God has a welfare plan

God has a welfare plan

“For six years you are to sow your fields and harvest the crops,  
but during the seventh year let the land lie unplowed and unused. Then the poor among your people may get food from it, and the wild animals may eat what they leave. Do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove.” 
                          Exodus 23:10,11

“Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God.” 
                                                          Leviticus 19:10.

In my years as a Christian here in North America I’ve heard a lot said against the poor by everyone from the person on the street, to politicians, to evangelical preachers.
There was and still is in some quarters the idea that the poor are somehow lazy and need to get a job.
The reality is there are many poor people who are working at two even three jobs. Families where both spouses are working and still there are more bills than money at the end of the week.
It has always amazed me that governments can give tax cuts to the rich that take millions out of the government coffers, yet they can’t put millions into giving the poor a legitimate hand up.
What is wrong with making the minimum wage a wage that ensures families will have enough to eat, clothing and a roof over their heads?
Yes I know it will cause those companies who pay their employees minimum wage to earn less profit. Still just because such companies are earning less profit doesn’t mean the owners and share holders of such companies are forced to skip meals so their children can eat.
Why should employees of any company that is making a profit have to go to food banks to try and make it through the month?
I think we as Christians need to do all we can to help the poor.
The verses I quoted above shows God is concerned about the poor. He admonishes land owners to not pick clean their farm fields so that the poor may have something to eat.
Sadly in our modern cities there is no farm fields to leave food in. That’s why it is important for we as Christians to help those in need.
Tony Campolo said,
“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 
There are over 2000 verses in the scriptures that call us to meet the needs of the poor. God truly cares for the individual and we as Christians should too.
The Jews have a practice called Tzedakah. I think it would be good for Christians to follow such practice. A Jewish website explained the concept this way,
“Tzedakah is the Hebrew word for acts that we call charity in English: giving assistance and money to the poor and needy or to other worthy causes. However the nature of tzedakah is very different from the idea of charity. The word “charity suggests benevolence and generosity, a magnanimous act by the wealthy and the powerful for the benefit of he poor and needy.
In Judaism giving to the poor is not viewed as a generous, magnanimous act, it is simply and act of righteousness, performance of a duty giving the poor their due.
Giving to the poor is an obligation in Judaism, a duty that cannot be forsaken even by those who are themselves in need. Some sages have said that tzedakah is the highest of all commandments, equal to all of them combined, and that a person who does not perform tzedaka is equivalent to an idol worshipper. This is probably hyperbole, but it illustrates the importance ot tzedakah in Jewish thought.
According to Jewish law, we are requiered to give one-tenth of our income to the poor. This generally interpreted as one-tenth of our net income after payment of taxes."
The Talmud suggests different levels of Tzedaka and one Jewish scholar place the levels in order of least meritorious to most meritorious,

“Giving begrudgingly

Giving less than you should, bu giving cheerfully,

Giving after being asked

Giving before being asked

Giving when you do not know the recipient’s identity, but the recipient knows yours

Giving when you know and the recipient’s identity, but the recipient doesn’t know yours.

Giving when neither party knows the other’s identity.

Enabling the recipient to become self-reliant.”

As Christians we need to be thinking how we look on the poor. We need to help the poor.
The Apostle James writes,
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?  
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.  
If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?  
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.  
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. 
You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?” 
                                                                                                              James 2:14-20.
Think about it.

