Something for a Christian to do

Something for a Christian to do

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.
Today is May 16 2015. When is the last date outside of Church you can remember praising the Lord?
I don’t count listening to praise music as praising here. I’m asking is when was the last time you personally raised your voice to praise the Lord?
Why not do it now?
Find a quiet place. Stand, or sit and just give praise to the God of creation. Either simply say words of praise or sing words of praise.
The words can be your own or that of a hymn or worship chorus you know.
The key here is to praise the Lord.
Please if you are a Christian, take time to praise the Lord.

Consider this

Consider this

The writer of Ecclesiastes makes these remarks,
“What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun”
Ecclesiastes 1:9
“I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”
Ecclesiastes 1:14
If there is no God and no after life the above statements from Ecclesiastes could be seen as right. However the writer after much searching come to the conclusion there is a God writing,
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole  duty  of man. 
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” 
Ecclesiastes12:13,14
If there is no God and no after life we have nothing to fear however if there is, there is a lot to consider at the very least.
If Jesus when he said, .... “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6, is wrong then there is nothing to fear.
If however he is right then each person needs to consider accepting Jesus into their hearts and lives.
Jesus made it clear,
“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.
Again if he is wrong then there is nothing to fear but if he is right there is eternal consequences to not believing.
The choice is up to you the reader.
Please think about it.

God's welfare plan

God’s welfare plan
“ ‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest.  
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: 9,10.
From the earliest of days God wanted man to watch out and help his fellow man. We are called to love our fellow man that means if necessary helping him out.
The Talmud tells this story,
“Rabbi Akiba was asked by a Roman general, “Why does your God who loves the needy not provide for their support Himself?”  He answered, “God the Father of both the rich and poor, wants the one to help the other so as to make the world a household of love.”
                                                                                   The Talmud
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.
I have heard politicians, evangelist, and  pastors over the years say “work hard and you’ll get ahead.”
Sadly I know many people who have worked hard. Men and women who have one two even three jobs and still find it hard to make ends meet.
The simple fact of the matter is, sometimes for whatever reason no matter how hard you work things don’t work out. It has nothing to do with how hard you work or your lack of faith.
The book of acts records,
“All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.”
                                                        Acts 2:44,45.
The early church thought about their fellow believers and did what they had to, to ensure all the needs of believers were met.
This is what it is to be Christian.
Tony Campolo the American evangelist 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.
Think about it

Christian Love

Christian Love
“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
 “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.  
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?  
Matthew 5:43-46
Dietrich Bonhoeffer a German Theologian wrote,
“Christian love draws no distinction between one enemy and another, except that the more bitter our enemy's hatred, the greater his need of love. Be his enemy political or religious, he has nothing to expect from a follower of Jesus but unqualified love. In such love there is not inner discord between the private person and official capacity. In both we are disciples of Christ, or we are not Christians at all.” 
                                      Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship
Many in the west don’t know who Dietrich Bonhoeffer was today. But he practised his beliefs.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer was born in Germany 4th  February 1906
He was a German Lutheran pastor, theologian, anti-Nazi dissident. A key founding member of the Confessing Church.
Bonhoeffer’s writings on Christianity's role in the secular world have become widely influential, his book The Cost of Discipleship became a modern classic.
Bonhoeffer was condemned to death 8 April 1945 by an SS judge in what amounted to a mockery of a trial.
He was executed April 9th 1945 two weeks before the camp was liberated by the Americans and just weeks before Adolf Hitler committed suicide.
Bonhoeffer stood up publicly to what was one of the most repressive dictatorships in history. He spoke out against the persecution of the Jews and Hitler the man that eventually had him murdered.
Bonhoeffer did however what he felt Christians should do. He stood up for the oppressed and showed love for those around him.
Tony Campolo the American evangelist wrote,
“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 
As Christians we are called to show love to all people all the time.
I don’t think many Christians who read the Bible realize that when the apostle Paul wrote the book of Corinthians, when he wrote his passage on love he was living under the reign of the Emperor Nero who would eventually order him killed.
The key to being a Christian is to love, God, our neighbour, our enemy. God set the example.
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
The principle reason for Jesus coming to this earth is to save the world. Jesus came into the world so that every individual might find their way to heaven. As C. S. Lewis put it,
“He 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  
As Christian in the twenty-first century we need to look at ourselves. Look at our actions and motives. We need to be turning to the scriptures and studying them. We need to go back to our roots.
Jesus 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.
We can only do this effectively if we are showing love to the world.
Please think about it.

