Wash feet

Read Luke 14:7-11, Mark 12:41-44

“For everyone who exalts himself 

will be humbled,

 and he who humbles himself 

will be exalted.”

                                       Luke 14:11

Here Jesus is in the house of a Pharisee and is noticing how people vying to sit at
the best place at the dinner table. He notes how selfish they are. How they desire to show their status. This happens in the church today and is encouraged many times, whether intentionally or not.
How often have you seen a television evangelist say if you give so many thousands of dollars to their ministry you will receive a plaque or piece of sculpture or ornament to display. While those who give lesser amounts receive something small or just a tax receipt?
Appealing to someone’s ego, make them think they doing something that will increase their status, will nearly always get you something from them.
Years ago when I worked for a government institution where sadly, politics abounded everywhere. I found I could nearly always get what I wanted if when I explained things I made it sound that my boss would look good because of it. I appealed to his ego.
It really amazed me at times how easy it was to get what I wanted.
Don’t get me wrong here, we need people within the church who are willing to give thousand, tens of thousands even million to the Lords work. Being rich is not a sin. Nor is having money, it is “the love of money” that is the root of evil.
The point here is that just because we have money or a place of power we should not get special treatment.
In Mark 12:41-44 Jesus points out that the widow put more into the treasury than all those with wealth had.
The point to be learned here is that, if we are in leadership in the church we should be careful whom we esteem.
In the kingdom of God all are equal irrespective of status.
That it is not necessarily those who can afford to give large amounts that are giving the most in God’s eyes.
And we as individuals should be careful of how fast we go to sit in the place of honour.
As Christians we are called to be humble, to do things in secret without expectation of reward or credit for what we have done.
What are your motives in doing things in your local church. What are your motives in giving. Do you give to get, even if it is just a tax receipt?
Would you still give the kind of money you do to the church if you didn’t receive the tax incentive?
Would you still work for the Lord if you got no recognition at all?
If you are in leadership in your church congregation do you give praise to all those you work with equally?
Would you be willing to wash the feet of those who come to your church?
Think about it.

Meaningless?

Read Ecclesiastes 1

“Meaningless! Meaningless!”

 Says the Teacher

“Utterly meaningless!

Everything is meaning less.”

                  Ecclesiastes 1:1(niv)

The wisdom of man. Your born you labour, acquire knowledge and material wealth, bare children and die. After which your forgotten.
Just listen to any scientist talk about human life. Evolutionist state we came from the basic dry chemicals that made up the earth when it was first formed. The Christian would say we are created from the dust of the earth.
The difference however between the two is that the evolutionist would say when we die all that we were dies with us. Only that portion of our genetics that we past on to our children remains.
The Christian on the other hand acknowledges that we are more than that. That we have something that separates us from the animals an eternal soul. As well as wisdom and compassion.
An animal is intelegant. Monkeys and other animals can learn to do things even use tools but they lack compassion.
For an animal to kill another animal even one of its own kind there is no remorse or feeling it’s “just doing its thing”. They have no sense of right and wrong.
Humans however have feelings they know what is right and wrong. We have a sense there is more to life than merely existing.
We strive all our lives for a meaning to life.
In his satirical book the Hitch Hikers guide to the galaxy, Douglas Adams spoofs virtually every human institution. Particularly the institutions of religion and philosophy.
In the book earth is simply an organic super, super computer built by another computer to find out what the question to the answer to the meaning of life is.
The meaning to life having already been stated by the lesser computer to be forty-two.
People today want meaning and fulfilment in their lives. Everyone is striving for it.
A world class athlete strives for excellence in his or her sport. They get a great deal of pleasure and sense of accomplishment in not only winning but even if they don’t win doing their best.
The average person on the street tries to get fulfilment out of life by getting things or working for the “American or Canadian dream”.
Even if they get what they are striving for they still find themselves empty. Saying as the writer of Ecclesiastes states,

I have seen all the things that are done under the sun;

 all of them are meaningless ,

 a chasing after the wind.”

                                                                           Ecclesiastes 1:14
There is a meaning to life its just not what the world puts in front of us.
Within every person there is a need for God. We are made in the likeness of God. Only He can fulfil that emptiness we have.
That emptiness that the world has, is chasing the wind, gathering material wealth in an effort to end the aching in our soul.
To those people Jesus says, “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
This is the message that we as Christians need to get out to the world around us. For it is only in Jesus that our soul can truly rest.