Let Love

Let Love

“My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, 
for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity. 
Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 
Then you will win favour and a good name in the sight of God and man.”
                                                                                                    Proverbs 3:1-4.
During the dark days of world war two Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver in December 22nd 1940 sermon said,
“There is one other fundamental difference between love and hate.  Love is always a refuge.  Hate is never a refuge.  Only a mentally sick person can find refuge in his hates.  But love is the enduring sanctuary of life.  Life may rob you of many things.  It often does.  But it can never bereave us of love itself.  That remains.”
                                                      Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver.
On the Web site Muslim village.com. They quote Mohammad as saying,
They quote Mohammad as saying,
“What actions are most excellent? To gladden the heart of human beings, to feed the hungry, to help the afflicted, to lighten the sorrow of the sorrowful, and to remove the sufferings of the injured.” (Bukhari) 
“Allah will not give mercy to anyone, except those who give mercy to other creatures.” (Abdullah b. Amr: Abu Dawud & Tirmidhi)
“Kindness is a mark of faith, and whoever is not kind has no faith.” (Muslim).
Admittedly I a Christian know little about Islam, but looking at these words of Mohammad quoted on a Muslim website, tells me he wanted those who followed him to show love.
I know Muslims claim to accept the teachings of Jesus and it was Jesus that said when asked,
 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  
This is the first and greatest commandment.  
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’  
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” 
                                                                                           Matthew 22:37-40
Jesus also said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your 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.
It was a follower of Jesus, the Apostle Paul who wrote,
“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.
As I look at the world situation today I see a lot of hate in the world. Be that hate in the war zones of the middle east or on the streets of major world cities.
Be we Christian, Jew, Muslim, or of any other faith, even atheist we should be proclaiming love. Because it seems to me love of ones neighbour, ones friends, family and even ones enemies is the one common ideal we can all agree on.
It is only when love is forgotten that hate can grow.
Think about it.

Warning

Warning

“When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread.  
“Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 
They discussed this among themselves and said, “It is because we didn’t bring any bread.” 
Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, “You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread?  
Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered?  
Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered?  
How is it you don’t understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”  
Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
                                                                 Matthew 16:5-12.

“Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” says Jesus.
This is something that we should be careful of today, especially in the wired world.
Today at the touch of a mouse we can connect with thousands of preachers and evangelist the world over. It’s easy to get misled.
There are many people out there saying they know the will of God. That they know God’s formula, usually for getting rich or having a wonderful life.
Some go as far as saying if you’re not in good health then your out of the will of God, you’re sinning. What garbage.
There are many name it claim it preachers out in the world today. Many using the terminology ‘seed faith’. Calling you to sow into the kingdom. A term they use for asking for your support of their ministry.
There are many out there ready to give a formula for being rich or for good health.
It seems today that there is a Christian version of every secular get rich quick scheme.
Preachers both in the media and out of it are saying if you do such and such you’ll have a good life. A life without want.
There are many out there performing what they call miracles that are nothing more than fancy talk and hot air.
All too often in my life as a Christian I’ve seen people ripped off by these preachers.
Christians and especially new converts need to be cautious of ministers, evangelist and churches that are offering feel good doctrine. That are making wild claims.
The old saying “if it looks to good to be true it probably is” is true.
Now don’t get me wrong the majority of churches, pastors and evangelist are honest men and women who love the Lord and are doing what they believe to be is his will. Still caution never hurt.
It can be hard to find the right church for you.
When someone asks me what church to go to I am always cautious.
First and foremost you need a church that believes the Bible is the inerrant word of God. That it and nothing else is the foundation of the church.
Second you need a church that believes that as John records Jesus as 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.  
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son." 
                                                                                                            John 3:16-18
Thirdly the words of the Apostle Paul,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.” 
                                                  Ephesians 2:8,9
These are two of the basic beliefs of the church. There are many more but I do not have the space to put them here.
Scripture aside what I also recommend is a church in which the pastor is subject to his church board or a higher authority, such as an associate group from which he is ordained. One that he is answerable to with the authority to correct him.
There are three groups I recommend here in Canada and the United States, The Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada, and The Assemblies of God in the United States both these groups have a good track record in keeping those associated with them on the strait and narrow.
The other group is the Baptist. Honestly although there are various Baptist groups I’ve found that they are fairly consistent in their doctrine, and in keeping their associates following the word of God.
One more factor you should consider when you’re looking for a church congregation to attend, that is your comfort factor.
How do you like your church services. Pentecostal or Charismatic groups, as can some Baptist groups, be quite lively. While others quite solemn with a distinct structure.
It all comes down to what you like.
Finally I always tell people to pray about where they are to attend and never accept things at face value. If you don’t understand what the pastor or bible teacher is saying ask questions. Honest pastors or bible teachers will always be willing to answer your questions and back that answer with scripture.
Check the scriptures out on your own. See if they are taken in context and line up with the word of God as you know it. If not ask more questions.
If you fail to get a satisfactory answer or the pastors evasive perhaps it’s time to move on. Pray about it. Remember the words of Jesus who said,
“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.
Think about it

I Believe

I Believe
"Yet to all who received him,(Jesus) to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—  children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God." 
                                     John 1:12,13.
Someone asked me what do I believe. That is a tall question. Defining what I believe in detail could take pages.
The Apostles creed sums most of it up when it says,
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 true church, the Church universal, not the Roman Catholic church specifically): the communion of saints:
10. The forgiveness of sins:
11. The resurrection of the body:
12. And the life everlasting. Amen.

