A Special Birth

A Special Birth
Luke’s gospel records,
“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.  (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)  
And everyone went to his own town to register. 
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.  
He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.  
While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,  and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” Luke 2:1-7.
John’s Gospel 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....
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 1:1-4,14.
Both Luke and John are speaking of the same event. The birth of Jesus.
The core belief of Christianity is that Jesus is God incarnate. We Christians believe that God in the form of His one and only Son Jesus Christ came into the world he created.
The question I get quite often from those who are not Christian is why would God enter His creation?
The way I see it is this. He came into the world to show each individual how much he loved them. How far he would go in human terms to show His love for each individual. The apostle Paul wrote,
“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.
The apostle Paul even admits this is at the very least unusual by human standards saying,
“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.” 1Corinthians 1:18.
The key here is God does not necessarily do things the way man thinks he should. After all God could have showed His power and might by coming with thousands of angels. In effect saying “her I am come worship me”. That however would not make true followers. If God did such a thing people might well worship Him because they feared what He could do to them. Not because they truly believed and trusted in Him. God wants true believers in Him. Those who believe in Him by faith.
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.
True believers in any cause will endure anything for it. They will go to their grave for that cause. Thus it is with true believers in God.
There is also one more thing I believe why God entered the world.
In coming into the world to live as a man. God through Jesus found out first hand what it was like to be a human being.  He knew what it was like to have loving parents. To have friends. To go to weddings. He experienced first hand the mundane things such as the sun on his face, rain and the smell of dust.
Jesus also knew what it was to have enemies, to be beaten unmercifully and put to death in an horrific way.
In other words he experienced first hand the human condition. Thus when we as individuals stand before him on judgement day we can never say, “you have always been almighty therefor you cannot truly know what it is to be human with human frailties.” We cannot say that because Jesus does understand.
Having said all that the choice this Christmas season is entirely up to you. Do you believe Jesus is God incarnate, Saviour of mankind or not.
Please think about it.

Faith in God

Faith in God
Abba Hillel Silver wrote,
“Faith in God is the strongest bulwark of a free society.  Human freedom began when men became conscious that over and above society and nature there is a God who created them...who fashioned them in His likeness, and that they are, therefore, possessed of intrinsic and independent significance and are endowed, as individuals, with original and irrevocable rights and authority.” Abba Hillel Silver.
The Psalmist put it bluntly saying,

“The fool says in his heart, 

“There is no God.” 

                            Psalm 14:1.

I am a believer in God simply because it make more sense than the alternative. God through the Bible lays down a moral code for mankind to live by. Which in its simplest form is the ten commandments.
When God and His moral code is forgotten society falls into darkness and people suffer. We only have to look at Nazi Germany during world war two. Hitler and is henchmen lived by their own code. As a result it is estimated that over eleven million men, women, and children died in the death camps alone. While another estimated sixty million plus men, women and children died in the worst war in human history.
Mankind throughout history has a horrible record when it comes to following God’s commandments. Time and time again man has forgotten God’s commandments resulting in the death and suffering of thousands if not millions of individuals.
The psalmist writes,

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;

 all who follow his precepts have good understanding.

 To him belongs eternal praise.” 

                                                 Psalm 111:10

To my way of thinking if one does not recognize God then they can do anything they wish. Hitler is an extreme example of this. He had no fear of God thus he created the worst holocaust in human history.
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.”Ecclesiastes 12:13,14.
The way I see it you can choose to believe the words of Ecclesiastes 12:13,14 or not. If I am wrong you have nothing to fear if I am right at the very least you have a lot to think about.
Please think about it. 

"Are you an Instrument?"

