Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Sunday

“Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. 
Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. 
Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. 
Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. 
Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,...”                                                                                                       1 Chronicles 16:8-12
Here David is singing praises because the Ark of the Covenant has been returned. He thanking God, praising Him and calling on the Israelites to praise God also. Verse fifteen even says David danced he was that happy.
Here in Canada October 12th 2014 is Thanksgiving Sunday and we have a lot to be thankful for.
We have freedom to worship, freedom of speech we have freedom to be who we are.
Canada is truly multicultural. In the small city where I live we have every ethnic and religious group one can imagine living in harmony.
Such is our freedoms that these groups can even have open and honest discussions with one another with our fear.
Canada is a great country to live in. While my wife and family were born here, I came by choice and have fallen in love with it.
God has truly blessed Canada and I praise him for bringing me here.
Apart from that I can praise God for all He has done in my life. For getting me through everything from a house fire to cancer to blood clots on my lungs that almost killed me, to living with Bi-polar disorder and dozens of other major and minor things I have long forgotten about.
I can especially thank him for my family all of whom are serving the Lord in one capacity or another.
I can thank him for all he has provided me with. While I may not be rich my needs are met and I haven’t gone hungry.
I have a wonderful family and friends most of whom will be celebrating thanksgiving with us as you read this.
I think at this thanksgiving time we need to look to God and thank him for all we have.
The psalmist wrote,

“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

Think about it.

Who do you follow

Who do you follow?

“I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.  
My brothers, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you.  
What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas’”; still another, “I follow Christ.” 
Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?  
I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized into my name.  
(Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.)  
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.” 
                                                       1 Corinthians 1:10-17
Here in 1 Corinthians 1:10-17 is something I hear today even within the small church I attend.
I hear people say I listen to (translation follow) such and such a preacher or evangelists teachings, I like what he says. Others say they follow other ministers and evangelist. This should not be so. We must follow Christ.
In our city there was a fair sized church that had eight or nine hundred people at it’s peak it was a breakaway church from a much larger one. This church even opened it’s own Bible school.
Many at the church hung on every word of the pastor. They trusted him implicitly. They never questioned him or his teaching.
Sadly he fell into sin not only that, when he’d originally started the church he placed most of the assets, the equipment the church used in his name. Almost everything except the building itself.
Thus when he left, he left the church in a great deal of trouble.
Not only that many who had followed him fell away from the church and they didn’t go to another church. They simply left the fellowship of believers all together.
They had followed the man and when he fell they were devastated and fell also.
We are never to follow “a man” we are to follow Christ.
At Corinth the believers were following the teachings of various men and obviously debating the teachings of those men to the point it seemed to be dividing them. Paul warned them not to do this. To get rid of the divisions among them.
Just because we are baptized by someone or saved through the ministry of a particular pastor does not mean we have to follow that pastor blindly. We should be following Christ.
The church who’s pastor went off the rails I mentioned earlier is an example of how people follow blindly someone’s teaching.
As Christians we are called to follow the teaching of Jesus.
Yes various men and women and Christian groups vary somewhat in the way they interpret scripture but that I think is human nature.
The key is that despite the various interpretations. These interpretations should neither add to or take away from the teaching of Christ.
The Apostles Creed while not written by the apostles summerize what the basic believes of all Christians are in a simple concise way.
The Apostles Creed
1. I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:
2. And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord:
3. Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary:
4. Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried: He descended into hell:
5. The third day he rose again from the dead:
6. He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty:
7. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead:
8. I believe in the Holy Ghost:
9. I believe in the holy catholic* church: the communion of saints:
10. The forgiveness of sins:
11. The resurrection of the body:
12. And the life everlasting. Amen.
(*Note in this case Catholic means, the true Christian church of all times and all places.)
We are called to let Christ and His teachings be the centre of our lives. As a result we should be reading scripture, as well as sitting under the teachings of good pastors, Christian leaders and teachers.
Think about it.

