A Libertine

A Libertine
“Thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondsman in the land of Egypt, and the Lord thy God redeemed thee.” Deuteronomy 15:15.
I believe it’s at St. Mary Woolnoth  an Anglican church in the City of London, that there is a plaque with the words,
 “John Newton, clerk, once an infidel and libertine, a servant of slaves in Africa, was, by the rich mercy of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, preserved, restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach the faith he had long labored to destroy.”
To quote R. J. Morgan
  “As a young man, Newton had been a seaman and slave trader whose mouth was a cesspool of profanity, and who liberally helped himself to the female slaves he transported.
    But he also became a deserter, flogged by the British Navy, who was reduced to being the slave of a sadistic woman, herself a slave, in Africa.
Out of all this he was saved. And he became one of England’s greatest preachers, the author of the beloved hymn Amazing Grace.”  R. J. Morgan
Over his study desk he had this verse from Deuteronomy
“Thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondsman in the land of Egypt, and the Lord thy God redeemed thee.” Deuteronomy 15:15.
He reportedly told a friend later in life “My memory is nearly gone; but I remember two things, that I am a great sinner and that Christ is a Great Saviour.”
John Newton’s conversion was dramatic. He went from being a man without principles. A man without a conscience to a man of great principles.
He spoke out against the slave trade and would go on to write hundreds of hymns 280 of which he combined with 68 hymns of William Cowper to form the Olney Hymnal.
We today can look on Newton and see how bad he was and say thank God I am nowhere near as bad as him. He needed a conversion experience. I am far better than him.
Many non Christians I believe today also look at people who go to church. People who claim to be Christians and say, “I know them. I know what they do outside of Church and it isn’t very Christian. Why should I become a Christian because I am better all around than they are.”
That may be so but not everyone who goes to church is a Christian. No everyone who say’s they are Christian are.
Many people as well as Preachers and evangelist will one day stand before God and find they are not accepted into heaven. Jesus saying,
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  
Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matthew 7:21-23
When it comes to knowing Jesus as one’s Lord and Saviour it is up to the individual to decide. It is between the individual and God.
We should not look on those who are going to church or who claim to be Christians. Simply because many who claim to be Christians and go to church are not Christians.
Each individual needs to look within themselves and ask themselves “am I truly good enough to go to heaven?”
I believe if we are honest with ourselves the answer will be no.
No one is good enough to stand before a holy God.
C. S. Lewis comments,
“The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.”  C.S. Lewis
Isaiah the prophet said,
“All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.”  Isaiah 64:6.
That is why Jesus came.
Another self admitted sinner the apostle Paul wrote these words,
“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.  
‘But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.”  1 Timothy 1:15,16
I firmly believe that we as individuals must search our heart of hearts and in all humility admit that there is sin in our life. Sin is falling short of God’s ideal for our life.
Then we must turn to Jesus, recognize that he is the One and only Son of God, who died for our sins and ask him to forgive our sins and come into our hearts and lives.
The apostle John telling us,
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.” 
1John 1:9-10
I believe it is only through Christ that we can truly have our sins forgiven, have our lives changed and spend eternity with God.
Again the apostle John noting,
“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
It happened to John Newton. It happened to the Apostle Paul and it can happen to you.
Please think about it.

Mercy

Mercy
“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.
As a Christian do you show mercy to people around you, especially those you disagree with?
Some time ago I heard of a story in the United States of a family business who wanted the right not to serve members of the LGBTQ community. They said it was against their religious beliefs as Christians.
I cannot see anywhere in the scriptures that tells Christians they must not serve those they disagree with. In fact Jesus sat down and had dialogue with everyone. He sat and talked to a Samaritan woman, someone Jews of the day discriminated against. He sat with tax collectors someone considered sinners by the religious leadership of the day.
Matthews gospel records,
“While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples.  
When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” 
On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  
But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9:10-13.
The way I see it as a Christian you must be willing to associate with all people. You must show love and respect for all people even those you disagree with. You must be willing to associate with all people.
While in Athens Paul associated with philosophers and others his faith would have called sinners, without judging them. As a result he was asked to speak before the leaned men about his faith.
James reminds Christians to,
“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 
Paul tells us something we should all take to hart,
“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.  
But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.”1Timothy 1:15,16.
We as Christians must remember we too are sinners redeemed by the blood of Christ. As such we must work all the harder to show those who have not been redeemed by the blood of Christ the way to heaven.
We cannot do this by refusing to serve them in our businesses or refusing to associate with them. We must follow the example of Christ who associated with all people.
Please think about it.