Are you an Instrument?
Jesus Said,
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,  
I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  
When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  
When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 
“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ 
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.  
For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,  
I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ 
“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 
“He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ 
“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” Matthew 25:34-36.
As a Christian have you done anything like Jesus is telling us here in Matthew 25?
I was in the downtown of our city a while ago. The wind was bitter the temperature minus fifteen centigrade. A man in a dirty jacket was standing in between two doors that led into an office building begging for money.
Just inside the doors was a coffee shop and people were coming and going. Passing the man like he wasn’t their. 
I had no cash on me so I went in with the intention of at least getting him a gift card so he could buy a meal.
Before I could do it however a well dressed man walked out of the coffee shop with a hot coffee and gave it to the man. He then offered to drive him to the Salvation army where he could get a room for the night and a warm meal.
The man accepted and they left.
As they did I though of what a wonderful example of what Christ wanted us to do.
We can’t change the world but we can if it is within our power help one person.
The Jews have something they call Tzadakah. It is something I think Christians need to practice in their lives.
I got the following definition of Tzadakah from a Jewish website it states,
“Tzedakah is the Hebrew word for acts that we call charity in English: giving assistance and money to the poor and needy or to other worthy causes. However the nature of tzedakah is very different from the idea of charity. The word “charity suggests benevolence and generosity, a magnanimous act by the wealthy and the powerful for the benefit of he poor and needy.
The word “tzedakah” is derived form the Hebrew root Tzadei-dalet-Qof, meaning righteousness, justice or fairness. In Judaism giving to the poor is not viewed as a generous, magnanimous act, it is simply and act of righteousness, performance of a duty giving the poor their due.”
According to Jewish scholars there are various levels of Tzedakah,
Giving begrudgingly
Giving less than you should, bu giving cheerfully,
Giving after being asked
Giving before being asked
Giving when you do not know the recipient’s identity, but the recipient knows yours
Giving when you know and the recipient’s identity, but the recipient doesn’t know yours.
Giving when neither party knows the other’s identity.
Enabling the recipient to become self-reliant. 
Francis of Assisi wrote,

“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 are you truly an instrument of God?

Please think about it.

Christians

Christians
Mahatma Gandhi said,

“Jesus is ideal and wonderful, but you Christians - 

you are not like him.”   

                             Mahatma Gandhi.

I’m convinced that Gandhi did not see many true Christians. He saw people who claimed to be Christians. People who had a holier than thou attitude. People who certainly didn’t follow the teachings of Jesus correctly.
In our time I would say quite a few people in our society, claiming to be Christians are not. Jesus even said,
“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”  Matthew 7:22,23.
True Christians put into action the teachings of Jesus and the apostles. Jesus who 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
The words of Jesus who 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.
Jesus who 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...”Matthew 5: 43-45
When it comes to Christian love the Apostle Paul defines it this way,

“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 the kind of Love true Christians will follow,
Additionally a true Christian will not judge anyone outside the church that is God’s job. The apostle Paul writes,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
James the half brother of Jesus even warns Christians,
“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.
A true Christian will be true to the words of Jesus who gave them their task on this earth when he 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.
It is the Christians job to tell anyone who will listen in a loving way, about the saving grace of Jesus Christ. They are to present it and let the individual decide for themselves. They will never to force their beliefs on anyone or Judge anyone.
Billy Graham the great American evangelist said,

It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God’s job to judge 

and my job to love, 

                           Billy Graham

This to me is what a true Christian is.
        And what a True Christian is called to do.
Please think about it.

Why I write

Why I write
Over the last four years I have written many, many, blog entries. Someone asked me why I write these blogs. I found the answer in 1John 1:1-4.
“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.  
The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.  
We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete.” 1John 1:1-4
I as a Christian truly believe the apostle John. John knew Jesus personally. As a result I believe I have a message that everyone in the world needs to hear.
God wants all people everywhere to come and know him on a personal level. He wants to have fellowship with the individual.
This is why I write the blogs.
I have no wish to force my beliefs on anyone. I simply place what I believe out there for people to read. The decision they make is entirely between them and God.
I am not their judge. I am simply a person who truly loves God and wants others to share in that same love.
A personal relationship with God, that offers peace that passes all understanding. A peace that lasts for eternity.
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.
I believe Jesus when 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.
I believe the words of John when he wrote,
Yet to all who received him,(Jesus) to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—  children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” John 1:12,13
  I firmly believe that Jesus is the only way to heaven.
Jesus said,
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
I firmly believe that we as individuals get to heaven by the grace of God. The apostle Paul writing,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.”  Ephesians 2:8,9.
Ultimately however it is up to you. In order to possess the gift of eternal life, one must first accept it by faith.
Thus the question is will you accept the free gift of Salvation God offers you through Jesus?

You Decide

You decide

 “Look deep into nature,

 and then you will understand everything better.”

                                                                  Albert Einstein.