Of Wisdom

Of Wisdom

“My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. 
For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. 
He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.”
                                                                                                         Proverbs 2:1-8
Kenneth L Barker a commentator for the Zondervan NIV study Bible notes,
“Wisdom is not just acquired information but practical insight with spiritual implications.” 
(Barker, Kenneth L. Zondervan NIV Study Bible (Fully Revised): James. 1920. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, © 1985, 1995, 2002.) 
The more we read the Bible the more knowledge about our faith we obtain and the more wisdom we receive. Which helps us to better serve the Lord.
There are many excellent teachers out there. Many Excellent ministers and evangelist who preach God’s word eloquently and are truly giving people insight to the word of God.
These men and women are doing so because they have studied the scriptures with a mind opened to God and with no preconceived ideas.
They have prayed and meditated on the word of God asking God for insight. This is what we all should do irrespective of who we are.
Be we the most educated person in our congregation or the least. Even a child can gain insight and wisdom from the Bible.
Read again what Barker states,
“Wisdom is not just acquired information but practical insight with spiritual implications”
Put another way Wisdom is knowing what to do with knowledge in a very practical way.
When it comes to serving the Lord wisdom will show us how to use what we have learned from the Bible and others to best effect.
Read the quote from Proverbs again,
“My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. 
For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. 
He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.”
                                                                                                         Proverbs 2:1-8.
Think about it.

A Christian Thing

A Christian Thing

  “Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 
Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit.... 
Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD”— and you forgave the guilt of my sin.”
                                                                                        Psalm 32:1,2,5
Here is the central theme that rings through the entire Bible both New and Old Testaments.
The confession of sin and God’s forgiveness of our confessed sin.
The apostle John wrote,
“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
  The apostle Paul writing to the Romans 5:6-9 explains:
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  
Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.  
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!” 
                Romans 5:6-9.
C.S. Lewis notes,
“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
Lewis also said,
“He(Jesus) died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less.” 
                                C.S. Lewis

In accepting Christ as our Saviour, we are saved from the wrath of God. We as Christians are confident before we shed our mortal bodies that we will be with God.
John writing in his gospel,
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. 
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men.... 
       Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—  children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” 
                          John 1:1-4,12,13
For those outside the Christian faith I know it is hard to believe but it is what we believe.
We believe one can have a personal relationship with God. That you can become a child God. All we must is accept that Jesus is the Son of God, admit we fall short of God’s ideal for our life, confess our sins to him and accept the Salvation He offers freely to every individual.
If we are wrong we as Christians have nothing to fear because at the very least correctly following a Christian lifestyle is a good upright and moral way to live.
However if we are right there is a lot to worry about.
Think about it.

Christianophobia

Christianophobia
Here’s something for people to ponder.
According to the Washington based Pew Forum on Religion and Public life, Christianity is the largest and most widely spread faith in the world, with 2.2 billion followers or 32 percent of the world population.
According to Rupert Short Religion Editor of The Times Literary Supplement and a Visiting Fellow of Blackfriars Hall, Oxford In his latest book is Christianophobia: A Faith Under Attack (2012).
Across the world as a whole, some 200 million Christians (10 per cent of the total) are socially disadvantaged, harassed or actively oppressed for their beliefs.
Yet the secular media are not saying much about it. It is a hidden genocide going on at this minute.
To those critics of Christianity be they atheist or those who claim to be of other faiths, some of whom claim to believe the same God as we Christians I ask the question why is Christianity seen as such a threat?
If Jesus was not who he said he was the Son of God what have those who disagree with us to worry about.
C.S. Lewis a one time Atheist who converted to Christianity said,
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”
                                                      C. S. Lewis
A true Christian takes the words of the apostle Paul seriously,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.  
Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.  
On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” 
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” 
                                                                    Romans 12:18-21.
True we as Christians are told to go and make disciples of all nations and we have been very successful at doing that.
Still Jesus made it clear we are not to force our beliefs on others. We are simply to present them and let the person make the decision.
I know many over the years have called themselves Christians and tried to impose their faith on others by the force and the sword. These people are not Christians. A Christian will not use force to convert anyone.
Jesus said,
“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
                                                                                                 Matthew 7:22,23. 
The Bible tells the story of two of Christ’s disciples who were brought be for Jewish leaders for teaching in the name of Jesus. They were going to put them to death but a wise man stood up, giving them a brief history lesson, the book of Acts recording,
“But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while.  
Then he addressed them: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men.  
Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing.  
After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered.  
Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.  
But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” 
                  Acts 5:34-39.
I contend Christianity has proven it is from God. The proof is in the fact it now has reached over a third of the world.
The French emperor Napoleon said,
"You speak of Caesar, of Alexander, of their conquests and of the enthusiasm which they enkindled in the hearts of their soldiers; but can you conceive of a dead man making conquests, with an army faithful and entirely devoted to his memory? My armies have forgotten me even while living, as the Carthaginian army forgot Hannibal. Such is our power.”
“I know men and I tell you, Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour, millions would die for him.”
Sadly because people simply disagree with Christians, they are in parts of the world killing us. Something true men and women of God would not ever do.
Unfortunately the killing of Christians is something that has happened from the early days of Christianity starting with the stoning of Stephen by religious leaders of his day, on through various Roman emperors, to other groups, and even governments to this very day.
But as a Pharisee named Gamaliel said, “if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”
Which I know our enemies are.
To Christians that are reading this I would ask that you pray for the persecuted Church around the world. Even raise the issue with your member of parliament or congressman.
According to an article in Reuters written by Tom Heneghan religion editor Jan 8th 2013 who quotes statistics from Open Doors, a non-denominational Christian group,
North Korea, Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan as the three toughest countries for Christians last year (2012)
North Korea has been number one for the past eleven years and it is estimated 70,000 Koreans have been sent to labour camps. Their only crime being Christian.
Saudi Arabia is in second place, but Saudia Arabia bans public practice by all faiths except Islam yet still according to open doors, Christianity is spreading in Saudi Arabia.
A more recent threat to Christianity is the rise of Islamic militants such as al-Qaeda and now the Islamic state.
Think about it.

