The Purpose of the Church

The purpose of the Church

The other day I listened to an interview with a United Church of Canada minister who says she is an Atheist but thinks she should keep her position in the church.
She gave some interesting reasons why she thought she should keep her position but to my mind she missed the reason for the existence of the Church.
Jesus told his disciples,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” 
                                                                            Matthew 28:18-20.
This is the purpose, the primary duty of the Church to make disciple, believers, of all nations. To point the way to God in heaven. Everything else, all the good works the church does come from that. But they are not the primary purpose of the church.
My question to this minister is “if you are an atheist who does not believe in God how can you point people to God.”
I think this person is the product of the failure in many churches and denominations to emphasise the primary duty of the church.
Many churches today place more emphasis on doing good works than on pointing people to heaven.
Don’t get me wrong good works are important. It is important that Christians do good works. Show love and understanding to those around them. Many times it is those good works that show a none believer there is a God who loves them. Actually pointing the way to God.
Unfortunately for many in the church the good works have taken over and pointing people to Christ is forgotten.
Many churches have become big institutions or even social clubs.
As someone who is in the evangelical wing of the church, I see many going to church simply to feel good. To sing hymns, or contemporary music and do a few good deeds on the side just to feel good.
I see those in the so called “mainline churches” as following a ritual, or even compromising their beliefs, rather than reaching out to non-Christians with the salvation message.
Throughout the years, the centuries, unfortunately the church has picked up a lot of baggage. Baggage it need to get rid of.
This United Church minister is I believe not a lone. There are many who attend church, even some pastors who are not true believers in Christ.
I believe it’s time the church started getting back to its roots. To start studying the Bible in context. To start studying the bible with an aim to get back to what Jesus and the apostles taught. It can be done
At our small church we started an interesting Bible study which I lead.  Our purpose is to get the truth within the scriptures.
I use a bible with a commentary as the base for our instruction. But we don’t stop their. Everyone comes to the study with various versions of the bible so that we can get an idea of the true meaning of the scriptures. We even have a computer with a huge resource of Biblical material on it.

Everyone can have their say, 

The participants are free to bring thoughts and ideas from other ministers, evangelist and teacher from outside the church.
We also study the history and the Jewish roots of the bible so we can understand things in context of the time it was written.
When we think it applicable, we even watch a video from a well known and trusted bible scholars and teachers.
We have no time frame when it comes to the study. We don’t set any length of time to study a given passage. We let God lead. Sometimes it takes us one session to cover a paragraph or a chapter. Other times we cover a couple of chapters. It all depends on what questions arise.
The results have been interesting to say the least. It has brought us I believe back to the basic beliefs of the Bible.
Such a bible study can be done in any church without the need for expensive lesson plans. All it requires is a good study bible with commentary and an openness on the part of the participants.
By open I mean a willingness to admit that some of what the participants thought was true is not and a willingness to change.
It is no good studying the scriptures to find the truth, then when you find it failing to act on that truth.
The key to any good Bible study is to find the truth and put it into action in your life.
Please think about it.

Freedom and the Christian

Freedom and the Christian
Baruch Spionza wrote,
“It is imperative that freedom of judgment should be granted, so that men may live together in harmony, however diverse, or even openly contradictory their opinions maybe.  In proportion as the power of free judgment is withheld, we depart from the natural condition of mankind.”
                                                                                                                               Baruch Spinoza.
If you think about it God created freedom when he created man. When God made man he did not make a robot, and android that would do His bidding at the push of a button. God created man with complete freedom to do as man wished, whether that was pleasing to God or not.
As I see it however, here in North America and particularly in the United States, I see Christians as wanting their freedom while at the same time judging others and denying them their freedom.
Case in point people who are calling for a ban on same sex marriage. There are others wanting to restrict Muslims because of recent terrorist activities. It all harkens back to the days of segregation.
If we judge someone wrongly or restrict the rights of even one group we ultimately set things up for the possibility that our rights may one day be restricted.
The apostle Peter states,
“Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.  
Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.” 
  1Peter 16,17.
I like that Peter says “show proper respect to everyone”. As Christians we should be showing proper respect to everyone even if we disagree with them.
The secular democracy in which we live is very similar to the society the apostles lived in. Except of course the apostles couldn’t vote the government in or out of power. They had to live within the laws of Rome. Accepting that they could not change any law however much they disagreed with it.
Christians today I think forget this.
In the United States Christians mix their faith with politics and it is not a good combination.
Yes Christians should vote that is their democratic right. They should vote for the person whom they feel best represents Christian values.
Still Christians should not be judging others. 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
If we judge other they will look at our lives and judge us.
The apostle Paul said,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.” 
                                                                                               1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
We as Christians should not judge anyone. We should be standing up for the rights and freedoms of all people even those we disagree with. In doing so we build bridges and open a dialogue with people. A dialogue that allows us to tell people about the most important thing in our lives, the Saving Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Please think about it.