That being said I believe salvation is a free gift. The apostle Paul writing,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.” 
                                                     Ephesians 2:8,9.
That the way to heaven is,ultimately  an act of faith, Hebrews stating,
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him”
                                                                                                         Hebrews 11:6
Faith defined as,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” 
                                                                                                              Hebrews 11:1
Jesus make it clear that He is the way to heaven. The gospel of John recording,
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” 
            John 14:6,
Jesus 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.
   Paul writing to the Romans said,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” 
                                                 Romans 3:23,24.
Sinning is falling short of what God wants for you life. Sin separates us from God and everyone no matter who they are sins,
John noting,
“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.” 
       1 John 1:9,10.
Paul make it clear salvation is not something we can work for. Paul writing to the Ephesians stating,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.” 
                                                                  Ephesians 2:8,9
Ultimately however like I said, salvation is an act of faith, Hebrews stating,
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him”
                                                                                                       Hebrews 11:6
Faith defined as,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” 
                                                                                                                         Hebrews 11:1.
This is what I believe and all Christians believe in brief.
It however comes down to you the reader as to what you believe.
C. S. Lewis stating,
“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
Think about it.

A Libertine

A Libertine
“Thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondsman in the land of Egypt, and the Lord thy God redeemed thee.” Deuteronomy 15:15.

I believe it’s at St. Mary Woolnoth  an Anglican church in the City of London, that there is a plaque with the words,
 “John Newton, clerk, once an infidel and libertine, a servant of slaves in Africa, was, by the rich mercy of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, preserved, restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach the faith he had long labored to destroy.”
To quote R. J. Morgan from the book 365 scriptures that changed the world (copy right Thomas Nelson Publishers 1998.)
  “As a young man, Newton had been a seaman and slave trader whose mouth was a cesspool of profanity, and who liberally helped himself to the female slaves he transported. 
   But he also became a deserter, flogged by the British Navy, who was reduced to being the slave of a sadistic woman, herself a slave, in Africa.
Out of all this he was saved. And he became one of England’s greatest preachers, the author of the beloved hymn Amazing Grace.”
Over his study desk he had this verse from Deuteronomy
“Thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondsman in the land of Egypt, and the Lord thy God redeemed thee.” Deuteronomy 15:15.
He reportedly told a friend later in life “My memory is nearly gone; but I remember two things, that I am a great sinner and that Christ is a Great Savior.”
John Newton’s conversion was dramatic. He went from being a man without principles. A man without a conscience to a man of great principles and moral values.
He spoke out against the slave trade and would go on to write hundreds of hymns 280 of which he combined with 68 hymns of William Cowper to form the Olney Hymnal.
We today can look on Newton and see how bad he was and say thank God we are nowhere near as bad as him. He needed a conversion experience. I am far better than him.
Many non Christians I believe today also look at people who go to church. People who claim to be Christians and say, “I know them. I know what they do outside of Church and it isn’t very Christian. Why should I become a Christian because I am better all around than they are.”
That may be so, but not everyone who goes to church is a Christian. No everyone who say’s they are Christian are.
Many people as well as Preachers and evangelist will one day stand before God and find they are not accepted into heaven. Jesus saying,
“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.
When it comes to knowing Jesus as one’s Lord and Saviour it is up to the individual to decide.
We should not look on those who are going to church or who claim to be Christians. Simply because many who claim to be Christians are not.
Each individual needs to look within themselves and ask themselves am “I truly good enough to go to heaven?”
I believe if we are honest with ourselves the answer will be no.
No one is good enough to stand before a holy God.
Isaiah the prophet said,
“All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.” 
                                                                                                    Isaiah 64:6.
That is why Jesus came.
Another self admitted sinner the apostle Paul wrote these words,
“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.
‘But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.”
          1 Timothy 1:15,16
I firmly believe that we as individuals must search our heart of hearts and in all humility admit that there is sin in our life.
Then we must turn to Jesus, recognize that he is the One and only Son of God, who died for our sins and ask him to forgive our sins and come into our hearts and lives.
For it is only through Christ that we can truly have our sins forgiven and have our lives changed.
It happened to John Newton. It happened to the Apostle Paul and it can happen to you.
Think about it.