Do to others

Do to others

“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.
Do you? Do you treat others in the same way you would want to be treated?
This morning some people came to my door and spoke with me about their beliefs. They handed me their magazine and told me of their beliefs. I disagreed with what they had to say but I was polite and listened and to their credit they listened to what I believed.
This is how things should be. All too many who call themselves Christians are quick to criticize or argue with those they disagree with. They create such animosity that all dialogue stops.
As Christians in order to spread the word of God we need to respect others. This is essential to spreading the word of God.
Take a look through the book of Acts. The disciple respected all the other people they met. When Paul was in Athens he didn’t put down their beliefs he showed respect and in turn got respect. He did what Jesus said, he did to others what he would expect them to do to him. As a result souls were saved and they wanted to hear more.
I like what the Talmud it refers to believers,
“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
If we have dealt honourably and faithfully with our fellow men then they will listen to us. They may not always agree with us but it allows us to do our duty to God by presenting the Gospel to anyone willing to listen to us.
Please think about it.

We as Christians

We as Christians
We as Christians have a great responsibility place upon us by God himself. Something that has eternal consequences not just for us but for the people around us.
A fierce light shines upon us. A light we cannot ignore.
Jesus 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
The world we are to take this message, the message of life eternal through belief in Jesus Christ, is filled with many things our faith disagrees with. Yet Jesus has told us not to judge anyone. “To be innocent as doves”.
It is only by presenting the word of God in a loving caring way that we can truly reach the world.
The apostle Paul said of love,
“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.” 
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a
All to many Christians and so called Christian pastors and evangelist particularly in the media are quick to point out sin. That’s not their job.
As I understand it, it is up to the Holy Spirit to convict men of their sin and Jesus who will one day Judge.
Christians are to be the messenger of the Good News of Salvation nothing more.
Unless we stay true to this. To strictly present the message of God’s love we cannot win souls for Christ.
We cannot judge people because they think differently to us or have a lifestyle with which we disagree. We do not know their heart and mind only God dose and it is he who is the only wise judge.
As Christians we need to be presenting the Love of Christ to all people at all times, be it neighbour, friend or enemy. This is the only way we will win people to Christ. The apostles did this and they turned the world upside down.
Francis of Assisi gave two pieces of advice that are as relevant today as when he spoke it. He said,
“Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”
                                                                                Francis of Assisi.
“The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today” 
                                                                                                      Francis of Assisi.
We will never win the world for Christ particularly here in North America where our society is growing ever more multicultural if we don’t show the Love of God.
If we don’t present a loving caring lifestyle that welcomes all who are seeking truth.
The actions of each Christian has eternal consequences. If we show the Love of Christ, the Love of God to all people we may win them for Christ.
If we fail to show the Love of Christ, the Love of God we may see people sadly lost to a Christless eternity.
Please Christians think about it.