The Hardest Thing

The hardest thing
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” 
                                                                                                                          Hebrews 11:1
Perhaps the hardest thing anyone can do is to have faith in something or someone. Faith requires trust. It’s being sure that what we have faith in will not let us down.
In the secular world scientist do it all the time. They come up with a theory that something is there, usually based on things they observe. They then say if such and such is happening then this must exist. The classic example is some of Albert Einstein theories. It is only now a hundred years after he made some of his predictions that they have been proved.
Yet Einstein believed in his theories his whole life even though he couldn’t prove them other than on paper.
So it is with God. God asks us to have faith in Him without actually seeing Him. But God does not ask us to have blind faith. He says to us through the Bible look around. The Psalmist states,
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 
Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. 
There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.” 
                                                                                                    Psalm 19:1-3.
The perfection of creation, of the universe from the smallest subatomic particle to the vastness of the galaxies all say there is a creator behind it.
Whether God created the world using the big bang over billions of years or did it in six days it doesn’t matter. The key is that God created the heavens and the earth and everything in it.
In creating man God gave man freewill and the ability to think independently. This included the freedom to believe in God or not. The freedom for man to create his own theory as to how the universe began.
God however loved mankind enough to reach down to him and offer mankind an eternity of peace with Him.
John’s Gospel records,
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  
He was with God in the beginning. 
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  
In him was life, and that life was the light of men....  
He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.  
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—  children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. 
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” 
                                                                                            John 1:1-4, 11-14.
What John is saying is that God, the creator of the universe and everything in it, in the form of His one and Only Son Jesus entered the world He created. He did this to point each individual to Himself.
For someone to believe that, as true Christians do takes a lot of faith. But that is what God wants. The writer of Hebrews states,
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
                                                                                                     Hebrews 11:6.
I firmly believe that God made following Him an act of faith because only true believers follow by faith. Because having faith in someone is one of the hardest things a person can do.
Thus the questions becomes: Do you believe in God? Do you believe that Jesus is the one and Only Son of God the saviour of mankind?
Please think about it.

I Wonder

I wonder
Psalm two reads,
“Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? 
The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One. 
“Let us break their chains,” they say, “and throw off their fetters.” 
The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. 
Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, 
“I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill.” 
I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: He said to me, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father. 
Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. 
You will rule them with an iron scepter; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.” 
Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. 
Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling. 
Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.”
                                                                            Psalm 2.
Sometimes I wonder if those who don’t believe in God have read Psalm two. I especially wonder if extreme dictators like there is in North Korea while saying publicly they do not believe in God may have read Psalm two and believe it.
If they believed it then it would account for them standing against Christianity and God in general because it ultimately states the Messiah will reign over all the earth and they will be judged.
If as atheist say there is no God and Jesus was just a good man then there is nothing to fear from writings like Psalm two.
If on the other hand the Bible is true that the Messiah will one day return to earth and redeem His people and rule the earth then those who oppose God have a great deal to fear.
Not only that there is nothing they can do to stop Christ’s return.
Shortly after the crucifixion of Jesus the Sanhedrin, the ruling religious body of the Jews at the time were forced into a debate as to who Jesus was. It occurred after two of Christ’s disciples who had been told by them not to preach in His name were caught doing so again. The book of acts records,
“We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.” 
Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men!  
The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead—whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree.  
God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.  
We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” 
When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death.  
But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while.  
Then he addressed them: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men.   Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing.  
After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered.  
Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.  
But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” 
              Acts 5:28-39.
I as a Christian truly believe those who oppose Jesus and Christianity are fighting against God.
The proof is Christianity has continued to grow despite at times severe persecution from both governments and private individuals.
Napoleon Bonaparte said of Jesus,
“I know men and I tell you, Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. 
Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour, millions would die for him.”
                                                                                                                               Napoleon Bonaparte,
Napoleon was right Jesus and his followers have won converts though a doctrine of love for God, one’s neighbour and even one’s enemy.
That being said there will be a time when Jesus returns to earth to judge the world and everyone in it.
Until then the God who created the heavens and the earth has given everyone a freewill to choose to believe in Him or not.
The choice until the return of Christ, as to where you will spend eternity and how God will judge you is in your hands. You can either accept or reject Him.
Jesus speaking of himself left us a choice when he said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son”. 
                                                                                                                                   John 3:16-18
Please think about it.

