Even Though

Even though

“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

Here is a quick thought. All too often in life things happen to us that we don’t understand. We get sick even though we have a healthy lifestyle. We come into conflict with people about our faith, even though all we are doing is presenting it in a non-threatening way.
The fact is, sadly, we live in a fallen world and things at times don’t go our way. It is then especially that our faith should kick in. It is then we should go to God and praise Him for the good things he’s given us. And ask Him to hold our hand through the hard times.
We should remember all of Job’s problems and be able to say with him,
“Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him;...”  Job 13:15.
Please think about it.

Sign over an Alter

Sign over an Alter
“WHAT THINK YE OF CHRIST”
The first church I ever attended back in the 1970's had been built in the 1940's it could only hold a hundred or so people. But when you entered the church the first thing you seen was the sign over the Alter asking the question, What think ye of Christ.
I’m sure many people over the years have read that sign both saints and sinners. It was there to make you think.
So dear reader What think Ye of Christ?
C.S. Lewis an oxford intellectual and friend of R.R. Tolkin of Lord of the Rings fame, wrote these three statements about Christianity. 
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.” C. S. Lewis.
“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 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
Throughout the centuries men have declared God is dead or Christianity is of no effect.
Yet over the centuries some governments and extremists groups have feared it so much that they’ve felt a need to repress it. To throw it’s followers into prison or put them to death.
As you read this every eleven minutes a Christian dies for their faith. That tells you how much some groups fear the truth about Christianity.
Yet true Christians believe the words of the apostle Paul who wrote,
“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. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” 
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”  Romans 12:18-21.
Neither Jesus or his followers ever called for any kind of revolution. They never spoke against anyone outside their faith. Quite the contrary, Jesus said,
 “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” Matthew 22:21a
The apostle Paul writing,
“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.” Romans 13:1.
Christians believe that as long as we have the right to worship and follow the precepts of our faith we should submit to the governing authorities. Yet still Christians are persecuted.
The book of acts recalls an incident when two of Christ’s apostles were put on trial for presenting the gospel of Christ. At that time a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, spoke up and said this about what the apostles were saying,
“But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”  Acts 5:39.
Today close to three billion people follow Christ Jesus and the numbers are growing. Christians can be found in every country in the world.
The Christian faith is founded on the solid Rock of Christ the one and only Son of God. And no person of government is ever going to destroy it.
Please think about it.

Choose

Choose
In the Book of Joshua
“Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.  
But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. 
But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24: 14,15.
Which gods do you choose to follow?
Make no mistake about it in the twenty-first century we have many gods. Materialism, money, self, men and women in sports or entertainment. People with political power. Anything that comes befor the Lord God Almighty is essentially a god.
In the book of Exodus we read,
“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 
“You shall have no other gods before me. 
“You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.  
You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,  but showing love to a thousand  generations  of those who love me and keep my commandments.” Exodus 20:1-6.
Today the gods we worship may not be graven images but they are gods never the less. Billy Graham the American evangelist said,

“The great question of our time is,

Will we be motivated by materialistic philosophy 

or by spiritual power?” 

                              Billy Graham.

Just a quick look around at society today we see that the god of materialism is worshipped by many. The god of materialism offers the latest greatests gadgets that supposedly will make your life better. The trouble with such a god is that in order to feel better you need to buy more and more things.
Someone once told me “This life is all we have and he who has all the toys at the end wins.”  Nothing could be further from the truth. For when we die all the material wealth we have is dispersed among others. If we are fortunate our name may be remembered for a few decades or even a century or two. But we pass from this life into the next with nothing.
Now there is nothing wrong with the acquisition of wealth. However when that wealth or anything else that takes you away from God that is wrong. The apostle Paul wrote,
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” 1 Timothy 6:10.
Thus the question becomes who are you worshipping, the gods of this world or the Lord God Almighty creator of heaven and earth.
Please think about it.

Praise the Lord!

Praise The Lord

Psalm 150 reads,

Praise the LORD. 

Praise God in his sanctuary; 

praise him in his mighty heavens. 

Praise him for his acts of power;

 praise him for his surpassing greatness. 

Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, 

praise him with the harp and lyre, 

praise him with tambourine and dancing,

 praise him with the strings and flute, 

praise him with the clash of cymbals, 

praise him with resounding cymbals. 

