.
If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?...
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.”
James 2:1-4, 9,10.
Sadly over the years I’ve seen discrimination in churches because someone has a few dollars.
Don’t get me wrong we need wealthy people in the church. They help fund the growth of the church and most that I know do it without fan fair.
In the churches I’ve attended you can’t tell who has large bank accounts and who doesn’t.
Still we do discriminate. Here in Canada racial discrimination within church congregations is as far as I can tell at a minimum. Most churches especially the larger ones are very multi cultural and diverse.
However many make Gay and Lesbians and other members of the LGBT community uncomfortable, even unwelcome. This should not be so.
Our churches need to get rid of any prejudges we have and concentrate on ministering to the souls of individuals.
We need to look around us and see nothing but men and women in need of the love of God.
We need to be calling out to all people within our cities, towns and villages with the words of Jesus who said,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30.
Jesus never turned anyone away. He never discriminated between saint or sinner, between believer and none believer. Both He and his disciples reached out to the world around them and in so doing changed the world.
This is what we should be doing.
Think about it.
Do Not Judge
Do Not Judge
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven."
Luke 6:37
Take a look at what Jesus is saying here. He is laying down the foundation of what it is to be a Christian. What we need to be to reach a lost and dying world.
We are living in a world that judges us all the time. How we look, how we act what we say.
We as Christians are faced daily with a barrage of things that we don’t agree with. We live in a Democracy that votes laws and allows practices that are not in keeping with what we believe.
We face people that are at times violently opposed to what we are saying. To all of this Jesus says DO NOT JUDGE. He make it clear that if we do not judge anyone for what they are doing we will not be judged.
If we do not condemn people for what they are doing we will not be condemned. Its that simple.
The Apostle Paul wrote,
"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 may hate the practice of some people, but we are told plainly that we are not to judge. That’s God’s job and He is big enough to fight his own battles.
“Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”
Forgive and you will be forgiven. People look positively on someone who forgives.
All to often I here the Phrase “I forgive them but...” forgiveness with a but is not forgiveness.
Jesus who had the right to Judge and condemn never said while on the cross “Father forgive them for they know not what they do BUT”
He said Father forgive them, period, no but’s. This is how we should be.
When I think about the Christian life it is about forgiving and giving. That can only be done if we have love.
1 Corinthians 13:3-8a states,
“Love suffers long and is kind: love does not envy, love does not parade itself, is not puffed up, does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil, does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails."
1 Corinthians 13: 3-8a
If we truly have the love of Christ in us we will not judge or condemn people. We will give our very life if necessary for the cause of Christ.
We will realize our actions have eternal repercussions and it thus of paramount importance that we show love as apposed to judgement.
Think about it.
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven."
Luke 6:37
Take a look at what Jesus is saying here. He is laying down the foundation of what it is to be a Christian. What we need to be to reach a lost and dying world.
We are living in a world that judges us all the time. How we look, how we act what we say.
We as Christians are faced daily with a barrage of things that we don’t agree with. We live in a Democracy that votes laws and allows practices that are not in keeping with what we believe.
We face people that are at times violently opposed to what we are saying. To all of this Jesus says DO NOT JUDGE. He make it clear that if we do not judge anyone for what they are doing we will not be judged.
If we do not condemn people for what they are doing we will not be condemned. Its that simple.
The Apostle Paul wrote,
"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 may hate the practice of some people, but we are told plainly that we are not to judge. That’s God’s job and He is big enough to fight his own battles.
“Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”
Forgive and you will be forgiven. People look positively on someone who forgives.
All to often I here the Phrase “I forgive them but...” forgiveness with a but is not forgiveness.
Jesus who had the right to Judge and condemn never said while on the cross “Father forgive them for they know not what they do BUT”
He said Father forgive them, period, no but’s. This is how we should be.
When I think about the Christian life it is about forgiving and giving. That can only be done if we have love.
1 Corinthians 13:3-8a states,
“Love suffers long and is kind: love does not envy, love does not parade itself, is not puffed up, does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil, does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails."
1 Corinthians 13: 3-8a
If we truly have the love of Christ in us we will not judge or condemn people. We will give our very life if necessary for the cause of Christ.
We will realize our actions have eternal repercussions and it thus of paramount importance that we show love as apposed to judgement.
Think about it.
Saturday, 29 November 2014
Service
Service
"Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.
No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.
They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.
There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever."
Revelations 22:1-5
What a reward for serving the Lord. What a tragedy if people would miss such a reward because we Christians failed to show Gods love to unbelievers or they were turned off by our talk and our walk.
I for one am looking forward to that day when I will see my Lord face to face. I want to look upon my Lord and My God and say Lord thank you for your love towards me.
But while I am on this earth and serving him as a foreigner in this world. I want to show His divine Love to the world. A love that never fails.