Of Grass and Glory

Of grass and glory
Gen. George C. Patton said,
"For over a thousand years Roman conquerors returning from the wars enjoyed the honour of triumph, a tumultuous parade.
 In the procession came trumpeteers, musicians and strange animals from conquered territories, together with carts laden with treasure and captured armaments.     The conquerors rode in a triumphal chariot, the dazed prisoners walking in chains before him. 
Sometimes his children robed in white stood with him in the chariot or rode the trace horses. 
A slave stood behind the conqueror holding a golden crown and whispering in his ear a warning: that all glory is fleeting."
                                   Gen. George C. Patton.
“All glory is fleeting” no matter who you are, how famous or how humble you are. You will one day be forgotten to the people of this world. Even the most famous person will be but a note in some history book.
The prophet Isaiah states,
“A voice says, “Cry out.” And I said, “What shall I cry?” 
“All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. 
The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass. 
The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.” 
                                                                                                                         Isaiah 40:6-8.
I like what Isaiah states, “God’s word stands forever”. God is there for all generations. For everyone who ever lived, is living or is yet to be born.
The one thing I a believer in Christ agree with an atheist on is that one day our bodies will be little more than dust. That’s not to say we are.
I believe we, the essence if you will of what we are, what Christians call the soul lives on throughout eternity.
The thing is where will you spend eternity.
As Tony Campolo the American evangelist put it,
“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.
Christians make it clear you can know here and now where you will spend eternity. The apostle John speaking of Jesus states,
“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—  children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” 
                  John 1:12,13.
The apostle Paul tell us,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.” 
                                                                      Ephesians 2:8,9.
It is by the grace of God we are saved and enter heaven. It is an act of faith on our part.
Jesus speaking of himself said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son”. 
                                                                                                            John 3:16-18.
God when He created man gave him complete freedom. That freedom is complete freedom it allows each and every man the right to believe in God or not. Such is the nature of true freedom.
However to get to heaven takes faith the writer of Hebrews saying,
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
                                                                                                    Hebrews 11:6.
Thus the choice is yours. Believe that there is a God and that Jesus is his one and only Son. The Saviour of mankind or reject Him.
The choice is yours.
Please think about it.  

Are you salt and light?

Are you Salt and Light?
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. 
“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” 
                           Matthew 5:13-16.
I’ve seen many over the years who claim to be Christians. Yet a quick look at their life shows them to be far from. They are merely copies of the world with Christian prefix.
Billy Graham said,
“Those outside the church expect followers of Christ to live differently, yet today many in church are chasing after the world - not to win them, but to be like them.”
                                                                                                         Billy Graham.
He also said,
“The men who followed Him(Jesus), were unique in their generation. They turned the world upside down because their hearts had been turned right side up. The world has never been the same.”
     Billy Graham.
We need to be like Christ. We need to live a life that attracts people to Christ.
All too many calling themselves Christians have a “holier than thou” attitude or are judging people because of their way of life or lifestyle. They are presenting the gospel message as a lot of do’s and do not’s. This should not be so.
The Pharisees of Jesus’ day put a lot of rules and regulations on the people to follow. Rules I’m sure they thought were intended for good, but were burdensome and turned people away from God.
God intends us to follow His commands but God never places harsh rules on 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.
As Christians we should be living a life that shows love. Love for God. Love for our neighbour whoever they may be. Even Love for our enemy. That is the way God intended us to be toward others.
We need to live a good and honest life that reflects the love of God.
What is known as the prayer of St. Francis tells how Christians should be. It states,

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. 