Where is your heart

Read 1 Corinthians 8

But the man who loves God is know by God. 

So then, about eating foods sacrificed to idols:

 we know that an idol is nothing at all in the world 

and that there is no God but one. 

For even if there are so-called gods. Whether in heaven or on earth

(as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”:) 

yet for us there is but one God, the Father, 

from whom all things came and for whom we live’ 

and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, 

through whom all things came and through whom we live.

                                                                                       1 Corinthians 8:3-6
In this chapter of 1 Corinthians, Paul is talking about meat being offered to idols, but in verses 3 to 6, he makes a definite statement about Christ and God.
* if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.
* that there is other gods in the world but they are nothing.
* for the Christian  there is one God from whom all things come.
• and there is One Lord Jesus Christ through whom we live.

This is the message we must take to the world. THERE IS BUT ONE GOD.
Our society is as full today with “gods” as Paul's was.
People may not admit it but they hold money as a god, their car, their house and a host of other things.
Those “gods” are even making their way into the church.
“Trust God and he will ‘bless you’” some are saying. Their translation being “trust God and He will make you materially rich” the ‘give to get’ philosophy. A bad way of thinking.
God will bless you but not necessarily materially. He blesses us all the time.
If you want a good indication of where you are. If there are any “idols” or false gods in your life. Here’s a good test.
In Matthew nineteen there was a man who came to Christ and asked how to inherit eternal life. Jesus told him.
At the end when the man said he had done all of what was required of him from the religious stand point,

 “Jesus said to him, 

“If you want to be perfect go, sell what you have 

and give to the poor,

 and you will have treasure in heaven; 

and come, follow Me.”

But when the young man heard that saying,

 he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”

                                                                                 Matthew 19:21,22

Something to think about:

Here is your test of your love for Christ.

• Will you be willing to give everything you have up for Christ?
• Where is you heart. 
• Is it with your work, in your house and possessions or in your Heavenly Father?  
• Who or what do you trust the most?

Here’s something for you to do. BUT think very carefully first because it does take commitment.
Pray and give everything you have to God for Him to do with as He wishes.
Then listen carefully for what God wants you to do with your life.

God's will be done

God will be done

“This, then, is how you should pray: “ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:9,10

I was at a church the other day. The pastor was preaching that God wanted us all to be healthy. I believe God does.
Still I think that pastor missed something. The definition of healthy.
One of the definitions the Oxford dictionary gives for healthy is, “having or promoting good health.” the other definition it gives is, “normal, sensible, or desirable.”
He explained that he was healed from stage four colon cancer. And there is no doubt about it he was. The doctors admitted they couldn’t cure it and gave him a couple of years at best. He is now years past that mark. In my estimation a miracle.
He believed that God kept him alive because God had more for him to do.
I admire this pastor because he is to me a great man of faith and never doubted that God would heal him. And if he didn’t he was certain of where he was going.
Still I think he missed something. His definition of “healthy” was skewed. He equated healthy with being “normal”.
In other words someone who can walk, talk, see, has all his or her mental faculties. Simply put like ninety percent of the people you’d meet most days.
He gives me the idea that he feels people who aren’t “normal” aren’t healthy.
On the wall by my desk I have a painting called living water, it’s a rather detailed picture of a small meandering stream leading to a small waterfall. It was painted by mouth my Joni Eareckson Tada.
Joni is a quadriplegic who became paralysed in a diving accident. Joni is healthy and while being a quadriplegic may not be the best thing in the world, Joni has adjusted.
In fact Joni has an excellent ministry on radio and reaches out to the disabled through her Joni and Friends ministry.
I also had the privilege to listen to a young man by the name of Nick Vujicic. He was born with no arms or legs. The doctors don’t know why. Nick is healthy and has an international ministry.
On the banner of his website Life without limbs, it says, “From no limbs to no Limits”
As for myself I live with Bi-polar Affective disorder. A mental illness that at times causes my moods to swing daily between high, highs and low, lows.
I have learned to live with my illness and do various speaking engagements around the area where I live.
I consider myself to be healthy. I just live with a different normal to what this pastor would consider healthy.
I have friends that are in wheel chairs and live in nursing homes or assisted living. All are technically healthy.
Someone once asked me why does God allow such things, especially to people with great faith.
I believe God has a purpose for everyone. My friends that live in assisted living are witnesses where they live.
As I look at it both Joni and Nick may not have the ministry they have reaching millions if they were not as they are.
Likewise my Bi-polar illness made me think. It makes me rely on God every day of my life and to reach out to people not only around were I live but around the world through the various Blog’s I write.
You see I think we must look at scripture especially the verses I quoted above.
“This, then, is how you should pray: “ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:9,10.
Jesus did. Knowing the horror that he was about to go through, Matthew quotes  Him in the garden of Gethsemane as saying, “He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” 
                                                       Matthew 26:42 
No matter where we are in life or what life throws at us. We must embrace it and ask God what is your will for me and your will above all things be done.
Think about it.

