Clowns

Clowns
The apostle Paul wrote,
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 2Timothy 4:3,4
Evangelist Charles H. Spurgeon said,
“A time will come when instead of the shepherds feeding the sheep. The church will have clowns entertaining the goats.” Charles H. Spurgeon.
From what I see as a Christian a believer in Christ Jesus living in North America. I firmly believe that what the apostle Paul and Spurgeon said is coming true.
There are many churches who have turned away from sound doctrine.
Sadly many pastors and evangelist are gathering people around them that are yes men who tell them what they want to hear. Men and women who are not willing to correct the pastor or evangelist when they say or do something that is not doctrinally correct.
Likewise there are many pastors and Evangelist who are simply entertaining the church. Carefully constructing their church services to attract people with music and other things that make them feel good. Even catering their sermons to attract people. Choosing not to emphasize the reason Jesus came to this earth.
Some pastors even refusing to quote the apostle John who said,
“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.
Thus my question. What kind of church congregation are you in? It is a congregation that always agrees with the pastor. That even when they know he’s wrong will not tell him so?
Are you in a congregation that is simply entertaining. A congregation where the pastor is always preaching a “feel good” sermon?
Or are you in a congregation that truly does preach sound doctrine.
Please think about it.

Do you?

Do you?
The writer of Hebrews states,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for 

and certain of what we do not see.”   

                                                             Hebrews 11:1.

Having faith in someone or something is perhaps the hardest thing a person can do. Scientist do it all the time. They observe things then make an hypothesis. Quite often it is many years before that hypothesis is proven or disproved. Some of Einstein’s theories were not proven until after his death.
So it is with God. Whether you believe in God or not, no one can know for sure if God exists for certain until after their death. That being said you must make your decision about God in this life.
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.
So the question becomes. Do you believe in God.
Blaise Pascal said,
“Belief is a wise wager. Granted that faith cannot be proved, what harm will come to you if you gamble on its truth and it proves false? If you gain, you gain all; if you lose, you lose nothing. Wager, then, without hesitation, that He exists.” Blaise Pascal.
Please think about it.

Poached Egg or Saviour?

Poached Egg, or Saviour?
John’s gospel records this incident of a friend of Jesus, Lazarus being raised from the dead. John states,
“When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 
When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.  
“Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. 
Jesus wept. 
Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 
But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?” Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance.  
“Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” 
Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” 
So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.  
I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” 
When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”  
The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” John 11:32-44

If this story and that of the other Miracles are false then it puts doubt on just how truthful the New Testament is.
Thus my question becomes. If it and the other miracles are untrue and easily disproved, why would those who believed in Christ, people who wanted to spread the gospel message put them in the Gospels? Such a thing would turn people away from Christ.
If on the other hand they are true, as I and other believers in Christ believe, then they would certainly add a measure of credibility to the claims that Jesus is the Son of God, God incarnate.
Jesus said,
“So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.  
I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” John 11:41,42.
Here Jesus lays things on the line. He prays to God to raise Lazarus from the dead and Lazarus does.
Now for anyone to pray for a man dead for four days to be raised to life you either have to be insane or the Son of God.
C. S. Lewis in his book Mere Christianity 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 my question to you the reader. Who do you think Jesus is?
Please think about it.

3 quotes + 1

3 quotes + 1
The writer of Hebrews states,
“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.
The late English evangelist Charles Spurgeon said,
"O Christian people, be holy, for Christ is holy. Do not pollute that holy Name wherewith you are named. Let your family life, your personal life, your business life, be as holy as Christ your Lord would have it to be."  Charles H. Spurgeon.
Francis of Assisi wrote,

“The deeds you do 

may be the only sermon some persons will hear today” 

                                                              Francis of Assisi.

Whether you like it or not if you claim to be Christian a follower of Christ Jesus. It is through the lense of your words and deeds that people will see Christ.
Thus the need for each individual to take a look at their life from time to time. To take a look at what they are doing and what the say. For what we say and do has the potential for eternal consequences.
Each believer in Christ Jesus is Christ’s representative on this earth. Thus the need for a holy life.
Living a holy life does not mean constantly preaching, or as one of my pastors said, “becoming so heavenly minded you are no earthly good.”
The world wants to see Christians who are real and genuine. Who are truly living out their faith.
Billy Graham once said,
"Those outside the church expect followers of Christ to live differently, yet today many in church are chasing after the world - not to win them, but to be like them."Billy Graham.
Sadly he’s right. Many calling themselves Christians outside of Church cannot be distinguished from those who are not Christians.
Thus my question to anyone reading this who claims to be a Christian. Is your words and deeds outside the Church reflecting the Love of God?
Please think about it.

Food for Thought

Food for thought
The Psalmist writes,

“Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. 

Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. 

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. 

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; 

give thanks to him and praise his name. 

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;

 his faithfulness continues through all generations.”

                                                                         Psalm 100.

Here the Psalmist tells us
1/ to “Shout for joy to the Lord all the earth.”
2/ to “Know that the LORD is God”
3/ to know “It is He who made us,”
4/ that “we are His people”

We are called by the Psalmist to,
1/ to “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise”
2/ to “give thanks to Him and Praise His name”

We are told by the Psalmist,
1/ “The LORD is good”
2/ “His love endures forever”
3/ “His faithfulness continues through all generations”

Do you believe this?
If you do, do you praise God?
Do you give thanks to God?

If you don’t believe this why?

Please think about it.