Three Mothers

Three Mothers

“Now a man of the house of Levi married a Levite woman,  and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months.  
But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile.  
His sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him. 
Then Pharaoh’s daughter went down to the Nile to bathe, and her attendants were walking along the river bank. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her slave girl to get it.  
She opened it and saw the baby. He was crying, and she felt sorry for him. “This is one of the Hebrew babies,” she said. 
Then his sister asked Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?” 
“Yes, go,” she answered. And the girl went and got the baby’s mother.  
Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you.” So the woman took the baby and nursed him.  
When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying, “I drew him out of the water.” 
                                                                Exodus 2:1-10.
Today is Mother’s day in Canada. A time when we celebrate mother’s. When we thank them for all they’ve done for us.
When we look through history there is many mothers of note. However to my mind there are three mothers in history that led to the changing of history in a greater way than any other three women.
The above scripture I quoted is from Exodus and the saving of Moses from the river. The story in short goes this way. Pharaoh fearing that the Jews would rebel should an enemy come against his people ordered all the Jewish male children born to them to be killed.
One brave Hebrew mother ignored pharaoh and placed her child in a basket in the reeds where Pharaoh’s daughter came down to bathe.
Pharaoh’s daughter recognized that it was a Hebrew baby but decided to keep the child as her own. The sister of that child had been watching the events and asked if she should get a Hebrew woman to look after the child. Pharaoh’s daughter said yes.
The child’s mother was brought and was instructed to bring the child up until he was older where upon she made him her son.
The child, Moses, I’m sure would have the benefit of two things.
I’m sure his natural mother taught him about his heritage as a Jew. Giving him a sense of where his heritage lie.
 While his adoptive mother gave him the benefit of all the learning of Egypt the most powerful and cultured nation on the earth at that time.
Thus when the time came for Moses to perform God’s work he was well educated and had a sense of his heritage, even if he was a little nervous when God called him.
Moses as we know would lead the Israelites out of Egypt and to the borders of the promised land.
The effects of those two mothers, Moses’s natural mother and adopted mother however went even further. Because of there love of Moses, because of their actions another mother was born some generations further on. A mother who said,
“And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 
for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name. 
His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. 
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. 
He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. 
He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. 
He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers.” 
                                         Luke 1:46-55.
This of course is Mary the mother of Christ. Who although of lowly birth was considered by God to be faithful and true to Him. So much so that He chose her to become the mother of His one and Only Son. The Messiah, Jesus Christ.”
It was because of these three mothers that God’s salvation has come to the world. That we can at no cost to us receive eternal life.
Jesus would say of himself,
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 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.
It is because of these three mothers and many more that over the centuries bore children that were in the line of Jesus that we today can know for certain that we will spend eternity with God.
The apostle Paul summed it up this way,
“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.
Jesus is God reaching down to man because God knows man cannot be good enough to reach up to Him.
Please think about it.

Christian Duty

Christian Duty
January 14th
Outside the air is a warm, seventeen centigrade, unseasonable for this time of year in this part of the world.
A soft, soaking rain is falling from the sky.  Cars made a swishing sound as they travel along the almost empty street.
All around there is the noise of the city, slowing, rising to a crescendo, then equally slowly dying to a momentary silence.
Before me, lays a picture of downtown edge.  At the corner, stands a service station.  Its bright lights illuminate the white wall of the restaurant across the street from it.  The smell of gasoline mingling with the smell of grilling meat permeates the still air.
My watch reads 2:00 am.
Near the corner an old woman, her torn dress visible below the dirty, shabby, gray winter coat, stumbles along, holding the wall for balance.
Finally, losing her fight to remain upright, she leans her back against the wall and slowly slumps down to the ground, coming to rest over a hot air vent.  Alone, she sits motionless as the rain falls.
Who will tell her of God’s love?
Who will love her?
Who will help her?
Who?
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
Dear Christian,
Please think about it.

A thief in the night

A thief in the night

"Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night." 
1 Thessalonians 5:1,2

The Fourth Man
Although it’s six thirty-nine, dawn has not yet broken on this cold winter’s morning.  All around the suburban landscape lies covered, within a blanket of new fallen snow.
On the roads, the morning commute is slowly beginning.  As of yet, however, there are few cars.  All around, there is a peace.  Almost, like the calm before the storm.
Two cars, pull off the street and into the empty church parking lot.  Their tires making the snow squeak, as they move over it.  Coming to a halt, the occupants, three middle-aged men climb out, greet each other and enter the church.
Before the altar, in the silence of the sanctuary, each man kneels.
Within this holy place, the presence of God is so very real.  His Holy power can be felt as it fills the temple.
From my vantage point in the balcony I watch as all three are raptured leaving me...
                                                                Alone.
Are you ready for the coming of Christ. Over the years I’ve entered into many discussions as to when Christ will return. The fact is however that we simply do not know. Jesus told this parable,
“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.  
Five of them were foolish and five were wise.  
The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them.  
The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.  
The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 
“At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ 
“Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.  
The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ 
“ ‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ 
“But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. 
“Later the others also came. ‘Sir! Sir!’ they said. ‘Open the door for us!’ 
“But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’ 
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” 
                                                                                                      Matthew 25:1-13.
As Christians we all need to be ready for the return of Christ. We need to be doing the Lords work. We need to be serving Him in what ever way we can.
We also need to be worshipping Him in spirit and in truth.
Think about it,