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. 

Praise the LORD. 

                                                                            Psalm 150.
Do you take time to praise the Lord?
Here in Psalm 150 the Psalmist tells us how we should praise the Lord. With instruments, with our voice and even with dance.
If you claim to be a Christian do you?
Please think about it

About Jesus

About Jesus
 “When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord  (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord” ),  and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.” 
Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.  
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.  
Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,  
Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 
“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. 
For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” Luke 2:22-32
Jesus is the most influential person in all of history. 
William Durant, popular American modern historian and philosopher (1885-1981) When asked what he felt the apex of history was he replied, “the three years that Jesus of Nazareth walked the earth.” 
Napoleon Bonaparte, said of Jesus,
"You speak of Caesar, of Alexander, of their conquests and of the enthusiasm which they enkindled in the hearts of their soldiers; but can you conceive of a dead man making conquests, with an army faithful and entirely devoted to his memory? My armies have forgotten me even while living, as the Carthaginian army forgot Hannibal. Such is our power.
I know men and I tell you, Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. 
Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour, millions would die for him.
I search in vain history to find similar to Jesus Christ, or anything which can approach the gospel.” Napoleon Bonaparte.
What these men say of Jesus is true.
Simeon the prophet said it best on the day Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to him, he said,
“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. 
For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” 
Jesus is all he said he is. He is the one and only Son of God. The Saviour of mankind.
Jesus is God reaching down to mankind and saying I love you. Come unto me and I will give you rest.
The Apostle John states,
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 was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.  
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.  John 1:1-4,10-13.
The choice is yours what do you think of Jesus?
Please think about it.

Think about this

Think about this.
This message is written to believers by the Apostle John but it is the message Christians want the world to know,
“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.  
If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.  
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in 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. 
My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.  He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” 1 John 1:5-2:2
Jesus did in deed pay the price for our sins. Paul writes,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  Romans 5:8.
Jesus offers us eternal life. It is a free gift to all who would believe. We do not have to work for it.
Paul states,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.”  Ephesians 2:8,9.
“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.
We Christians believe that you can indeed become Children of God. By simply believing that Jesus is indeed the Son of God and by confessing our sins to Him.
The choice to believe this however is up to you the reader.
Please think about it.

Fill the World with Love

Fill the world with Love

“Love is patient, love is kind. 

It does not envy, it does not boast,

 it is not proud.  

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

 it is not easily angered, 

it keeps no record of wrongs. 

Love does not delight in evil 

but rejoices with the truth.  

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes,

 always perseveres. 

Love never fails....

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

But the greatest of these is love.”  

                                                                    1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13
The above is a quote from the Apostle Paul to the Corinthians. It to my mind is the purest definition of love ever written. It defines love perfectly.
Christian or not, one has to admit if there were more love in the world there would be less violence.
Love is about humility. Love, true Love, does not place any conditions on anyone.
For me as a Christian, Love is what I am called to do,
Jesus made three very important statements about love,
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 22:37-40.
In Matthew Jesus is quotes as saying
“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.
When it comes to Love, true Love God set the example. John’s Gospel quotes Jesus as saying,
“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.” John3:16,17
Love is about giving of one’s self something I believe is quite often lacking in our world today.
Anne Frank a young girl hiding from the Nazi’s in World War two Holland 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
This is what love is all about.
When I was in my teens I watched a movie musical called “Good by Mr. Chips.” it’s theme song was called “Fill the World with Love”. The words still have meaning to me all these years later.

In the Morning of My Life

In the morning of my life

I will look to the Sunrise

At a moment in my life 

When the world is new.

And the Question

I shall ask only God can answer.

Will I be brave and strong and true,

Will I fill the world with love my whole life through?

Will I fill the world with love my whole life through?

In the evening of my life

I will look to the sunset

At a moment in my life 

When my life is through.

And the question I shall ask only I can answer 

Was I brave and strong and true.

Did I fill the world with love my whole life through?

Did I fill the world with love my whole life through?

                                                                                    From the Musical
                                                                                Good By Mr. Chips
At the end of your life will you be able to say, “I filled the world with Love my whole Life through?
Please think about it.