Ann Frank a young Jewish girl who hid most of world war two from the Nazis and eventually died in one of the death camps wrote these words.
Give of yourself, give as much as you can? And you can always, always give something, even if it is only kindness! If everyone were to do this and not be as mean with a kindly word, then there would be much more justice and love in the world. Give and you shall receive, much more than you would have ever thought possible. Give, give again and again, don’t lose courage, keep it up and go on giving! No one has ever become poor from giving!”
While we are on this earth and while we are serving the Lord we must remember to do this. “Give, give again and again, don’t lose courage, keep it up and go on giving”
We have an infinite God who wishes to use us all. We must be willing to say yes to Him. Get off our knees, get out of our prayer closet, and go out with His love. Giving of our self for God’s glory and the salvation of our fellow man.
How much to do you Love, God and your fellow man. Is your’s a life of selfless service or are you putting restraints on what you will do or will not do for God? Are you living the life God wants you to?
Were you on trial for being a Christian today would there be enough evidence in your life to convict you.
Would your enemies be ashamed that they are condemning you because of the love you have showed to them in word and indeed.
Take a bold step and take a day alone with God. Ask Him where you stand with Him and what more you can do for Him. Then get off your knees and do what you are called to do.
Think about it.
"Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.
No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.
They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.
There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever."
Revelations 22:1-5
What a reward for serving the Lord. What a tragedy if people would miss such a reward because we Christians failed to show Gods love to unbelievers or they were turned off by our talk and our walk.
I for one am looking forward to that day when I will see my Lord face to face. I want to look upon my Lord and My God and say Lord thank you for your love towards me.
But while I am on this earth and serving him as a foreigner in this world. I want to show His divine Love to the world. A love that never fails.
Ann Frank a young Jewish girl who hid most of world war two from the Nazis and eventually died in one of the death camps wrote these words.
Give of yourself, give as much as you can? And you can always, always give something, even if it is only kindness! If everyone were to do this and not be as mean with a kindly word, then there would be much more justice and love in the world. Give and you shall receive, much more than you would have ever thought possible. Give, give again and again, don’t lose courage, keep it up and go on giving! No one has ever become poor from giving!”
While we are on this earth and while we are serving the Lord we must remember to do this. “Give, give again and again, don’t lose courage, keep it up and go on giving”
We have an infinite God who wishes to use us all. We must be willing to say yes to Him. Get off our knees, get out of our prayer closet, and go out with His love. Giving of our self for God’s glory and the salvation of our fellow man.
How much to do you Love, God and your fellow man. Is your’s a life of selfless service or are you putting restraints on what you will do or will not do for God? Are you living the life God wants you to?
Were you on trial for being a Christian today would there be enough evidence in your life to convict you.
Would your enemies be ashamed that they are condemning you because of the love you have showed to them in word and indeed.
Take a bold step and take a day alone with God. Ask Him where you stand with Him and what more you can do for Him. Then get off your knees and do what you are called to do.
Think about it.
Search me
Search me
"O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.
You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,”
even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.....
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."
Psalm 139:1-18,23,24
The above Psalm says it all.
God knows us completely. Our very genetic make up. He knows our short falls and our strengths and He offers us his hand. To show us the way to heaven. Jesus said,
“...I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6
He also 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
The choice is ours, to take hold of his hand or to reject him. To the person going to church who is reading this have you truly taken hold of the hand of Jesus and let Him into your life? If so, are you serving Christ to the best of your ability?
Think about it.
"O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.
You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,”
even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.....
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."
Psalm 139:1-18,23,24
The above Psalm says it all.
God knows us completely. Our very genetic make up. He knows our short falls and our strengths and He offers us his hand. To show us the way to heaven. Jesus said,
“...I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6
He also 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
The choice is ours, to take hold of his hand or to reject him. To the person going to church who is reading this have you truly taken hold of the hand of Jesus and let Him into your life? If so, are you serving Christ to the best of your ability?
Think about it.
Friday, 28 November 2014
Advice for the Christian
Advice
“In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:
Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.
For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.”
2 Timothy 4:1-5
I believe the words of Paul here in second Timothy couldn’t be more appropriate to day.
We here in North America live in a wide open society. It is in many ways the wild west when it comes to what passes for Christian teaching.
People have slipped away from the truth. They are believing myths and out right lies. They are being deceived.
Over the years I have heard extraordinary claims. Ranging from peoples who claim amalgam teeth filling have been changed to gold in a church service. To preachers claiming we are living in a Christian society.
There have been doom sayer claiming Christ is coming soon. They at least are right.
Jesus has said he will return. So he is coming. Weather or not that will be in my lifetime or another century or more from now he will come. I am convinced of that.