Christian Values

Christian Values?
Someone asked me to give them a basic list of Christian values. Here is a basic list I came up with that I believe marks a Christian.
1/Jesus said,
 “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” Matthew 7:12.
2/ “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  
This is the first and greatest commandment.  
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40.
3/ Jesus said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” Matthew 5:43,44.
4/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.
5/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.
6/ The writer of Hebrews said,
“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14.
7/ The Apostle Peter wrote,
”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 2:12.
These are true Christian values that if someone claims to be Christian must follow. There is no compromise.
The Christian life is one of Love, for God, our neighbour even our enemy. The apostle Paul defines love as,
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  
I t always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 
Love never fails....
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”  1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13.
Writing to the Romans the apostle Paul tells them and Christians everywhere that,

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.  

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  

Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.  

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.  

Live in harmony with one another. 

Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.

 Do not be conceited. 

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. 

Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.  

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you,

 live at peace with everyone.  

Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: 

“It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.  

On the contrary: 

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him; 

if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.....”

 Romans 12:9-20a 

The writer of Hebrews tells Christians plainly,

“Make every effort to live in peace with all men 

and to be holy; 

without holiness no one will see the Lord.” 

Hebrews 12:14

Anyone claiming to be a Christian must follow these the principles. They must be reflected in the life of a Christian each and every day.
Please think about it.

A Decision

A decision
Here is something I place before you to at least provoke you the reader to think.

The Eleven O Clock Parable

It’s eleven o clock. Inside the court house a judge is about to make his ruling. A community, a nation, waits. 
Will the new law be legal? 
Outside the court house men and women with placards chant. 
On one side of the street stand a group of gay men and women. All in favour of the new law.
On the other side of the street separated by a line of police, stand Men and women claiming to be Christian, denouncing the new law.
One man among them screams angrily. “HOMOSEXUALS ARE GOING TO HELL!!!”
Approached by the media he says it again, “homosexuals are going to Hell.” 
From my office window I watch asking myself the question, ‘is this man an Christian?”
Wasn’t it Christ who told us not only to love our neighbour but our enemy also?
Wasn’t it Christ who told us not to judge, lest we be judged likewise? (Matthew 7:1,2)
Didn’t the apostle Paul say “what business is it of mine to judge those outside the church?” (1 Corinthians 5:12)
Did Jesus ever protest against anyone outside his faith? Against the Romans? I think not.
Wasn’t it the Apostle Paul who wrote,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Romans 12:18?
Didn’t the writer of Hebrews say,
“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14  
Are those protesting against the law living a peace with those around them?
Are they showing Love?
Are they living holy lives?
Can these people who claim to be Christian be effective in reaching the whole world of which a percentage are homosexual?
A question keeps rolling through my mind for which I know the answer, “Can we truly know what is in someone else’s head?
Do we really know why a person is like they are?”
For a moment I stare down at the crowd. All the time asking myself who is on the way to Hell this day, and how can I reach them for my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ?
Turning away from my window I kneel down and pray, “Lord guide me this day. Let me make the right decision on this law. Give me the wisdom to do what is right for those on both sides of the debate on this law.
If you were the judge what would be your decision?
Please think about it.