To All

To all
“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
This is the uniqueness of Christian belief. We believe that faith in Christ gives us the right to become Children of God. According to the apostle John,
“children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” 
Christians lay this out for all people to accept or reject.
The Gospel of John also records these words of Jesus,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”  John 3:16-18.
If these words are false then no one is hurt by them. No one has anything to fear. But, if they are correct those who do not believe them have a lot to consider if not fear.
As C. S. Lewis put it,
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.” C. S. Lewis
Please think about it.

The Journey

The Journey
The Psalmist writes,

"Where can I go from your Spirit?  

Where can I flee from Your presence?  

If I go up to the heavens, 

You are there; 

if I make my bed in the depth,

 You are there. 

 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, 

if I settle on the far side of the sea, 

even there Your hand will guide me.  

Your right hand will hold me fast."

                                                                               Psalm 139:7-10

C. S. Lewis put it this way,
“We may ignore, but we can nowhere evade, the presence of God.” 
                                                                                                    C.S.Lewis.
Do you believe in God? Perhaps a better question is are you willing to risk your eternal resting place on what you believe?
From the moment we are born we start a journey toward eternity. I believe that throughout that journey God places sign posts directing us to him. All we have to do is read them correctly and do what they say. If we do not we are bound for destruction.
The following is from a book called Images I place it hear for you to think about,
                                                        Ticket”

                                                      “Where am I?
                                                        What, am...
                                                       I doing here?”

                                                       “You are her.”
                                                    Says the Conductor.
                                                    “Your ticket please.”

                                                     “I bought no ticket.
                                                       I took no ride.
                                                         Where am I?”

      “Your ride is over,        You are here.         All take the ride.
        Your ticket’s paid for, Says the Conductor    You are here.
       Your ticket please,        Please your ticket.     Your ticket. Please


                                 “I took no ride!
                                                         Where am I?
                                                      I demand to know!

                                                         I took no...
                                                           ride...?
                                                           Am I...?”

                                                        “You are here.
                                                        All take the ride.
                                                      The ticket paid for,
                                                         With My blood.

                                                          “I am here...
                                                       I have no ticket...
                                                          And you are...”

                                                              “Jesus.”
John’s Gospel records,
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6
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.
The choice is yours. You whether you like it or not, are on a journey into eternity. The question is here will you spend it.
As a Christian I believe the way to heaven is through the saving grace God offers in Jesus Christ. If I am wrong those who disagree with Christians have nothing to fear. If I am right at the very least those who disagree with Christians have something to be concerned about.
C. S. Lewis said,
"Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important." C. S. Lewis
Please think about it.

The Hidden Souls

The Hidden Souls
                                                          The Fourth Man
It’s five thirty-nine, dawn has not yet broken on this cold winter’s morning.  All around the suburban landscape lies covered, within a blanket of new fallen snow.
On the roads, the morning commute is slowly beginning.  As of yet, however, there are few cars.  All around, there is a peace.  Almost, like the calm before the storm.
Two cars, pull off the street and into the empty church parking lot.  Their tires making the snow squeak, as they move over it.  Coming to a halt, the occupants, three middle-aged men climb out, greet each other, and enter the church.
Before the altar, in the silence of the sanctuary, each man kneels.
Within this holy place, the presence of God is so very real.  His Holy power can be felt as it fills the temple.
I who have attended this church for over thirty years have never felt God’s presence so strongly.
From my vantage point in the balcony I watch as all three are raptured leaving me...   Alone.
If you claim to be Christian do you think that something like what is described in the above story can’t happen? Then think again.
Jesus said,
“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.  
As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.  
For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.  
Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left.  
Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. 
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” Matthew 24:36-42.
As Christians we must remain true to God. True to Christ.
There are many within our churches that have gone to church all their lives yet lack faith in God. They believe in God intellectually and they will tell you they believe but they have never truly turned their life over to God. To them church is where their family and friends are. It is essentially a social club.
Such people know what the bible says. They know how to act in church they know what to say. They know all the Hymns and songs sung at church. Sadly however they have never made true commitment to God.
These are what I have heard someone say are the hidden lost souls within church congregations.
They are perhaps the hardest people to reach. Yet they like anyone outside the walls of our church congregations need to make a commitment to God, a commitment to Jesus that goes beyond intellectual acknowledgement.
As Christians we need to be praying for such people. We need to be praying that God will show us who these people are and how we can reach them for Christ.
One other thing I would ask anyone who believes themselves to Christian is this, Are you truly committed to Christ? Is your faith rooted in God, or are you simply giving intellectual consent to the fact there is a God. There is a real difference.
Please think about it.

