Checklist for Christians

Checklist for Christians
The Apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Rome.

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. 

Honor one another above yourselves.  

Never be lacking in zeal, 

but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  

Be joyful in hope, 

patient in affliction, 

faithful in prayer.  

Share with God’s people who are in need. 

Practice hospitality. 

Bless those who persecute you; 

bless and do not curse.  

Rejoice with those who rejoice; 

mourn with those who mourn.  

Live in harmony with one another. 

Do not be proud, 

but be willing to associate with people of low position. 

Do not be conceited. 

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. 

Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”

                                                                                                                          Romans 12:9-18
Dear Christian are the words of Paul to the Romans reflecting your life?
Please think about it.

An Apostles Sermon

An apostles sermon
Every so often I like to quote what for me is one of the best sermons ever spoken. It is an example of how Christians should reach out to those outside their faith.
The book of Acts records this speech spoken by the apostle Paul in Athens,
“So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.  
A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.   Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?  
You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean.”  
(All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.) 
Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.  
For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. 
“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.  
And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.  
From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.  
God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.  
‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ 
“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man’s design and skill.  
In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.  
For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.” 
When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.”  
At that, Paul left the Council.  
A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.”
                                                                                                    Acts 17:17-34
Please think about it.

Christians and Giving

Christians and  giving
In my last post I wrote about doing to others as you would have others do to you. Here is a lesson directed strictly at Christians. Please take a few minutes to read and consider what it says,
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.
There are approximately 2000 scriptures commanding us to look after the poor.
As Christians we are called to help the poor in what ever way we can even if it’s only giving a glass of water.
Christians are one of the largest contributors to helping the needy. However there is much we can learn from our Jewish friends. Who for centuries have been among the largest contributors to helping the poor irrespective of their faith.
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.
This I believe is a concept Christians can understand.
There is however one other interesting concept from Judaism that Christians should latch on to. Its called Tzedakah
The following is as good an explanation of Tzedakah. It comes from a Jewish website,
“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.
The Obligation of Tzedakah
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. Taxes themselves do not fulfill our obligation to give tzedakah even though a significant proportion of tax revenues in America and many other countries are used to provide for the poor and needy. Those who are dependent on public assistance or living on the edge of subsistence may give less but must still give to the extent they are able; however, no person should give so much that he would become a public burden.
The obligation to perform tzedakah can be fulfilled by giving money to the poor, to health care institutions, to Synagogues or educational institutions. It can also be fulfilled by supporting your children beyond the age when you are legally required to, or supporting your parents in their old age. The obligation includes giving both to Jews and gentiles...  We have an obligation to avoid becoming in need of Tzedakah. A person should take any work available, even if he thinks it is beneath his dignity to avoid become a public charge.
However, if a person is truly in need and has no way of obtaining money on his own he should not feel embarrassed to accept tzedakah. No person should feel to proud to take money from others. In fact it is considered a transgression to refuse tzedakah. One source says that to make yourself suffer by refusing to accept tzedakah is equivalent to shedding your own blood.
Levels of Tzedakah
Certain kinds of tzedakah ar considered more meritorious than others. The Talmud describes these different levels of tzedakah, and Rambam organized them into a list. The levels of charity from the least meritorious to the most meritorious, are: 

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 the above is something we should consider. It is perfectly in line with Christian belief.
Please Think about it.

You and the needy

You and the needy
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.
The Jews have a concept called Tzedakah. It is something I believe all people, Christian, Jew, or anyone for that matter should consider. The following is a brief explanation of Tzedakah from a Jewish website.
“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.”
The question I would ask you the reader do you treat others the way you want to be treated. Do you do your best to help the poor and needy in your community?
Jesus tells this parable.
“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.  
At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 
“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.  
In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.  
So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ 
“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.  
 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ 
“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house,  
for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ 
“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ 
“ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 
“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’ ” 
                                                      Luke 16:19-31.
I believe we as human beings have a duty to help those who are in need as much as we can. It is a sacred trust God has given us.
The Talmud also 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.
As I write this it is the first week in January 2016. Not counting the millions of refugees that are streaming out of the war torn middle east, there are millions in the United States, Canada and the western countries of the world in need of food, clothing, and shelter and in the United States in particular decent affordable heath care.
The way I see it having enough food to eat, clothing, shelter and health care are basic human rights.
I believe it is up to both those of faith and those who do not believe to do what we can to see the everyone in our society has access to them.
It is time for those of us who can to reach out to those in need and to call on our governments to do more to help the needy.
Please think about it.