Christians and Heave,

Christians and Heaven
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.” Hebrews 1:1-3  
The apostle Paul states,
“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 5:6-8.
To the Ephesians Paul writes,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8,9.
These are the basic beliefs of all Christians. Jesus is God incarnate, God in the flesh. That he came to earth to die for our sins. That it is by the Grace of God that we are saved and enter Heaven.
C. S. Lewis states,
“The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.”  C.S. Lewis.
Christians believe that God fully understood that mankind could not live a life holy enough to stand before him, thus he entered the world he created in order to save us from our sins.
I know this sounds foolish to some even the apostle Paul said,
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18.
The bottom line is do you believe this. There is no middle road with Jesus. I like what C. S. Lewis wrote in his book Mere Christianity, he said,
“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.
Thus you must decide. Take time to read the New Testament and find what the followers of Christ thought of him. Then make your own mind up.
Please think about it.

That they may have life!

That they may have life
Jesus said,

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; 

I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” 

John10:10.

“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 as a Christian can testify that the words of Jesus quoted above are true. That’s not to say Christians don’t go through highs and lows, they do. But you go through those times with the knowledge that God is there for you.
Someone once told me the Christian life is a lot of do and do not’s. nothing could be further from the fact.
Being a Christian means following the moral standard set down by Christ. This is no more difficult than someone following the rules of a football match.
In order for that match to be enjoyable by all the players one must follow the rules. Once you know the rules then you follow them automatically.
Thus it is when one becomes a Christian. You study the bible and learn from it how Jesus, how God wants you to live.
In the process you also come to realize that no matter what life throws against you God is with you, helping to lighten your burden.
In my life I have gone through many trials, one of my children being badly hurt when hit by a car, I survived cancer and blood clots on my lungs. My wife has underwent major emergency surgery. We lost our house to fire. Never the less through it all we have been able to look to God.
We have seen Gods provision. After our house burned down, on which we had no insurance, within twenty-four hours we had a place to live and furniture to go into it. It was an amazing provision.
After our son’s injury we were told my son would never be the same, having sustained a brain injury. But God answered our prayers. Today thirty years later he is perfectly normal and the father of a son of his own.
The God I worship is a God of love who is there for us in the good times and the bad times. A God who thought so much about His creation that He sent his one and only Son to earth to point us to heaven.
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.” 3:16-17.
        Are you willing to follow Jesus today?
Please think about it.

Christian Life

Christian Life

“For a man’s ways are in full view of the LORD, 

and He examines all his paths.” 

Proverbs 5:21.

The writer of Ecclesiastes states.
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole  duty  of man. 
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” Ecclesiastes12:13,14
Whether you believe God or not He exists. C. S. Lewis said,
“A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word 'darkness' on the walls of his cell.” C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain 
As a Christian I believe everything you do is done before God’s eyes. He will bring everything you do to account.
I also believe there will even be many on that day of judgement who claim to know God and claim to have been working for God, who claim to be Christian, who will see the words of Jesus are true, when he said,
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  
Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matthew 7:21-23.
Many people who have gone to church all their lives. Many who have been evangelist, pastors, priest, teachers, even Popes will hear the words, “Away from me, you evildoers”.
Being a Christian is not just saying a prayer. It’s not just going to church weekly or daily. It’s not just studying the Bible, preaching, or teaching the scriptures. It’s not following a set of rules and rituals.
John the Baptist is recorded in Matthews Gospel upon seeing the scribes and Pharisees as saying,
“But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?  
Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.  
And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.  
The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” Matthew 3:7-10.
These were religious leaders who followed the ritual, preached and taught from the scriptures yet they were not doing things right in the sight of God. They had a head knowledge of God. But they were interpreting the scriptures wrongly for their own purposes.
These men seemed to be very judgmental and judging people can turn people away from God.
Matthew’s Gospel records this incident,
“While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples.  
When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” 
On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  
But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”  Matthew 9:10-13.
The religious men who were condemning Jesus for sitting with sinners are like some who claim to be Christians today in 2016. They judge others because of their lifestyle.
I’ve heard of Christians who want the right not to serve in their place of business  those who’s lifestyle they disagree with. I’ve heard of those claiming to be Christians who condemn, protest and wish to restrict the rights of those they disagree with. Yet Jesus never did this.
John’s gospel tells us of a woman caught in adultery. She was brought to Jesus in order to trap Jesus into saying something that was against the law. Jesus however reacted this way.
“When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”  
Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. 
At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.  
Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 
“No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” John 8:7-11.
Jesus who had the right to judge the woman did not.
If you claim to be a Christian you must realize that it is not your job to judge anyone. 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.” 1Corinthians 5:12,13.
If you are a Christian you must make sure you are truly doing the will of God. That God is established in your heart. That you are not perverting the scriptures to suit what you believe. Because if you are simply following the scriptures you want to follow you are not following God. You are following yourself. Thus you may one day hear the words of Jesus
“...‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matthew 7:23b.
Please think about it.