I believe Einstein was right. The more we study nature the better our understanding of everything and that includes God.
The Psalmist wrote,

“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

I am a creationist. I make no apologies for what I believe. I however don’t really care if God used the big bang theory to create the universe or some other way. I don’t really care whether it took six billion years or six days to get us to where we are today.
What is important to me is that there is a God who loves us. That life is not finite. Limited to this life.   
For me this life is a proving ground if you will. It is here that God gives us a chance to follow Him or reject Him.
He has written on our hearts what is right and wrong. He has planted in all people I believe a need to make sense out of life and to seek Him.
The writer of Ecclesiastes wrote,
“What does the worker gain from his toil?  
I have seen the burden God has laid on men.  
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.  
I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live.  
That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God.  
I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him. 
Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before; and God will call the past to account. 
And I saw something else under the sun: In the place of judgment—wickedness was there, in the place of justice—wickedness was there. 
I thought in my heart, “God will bring to judgment both the righteous and the wicked, for there will be a time for every activity, a time for every deed....” Ecclesiastes 3:9-17
The writer of Ecclesiastes go’s on to say,
“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 is what I believe.
That being said, I cannot nor will I force my ideas on anyone. I do however believe it is my duty to God to present my beliefs to anyone who is willing to listen to me.
I firmly believe that each person should read the Bible for themselves and make their own conclusions with respect to God, Jesus Christ, and eternity. 
I believe what C. S. Lewis when he wrote,
“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.
This is what each individual when presented with Christ must decide for themselves.
Please think about it.

Christian Love

Christian Love
The apostle Paul writes,

“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 true love. This is the love Jesus meant when he states,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”John 3:16,17.
Jesus 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
Jesus also said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,  
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?”  Matthew 5:43-46
The apostle Paul reminds us,
“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.” Romans 12:9-18
This is Christian love and indeed the Christian lifestyle.
Please think about it.

Woe

Woe
“And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.  But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Matthew 18:5,6
Here is a warning from Jesus we need to be careful how we treat people and what we teach.
A friend of my daughter in law has a child about eight. She is visibly disabled.
The child grew up in church and heard much about a specific preacher. She wanted her mother to take her to this man to be healed.
They got there and were told to sit a the back. During the alter call, a call for those in need of a healing touch, the child asked her mother to take her forward.
To the horror of the mother they were intercepted on their way down to the front and asked to go to their seat.
It totally devastated the child, and the two went away disillusioned.
The mother also noticed at the time that there were no people at the front with visible or extreme disabilities.
Here is an example of how someone can cause someone’s faith to be questioned. To cause someone to sin.
Fortunately as I understand it the little girls faith rebounded because it was in Jesus not in the preacher.
Not all such encounters have such a happy ending.
The warning Jesus give in this passage is not only a warning about making children sin, but about making all people sin. Turning people from the saving grace of Christ.
Back in the nineties a high profile televangelist said God was going to kill all the homosexuals in North America within a few years. What garbage! And how wrong he was.
The LGBT community has more rights today that ever before in North America.
     Not only that each individual in the LGBT community is as important to God as anyone else in this world. God cares about everyone.
Rather than make such outlandish predictions that evangelist should have been sitting down with members of the LGBT community an presenting the Love of God to them.
Were that man to make such a prediction in old Testament times and found to be wrong he’d have been stoned to death.
Now I am not a gay man, but I cringe when I hear the gay community coming under attack by preachers and individuals who claim to be Christians as if they have some ‘special sin’.
Those who call themselves Christians and are attacking the LGBT community or any community be it Islam, Hindu’s Buddhist or any other group are guilty of making them stumble.
They are guilty of disobeying Jesus who 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
The people who are being attacked see the attack especially if it’s on their faith or lifestyle as a personal attack. Thus it gets their guard up and shuts down all dialogue.
The apostle Paul make it clear what we in the church must do when he writes,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.” 1Corinthians 5:12,13.
Tony Campolo and American evangelist wrote,
“Let us preach Christ, let us be faithful to proclaiming the Gospel, but let's leave judgment in the hands of God.”  Tony Campolo
Billy Graham the great American evangelist said,

“It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God’s job to judge 

and my job to love,”

                      Billy Graham

Jesus gave the Church it’s prime directive when he 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.
Jesus did not tell his followers to judge anyone. Quite the contrary 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
Prior to the Matthew’s gospel quotes Jesus 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
This is what Christians are called to do. For Christians not to do it has the potential for eternal consequences.
Please think about it.

Foolishness?

Foolishness?
“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.  
For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”  Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?  
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.  
Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  
For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.”1 Corinthians 1:18-25
The above is what Christians believe. We present to the world a Saviour that is the Son of God. A Suffering Messiah.
We ask people to believe by faith that Jesus is the One and Only Son of God. That he came to earth died, was buried, rose from the dead, walked the earth briefly, before ascending to heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father.
We ask people to believe in the trinity, The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one being existing in three parts.
These are hard things to accept. Yet they are the basics of Christianity.
They are truths that a true seeker of God will find to be true if they read the Bible.
 It however takes faith. The writer of Hebrews stating,

“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

Please think about it

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.