What is your life?

What is your life?

The Rose Talked Back
"The man sweeping the synagogue paused for a moment.  He looked at the flowers lying about in disorder, ‘What waste!’  He said too himself.  Those roses had adorned the pulpit at a wedding aan hour before.  Now all was over and they were waiting to be discarded.
The attendant leaning on his sweeper was lost in thought when suddenly he heard a strange sound.  One of the roses replied to him.
‘Do you call this a waste?” the flower protested, ‘What is life anyway, yours or mine, but a means of service?  My mission was to create some fragrance and beauty, and when I have fulfilled it my life has not been wasted.  And what greater privilege is there than to adorn a bride’s way to her beloved, what greater privilege than to help glorify the moment when aa bride and groom seal their faith in each other by entering the covenant of marriage?’
Our little flower paused for a moment too watch the man’s face, and then continued her discourse.
‘Roses are like people.  They live in deeds, not in time.  My glory was but for a brief hour, but you should have seen the joy in the bride’s eye.  I like to believe that I had something to do with it, by creating a suitable setting for the moment of her supreme happiness.  So don’t grieve for me.  My life has been worthwhile.
Having spoken her little piece, the rose was once more silent.  The attendant, startled from his reverie and a little wiser, pushed the sweeper again and continued with his work."
                                                                                                         Ben Zion Bokser.
The apostle James wrote,
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?  
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.  
If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?  
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.  
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. 
You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?” 
                                                                                                     James 2:14-20.
As Christians we know we are saved by faith through the grace of God. That we cannot work our way to heaven. That salvation is a free gift.
But while faith may save us we need to do more. We need to show our faith through our actions. We need to show the love of Christ in our day to day actions.
The American evangelist Tony Campolo said,
“These 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 need to have a servants heart. Christ did. He healed the sick even fed the hungry.
Jesus met the needs of those who came to him. If we are to be Christlike we need to be doing these things. We need to be trying to make a difference even if it is just in the neighbourhood in which we live.
I like the words of Francis of Assisi who wrote,

“Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love,

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console,

to be understood as to understand,

to be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive,

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.” 

                                                                                                  Francis of Assisi
Christian are you using you life on this earth for something more than a pew warmer? Are you serving or sitting around expecting to be served? OR are you serving?
Think about it.

Peace

Peace

“In the last days the mountain of the LORD'S temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and peoples will stream to it. 
Many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 
He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. 
Every man will sit under his own vine and under his own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid, for the LORD Almighty has spoken.” 
                                  Micah 4:1-4.

