He who Loves Christ

Read Matthew 10

“He who loves his father or mother more than Me

is not worthy of Me.

And he who loves son or daughter more than Me

is not worthy of Me.

“And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me

is not worthy of Me.

“He who finds his life will lose it,

and he who loses his life for My sake

will find it.

“He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”

                                                                                                                              Matthew 10:36-40
“He who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me.”  
Quite the statement.
Jesus in this paragraph is sending out His disciples.  He is telling them what to expect, He lays everything on the line.  He makes it clear that what He is and what He is teaching is controversial.
He also makes it very clear, they have to make up their minds who they will serve.  
  Jesus states clearly,

“He who loves his father or mother more than Me

 is not worthy of Me. 

 And he who loves son or daughter more than Me

 is not worthy of Me.”  

We may have to chose between our family and God.
In North America, we rarely hear of such a thing happening, but in some cultures coming to know Christ gets you cast out of the family, at the very least.
It could get you put in jail or even put to death.
We here in North American and the western world are blessed at this moment in time.  We have freedom to worship and even if our families may disagree with us, they usually accept us.
In many ways, that freedom is a double-edged sword, because we may not take our commitment to Christ seriously enough.  Tending to give Him second best in our lives.
There are times in our lives when we have to skip a church service or event for the sake of a family event, but such events should I believe be rare.  
Generally most family events come at times late enough for us to catch morning church service. We should if at all possible attend at least one Sunday service even when we are away from our home church.
There are times when our job gets in the way. But if it starts getting in the way too much we should reconsider where we are working?
I know, I work for myself and because I’m in children’s entertainment most of my work is on weekends, Saturday or Sunday.
I however am fortunate in that most of the time I  can arrange our Sunday work to fall between services at our home church.
On the rare times I can’t I listen to a service on television or radio. Taping a service if necessary.
I strongly feel Christ should be number one in our lives. .
Something to think about:
We must love Christ so much, that it shows to the world around us in word and deed.  Our life must be in Christ, and revolve around Him,”
How dedicated to Christ is your life?

Be Careful Don't Cherry Pick

 “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 words of Jesus.

Where do we draw the line when following the laws of the Old Testament? After all Jesus came to give us a new covenant. The writer of Hebrews saying,
“They(the priests)  serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”  
But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises.” 
                                                                                             Hebrews 8:5,6
When I talk with members of the gay and lesbian community about Christ. They at times until they get to know me become defensive. And with just cause.
They see well meaning Christians constantly putting them down. Pointing out that they have a “special sin”.
The following is something that was passed on to me. It’s obviously sarcastic but it points out the slippery slope we can get on if we start cherry picking old Testament laws.

“Laura Schlessinger is a US radio personality who dispenses advice to people who call in to her radio show. Recently, she said that homosexuality is an abomination according to Leviticus 18:22 and cannot be condoned under any circumstances. The following is an open letter to Dr. Laura penned by a US resident:

Dear Dr. Laura,

Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your show and I try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind him or her that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate. I do need some advice from you however, regarding some of the specific laws and how to follow them.

(a) When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord (Lev. 1:9). The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?

(b) I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?
(c) I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness (Lev. 15:19-24). The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offence.

(d) Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?

(e) I have a neighbor who insists on working on Sunday (the Sabbath). In the book of Exodus verse 35:2 it clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?

(f) A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination (Lev. 11:10), it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't know. Can you settle this?

(g) Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?

(h) Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev.19:27. How should they die?

(i) I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?

(j) My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev. 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? (Lev.24:10-16). Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14).

I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging, and we should do what the bible says.
Your devoted disciple and adoring fan.

While the above is very sarcastic it points out to Christians that we must be very careful with regards to old Testament law.
Paul writing to the Galatians states,
"I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” 
Faith or Observance of the Law 
You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.  
I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard?  
Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?  
Have you suffered so much for nothing—if it really was for nothing?  
Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard? 
Consider Abraham: “He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”  
Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham.  
The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.”  
So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. 
All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”  
Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.”  
The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, “The man who does these things will live by them.”  
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”  
He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.” 
                                                                                         Galations 2:21- 3:14
The bottom line in all of this is that there is no grater or lesser sin. Moreover we cannot choose what sins are applicable in the twenty-first century.
Matthew notes, 
“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.
We are not called to judge anyone or to say for that matter what sin is.
It is the Holy Spirits job to convict men of their sins. It’s that simple. We are to present the Gospel of Faith.
Paul writing to the Ephesians states,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.  
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” 
                                   Ephesians 2:8-10
This is the lot of the Christian, to present the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour to a lost and dying world without judging. For only God knows what is inside the persons heart.
Only God knows why we are as we are.
Think about it.

Hello

Read Philippians 4

Therefore, my brethren, you whom I love

you whom I love and long for,

my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the LORD dear friends!.

I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the LORD.

Yes, and I ask loyal yokefellow, 

 help these women 

who have contended at my side in the course of the gospel, 

along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers,

 whose names are in the Book of Life.

Rejoice in the LORD always.

I will say it again rejoice!