Perhaps, Just Perhaps

Perhaps Just Perhaps we Need to ask God’s forgiveness
          Perhaps, just perhaps, we need to ask God’s forgiveness.

“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.
Matthew 28:18-20 known as the Great Commission. These words encapsulate what we as Christians are called to do. But are we always doing it correctly? Are we usurping our authority?
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.
Do you Judge others?
The command from Jesus himself is not to judge others.
There is a time to judge others but only others within the church, within our own faith, the apostle Paul writing,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.” 
                                                                                           1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
The reason we can only judge those within our own faith is because we share a common set of moral values.
Even when we judge others within the church we should be very careful and only judge them by rules set down in the Bible.
When we are dealing with those outside the church we are called not to judge but rather love and pray for them. Jesus said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’  
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?”  
            Matthew 5:43-46.
We may not like what our persecutors or our enemies are doing to us but we are still called to love and pray for them.
Pray first of all that our persecutors and enemies will accept Christ into their heart. For only He can truly change their lives.
Pray even that our enemies and persecutors at the very least, leave us in peace.
Jesus said,
“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” 
                   Matthew 10:16.
The way I read Matthew 10:16 is that we are to being sent into a very hostile world. Therefore we must be very aware of the world around us and use wisdom in all we do. Above all however be completely innocent in all our actions.
Read Matthew 7:1,2 again,
“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.
I have watched many preachers and Christian groups both in and outside of the media judge those outside the church.
The other day I heard a well known Televangelist preaching against something. I agreed with what he said. He was completely right.
The problem was the group he aimed his comments at were outside the church. He judged them when it wasn’t his place to do so. They didn’t believe in the Bible or that they had to follow what it said.
He was an honest Christian who went about witnessing all wrong.
If you want an example of how to truly witness to non-believers look at how the apostle Paul witnessed in Athens, Act 17:17-34.
Athens was undoubtedly equal to any major city in the world today. It was a city of culture and vast diversity.
Athens had a myriad of temples to various gods. There would have been many things happening, many practices within Athenian society that Paul would not have agreed with. Yet he didn’t criticize them.
He was invited to speak by Epicurean and Stoic philosophers, not Christians, or Jews, to a meeting of the Areopagus , a place where ideas and philosophies were discussed.
It was the way Paul had presented the gospel in Athens itself they wanted to know about his teaching. Thus the invite.
This is how it should be today. We should be preaching the Gospel of Christ in such a way as to make people want to listen to us.
We need to use wisdom in how we speak especially when we are speaking in the media be it a humble blog,  from the pulpit of a large church, or anything in between.
Our job is to reach the lost not judge the world.
The American evangelist Tony Campolo said,
“We ought to get out of the judging business. We should leave it up to God to determine who belongs in one arena or another when it comes to eternity. What we are obligated to do is to tell people about Jesus, and that's what I do.”
                                                           Tony Campolo
We as Christians need to humble ourselves and pray. We need to ask God if we are witnessing for Him in the best possible way.
We need to ask him if we are judging others more than loving and praying for others.
We need to ask God to show us how the secular world sees us and ask Him how to better reach that secular world.
Think about it.

Perhaps an apology is in order?