I firmly believe that one day all mankind will live in peace with one another. But man cannot do it alone.
Man has shown how selfish and self centred he is throughout history. One statistic I read stated that there has been but a few days of true peace in all the history of mankind. Through the centuries man has become more and more violent. Another statistic states the twentieth century seen more deaths due to violence and war than all others combined and the twenty-first century seems to be continuing to add to the deaths.
Mankind it seems cannot live at peace. Man doesn’t seem to see all men as brothers with rights given to them by God. The right of freedom of speech, freedom of belief, freedom to enjoy life. To as the Americans say, to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
It seems there is always some despot out there trying to impose their will on people. Love seems to be slipping away in our global society.
Abba Hillel Silver wrote,
“Faith in God is the strongest bulwark of a free society.  Human freedom began when men became conscious that over and above society and nature there is a God who created them...who fashioned them in His likeness, and that they are, therefore, possessed of intrinsic and independent significance and are endowed, as individuals, with original and irrevocable rights and authority.
                   Abba Hillel Silver.
It seems as our society becomes more secular it is becoming more violent.
Around the world terrorist groups like ISIS, rather than seeing the one true God, they are fashioning a god after their violent twisted beliefs.
Mankind is on a slippery slope that is leading to a lake of fire and brimstone and he cannot stop the slide himself.
Man needs to turn to God.
God sent Jesus into this world to show how much He loved mankind and today there are an estimated 2.2 billion Christians. Jesus has been called the Prince of Peace. Not only that most religious leaders in the world recognize Jesus as at the very least a great moral teacher.
Sadly however the majority of the world wants nothing to do Jesus and his teachings They wish to blunder on doing their own thing and getting nowhere.
Eventually however as the Prophet Micah said,
“In the last days the mountain of the LORD'S temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and peoples will stream to it. 
Many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 
He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. 
Every man will sit under his own vine and under his own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid, for the LORD Almighty has spoken.” 
                                  Micah 4:1-4.
It will indeed be a momentous day in history. I know many reading this will not believe it. But it’s what I believe as a Christian.
The Lord God of Jacob will one day make himself known to modern man in the flesh and he will bring peace to all mankind.
Something mankind will never do himself.
Think about it.

Turned away

Turned away

“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
I listened the other day to some Christian evangelist. At least he called himself a Christian evangelist. I wondered however if he was Christian.
This man was so negative. He was screaming at all the ills of the world. He particularly took aim at the gay community. When he did my heart sank.
Now I’m not gay. Far from it. But over the years I’ve know some very nice lesbian and gay men and women. Most of them have at one point in their life have struggled with their sexuality.  Ultimately however they have made the decision to accept who they are.
These men and women at one point in their lives were also turned of by people calling themselves Christians.
When I heard this man yammering on about the evils of homosexuality it hurt even me. Were he to say it in Canada it may have even fallen under hate speech.
He made being gay out to be some special sin. There is no special sin. That evangelist has sin in his life as much as anyone be they gay or strait.
Paul makes it clear in his letter to the Romans,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
                                                                          Romans 3:23
I think such men and women shouldn’t be given a microphone. By saying what at times was outrageous statements this man showed his ignorance and lack of love.
In an article entitled “Too hot for the Pulpit.” Published in Seven a magazine published by Promise Keepers Mark Hughes. Notes that here in Canada Revenue Canada has quietly put in place rules that forbid clergymen speaking out on political issues.
He noted that “We can still speak on the hot button issues of our culture, but the day of hellfire and condemnation is long over. We need a more gracious approach.” going on to say,
“Recently I ran into an old school friend that had been living in Winnipeg’s homosexual community for years. He knew I was a pastor and made this statement, “I guess your church would never welcome someone like me?” I answered, “of course we would, your homosexual sin is no worse than my heterosexual sin. The day you are not welcome, is the day no one is welcome.” 
Over the decades especially here in North America it seems the church has got away from Love and salvation. Many preachers have it seems forgotten the words of Jesus who said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
John 3:16,17
We cannot show love if we are preaching Hellfire and condemnation on people. We I believe will turn more people away from Christ than too Him.
As Christians we are called to reach out with the love of Christ to all men and women irrespective of who they are or their lifestyle.
We need to show compassion without prejudice.
When Jesus met the Samaritan woman at the well in John Chapter four he didn’t care who she was. He witnessed to her offering her eternal life.
This is how we should be as believers in Christ. We should administer the word of God in love as the opportunities arises.
Neither Jesus or his apostles ever preached hell fire or condemnation. Jesus did speak words of correction to the Jewish religious leaders of his day. But then he was a Jew and as such had the right to do so.
Still he never condemned the secular civil authorities of Rome.
Paul preaching in Athens with all the paganism that was there, never once preached against the practices and lifestyles of the Athenians.
He presented the salvation of Christ saying simply this is what I believe it is up to you to make your own mind up.
While we can and must win souls for Christ outside the walls of the church. Our churches must be inclusive.
That’s not to say we are to relinquish our core values. Far from it we should be ministering the word of God in a positive loving unadulterated way.
In a way that will give all people irrespective of who they are pause to think.
If God loves the world and sent Jesus into the world to save the world then we must do the same.
C. S. Lewis wrote,
“To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.” 
                         C.S. Lewis
The apostle James wrote,
“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 judgement!” 
James 2:12,13.
Our church congregations  need to be inclusive and welcoming to all, so that the pure word of God can be ministered to all who enter.
Think about it.