A Modern Parable

A modern parable,
Every now and then I like to make both Christian and non-Christian think just what they’d do in a given circumstance. This is one of those occasions. It’s called the Eleven O Clock Parable.

The Eleven O Clock Parable
It’s eleven o clock. Inside the court house a judge is about to make his ruling. A community, a nation waits. 
Will the new law be legal? 
Outside the court house men and women with placards chant. 
On one side of the street stand a group of gay men and women. All in favour of the new law.
On the other side of the street separated by a line of police stand radical evangelicals, denouncing the new law.
One man among them screams angrily . “HOMOSEXUALS ARE GOING TO HELL!!!”
Approached by the media he says it again, “homosexuals are going to Hell.” 
From my office window I watch asking myself the question, ‘is this man an Christian?”
Wasn’t it Christ who told us not only to love God and love our neighbour but our enemy also?
Wasn’t it Christ who told us not to judge, lest we be judged likewise?
Wasn’t it the Apostle Paul who wrote, 
“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
Wasn’t it Christ who said go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation?
Is this man showing love?
Is this man judging another? 
Can this man be effective in reaching the whole world of which a percentage are homosexual?
Is this man even a Christian?
A question keeps rolling through my mind for which I know the answer, “Can we truly know what is in someone else’s head?
Do we really know why a person is like they are?”
For a moment I stare down at the crowd. All the time asking myself who is on the way to Hell this day, and how can I reach them for my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ?
Turning away from my window I kneel down and pray, “Lord guide me this day. Let me make the right decision on this law.”

A comment
Jesus never said a gay man or woman couldn’t get to heaven. He didn’t say a bigot couldn’t either.
The Bible makes it clear that only sin separates us from God. And God through the Holy Spirit convicts people of their sins. It is not our job.
Salvation is a very personal thing. It is between you and God no one can tell you if you are saved or not.
Salvation is not conditional on your life style, your race of ethnicity.
It is conditional on your accepting the free gift of salvation from God. On Accepting Christ as your saviour.
I like what one commentator on the Homosexual debate said, “the sin of a gay person is no worse than that of a heterosexual person.
The apostle Paul wrote,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”
                                                                 Romans 3:23.
That all means ALL, every man and woman on the face of the earth. Paul also 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.
God’s gift of salvation of life everlasting in heaven is free to all who will call on the name of Jesus and accept Him into their life.
The choice is yours be you strait or gay God does not play favorites.
 Please consider accepting Christ into your life today.

What would you do?

What would you do?