Perhaps an apology is in order

I feel sometimes  the Christian community needs to apologize to the secular community in general and particularly the LBGT community for judging them.
Some preachers in the media here in North America have become very confrontational to the gay community and to others they disagree with.
Now don’t get me wrong there is nothing wrong with anyone, even a preacher presenting what they believe. Be it right or wrong in the eyes of someone else.
We live in a free society with the right of free speech that permits such a thing.
Sadly however many ministers and evangelist look at the LBGT community and seem to think they have “special sins”. They do not.
My Bible tells me
“all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
                                                                          Romans 3:23
That “all” means, ministers, priests, evangelist, laymen and everyone else who has ever lived.
My Bible also tells me not to judge,
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
Individual ministers, and evangelist both in the media and out of the media need to in all humility go to the secular community and say “I’m sorry for judging you.”
Jesus and the Apostles never confronted and judged secular society. They spoke against wrong practices within their own religious community, but never against those outside their faith.
Tony Campolo an evangelist said,
“We (Christians) ought to get out of the judging business. We should leave it up to God to determine who belongs in one arena or another when it comes to eternity. What we are obligated to do is to tell people about Jesus, and that's what I do.”
                                                                                Tony Campolo
The apostle Paul writing to the Corinthians said,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.” 
                                                                              1 Corinthians 5:12,13
In other words stay out of the judging business and keep your own house clean.
It is the Christians duty to tell people what they believed. Not to judge who is and who is not going to heaven or hell.
Only God knows truly what is inside a person.
The Apostle Paul gave us an example of how to preach the word of God.
In his travels he went to Athens. The book of Acts describes what happened. What he said is what I as a Christian truly believe. Is how we should be presenting the word of God.
The book of Acts states,
“So he (Paul) reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.  
A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.  
Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?  
You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean.” (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.) 
Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.  
For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. 
“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.  
And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.  
From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.  
God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.  
‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ 
“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man’s design and skill.  
In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.  
For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.” 
When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.”  
At that, Paul left the Council.  
A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.
                                                                                         Acts 17:17-34
Note Paul at no time in his speech did he ever call them sinners. He never judged them. He simply told them about the saving grace of Christ.
To the Christian who believes the words above, I ask that you consider looking carefully how Paul presented the word of God in a none judgmental fashion in Athens, perhaps one of the most culturally diverse cities of the ancient world.
A place where there were many things that would have been disagreeable to both a Christian and a Jew of his day.
think about it.

Something to think about

Something to Think About.
We in the Christian community know that we have the way to heaven. Yet many in the secular world are turning us off.
Mahatma Gandhi said,
“Jesus is ideal and wonderful, but you Christians - you are not like him.”
                                                                                            Mahatma Gandhi
Many in Gandhi’s day and today call themselves Christians simply because they came from a western nation, particularly Britain and the United States or they attended church.
As the saying goes “just because you stand in a fire station it doesn’t make you a fire truck.” or perhaps a better analogy is “just because you’re standing in a fire station it doesn’t make you a fireman.”
Jesus said,
“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  
             Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” 
                                                                                               Matthew 7:22,23
We as Christians know becoming a Christian is an act of faith. That the individual  must accept Jesus into their hearts and minds. Into their very lives and when they truly do this their lives change.
Here for you to think about  are excerpts from the Bible that to me defines someone who has truly become a Christian. Someone who has accepted God’s saving grace and Jesus into their hearts.
Jesus said,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” 
                           Matthew 7:12
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
“Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  
This is the first and greatest commandment.  
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” 
                                                                         Matthew 22:37-40
The Apostle Paul writes,
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 
Love never fails....
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”  
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13
Jesus said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?  
Matthew 5:43-46

James writes,
"If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.  
But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.  
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.  
For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. 
Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,  
because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!" 
                         James 2:8-13.
For me this is what makes a true Christian.
Tony Campolo wrote,
“Red Letter Christians believe in the doctrines of the Apostle's Creed, are convinced that the Scriptures have been inspired by the Holy Spirit, and make having a personal transforming relationship with the resurrected Christ the touch tone of their faith.”
                                                                                                 Tony Campolo
Not all who say they are Christians are,
Jesus said,
“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  
             Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” 
                                                                                               Matthew 7:22,23

Think about it.