God, Time, Freedom, Man, Events

God, Time, Freedom, Man, Events

“God created time and gave man complete freedom,

to make the events.”

                                                                            Author Unknown.
I make no apologies I am a Christian. I believe God created the universe and everything in it. I believe God gave man complete freedom to do and believe as he wishes. That includes the freedom not to believe in him.
I believe God gives each and every person a lifetime to decide whether they will accept Him into their lives.
I believe that we as individuals through interaction with other individuals and our environment decide our own fate. No one can decide for us.
I believe that God in the form of His Son Jesus Christ reached down to us and offers us life eternal with him if we would just have faith in him.
The writer of Hebrews states,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” 
                                                                                                                              Hebrews 11:1
“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.
The apostle Paul writing to the Athenians said,
“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.  
And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.  
From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.  
God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.”  
                                        Acts 17:24-27.
I know there are many who says there is no God. There are others saying if God is real then why doesn’t he show himself to us?
The answer to the second question is simple God has in the form of His one and only Son Jesus.
God however wants more. He I’m sure realizes it easy to have faith in something you can see. To believe in something you can touch. It takes a great deal more trust to believe in something you cannot see. Thus the need for faith.
Not necessarily blind faith. God shows himself in various ways. Through the world around us. Through the words of the Prophets in the Bible and of course through Jesus.
Jesus in a nutshell gives man the choice he must make 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.
Thus the choice is yours dear reader. Believe Jesus is all He said He is or not. No one can decide for you. Your fate and eternal resting place is in your hands.
If what the Bible says is not true then you have nothing to fear. If however it is true then you have at the very least something to seriously think about.
Please think about it.

Christians and Democracy

Christians and Democracy

“Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 
                                                                                             1 Peter 2:12
To be a Christian is to live a selfless life. A life dedicated to God. A life so good that even if people accuse us of doing wrong they will see our good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.
All too often here in North America Christians are seen in a negative way. They are seen as protesting everything they disagree with. From gay marriage, to abortion, to people of other faiths, even political leaders.
This should not be so.
This is not what God wants Christians to do. We are to reach out to the world with the love of God. Jesus told us to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations. NOT PROTEST.
We are told by Jesus to Love God, our neighbour and even our enemy. We cannot be protesting against them and expect them to see love.
We live in a secular democracy that means the government. A good democratically elected government will do its best to treat all people equally.
A democracy that works correctly is a compromise on the part of all its who make it up.  It is in a democracy that Christians either show their worst or their best.
Christians have a choice to abuse the democratic process and try to pass laws that only favour them. Laws that restrict the rights of others. Thus turning people against them.
                                                               OR
Christians can build bridges calling on the government to pass laws that make all people truly free and equal even if they disagree with them.
Christians or for that matter anyone should not be doing anything that would restrict the rights of any person or group.
One man Martin Niemoller a German Christian cleric, an anti Nazi during world war two. Seen what it was like when people stood by and did nothing. He wrote,

“When they came for the Communists, 

I did not stand up,

 because I was not a Communist. 

When they came for the Jews,

 I did not stand up, 

because I was not Jewish.

When they came for the Catholics, 

I did not stand up, 

because I was not a Catholic. 

When they came for me, 

there was no one left to stand up.”

                                                                                      Martin Niemoller
Quoted below are quotes from scripture and prominent Christians that I think all Christians need to consider,
Tony Campolo the American evangelist made an interesting point when he 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.
Francis of Assisi prayed,
“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.
Jesus 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 neighbor as yourself.’  
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” 
                                                             Matthew 22:36-40
He also said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
                          Matthew 5:43-45
James the brother of Christ wrote,
“If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.  
But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.  
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it." 
                                                                                                                                           James 2:8-10.
Please think about it.