A common obligation

A common obligation

“Not until the creation and maintenance of decent conditions of life for all men are recognized and accepted as a common obligation of all men and all countries—not until then shall we, with a certain degree of justification, be able to speak of mankind as civilized.”
                                                                                                                             Albert Einstein
I read some alarming statistics the other day. Globally almost 870 million chronically undernourished. But it’s not just the developing world where this is happening.
In the Untied States according to the U.S. census, 46.5 million people were living in poverty in 2012. That’s 15% of all Americans.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), 15.8 million children under 18 in the United States live in households where they are unable to consistently access enough nutritious food necessary for a healthy life.
In Canada a country with about one tenth the population of the United States Food Secure Canada estimates that almost 2.5 million Canadians live without secure access to food.
Kristy Duncan M.P. in National Newswatch October 2013 wrote,
“Tragically,... 7.7 per cent of, or 961,000, Canadian households are “food insecure”, one in four First Nations and Inuit children grows up in poverty, and over 300,000 children rely on food banks.
It is absolutely abhorrent that any child goes to school hungry in a country as wealthy as Canada, and that our country remains one of the few developed countries without a student nutrition program.” 
Such poverty is not limited to Canada and the United States. It is prevalent in all western countries despite their wealth.
In Britain there is no official government monitoring of hunger. However the Trussell Trust reported in 2012 that it feeds tens of thousands of people each year, and that altogether in the UK there are 13 million people "below the poverty line": about 1 in 5 of the overall population.
 A 2012 study undertook by Netmums found that one in five mothers would regularly miss out on meals so as to be able to save their children from going hungry. According to a March 2013 report, teachers in London schools said that at least five children per class turned up without having had breakfast, with 41% of teachers saying they believed the children's hunger led to symptoms such as fainting.
One report from a girl just referred to as Amy living in Britain when she was twenty recalled what it was like to live with hunger in Britain,
"I was so hungry I would even chip bits of brick off the wall and eat those"
"When I was little I was very thin and was very embarrassed about it. I had developed a tummy ache which attached itself to eating and stress, which I believe was something I inherited from my mother's stress around not having enough food.
"I would wake up starving in the night but there would be no more food. When I went to people's houses their parents would make as much food as possible for me and more for me to take home.
"At my best friend's house I would fill up on dog biscuits in between meals. I would wait at my garden fence and ask passers-by for sweets or food. I would even chip bits of brick off the wall and eat those. When I lived on my own and on the streets I would spend days walking around London, hoping to be able to find or steal some food. I would look in every bin and on every bit of the floor."
How tragic. And while the account of Amy is from the United Kingdom I have no doubt it is happening in Canada, the United States and other western countries.
The reason I write all of this is because I firmly believe we need to do more for the poor. I hear politicians in the Unite States wanting to cut social programs, do away with Obama care and it seems basically let the poor fend for themselves.
Canada’s no better the Conservative government of Stephen Harper seems to want to do nothing.
They are quick to give tax breaks to the rich but slow to help those in need.
In all of this I hear politicians that claim they are Christian. Yet they are not standing up for the basic human rights of the most vulnerable in our society. The right to good nutritious food, healthcare, and a roof over their head.
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.
I can only think that those politicians who claim to be Christians and are not speaking out for the poor do not agree with the words of Jesus. Either that or they like eating bricks.
Tony Campolo the American Evangelist said,
“The reason why I buy into the Democratic Party more than the Republican Party is because there are over 2,000 verses of Scripture that deal with responding to the needs of the poor.”
                                                                                                               Tony Campolo
The Talmud says this,
“When a man appears before the Throne of Judgment, the first question he is asked is not, “Have you believed in God?”  Or “Have you prayed and observed the ritual?  “He is asked: “have you dealt honourably and faithfully in all your dealings with your fellow men?”
                                                                                                               The Talmud.
Be we politicians, princes paupers or just the average man and woman on the street we should be asking ourselves that question. “Have we dealt honourably and faithfully in all our dealings with our fellow man?”
Are we doing what we can to help the poorest people in our society?
We should be demanding our politicians help the poorest in our society no matter the cost, because whether you are Christian or not it is the humane thing to do.
Think about it.