Some times I like to put before the reader in these blogs a controversial point for Christians to consider. Here is one.
In the news recently in both the United States and Canada there’s been talk about Bruce Jenner going to have a sex change.
Jenner is a mens gold medal in the decathlon winner at the 1976 Summer Olympics held in Montreal. Over the years he has starred in several made-for-TV movies.
Jenner was married for nearly 24 years to Kris Jenner (formerly Kardashian); the couple and their family appeared on the television series Keeping up with the Kardshians. Following his divorce in 2015 he came out in a television interview as a transgender woman and is about to under go a sex change.
While Jenner is high profile there are people like him within the church especially large congregations.
In light of this I’d like you the reader to consider the following from a book called Images. It’s called Images of a Woman,
Images of a Woman
That morning, Margaret Elizabeth got up extra early, readying herself for the day.  She would get only one chance to make an impression.  To that end, she applied her makeup with extra care.  Chose the black ankle length wraparound skirt, white turtle neck top and black jacket, her children had given her as a gift, while in hospital.  She limited her jewelry to a simple pair of diamond studied earrings, that had been her grandmother’s and small bracelet given to her by her daughter-in-law.
That done she took the ten minute drive to the modest size church she attended. Meeting with the pastor in the office.
For a few minutes they talked and passed the time of day. Then seeing the time she proceeded to the pulpit.
Leaving that office, to walk to the pulpit was the hardest step, she ever had to make.  Her heart pounded and by the time, she stood behind the pulpit she was visibly shaking.
“Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Margaret Elizabeth Williamson and just before Christmas, I underwent Sexual Reassignment Surgery.” she said relief surging through her body, as silence engulfed the assembly.  I know that many of you, maybe uncomfortable with that.  That is why I have asked to speak to you, to give you my testimony and then allow you to ask questions.
I have felt like a woman trapped in a man’s body for my entire life.  I was married for over thirty years to a wonderful and accepting woman, who died several years prior to my coming to this assembly.  I have a wonderful family, all of whom support me and are here today.
Believe me, I did not choose this course of action lightly.  I did so after much personal anguish and a great deal of prayer.
For a little over two years prior to my complete transition, I have lived my life as a woman: I was doing so when I came to this church and I think I did it well enough that no one knew.  If they did no one commented.
I have no apologies to give for what I did, or who I am, because I do not believe I did anything wrong.
I accepted Jesus as my Saviour over thirty-five years ago, and asked Him to remove from me what at times, has been a difficult burden.  He has chosen not to and thus, I have accepted that I am what I am.  A child of God, who knew me according to the Psalms in my mother’s womb.
I have no intentions of preaching a sermon here today, only to ask you to accept me as I am.  In fact, the only reason I stand before you today, is because I was asked to come onto the staff of this church and wish to be completely honest with you.
Now, I will open the door to all questions and endeavor to answer them to the best of my ability.  After which, pastor will ask for a vote and abide by your decision.”
There were many questions answered. Then finally the pastor came to the front.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, it is now time to take a vote.”  He said.  “If you wish Margaret Elizabeth to become a part of our pastoral staff, please rise to your feet.”

What would you do, stand or remain seated?
What do you think Jesus would do?
Please think about it.

Your Life

Your life


“O Divine Master, grant that I may not 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. It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.” 
                                                                                  Francis of Assisi

What is your life all about?
Sometime ago I came across this little story called the Rose Talked Back by Ben Zion Bokser.
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
Over the years I’ve met many men and women from all walks and strata of life. I have watched how rich and poor alike at the end of their life don’t think about the wealth they’ve acquired or the things they’ve accumulated. Money and things, somehow, when one is on their death bed amount to nothing.
I like what the rose in Bokser’s story says,
“‘What is life anyway, yours or mine, but a means of service?”
It is when we realize that our lives are a means of service that life has meaning. We do live in our deeds.
I’m reminded of my sister in law Shirley, she died a few years ago at age fifty-six. Shirley struggled with alcoholism all her life. But she mastered it. It never mastered her. She stayed sober for over thirty years.
Shirley volunteered everywhere, from Alcoholics anonymous, to the church to other groups that helped people.
She died nearly three years ago now and my wife and I still meet people who comment on what good she did for them.
She was never rich or a household name, but she there when there was a need for a volunteer.
Shirley did this because it was the right thing to do and she firmly believed it is what God wanted her to do.
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.  
I f 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.”  
                                                James 2:14-18
 As Christians we should have a servants spirit. This is what Jesus had. This is what the Apostles had.
Francis of Assisi got it right when he said,
“O Divine Master, grant that I may not 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. It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.” 
                                                                                             Francis of Assisi
There’s a quote from the Talmud that I like quoting it very much applies to Christians it says,
“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.
They question I ask you now is,
When you leave this earth, what will people remember you for?
Will you be able to say to God, I dealt honourably and faithfully with my fellow man?
Please think about it.