Equal opportunity God

“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 I 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.” 
                           Psalms 139 :13-16
I am a number of months short of my sixtieth birthday. I have known the Lord as my personal Saviour for over forty-one years.
In that time I’ve seen a lot of garbage done in the name of God and it seems to be getting worse. Especially now in the age blogs and tweets and other social media.
The message of the church, the true church hasn’t changed.
It does however seem that many of the people who claim to be giving out that message have bent it to their way of thinking.
In Matthew seven Jesus makes it clear we are not to judge anyone, in Matthew 28:19,20 States
 “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.”
This is the principle message of the church. To go into the world and introduce people to Jesus Christ and the saving grace that can only come from Him.
If one is to believe the first scriptures I quoted from Psalms 139 and I don’t know of any Christian who wouldn’t, then I would assume that God knew what we were going to be like before we were born.
God essentially read our genetic code. He knew if we were going to be tall or short. If we were to have blue eyes, green eyes or no eyes.
God knew beforehand if we were going to be gay or strait, white, black, or oriental.
He knew what “our normal” would be.
I live with Bi-polar affective disorder. I am not what some would call normal.
I get up every morning and thank God that my illness is in check enough that I didn’t do something stupid to myself the day before or during the night.
I have found there is no such thing as an “absolute normal”. We all live with our own normal.
And you know I don’t think God bothers about our “normal” he’s an equal opportunity God.  He calls to all men and women,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” 
                                                                                                         Matthew 11:28
It is my experience that we all have fallen short of what God wants for our life. That’s why God sent Jesus down to earth. That we may turn to him. Ask him to forgive our sins and come into our life. That we may be guaranteed Eternal life. Think about it.

The Suffering Messiah

 The suffering Messiah

“We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
                                                        Isaiah 53:6 

Christians believe Jesus fulfills the Prophesy of Isaiah 53. That Jesus is the suffering Messiah. The lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.
It is a concept certainly Jews but I would say most people in the world today can’t understand, the suffering Messiah.
Jesus claimed to be the Son of God. The Messiah. The saviour of not only the Jews but all mankind.
Matthew records the trial of Jesus. It climaxes with,
“Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, "Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?" But Jesus remained silent.
The high priest said to him, "I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God."
"Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."
Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?"  "He is worthy of death," they answered.” Matthew 26:62-65
Even at his trial, undoubtedly knowing those conducting the trial had made up their minds before hand as to his fate Jesus confessed he was the Christ the Son of God.
In doing so Jesus in effect gave his enemies all they needed to pronounce the death penalty.
Someone noted to me something interesting about this point in the trial. The high priest undoubtedly without knowing it became an agent of God.
In very much the same way as the high priest transferred the sins of the people to the scape goat, he was transferring the sins of the world on to Jesus.
Jesus would take upon himself the sins of the world. He would suffer for all mankind.
Isaiah prophesied it this way,
“He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken.
He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.
Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.
After the suffering of his soul,  he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,  and he will bear their iniquities. Isaiah 53:7-11
Jesus to the Christian is the fulfilment of Isaiah 53 and God says in Isaiah 53:12,
“Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,  and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”
Christians as far as this writer knows are the only ones to believe that Jesus suffered for the sins of the individual.
If one thinks of it is an incredible claim but true.
Not only that but Christians believe that Jesus was indeed the Son of God, that he died and rose again and ascended into heaven where he sits at the thrown of God.
Which is another incredible claim that when thought of makes Christians either very misdirected or the bearers of truth to the world?
The choice is yours. Think about it.