What the World Needs

What the World Needs.
Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. said,
We thank thee, O God, for the spiritual nature of man.
We are in nature but we live above nature.
Help us never to let anybody or any condition pull us so low as to cause us to hate.
Give us strength to love our enemies and to do good to those who despitefully use us and persecute us.
We thank thee for thy Church, founded upon thy Word, that challenges us to do more  than sing and pray, but go out and work as though the very answer to our prayers depended on us and not upon thee.
Then, finally, help us to realize that man was created to shine like stars and live on through all eternity.
Keep us, we pray, in perfect peace; help us to walk together, pray together, sing together, and live together until that day when all God’s children, Black, White, Red, and Yellow will rejoice in one common bond of humanity in the kingdom of our LORD and of our God, we pray. Amen.
I am a great admirer of the late doctor King. He in what was perhaps one of the most tumultuous times in American history was a voice of reason. Dr. Kings message of non-violence and love is what is needed in this day and age.
To quote Dr. King again,
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” Martin Luther King, Jr.
Anne Frank a young Jewish girl who hid from the Nazi’s in the Netherlands during world war two knew what it was to be a victim of hate yet in her diary she wrote,
“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!” Anne Frank.
We in this day and age need to be teaching our children that, because love and respect for our fellow human beings begins at birth.
In the first century C. E. the apostle Paul wrote a definition of love that I believe we all must instil in the hearts of our children and practice ourselves. He said,

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, 

it does not boast, it is not proud.  

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, 

it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  

It always protects,

 always trusts, 

always hopes,

 always perseveres. 

Love never fails....

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. 

But the greatest of these is love.”  

1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13.

This is what is needed today.
Please think about it.

Doing Gods Work

Doing Gods Work.
Every now and then I like to poke Christians with a pointy stick. This I believe may be one of those times.
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.
Over the years I’ve seen this quote used by Christians to justify them protesting against gay rights, abortion and other things they disagree with. They used it wrongly.
True we as Christians must obey God rather than man. We must stand up for our rights to worship and evangelise as we wish. That however does not justify us protesting against those we disagree with.
The Apostle Paul tells us,
“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.
According to Paul we are not to judge those outside the church. That is God’s job. In the quote from acts the Peter a Jew (this was before the church split from Judaism) was brought before a Jewish religious court and told not to preach in the name of Jesus. Thus he a Jew  had the right to tell those Jewish leaders he was to obey God not men.
Jesus in the past had, had conflict with the religious leaders and spoke against them but that was his right as a member of the Jewish faith.
Jesus and His apostles never once spoke against, protested against or raised a sword in anger against the secular Roman government.
The apostle Paul under the emperor Nero who would eventually execute him said,
“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.  
Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.”  Romans 13:1,2.
The apostle Paul, Jesus and the other apostles lived in a world in which there were many laws and practices that they would have disagreed with. Yet they never spoke against them.
They did as Jesus told them they presented the Gospel of Christ to all who would listen to them.
Billy Graham said,
“The men who followed Him (Christ), were unique in their generation. They turned the world upside down because their hearts had been turned right side up. The world has never been the same.” Billy Graham.
They didn’t spend time and money on protesting or lobbying their government official about things they thought were wrong or needed changing. They couldn’t, the Romans wouldn’t have listened anyway.
The men that followed Christ spoke with everyone mixed socially with everyone and presented the gospel in word and in deed to everyone. In doing so by the end of the first century the Gospel message had been taken throughout the Roman Empire.
Those early disciples of Christ took seriously the words of 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.
My question to the Christians reading this are you truly doing what God wants you to do? Are you presenting the gospel to all people no matter who they are?
Please think about it.