                                                                                                Francis of Assisi.
I know Francis was not an apostle but he from what I understand lived a good Christian life that reflected God.
This is the kind of life we should be living.
In order to be light and salt to this generation we need to be living a selfless life dedicated to God. Presenting the gospel not just in word but in deed.
We should never have to tell people we are Christians our life and lifestyle should do that.
Please think about it.

Freedom

Freedom
The United States of America Declaration of independence
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” 
Noble words. Freedoms most in the world aspire to reach.
We in the west particularly here in North America have incredible freedoms. Freedoms many in the world can only dream of. All of this because we live in a secular democracy, in which politicians do their best to strike a balance that affords freedom for all.
Christianity has benefited from that freedom as has all faiths. Freedom is the ideal soil for any faith to grow.
However there are those calling themselves Christians that are I believe threatening the freedoms we have.
I can only speak as a Christian here, as I am a Christian.
But there are those who espouse to be Christians and Christians who would like to restrict the rights of others that live at peace and do no harm in our secular democracy.
As a Christian Jesus tells me to love God, my neighbour, and even my enemy.
The apostle Peter writes,
“Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.  
Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.” 
 1 Peter 2:16,16
James the half brother of Jesus writes,
“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 2:12,13. 
The apostle Paul writes,
“Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.” 
               Titus 3:1,2.
To the Romans Paul writes,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
                                                                                                             Romans 12:18.
As Christians the Apostles knew what it was to live in a world that didn’t share the same moral code as they had. Paul and Peter were put to death under Nero one of the worst persecutors of Christians. Yet they said live at peace with all men, honour the king
The apostle Peter writes,
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  
Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 
Dear friends,
 I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.’ 
                                                                                        1 Peter 2:9-12.
The principle job of a Christian was expressed by Jesus who said,
“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.
We are not to judge the world we are to love the world. To love all people no matter who they are.
The apostle Paul makes things clear what Christians are to do with respect to those outside the church when he 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.
To may way of thinking Christians are to present their beliefs to anyone who will listen. Present not force upon others their faith. Christians are not to judge those outside the church. But rather as far as possible live at peace with all men.
I am thankful to God I live here in Canada were there is freedom for all. It allows me to express my ideas and have an open and honest dialogue with those of different faiths and differing views.
If you are a Christian reading this, I would ask that you consider what I’ve said and think about your attitude to others that you interact with each day.
Think about your attitude toward those you disagree with. Do you show respect toward them?
Please think about it.

Someone asked

Someone asked

Someone once asked me, “What is the most important decision one can make in life?
To which I answered, “to follow Jesus” because Jesus can bring a peace into your life like nothing else can.
I have proven the truth of what Jesus said when he 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.
I do no see God as an old man with a long beared and big stick ready to bash anyone who does wrong. Quite the contrary I see God as loving his creation so much that,
1/ He gave each person the right to complete freedom of actions. Freedom so complete that the individual has the right to believe in God or not.
Freedom to live life the way God wanted them to live or to do the complete opposite.
2/ I see a God who loved each person in this world so much that when He seen the world turning away from Him, He entered the world He created, in the form of His one and Only Son Jesus Christ. To offer all men everywhere the opportunity, the choice to follow Him or reject Him.
Jesus speaking of himself said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son”. 
                                                                                                          John 3:16-18.
I believe in a God that wants only the best for us. That he offers us peace even in the worst of circumstances.
I believe in God who asks us to have faith in Him even though we cannot see Him, because He knows those who believe in such a way are true believers.
I also believe in what the apostle John wrote,
“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 
Now the questions I would ask you the reader is,
Do you believe in God?
Do you have peace in your heart?
Are you a child of God?
Please think about it.