Life's mission

Life’s Mission.
Read Matthew 4

“From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”                                                                                                               Matthew 4:17

The new Century Bible puts the above verse like this, “From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, ‘change your hearts and lives, because the kingdom of heaven is near.’”

If we truly believe in Christ. If we truly take to heart what Jesus taught it will change our lives.
Our life’s mission will change.
In accepting Jesus in our life, we must admit that He is the Son of God and therefore our King.
If He truly is our king then we must give to him the honour he deserves.
Secondly, we must realize that if Jesus is who He says He is that there is more to life than what we see now. It is what we see by faith. Thus, we must strive to follow our faith and follow Jesus to the fullest of our ability.
Thirdly, we must examine our values and be willing to change. We cannot serve God and man.
When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour we must take on the values of the kingdom of God.
Furthermore ,the world must see the values of God reflected in our lives.
Fourthly, as we allow Christ to work within our life, we will find our priorities change.
Our priorities become those of Christ.
Our principle desire becomes to show God’s love to the whole world.  Be that world our family, friends, neighbours or people in the far flung areas of the globe.

Equality

Read Deuteronomy 17:14-20
“When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the priests, who are Levites. 
It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the LORD his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees and not consider himself better than his brothers and turn from the law to the right or to the left. Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel.” 
                                                                                                 Deuteronomy17:18-20

Moses had been appointed as leader by God.  However, God knew that the people would in time want a king. Therefore he set criteria for the king.
He would be chosen by God,
Not dependent on military power
Not allied with super powers such as Egypt
He would have few wives
Not excessively wealthy
Devoted to Gods law
The criteria made sense. Especially keeping in mind that Israel was theocracy not a democracy.  Still, however, in the twenty-first century the criteria makes sense.
One of the things we, especially, here in the West complain about, is that our government leaders are out of touch with the man on the street.
Case in point, I heard a few days ago that many people, and doctors in the United States want health care reform.  In excess of forty million simply want health care.
Yet, there are many in government opposing health care reform. This despite the fact the thousands of people go bankrupt because of medical bills.
Here in Canada, many have lost their life savings and pensions, because of the economic conditions. Yet, government officials seem to be blind to the situation.
Is it any wonder that our political leaders can’t see and meet the needs of the people?
A member of parliament here in Canada gets an excellent salary, benefits and a pension plan guaranteed by the Canadian government. In other words the people of Canada.
Their benefits are far better than most of the population.  Far better than the Government of Canada’s pension plan the average Canadian gets.
Further more the average man on the street can loose his pension if the company he or she works for goes broke or pulls up stakes and heads overseas.
Men and women, that are elected to government office are for the most part, well off financially before they came to office.
It costs a lot to run a political campaign. The average person on the street while free to run in the election, hasn’t the finances to get elected.
Politicians have no idea what it’s like to live on less than twenty thousand dollars a year, let a lone what it’s like to live on a welfare cheque.
I’ve never heard of a politician’s child having to live in a cockroach infested building in Toronto or other cities.
No politician has ever had to make the decision to pay the rent or buy food.
That’s were God’s law differs from man's.  It doesn’t say the leaders can’t be wealthy, it simply says in Deuteronomy 17:17 that he can’t accumulate large amounts of silver and gold.
Politicians, especially, good ones deserve a good salary and benefits.  I’m sure it is a hard job.
However, God recognized that leaders can easily be distracted by power and material things.  Therefore, He requires moderation in all things for the leader.
He requires leaders to know His laws and to do what is right.
He requires leaders to be first and foremost servants of the people, something I feel is lost on political leaders today. Politicians who are too quick to listen to special interest groups. Usually well funded special interest groups with one agenda to get only what they want from the government.
Jesus said:
“The greatest among you will be your servant.” 
                                                              Matthew 23:11  
I wonder would any of our elected members of parliament be willing to wash the feet of the lowliest member of his or her constituency?
Would they be willing to give ten percent of their salary to food banks in their constituency?
Better still would they be willing to pass legislation that funds food banks fully. Would they be willing to pass legislation that gives all the members in their constituency the same benefits they are entitled too by virtue of being an elected representative?
Why not write and ask them?  
After all if they espouse to be Christian, isn’t it the right, and Christian thing to do?
Think about it.