The Christian Way

The Christian way

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.  
Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.  
On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” 
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” 
Romans 12:18-21

Martin Luther King Jr. the American civil rights leader said these famous words,
We thank thee, O God, for the spiritual nature of man.
We are in nature but we live above nature.
Help us never to let anybody or any condition pull us so low as to cause us to hate.
Give us strength to love our enemies and to do good to those who despitefully use us and persecute us.
We thank thee for thy Church, founded upon thy Word, that challenges us to do more
than sing and pray, but go out and work as though the very answer to our prayers depended on us and not upon thee.
Then, finally, help us to realize that man was created to shine like stars and live on through all eternity.
Keep us, we pray, in perfect peace; help us to walk together, pray together, sing together, and live together until that day when all God’s children, Black, White, Red, and Yellow will rejoice in one common bond of humanity in the kingdom of our LORD and of our God, we pray.
                Amen.
I could not say it more eloquently. We as Christians need to live as he prayed.
Tony Campolo wrote
“Those issues are biblical issues: to care for the sick, to feed the hungry, to stand up for the oppressed. I contend that if the evangelical community became more biblical, everything would change.”
        Tony Campolo.
We as Christians particularly in North America need to be out there reaching out to those in need.
The church where my oldest son goes to has a drop in centre right across from the Salvation army’s bed program. It’s open to every one during the week and holds weekly services for some of the poorest people in our city. People who live on the street. It’s a good program.
Many churches in our city during the winter, Canadian winters can be brutal open their doors to the homeless both as a place to come out of the cold and a place to sleep for the night.
They give them a safe place to sleep and a hot meal. It’s what every church that is able to do so should be doing winter and summer.
We should be reaching not only the poor but also the wealthy.
This was something, someone pointed out to me just recently. The wealthy need God just as much as the poor.
Jesus said,
“Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 
                                 Matthew 19:24.
I personally think it can be harder for a wealthy person to enter heaven than a poor person.
Having little in the way of money and resources can cause a person to draw near to God.
A person of wealth however can tend to rely on his wealth to get him through both bad times and good.
As a result we Christians of all stripes and income groups need to be reaching out to every strata of our society.
All, be they poor, wealthy or in between need to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
Thus it is up to we who believe to take that message to them.
Think about it.

Christian Actions

Christian Actions
The apostle Paul wrote,
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.  
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  
Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.  
Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.  
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. “
                                                                                      Romans 12:9-18.
Question, do you do everything Paul says above?
When I first met my mother in law she was as they say dirt poor. I can honesty say at the time she was living in as close to third world conditions as anyone could here in Canada.
She only had a grade five education and had gone through a lot in life.  She lived in an old farm house. Her and her third husband raised a few chickens, and pig to supplement their food.
Her husband worked at in a factory for very poor wages. She worked as a dishwasher and kitchen help at a resort and in restaurants near where she lived for minimum wage.
Yet she still managed to bring up six children.
As the kids grew up they finally helped her to move out of her poverty and up the economic ladder at least a little bit.
Yet still by Canadian standards she lived below the poverty line.
The one thing I remember about her however was that she always had a smile a hug and at least a cup of tea for anyone who dropped over.
Every Easter Christmas, Thank giving and New years there was always plenty of food and a spare seat and extra food for anyone who just might drop in or was spending the holidays alone be they family friends of complete strangers she usually met in church.
I never heard her ever say a bad thing about anyone.
She was far from a bible scholar but she witnessed to people by her life and lifestyle.
She invited people to church and could always find the good in everyone.
When she died my wife without thinking really kept the custom going opening our house as small as it is to family and anyone who may be spending the holidays alone.
We only have a small house but we do what we can. Some years we have a house full others we have had only family.
I remember when her younger sister was alive. With only living in a small apartment, she’d always bring friends  or people she’d met at church over. It was a good way to witness, even though we didn’t quote a lot of scripture.
My mother in law was not perfect, nor are my wife and I. Still we try our best to live our lives in a way we feel Christ would have us live it.
Anyone can do it.
Read the words of Paul again,
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.  
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  
Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.  
Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.  
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. “
                                                                                      Romans 12:9-18.
Think about it.

In Adversity

In Adversity

“The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. 

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 

he restores my soul. 

He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

 I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

 You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and 

I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”

                                                                                                                Psalm 23

The twenty-third Psalm reminds us that God is with us through all our troubles. He knows what we are going through and what we are in need of.
One pastor I had suggested every now and then we should examine the twenty-third psalm and see how it relates to us.
Isaac Watts wrote,

"My shepherd is the living Lord,

Now shall my wants be well supplied,

His providence and holy word

Becomes my Safety and my guide.