All Flesh is Grass

All flesh is Grass

The other day I photographed a wrecked sailing ship. I have no idea what it’s name is. I have no idea what it carried or where it sailed when it was new all I know is it is now a wreck.
This ship in its day could have carried passengers to various places around the world. It could have carried valuable cargo. It could have had a very illustrious career. But people seeing it will never know. All they will see is a wreck. Stripped of it’s shinny new coats of paint it had when it was new. It’s beauty faded and gone forever. Seemingly with no purpose.
I got to thinking that people can be like that wreck.
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."
Isaiah the prophet wrote,
“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.
No matter who we are or how much power we have in this life, it is all gone upon our death.
The writer of Ecclesiastes tells us,
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole  duty  of man. 
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” Ecclesiastes12:13,14.
The apostle Paul said to the Athenians,
“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.” Acts 17:22-32.
Are you ready to stand before God?
Please think about it.

Christian Values

Christian Values
I was once asked what are Christian values?
 Tony Campolo once 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.
He was right but Christian values was summed up by Jesus when He said,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” Matthew 7:12.
In our twenty-first century western society and for that matter any society anywhere in the world that means we must have compassion for those who less fortunate than us. We must do all we can to help the sick, feed the hungry and stand up for the oppressed even if we do not necessary agree with them.
Jesus when asked,
 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  
This is the first and greatest commandment.  
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40.
Jesus went beyond that he said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?  
  And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?”  Matthew 5:43-47.
Put simply Christians are to Love, God, our neighbour and even our enemy. These are Christian values.
James the half brother of Jesus 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
As Christians in a democracy we need to be putting these values into practice. I believe everyone who claims to be a Christian will be held to these standards. I also believe that the more power we have to help people the more God will hold us accountable.
I firmly believe those who claim to be Christian and own businesses must provide a living wage, good benefits and working conditions for their workers. Treating them the same way they want to be treated.
The same goes for politicians who claim to be Christians. They should see that the laws they pass benefit all society. A good health care system, fair taxes, safe neighbourhoods, good all inclusive social programs for the less fortunate.
Jesus told this Parable he said,
“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.  
At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores  and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 
“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.  
In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.  
So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ 
“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.  
And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ 
“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house,  
for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ 
“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ 
“ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 
“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’ ” Luke 16:19-31.
I believe everyone claiming to be Christian must treat people the way they want to be treated. They must love God, their neighbour and even their enemy.
We must as Christians help the less fortunate, the sick, and love even those we disagree with. These are true Christian values.
Please think about it

Do all you Can

Do all you Can

"Do all the good you can,

By any means you can,

In all the ways you can,

In all the places you can,

At all the times you can,

To all the people you can,

As long as ever you can."

John Wesley.

James the half brother of Jesus 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.
Do you do your best to help others in need? Helping others in need should be an outcome of our faith in Jesus, our faith in God. Our faith should produce good works.
The apostle Peter tells Christians,
“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 2:11,12.
Do people see your good deeds every day?
If you claim to be a Christian you should not have to tell anyone you are they should know by your life and lifestyle. Francis of Assisi said,

“Lord, make me an instrument of thy 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;

And 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

If you claim to be a Christian this should be your prayer. People should see Jesus in everything you do.
As a Christian you should be reaching out to people in love not only in word but in deed. You should be willing to sit down with anyone and without being judgmental presenting the word of God to them.
Jesus said,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:12.
Are you living such a life?
Please think about it.