Let your gentleness be evident to all. 

 The LORD is near.

                                                                         Philippians 4:1-5 (NIV)

The following is  from a book called Images,
Images of at Christmas 1995
Of a Woman
The service now over, the last hymn sung, the pastors and audience begins to fill the foyer.  Slowly, the once silent hall, becoming a symphony of sound and movement.  The congregation now a real life opera.
All around people greeted each other, laughed and joked, passed the time with family and friends.  There was, however, one conspicuous by her silence.
A slender slip of a woman, in her early forties, neatly, but plainly dressed.  She stood against the mirrored walls, beside the sanctuary doors staring at the floor, glancing only occasionally at the crowd, to whom she seemed invisible.
I watched for nearly ten minutes, as I went about my work.
People talked all around her, yet no one, not even an usher, once turned to say...
“Hello.”
I knew, I knew her from somewhere, but couldn’t remember where.  So my work finished, I approached her and said “Hello”.
Her smile went beyond words, a blessing from God.
Turns out, she’d been coming for several weeks with no one ever speaking to her.  We had a mutual friend with whom she’d travelled the world.
She was a missionary.  From age twenty to forty, she’d lived away from home, giving of her youth in Africa, Europe and in Asia.  Proclaiming the word of God.
Yet, here she stood in the middle of one of the largest churches in the area, with no one ever stopping to simply say...
                                    “Hello.”

“And you are to love those who are aliens, for you yourself were aliens in Egypt”

                                                                                                                              Deuteronomy 10:19
Something to think about:
How would you react to seeing such a person in your church? Do you even notice someone like that?
In the portion of Scripture I quoted from Philippians 4, Paul asks that the Philippians look after some people who have laboured with him and looked out for him.
This should also be an admonition to us to look after those missionaries and pastors who have laboured all their lives for the Gospel.  To ensure they have all they need.  To help them in anyway we can.
   All too often, unfortunately, this does not happen.  If we can’t ensure those in our church are greeted and looked after, how can we expect to reach out to those outside of the church.

Tame the Tongue

Read James 3

Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. 

 See how great a forest a little fire kindles!

And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity.  

The tongue is so set among your members that it defiles the whole body, 

and sets on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire by hell.

For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind.

But no man can tame the tongue. 

 It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

With it we bless our God and Father, 

and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.

Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. 

 My brethren, these things ought not to be so.

                                                     James 3:5-10

Here James look at the tongue.
It is said the pen is mightier than the sword.  Certainly many tyrants and dictators in the twentieth century believed that, because among the first to be sent to jail or put to death in revolutions are journalists and writers.     Among the first things, they took control of was the media.  The oppressors of the twentieth century recognized that words can build up or destroy.
In fact most if not all of the horrendous dictators and tyrants of history have been great orators. Able to use their tongue well. As have been some of the greatest leaders. One only has to look at Hitler and Churchill to see how words can be used for good or evil.
For the Christian I believe that it is of paramount importance to control the tongue as the eternal resting place of someone’s soul may be at stake.
This is what James is talking about when he refers to the tongue.
“Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing.  My brethren, these things ought not to be so."   James 3:19.
Sadly, all too many Christians curse more than they bless.
We don’t listen, we plunge headlong into our diatribe, following our well rehearsed ideological script and immediately, turn the person off, whether that person is a Christian or not.
Earlier in James 1:19, it states:
“So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;”
I know I can remember some of the most hurtful words that have ever been said to me.  Even though, those words were said a long time ago and I forgave the person, when I hear them, they still bother me.  Likewise, I can remember hurtful words I have said to others and regret deeply.
The converse is also true.  I remember the word of praise given to me by many people. Especially, the words of the person who led me to Christ.
Something to think about.
Where do you fit in. Do you curse more that bless. Do you think about what you are saying and what effect it might have on the person you are saying it too.
How do you present Christ to the world. Are your words turning people to Christ or from Him?
Take a few moments to examine yourself. Is your tongue under control?

Love is the key

Read 1 John 3

“We know that we have passed from death to life,

 because we love our brothers.

 Anyone who does not love

 remains in death. 

Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, 

and you know that no murderer has eternal life in Him. 

This is how you know what love is;

 Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. 

And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.

 If anyone has material possessions 

and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, 

how can the love of God be in him?

                                                                              1 John 3:14-17

Love is the key to being a Christian. Love of God, Love of our fellow man.
It is interesting that quite often when the Scriptures want us to show love they tell us about how Jesus laid down his life and that we should be willing to do so.
It’s also interesting that the other thing that is referred to when it comes to love is giving of our money and possessions.
I think that it’s because next to our life it’s our money that we value the most. We are for obvious reasons reluctant to give up our lives unnecessarily.
We see money as giving us a good way of life it’s our security in this world. Someone said of money ‘you can’t take it with you when you go but you can’t go anywhere without it.’
Financial security is what most if not all people especially here in the West strive for. Yet it is so fleeting. Ask anyone who lost money in the stock market or investment schemes that went wrong.
Isaiah the prophet states,

“A voice says, ‘Cry out.’ and said, “What shall I cry?’