A Walk of Faith

A walk of Faith
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” 
                                                                                  Proverbs 3:5,6.
Over the years I’ve had a lot of things happen to me, good and bad. During the good times I didn’t think much about what was happening and why it was happening. I just enjoyed it and thanked God for the good times.
When I was going through the bad times that was another thing. I questioned God, why? When I got cancer I had no real fear of dying. I knew were I would spend eternity still I asked God, why?
Then several weeks later with the cancer operation being called a success when I developed blood clots on my lungs as a result of the cancer operation, that all most killed me I asked God, why?
I prayed a lot during that time and the answer came down to “trust Me, have faith in Me”. Sometimes in life that’s all a believer can do.
Paul writing to the Romans wrote,
“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
We as Christians need to remember that bad things do happen to good people in this life why we may never know. They just seem to happen. The key is to keep our faith in God.
While I was in the hospital with the blood clots. While I never went out of my way to tell people about Christ,  I was able to talk with a few people about God. People noticed my reading the Bible and made positive comments.
I hope that I planted a few seeds during that time.
At the same time however my faith was strengthened. I knew God had more for me to do in this life and time has shown that to be true.
There’s a famous poem called Foot prints it goes like this,
“One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the LORD. 
Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand; one belonging to him, and the other to the LORD.
When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life:
This really bothered him and he questioned the LORD about it. “LORD, you said that once I decided to follow you, you’d walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don’t understand why when I needed you most you would leave me.”
The LORD replied, “My precious, precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.” 
      Author unknown
While this poem may not be scripture it is true. If we truly have faith in God, faith in Christ, He will carry us through the bad times in our lives.
We may not know why we go through such times, or why God lets us go through them but if we trust God, He will deliver us safely through to the other side.
As the writer of Proverbs states,
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 
in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” 
                                                                                                    Proverbs 3:5,6.
Faith is the key thing in a Christians life. The writer of Hebrews states,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” 
                                                                                                                         Hebrews 11:1
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
                                                                                                    Hebrews 11:6.
As Christians we know we have a reward waiting for us in Heaven the key is keeping our faith in God, in the good times and in the bad.
Please think about it.

Images of Love

Images of Love

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

                                    Mary:                                         

What would she do now?  

Her mind vacillated, uncontrollably between joy and uncertainty.  

She could hide it, at least for a while.  

But, then tongues would wag.  

It was a small village.  Everyone knew everyone.  

Word of her condition would spread along the gossip highway.  

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

What of Joseph?

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

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

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

She’d have to face this alone.

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

Elizabeth.

 The angel had said Elizabeth was with child. 

 She would understand, she would know what to do.  

She’d go to Elizabeth.

Joseph:

PREGNANT!  

What has she done!  

How could she have done such a thing!  

He loved her.  

He thought she loved him...

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

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

  How was it possible...

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

allowing the love he felt for her to surface.  

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

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

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

 Joseph lay back on his bed and fell asleep.

O what joyous night!  

What blessed revelation!  

What blessed assurance!  

He would make  Mary, his wife!  

Just as the angel had commanded.  

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

The Two:

Together, they would rejoice with the shepherds, 

as they told of the visit from the heavenly host.

They would give praises to God with Simeon and Anna,

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

They would make haste fleeing along the dusty roads to Egypt 

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

Mary,

 would feel the anguish of a mother 

 watching her own son die in agony on a Gentile cross 

under a blackened sky.

She would also experience the elation of 

the empty tomb!

the resurrection of her LORD !

and the love of her God.

Have you?
Jesus speaking of himself said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
           John 3:16,17
The apostle John states,
“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—  children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” 
                     John 1:12,13.
Jesus said,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” 
                                                             Matthew 11:28-30
On this day Easter Sunday 2016 would you consider accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour That you may have rest for your soul?
Please think about it.

The Christian Message

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

Good Friday

Good Friday

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