Not Everyone
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ 
                                                                                                                  Matthew 7:21-23

I wasn’t going to put this here but after some though I though as the name of the blog is on being Christian I thought it proper.
I place it here as a caution to Christians. To remind them there are a lot of men and women calling themselves servants of God who are not.
There are many evangelist who bring in millions of dollars who seem to do little for the average man on the street. Who’s actions at times even repel the non-believer.
Now don’t get me wrong there’s nothing wrong with an evangelist or pastor being given an excellent salary. Good honest men and women of God working full time for the Lord deserve a good salary and benefits.
Also there’s nothing wrong with being rich. Rich believers helped fund the early church. And there are many wealthy people helping fund the church today without any fanfare. I believe it’s what you do with your wealth that counts.
I think all evangelist and preachers need to look to Jesus who lived modestly. Who humbled himself and washed His disciples feet.
They need to look at modern day examples such as Mother Teresa who spent her life reaching out and giving hope to the poorest of the poor.
Is it really necessary for a preacher no matter how much money he has coming into his ministry to live in a mansion.
My current pastor lives in a modest house. A previous pastor I had lived in a rented apartment. My first pastor was bi-vocational. He preached and did his duties at church while at the same time was a milk man. All of these men reached the lost for Christ.
I don’t buy the argument that evangelist need to own private jets. A first class seat or even coach seat on a regular scheduled airline is good enough. Missionaries fly that way all the time and it doesn’t hurt them.
Who knows if a well known evangelist travelled on a commercial flight he or she might just win someone to the Lord while doing so.
Traveling on a commercial airline saves money compared to owning and flying and maintaining a private jet. This means more money to be spent on reaching the world for Christ.
To the North American Christian reading this I would present a challenge to you. Check up on the evangelist you support. Ask them to give you an accounting of exactly where the money they get is spent, right down to the wages they pay their staff and themselves.
I know at our church every year the members are given an accounting of where the money is spent from the salaries of the pastor and staff, to the cost of the church furnishings, to the cost of heating and cooling the building, to the cleaning supplies and other things necessary to keep the church running.
Quite often we support ministries that are based hundreds if not thousands of kilometres from where we live. At that distance we can’t possibly see what is going on internally in the ministry. So why shouldn’t the various ministries we support render such reports when asked by a contributor? Especially if they have nothing to hide?

Justice

Justice

“Follow justice and justice alone, 

so that you may live and possess the land the LORD your God is giving you.” 

                 Deuteronomy 16:20

How do we see justice?
One speaker I heard noted that Plato’s Republic implied that justice was an harmonious arrangement within society. An agreement in which everyone had their place. Where those with humble functions are content with being subservient to those above them.
Such is not the case with Biblical justice.
The Bible holds that man was created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). With Genesis 2:7 stating:
“the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”
Therefore man has within him the very breath of the divine that makes each and every person equal to all others irrespective of their position in society.
Equality is the foundation of all Western democracies. The United States constitution going as  far as to say:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” 
The more one studies the Bible with an open mind, the more one becomes amazed at the treasure house of wisdom.
The Bible has but two points to make.
First and foremost it exists to point man to God. To show man what God requires of him. What man must do to attain salvation.
Secondly, it lays down a code of conduct that God expects man to adhere to with respect to his fellow man.
We serve a God who created the heavens and the earth. A God who despite being the Creator of heaven and earth cares for the individual within His creation.
A God who sent His one and only son not to judge us, but to save us.  As the apostle Paul reminds us:

“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, 

Christ died for the ungodly.” 

                                                                                              Romans 5:6

Man’s justice is sadly imperfect, as a result, he condemned many an innocent man. God’s justice, however, is perfect and on that Final Day He will judge the world.
I think Ecclesiastes put it best:
“ 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
Think about it.