Of Christians and Others

Of Christians and others
“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 other day I heard a person claiming to be a Christian criticising what he called the “homosexual community”. He was saying those in the LGBT community were all going to Hell.
If there is one thing that gets me up set, it is when someone claiming to be a Christian attacks people in the LGBT community.
Christians have no right to criticise or attack anyone. The scripture I quoted above makes it clear we as Christians have no right to judge those outside the church and a true Christian will not.
I have found over the years that those who “claim to be Christians” and attack those outside their faith may in fact not be Christians. If they are they are by the slimmest of margins and are not interpreting the Bible correctly.
We as Christians are to follow the example and the teachings of Christ.
Jesus never once attacked anyone outside his faith. He a Jew criticized those Jewish leaders who were misinterpreting scripture. But as a Jew he had that right.
If we look at the life of Jesus he never criticized the Roman government. Nor did any of his disciples.
The Apostle Paul when visiting Athens with all the temples to various god’s never criticized them. Nor did Paul or any of the disciples criticize the life and lifestyle of those who were not of their faith.
It is wrong for a Christian to speak ill of those outside their faith.
Christians have one job to do. That is to reach people with the love of God. 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.
Christians are not to attack or judge anyone. The message we are to take into the world is simple. It was expressed by Jesus and recorded by the apostle John.
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.  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.
This is a message we as Christians are to present to the world. It is up to those who hear that message to believe it or not.
To attack those of a different lifestyle, faith, or ethnicity is wrong and not in keeping with the teachings of Jesus and may have eternal consequences.
Please think about it.

You and heaven

You and heaven.

“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.  
As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”  
For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,  for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
                                                                                                                                 Romans 10:9-13.
The way I see it God does not show favouritism. The apostle Paul make it clear saying “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 
That to me means everyone.
God does not consider who you are, your social status, your ethnicity, or your lifestyle or for that matter what we do for Him. God wants faith. God wants all people everywhere to believe and worship Him.
To this end He has done everything to point man to heaven. In the Old Testament he showed Himself through the prophets, with signs, miracles and wonders. In the New Testament God went one step further and sent His One and Only Son, Jesus into the world.
God showed how far He would go to point man to heaven. The apostle Paul noting,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” 
Romans 5:8.
Paul telling us also that salvation and eternal life with God is a free gift that requires an act of faith saying,
“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.
Faith as I have said in previous blog postings is a very hard thing for some people to exercise. Still it is What God requires. The writer of 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.
Question: Are you willing to make a step of faith and believe in God. Are you willing to believe in Jesus?
Please think about it.

To Christians

To Christians

“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 know the Talmud is not a Christian book of faith. It is not considered by Christians as an inspired word of God. But the message the above quote gives is applicable to Christians.
All to often Christians give up on people. They as Abraham did drive them from their door. From their sphere of influence.
They do it a lot of time my judging people. Two classic examples are abortionist and the gay community.
I’ve seen people calling themselves Christians protesting at abortion clinics with signs saying “abortionist will burn in hell”. I’ve see the same kind of thing when it comes to people in the gay community.
Jesus and the disciples never protested against Rome or any other group.
People calling themselves Christians are especially hard on the LGBT (Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered) community.
They call on governments to, in extreme cases jail homosexuals. As has sadly happened in some African countries.
Here in North America those calling themselves Christians, seek to prevent a secular government who tries to help all people irrespective of who they are, from granting Gay’s the right to marry. All simply because they disagree with them.
This in my opinion is wrong. You may not agree with someone’s lifestyle but as a Christian you have no right to Judge.
Jesus said,
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” 
                    Matthew 7:1,2.
The Apostle Paul 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.
Sadly there are many out there claiming to be Christians who are not obeying the words of Jesus and Paul.
When was the last time you heard of Christians expelling the wicked from among them? Standing up to false teachers?
Only God knows the hart of men. That’s why we are under God not allowed to judge people especially those outside the church.
The Psalmist wrote,
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” 
                                                                                   Psalm 139:13-16.
The way I see it. What the Psalmist is saying is, God knows our very make up. He knows why we are the way we are. He knows our genetic make up, saying
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.”
That is why he and not we can judge people.
James the brother of Christ issues Christians a warning, saying,
“If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.  
But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.  
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.  
For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. 
Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,  because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!”
                  James 2:8-13.
As Christians we are not to judge another human being. For in doing so we are driving those who need the Love of God, the Love of Christ away from that love.
God has placed a great weight on the Christian. It is our job to reach the world for Christ. To keep our own house in order, and not judge a soul outside the church.
Please think about it. 

Will you be happy?

Will you be happy?