God's Instrument

God's Instrument

“Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love,

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console,

to be understood as to understand,

to be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive,

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.” 

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

I think we as Christians have a lot to learn from Judaism. And giving is one of those things.
Think about it

Signs of a Christian

Signs of a Christian
Mahatma Gandhi said,
“Jesus is ideal and wonderful, but you Christians - you are not like him.”
                                                                                             Mahatma Gandhi.
I’m convinced that Gandhi did not see true Christians. He saw people who claimed to be Christians. People who had a holier than thou attitude. People who certainly didn’t practice what they preached.
In our time I would say quite a few people in our society, see people claiming to be Christians who are not. Jesus even said,
“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” 
                                                                                                                  Matthew 7:22,23.
True Christians believe the basics of their faith,
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” 
           John 14:6
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.” 
                                                                 Ephesians 2:8,9.
But true Christians go further they obey the words of Jesus who said,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” 
Matthew 7:12
 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  
This is the first and greatest commandment.  
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” 
                                                                                          Matthew 22:37-40
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous...”
                         Matthew 5: 43-45
When it comes to Christian love the Apostle Paul defines it this way,
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 
Love never fails....
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”  
                                                                                                           1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13

A true Christian will not judge anyone outside the church that is God’s job. The apostle Paul writes,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.” 
                                                                                       1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
The apostle James writes
“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!” 
             James 2:12,13.
A true Christian will be true to the words of Jesus who gave them their task on this earth when he said,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” 
                                                                  Matthew 28:18-20.
It is the Christians job to tell anyone who will listen about the saving grace of Jesus Christ. They are to present it and let the individual decide for themselves. They are never to force their beliefs on anyone.
A true Christian will do as Francis of Assisi said,
“Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”
                                                                                                Francis of Assisi
This to me is what a true Christian is. And what a True Christian is called to do.
Think about it.

Why I write

Why I write


Over the last year I have written about six hundred blog entries in some six different blogs. Someone asked me why I write these blogs. I found the answer in 1John 1:1-4.
“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.  
The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.  
We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.  
We write this to make our joy complete.” 
                                                      1John 1:1-4
I as a Christian truly believe that I have the most important thing in the world to share with all people, whoever they are, whatever their lifestyle.
God wants all people everywhere to come and know him on a personal level. He wants to have fellowship with the individual.
This is why I write the blogs.
I have no wish to force my beliefs on anyone. I simply place what I believe out there for people to read. The decision they make is entirely between them and God.
I am not their judge. I am simply a person who truly loves God and wants others to share in that same love.
A personal relationship that offers peace that passes all understanding. That lasts for eternity.
Jesus said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
John 3:16,17
C. S. Lewis wrote,
“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.
I as a Christian believe that God knew that we could not be good enough to get into heaven, so he reached down to us. He sent His son Jesus Christ to atone for our short comings and sins.
Jesus died not for mankind as a whole but for each individual.
I believe the words of John when he wrote,
Yet to all who received him,(Jesus) to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—  children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” 
John 1:12,13
  I firmly believe that Jesus is the only way to heaven. That is why I write and talk to anyone who will listen and tell them about Jesus.
Jesus said,
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” 
          John 14:6
There is one certainty in this life. That being we will never get out of it alive.
I cannot believe that this life is all there is. That when we die we simply pass into oblivion.
It seems to be that all cultures from  the beginning of time believe in an after life. It just seems to be to be in our very make up that we know there is something after death. An eternity that we will pass into.
The question is where will you spend eternity. Will it be in heaven.
The apostle Paul wrote
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.” 
                                                                                   Ephesians 2:8,9.
In order to possess the gift of eternal life, one must first accept it. Will you accept the free gift of Salvation Jesus offers you?
Think about it?