The Forgotten LIne

The Forgotten Line
Read Matthew 6:9-13
     “May your kingdom come and what you want be done, here on earth as it is in heaven.”                                                                                                         Matthew 6:10(ncv)
I admit I’m at times a bit of a control freak. I like to be in charge. I have at times preconceived ideas on how things should be. I think we all do.
It just seems to be human nature that we want things done our way.
I think that’s why so many people who pray forget Matthew 6:10.
Now, I’m talking to Christians here.
In my over thirty years as a Christian I’ve heard a lot of prayers. Especially, if people want something from God, or bad times are upon them. They tend to want the solution to the problem, to work out their way.
Some things asked for, I think, are justified. Who wouldn’t want a sick loved one or themselves restored to full health.
I remember people praying for my mother-in-law who was dying of cancer to be healed. 
They prayed and prayed, yet she died.
The family grieved deeply. Some of those who prayed for her couldn’t understand why she died, after all she was only in her mid-fifties. Others blamed God.
My wife confessed privately to me that her mother didn’t die. God healed her. You see, people are eternal beings and God was calling her home, to a place where pain and suffering were no more. He knew there was no cure here on earth for her, so he called her home.
My wife and I have always prayed, “Your Will be done.” It was something we learned early in our Christian walk.
It was the same words Jesus is quoted as saying in the garden of Gethsemane.
Jesus knowing what was about to happen to Him prayed

, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; 

yet not my will, but Yours be done.” 

Luke 22:42.

We live in a so called  “fallen world”. A world living far from the ideal God has set out, filled with all kinds of evil.
Sadly, all too often, bad things happen to good people and for whatever reason, God lets them happen.
God simply asks man to have faith in Him, no matter the circumstance.
We must remember that it is God who is in charge and that it is His will that must be done, which is not always what we would like to happen.
Remember the Christian walk is all about God and His love for mankind.
So when we pray, let us look to the example of Jesus when He said,

“This, then, is how you should pray: 

“ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, 

 Your kingdom come, Your Will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 

Give us today our daily bread. 

Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’”

                                                                                   Matthew 6:9-13

Salt and Light

Salt and light
Read Matthew 5:13-16

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? 

It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. 

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.” 

                                                                                       Matthew 5:13,14.

As Christians, we are called to influence the moral and spiritual climate of the world.
I grew up in a generation who’s credo was “do your own thing.” What is good for you may not be good for someone one else. Still, as long as it didn’t hurt someone else, it was fine.
It resulted in the psychedelic sixties and all that went with it.
As my generation grew up, while some of our ideas changed, still the basic tenant  remained. “What was good for you may not be good for me.  So as long as you don’t hurt someone else, it’s fine to do your own thing.”
The trouble with that kind of thinking is we as a society failed to give ourselves a moral absolute.
The church in many ways also failed my generation.
From what I remember, at the time the North American church, especially some high profile people in the evangelical movement wanted the status quo.
They condemned everything from rock and roll to Elvis’s gyrating hips to wearing blue jeans in church and long hair on men.
Even so called “Jesus freaks” the movement I owe my salvation to, were looked down on, particularly by the Evangelical Church.
The church, I believe at that time, here in North America lost much of its saltiness. Simply because it wanted to keep it’s own status quo. That status quo being you come to church in suit and tie, "your Sunday best." You leave the jeans at home.
You keep your hair cut short, you sing hymns from the hymn book and if you listen to more modern Christian music it better not have a rock and roll beat.
It was a time when the church had  had a fantastic chance to reach millions of young people looking for direction and missed out.
All too often, I think the church forgets where it came from.
We, at one time, were a minority, unauthorized religion, espousing radical thought in an Empire that reached from the British Isles to the borders of India.
In those early days we didn’t care how a person was dressed when they came to a church meeting.
We were simply a small number of men and women, mostly Jews given the single most important task in human history.
Our strategy was simple, follow the example of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
While here He walked throughout a dusty, dry land. He wore clothes of the everyday man.  Entered the houses of Jew and non-Jew alike.  He spoke to Jewish religious leaders and Roman secular leaders.
Jesus spoke in the temple, in a house, and on the side of a hill.
He taught and spoke with authority, yet he knelt down and washed his disciples feet.
 He showed us by example, what He wanted us to do.  He left us a commission “to go into all the world and preach the good news to all who would listen.”
Yet, sadly, many within our church today have failed to follow that example. They’ve become side tracked with everything from what a person wears to church to church politics, to secular politics, to navel gazing and trying to predict when Christ will come back.
Question. Are you side tracked or are you truly reaching out for the Lord to others around you?