Tony Campolo wrote,
“When you were born, you cried and everybody else was happy. The only question that matters is this - when you die, will you be happy when everybody else is crying?”
                                                                                                              Tony Campolo
The other day I was rushed to hospital light headed and short of breath. Such a thing had happened to me four years earlier. Then it was due to large blood clots on my lungs that kept me in hospital for over a week almost killing me.
This time it was a suspected heart attack. Like the blood clots of a few years earlier it could have taken my life.
Like the last time, as odd as it may seem, I also had no fear of death. I did honestly pray and ask God to spare my life and he did.
It was quite an unusual thing for me to be lying in the Emergency ward. I didn’t pray a lot just a quick prayer asking God to spare my life. It was not up to me to tell God what to do. My life was his to do with as he wished.
I have no fear of death for me it brings no sorrow. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that when I die I will go to be with God for all eternity.
The 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.  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.
I believe in God. I believe in Jesus. That He is the one and only Son of God. That He died for my sins that I may spend eternity in heaven.
John the apostle referring to Jesus writes,
"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—  children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God." 
                    John 1:12,13.
I can honestly say if what John is saying is true, which I believe he is, then I am a Child of God and thus do not have to fear death.
I can say when I die and others are crying over me, I will be happy.
Will you? Can you be certain?
Please think about it.

A possible conversation with God

                                 A possible conversation with God
                A Man                                                                       God
“You exist!”
                                   “Of course I exist!”
“But I couldn’t see you?
I couldn’t touch you?”
                                             “I know. 
                                 I wanted it that way.”

“Why?”
                                       “Because I wanted you
                                    To have faith.”
“But you could have showed
yourself in the flesh.”
                                          “I did.
                                I sent my Son Jesus.
                          He died for the sins of all who
                                 would believe in Him.
                        I even raised him from the dead.
“But that’s unbelievable.
It can’t be true.”
                                    “But it is. 
                                                                                 Why would anyone make that up?
                                And you had the choice.
                                   I gave you a freewill 
                            To believe what you wished.
                                 You exercised yours.
“But you could have
showed yourself to me.”
                                     “I did.
                                Through creation,
                             Through my prophets,
                               Through the Bible,
                   Through My One and Only Son.
                    I gave you a life time of chances.”
So what will happen to me?
                                                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.  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.
                               What do you think?
Post Script
If Christians are wrong in what we believe no one has anything to fear. If we are right there are eternal consequences. 
Please think about it.

The Way to Peace

The way to Peace
Rabbi Benjamin Blech wrote,
“In the aftermath of Nazi Germany we must once and for all understand that culture and crematoria are not mutually exclusive.  Scientific progress does not ensure moral protection, nor can secular humanism produce saints.  People will always find reasons to justify any kind of behaviour.
-Rabbi Benjamin Blech, congregational rabbi and ancient professor of Talmud, Understanding Judaism.  The Basics of Deed and Creed (1991)
Rabbi Blech is right. That is why I believe man needs to turn back to God.
The holocaust of world war two, the pogroms prior to that and modern day terrorist show that man can justify anything in his own mind. Even if it is the killing of millions of innocent people.
Throughout the centuries both secular atheistic governments and those claiming to do things in the name of God have brought death and destruction on the innocent.
I do not believe anyone who truly believes in God would commit an act of war or genocide. True believers in God believe the words of Ecclesiastes who wrote,
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole  duty  of man. 
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.”
Ecclesiastes 12:13,14.
They believe they will one day have to give an account of their life to God. Who will judge them fairly and decide their eternal fate.
They believe the words of Deuteronomy who wrote,
“Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  
These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  
Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.  
Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.  
Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” 
                                                                                    Deuteronomy 6:5-9.
Jesus not only affirmed the words of Deuteronomy saying 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 neighbor as yourself.’  
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” 
                                                                                         Matthew 22:36-40
Jesus went one step further saying
“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?  
  And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?”
    Matthew 5:43-47
It is my belief that the answer to true world peace lies in recognizing there is a God we will ultimately answer to.
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 is only when individuals and society turn from belief in God or twists the truths of God to suit their own way of thinking, that society starts to decline.
I firmly believe that the way to change the world for the better is to turn to the teachings of Jesus. The teachings of the Bible.
Teachings that tell us to love God, our neighbour, whoever they may be, and to love even our enemy.
Please think about it.