All men are like grass, 

and all their glory is like the flowers of the field.

 The grass withers and the flowers fall, 

because the breath of the Lord blows on them. 

Surely the people are grass 

the grass withers and the flowers fall, 

but the word of out God stands forever.”

                                                                                  Isaiah 40:6-8
We are nothing more that grass. Everything we own in life is nothing more than flowers in the field. We die and all our possessions eventually die also. Only what is done for God will last.

Something to think about.
The apostles set the example for us by following in the footsteps of Jesus. They never owned a sixty thousand dollar car or fancy house as far as I know. They never needed a cell phone or computer. And I’m sure they didn’t work a lot of overtime. Nor did they call for political reform.
Instead they gave of themselves, their lives, their money. They left their homeland and way of life to take the Gospel to the far reaches of their world.
In doing so they left a legacy that changed the world in a very real way.

A Lesson for Christians from the Talmud

“An aged man, whom Abraham hospitality invited to his tent, refused to join him in prayer to the one spiritual God.  Learning that he was a fire-worshipper.   Abraham drove him from his door.  That night God appeared to Abraham in a vision and said: ‘I have borne with that ignorant man for seventy years: could you not have patiently suffered him one night?”
                                                                                                                            The Talmud

Do Christians drive people away from their door because of what they believe? I think so.
Case in point the same sex marriage debate. The gay and lesbian community have been lobbying governments for years to be able to be ‘married’.
Christians and other religious groups have a very clear definition of marriage. It is the union of a man and a woman. And to Christians in particular marriage is a very sacred thing. To violate what they feel is it’s true meaning is to put a red flag in front of a bull. It’s the equivalent of a Christian asking a gay man to stop being gay.
Now before I go any further. Let me make it clear I am not asking Christians or for that matter members of the gay community to give up their beliefs.
What I am asking is that Christians, of which I am one, recognize that we live in a free and democratic secular society. A society where governments try to work in what they consider is the best interest of all people.
As Christians I don’t think we should be standing with placards in front of parliament trying to restrict the rights of others.
To do so is to like Abraham throw the person out of our tent and potentially sentence them to an eternity separated from God.
I feel we need to reach out to the gay community agreeing to disagree at least on the same sex marriage debate.
I also believe that until we put the placards down and stop protesting against everything except our right to worship freely, our ability to reach others will be at least limited.
We cannot stand on street corners, scream in the media, and yell from the pulpit, in a secular world such as we live in “because I disagree with you, I want your rights restricted!” Which is exactly what people see when they see us protesting against anything.
Christianity is not a “do not” belief system.
Christianity is a lifestyle. It is a belief that God himself reached down to man saying, Jesus himself saying, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16, 17.
How can we as Christians possibly hope to get that message to anyone when they see us protesting against anything and everything we dislike.
Question: Do you really think the apostle Paul spoke against anything he disliked when he was in Athens or any other part of the Roman empire. Read Acts 17: 16-34. And think about it.

Rights

Read 1 Peter 2:18-25

"But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating

for doing wrong and endure it?

But if you suffer for doing good

and you endure it

this is commendable before God.

1 Peter 2:20,21

I live in North America where particularly in the United States Christians feel like they are a Christian nation. The same is true in Canada but not to the same degree.
Those who espouse to this belief feel it is their right to scream at secular authorities over anything that disagrees with their point of view. Voicing their disagreements is perfectly fine in a free and democratic society like the United States and Canada.
The trouble comes when those voicing their disagreements try to restrict the rights of others they disagree with.
Then if the authorities push back they feel they are being persecuted.
The United States and Canada are democratic secular societies who’s governments do their best to give the maximum amount of freedom to all people.
They do this at times by passing laws that Christians and others may disagree with.
Case in point the whole same sex marriage debate. It’s a very hot button debate right now. It is a debate that will change the definition of marriage in secular law. But does it matter?
God knows what is right and wrong.
Yes we can disagree that’s our right but let’s look at the wider picture. We need to reach the world for Christ be they gay or strait.
If we push too far the authorities and other groups will push back and ultimately it could lead to our rights being restricted which in turn will make it hard for us reach the lost.
So if we are going to suffer persecution let us do it for the right reasons. When I see a quote like verse 1Peter, 2,20,21 I go back to what I see is the basics of being a Christian.
Do not Judge,

Matthew 7:1,2

"Judge not that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.

Show Love even for your worst enemy,

Matthew 5:43,44

"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,

1 Corinthians 13:4-8a, 13

Love suffers long and is kind: love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil. does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Go

in to your world.

Mark 16:15,16

And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. "He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned.

Something to think about

If we are going to be accused of doing wrong. If we are going to be brought before magistrates and others in authority and beaten for doing wrong. Let us suffer for what is right.
Let us never be accused of judging anyone, be it for their lifestyle, religion or anything else they do.
Let us show nothing but love even to our worst enemy. Let us show that love in the truest sense of the word. As Christ did before us.

Let us present only the pure word of God. Offering Gods salvation to all who will listen.

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.