Nothing Hidden

Nothing Hidden
The writer of Hebrews states,
“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.  
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” Hebrews 4:12,13.
C. S. Lewis wrote,
“We may ignore, but we can nowhere evade, the presence of God.” C. S. Lewis
Whether you believe in God or not you as an individual will be held accountable by God’s standards.
I believe God has placed in the heart and minds of all men the basic standards to which He expects the individual to live by.
I also believe the more you know about God the more your will be held accountable for.
Thus those who studies the scriptures will be held to a higher level of accountability than those who do not.
This should serve as a warning to all those who believe themselves to be Christians. Men and women who read the Bible.
If we are studying the Bible then we will learn what God expects of us and must obey. Additionally we must be careful to correctly interpret what the bible says. We must not manipulate scriptures to say what we want them to say.
In reading the Bible we may read many things we do not like. As a result we may be quick to dismiss them and not obey. This must not be so. We cannot cherry pick what we wish to believe.
St. Augustine said,
“If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don’t like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself.” St Augustine.
Ultimately I believe we all will stand in front of God. The writer of Ecclesiastes said,
“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.
This I firmly believe applies to all people everywhere. Especially those who call themselves Christians.
Please think about it.

A Pointy Stick

A Pointy Stick
Scripture tells us,
 “Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.” Psalm 100:3 
I am told by friends that at times I like to poke people, particularly those in the Christian community, figuratively with a pointy stick this is one of those time.
In my previous blog I told the story of my nice who had sexual realignment surgery to become a male. Something that some Christians would disagree with.
 In this post I take it a step further. With the intent of making you the reader truly search your heart and mind as to what you would do and why.
The story is called Images of a woman.

Images of a Woman
That morning, Margaret Elizabeth got up extra early, readying herself for the day.  She would get only one chance to make an impression.  To that end, she applied her makeup with extra care.  Chose the black ankle length wraparound skirt, white turtle neck top and black jacket, her children had given her as a gift, while in hospital.  She limited her jewelry to a simple pair of diamond studded earrings, that had been her grandmother’s and small bracelet given to her by her daughter-in-law.
That done she took the ten minute drive to the modest size church she attended. Meeting with the pastor in the office.
For a few minutes they talked and passed the time of day. Then seeing the time she proceeded to the pulpit.
Leaving that office, to walk to the pulpit was the hardest step, she ever had to make.  Her heart pounded and by the time, she stood behind the pulpit she was visibly shaking.
“Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Margaret Elizabeth Williamson and just before Christmas, I underwent Sexual Reassignment Surgery.” she said relief surging through her body, as silence engulfed the assembly.  I know that many of you, maybe uncomfortable with that.  That is why I have asked to speak to you, to give you my testimony and then allow you to ask questions.
I have felt like a woman trapped in a man’s body for my entire life.  I was married for over thirty years to a wonderful and accepting woman, who died several years prior to my coming to this assembly.  I have a wonderful family, all of whom support me and are here today.
Believe me, I did not choose this course of action lightly.  I did so after much personal anguish and a great deal of prayer.
For a little over two years prior to my complete transition, I have lived my life as a woman: I was doing so when I came to this church and I think I did it well enough that no one knew.  If they did no one commented.
I have no apologies to give for what I did, or who I am, because I do not believe I did anything wrong.
I accepted Jesus as my Saviour over thirty-five years ago, and asked Him to remove from me what at times, has been a difficult burden.  He has chosen not to and thus, I have accepted that I am what I am.  A child of God, who knew me according to the Psalms in my mother’s womb.
I have no intentions of preaching a sermon here today, only to ask you to accept me as I am.  In fact, the only reason I stand before you today, is because I was asked to come onto the staff of this church and wish to be completely honest with you.
Now, I will open the door to all questions and endeavor to answer them to the best of my ability.  After which, I will ask for a vote and abide by your decision.”
There were many questions answered. Then finally the pastor came to the front.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, it is now time to take a vote.”  He said.  “If you wish Margaret Elizabeth to become a part of our pastoral staff, please rise to your feet.”
How would you vote? Why?
Please think about it.