What we must however remember that it is not important when Christ comes. It is not important if a million miracles take place this year or if people can speak in tongs of angels and of men, or if we can prophesy. It is what we are doing for Christ that is important.
We must stay close to the word of God and not be led astray by myths.
Paul when he wrote this letter knew he was coming to the end of his life.
He was a man who had studied the scriptures long before he became a Christian. And at the beginning of his life had been a very real enemy of the Gospel of Christ. Yet God took this man and changed him around to the point he could say.
“For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure.
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”
2 Timothy 4:6-8
Keep the faith, study to show yourself approved. Stand up to those who claim to be Christians and are not. Correct those who are falling away or are being led astray. Don’t judge the world or any one in it.
But rather Go and tell as many as will listen to you the about the salvation Christ offers us. This is the duty of the Christian.
Are you doing it?
Think about it.
“In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:
Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.
For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.”
2 Timothy 4:1-5
I believe the words of Paul here in second Timothy couldn’t be more appropriate to day.
We here in North America live in a wide open society. It is in many ways the wild west when it comes to what passes for Christian teaching.
People have slipped away from the truth. They are believing myths and out right lies. They are being deceived.
Over the years I have heard extraordinary claims. Ranging from peoples who claim amalgam teeth filling have been changed to gold in a church service. To preachers claiming we are living in a Christian society.
There have been doom sayer claiming Christ is coming soon. They at least are right.
Jesus has said he will return. So he is coming. Weather or not that will be in my lifetime or another century or more from now he will come. I am convinced of that.
What we must however remember that it is not important when Christ comes. It is not important if a million miracles take place this year or if people can speak in tongs of angels and of men, or if we can prophesy. It is what we are doing for Christ that is important.
We must stay close to the word of God and not be led astray by myths.
Paul when he wrote this letter knew he was coming to the end of his life.
He was a man who had studied the scriptures long before he became a Christian. And at the beginning of his life had been a very real enemy of the Gospel of Christ. Yet God took this man and changed him around to the point he could say.
“For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure.
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”
2 Timothy 4:6-8
Keep the faith, study to show yourself approved. Stand up to those who claim to be Christians and are not. Correct those who are falling away or are being led astray. Don’t judge the world or any one in it.
But rather Go and tell as many as will listen to you the about the salvation Christ offers us. This is the duty of the Christian.
Are you doing it?
Think about it.
Thursday, 27 November 2014
Of Scoffers
Of Scoffers
“But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold.
They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.”
These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.
But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.
Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.”
Jude 1:17-23
The church has been around for a long time. And while the church is actually believers a living entity, it has sadly become institutionalized.
There are many today who scoff at the church saying it’s irrelevant in the twenty-first century. Nothing could be further from the truth.
There are many liberals in the church today that are turning away from the core values of the church. At the same time on the other end of the spectrum there are people who have put the church in a box. Adding things that God never intended believers to do. Both groups are not good for the church. Both groups in their own way turn people away from the church.
We need to carefully look at what we believe. We need to study the word of God verse by verse, praying and asking God to show us the truth from His word. Only by doing this can we build ourselves up in the faith.
At the same time we need to reach out to those of our community that doubt. To turn those who are turning away from the faith back to a personal relationship with Christ.
I think it is important that we as Christians are committed to dialogue among ourselves.
There will always be differences of opinion within the Christian community but our core values should always be the same.
The Apostles Creed I believe gives us a good base. It reads.
Think about it.
“But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold.
They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.”
These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.
But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.
Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.”
Jude 1:17-23
The church has been around for a long time. And while the church is actually believers a living entity, it has sadly become institutionalized.
There are many today who scoff at the church saying it’s irrelevant in the twenty-first century. Nothing could be further from the truth.
There are many liberals in the church today that are turning away from the core values of the church. At the same time on the other end of the spectrum there are people who have put the church in a box. Adding things that God never intended believers to do. Both groups are not good for the church. Both groups in their own way turn people away from the church.
We need to carefully look at what we believe. We need to study the word of God verse by verse, praying and asking God to show us the truth from His word. Only by doing this can we build ourselves up in the faith.
At the same time we need to reach out to those of our community that doubt. To turn those who are turning away from the faith back to a personal relationship with Christ.
I think it is important that we as Christians are committed to dialogue among ourselves.
There will always be differences of opinion within the Christian community but our core values should always be the same.
The Apostles Creed I believe gives us a good base. It reads.
1. I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:
2. And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord:
3. Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary:
4. Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried: He descended into hell:
5. The third day he rose again from the dead:
6. He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty:
7. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead:
8. I believe in the Holy Ghost:
9. I believe in the holy catholic church*: the communion of saints:
10. The forgiveness of sins:
11. The resurrection of the body:
12. And the life everlasting. Amen.
(*that is, the true Christian church of all times and all places)Think about it.
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