In pastures where salvation grows,

He makes me food - he makes me rest -

There living water gently flows,

And all the food divinely blessed...

Through I walk through the gloomy vale,

Where death and all its terrors are,

My heart and hope shall never fail;

For God, my Shepherd’s with me there."

                                                                                                    Isaac Watts
Having Jesus as our Lord and Saviour is to my mind as important as the air we breath.
He is their in the good times and in the bad.
I was told a long time ago that I should become so close to the Lord that when the dark times come. When trouble comes God is the first person we turn to.
I’ve found that to be true.
I live with Bipolar affective disorder. When I had that first break down that led to my diagnosis I was travelling along a major highway. Out of the blue an overwhelming fear of dread came upon me tears welled up in my eyes and I had to pull over to the side of the road.
I remember asking God what was happening.
When I regained my equilibrium I went to the next rest stop pulled into a far corner of the parking lot and cried for half an hour.
During that time I cried out to God. I did so seemingly automatically.
I strongly believe that it was he who answered my prayers. He that got me in touch with the right doctors and psychiatrists and has helped me through the darkest days of my life.
Jesse Jai McNeil wrote,
“In the midst of sorrow or joy, sickness or health, adversity or prosperity, we beseech Thee, that we may never lose sight of Thee. 
And when the storms of confusion and uncertainty overtake us, speak peace to my soul, O blessed LORD, and enlighten our mind with Thy Holy spirit.  Lighten our burdens by strengthening our spirit.  Keep us strong and give us courage.
                                                                                         Jesse Jai McNeil 
As Christians we are as close as a prayer to God.
Dear Christian how close are you to God?
Is He the first person you turn to in times of trouble?
Think about it.

Give

Give
Anne Frank wrote,
“Give of yourself, give as much as you can?  And you can always, always give something, even if it is only kindness!  If everyone were to do this and not be as mean with a kindly word, then there would be much more justice and love in the world.  Give and you shall receive, much more than you would have ever thought possible.  Give, give again and again, don’t lose courage, keep it up and go on giving!  No one has ever become poor from giving!”  
                                                                                                          Anne Frank.
Anne Frank knew what hate could do. She was young Jewish girl in hiding from the Nazi’s in Holland during world war two. She would later die in a death camp.
Yet the words she wrote are profound. Read them again,
“Give of yourself, give as much as you can?  And you can always, always give something, even if it is only kindness!  If everyone were to do this and not be as mean with a kindly word, then there would be much more justice and love in the world.  Give and you shall receive, much more than you would have ever thought possible.  Give, give again and again, don’t lose courage, keep it up and go on giving!  No one has ever become poor from giving!”
Jesus said,
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”       
    Luke 6:38.
I know many in the name it claim it crowd use this to indicate give to God and he will make you financial rich. That is not true.
God is not a banker who gives interest on money you give to a ministry or church.
If you are giving to a church or ministry you should be giving willingly what you can afford not expecting to get anything back.
Philippians states,
“And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus”
                                                                                                        Philippians 4:19
God gives us what we can handle Paul telling those in the church at Philippians that he will meet their needs.
If those giving to the church were rewarded by what they give I think the church in the third world would be the richest in the world because not only do they give out of their lack but they give their lives also.
Christian giving is not just giving dollars and cents to the church. It’s giving of one’s self to minister the gospel.
It’s giving love and understanding. It’s reaching out to those in need.
The people that hid Anne Frank and her family certainly gave they risked their lives not expecting anything in return.
They gave of themselves.
Too many in the church here in North America are giving to get. There are quite a number of ministries in the media that are talking about ‘seed faith’ plant a seed by giving money to a church or ministry and God will give it back with interest.
Like I said God is not a banker.
The value of our faith should not be about how much money we give or we get.
Albert Einstein said,
“The value of a man should be seen in what he gives and not in what he is able to receive.
                                                                                                                                        Albert Einstein
We as Christians are called to give but money is just a very small part. We are called to give our lives if necessary.
Jesus set the example. All but one of the disciples gave their lives for the faith. Many around the world are doing the same today.
The call I believe to the Christians here in North America who are blessed with freedoms that are the envy of the world is to not only support missions overseas with cash but to reach out to our world.
North Americans are as spiritually lost as the rest of the world. They need to be given a gift that can never be taken away from them.
That is what we Christians should be doing.
We have the single most important thing to give away freely to those who would listen to us, Eternal live.
Think about it.