Guard against

Guard against
Jesus said,
"...Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." Luke 12:15
How important are your possessions? Many people strive to be rich. They spend their whole lives working long hours. Many even bring work home with them. Their family and friends take second place. They work so much that they don’t enjoy life.
Jesus said,
“What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?” Matthew 8:36.
Like I have said in previous blogs there is nothing wrong with being rich. It’s what priority you put on it.
The apostle Paul writes,
“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
The love of money can change people. Some people never have enough. They toil long hours to try and get enough yet their desire is never filled.
Sadly their lust for riches can pull them from their faith.
Jesus said,
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also...." Matthew 6:19-21.
Thus my question to you the reader.
Where is your treasure?
Please think about it.

Weep and Wail

Weep and wail
James the half brother of Jesus wrote,
“Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you.  Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.  
Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.  
Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.  
You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.  
You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you.” James 5:1-6.
Now there is nothing wrong with being rich and powerful. It is what you do with the wealth and power that you will be held accountable for.
James here makes a very clear point to the wealthy that if they misuse their wealth and power in this life “misery” is coming upon them.
There are many wealthy and powerful people in this world who are doing good. Sadly however there are many with wealth and power who are doing just the opposite. This is who James is warning.
In my previous blog I quoted Jesus telling this parable,
“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.
Thus my question to anyone in authority in particular. How will God judge you? Will you be weeping and wailing or will you be rejoicing?
Where will you spend eternity?
Please think about it.

Before God

Before God
The writer of Hebrews states,
“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 4:13.
There is a quote from the Talmud I can see as happening. It states,
“When a man appears before the Throne of Judgment, the first question he is asked is not, “Have you believed in God?”  Or “Have you prayed and observed the ritual?  “He is asked: “have you dealt honourably and faithfully in all your dealings with your fellow men?” The Talmud
Jesus told this parable,
“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.
We all rich and poor will stand before God and be judged. You might get away doing wrong in this life but you will not when you stand before God.
Tony Campolo the American evangelist said,
“When you were born, you cried and everybody else was happy. The only question that matters is this - when you die, will you be happy when everybody else is crying?”Tony Campolo.
Thus my question to you.
Will you be happy when you stand before God?
Please think about it.

God, Love, & Heaven

God, Love, & Heaven

"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 scripture defines God’s love and the fact is God loves us. In sending Jesus Christ into the world to die for our sins God proved that. Jesus speaking of himself said,
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16,17.
I’ve heard it said that the way we get to heaven is if your good deeds out weigh your bad deeds you get into heaven.
Christians do not believe this. We do not believe you can live a life good enough to enter heaven. C. S. Lewis said,
“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.
The day Jesus was crucified we see what is necessary to get to heaven. Luke’s gospel records,
“One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" 
But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence?  
We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." 
Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.'" 
Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." Luke 23:39-43.
The thief that got into Paradise (Heaven) confessed his belief that Jesus was who he said he was. Then he confessed to Jesus that he was a sinner.
Christians believe getting into heaven requires two things. One, an act of faith, the writer of Hebrews telling us,
“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
The other is confession of our sins to God. The apostle John writes,
“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.
This in a nutshell is what Christians believe. The question thus becomes do you believe this?
Please think about it.

Praise Him

Praise Him
The Psalmist writes,

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.

In my early days as a believer in Christ Jesus I was part of a praise group. We weren’t very well known but we were good. Good enough to be invited to various churches and other Christian events.
Our repertoire included all of what was in Psalm 150, including dance. At the time in the mid seventies dance in some churches was taboo. Still once people seen what we did they liked it. They seen that our dance moves complimented the music and brought glory to God.
We encouraged people to not only praise God with their voice and with their instruments but with dance. You don’t need anything choreographed just let your spirit flow with the music.
From a purely practical prospective dance can’t hurt. It gives one exercise. Adding praise to God helps your spirit rise.
Praise to God with our without dance can take an ordinary day or even a bad day and make things feel better.
Why not try it. Put on some praise music and in the comfort of your own home praise God.
Please think about it.

You can't have two masters

You can’t have two masters
Jesus said,
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also....
No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” Matthew 6:19-21,24.
Are you trying to serve two masters, God and material possessions?
Now let we make things clear. Having a lot of money and possessions is not sinful it is what you do with them that is sinful the apostle Paul writes,
“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.
Here in North America we are blessed with freedom to do as we wish. This freedom makes North America a good place to live. Freedom however has its pitfalls when it comes to a persons faith.
It is very easy to get, for lack of a better term “hooked of the American dream” the acquisition of wealth and material things.
Every day we are surrounded by the media and elsewhere telling us that we need the latest gadget. The media tells us that if we just get the latest “thing” our lives will be better. As a result people work long hours to get these “things” and are pulled away from their faith.
As the apostle Paul said,
“...Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
As a Christian. A believer in Christ Jesus. You must decide who you will serve and the ramifications of your decision.
Please think about it.

How will you be Judged?

How will you be judged?
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.
Here Jesus makes it simple for those who believe in Him. We are not to judge others period.
If we judge others we give them the right to judge us. And it has been my experience that they will. They will judge us with the same measure we judge them.
The psalmist speaking of God states,
"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. 
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." Psalm 139:13-16.
God because he is who he is knows why we are the way we are has the right to judge us. We do not. For that reason we do not have the right to judge others. That is especially true when it comes to a persons relationship with God and where an individual will spend eternity.
So my question to you if you consider yourself a Christian a follower of Christ Jesus is, how will you be judged both by God and those around you?
Please think about it.