Why I believe

  Why I believe

Because,

“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

I will believe in God,

Because,

“...God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

  Because scripture tells us.

“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.

Because

“...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

Because faith is defined as,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”  Hebrews 11:1

Because  

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6.

Because of all of this and what I read in the Bible I believe in God.

Do you?

Think about it.

These are Christian issues

  These are Christians issues

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." Matthew 25:34-40.

A true Christian will do these things. More than this however the basic truths that Jesus is speaking of here should be universal.

Just from a humanitarian stand point we should be feeding the hungry, clothing the needy, tending to the sick.

We should even be looking at the world around us and speaking out for those who are wrongly imprisoned for their faith or political views.

Those of us who have, should be helping those who have not, be they in our own country or on distant shores.

Tony Campolo said,

"These issues are biblical issues: to care for the sick, to feed the hungry, to stand up for the oppressed." Tony Campolo American Evangelist.

If you consider yourself a Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus are you doing these things?

Please think about it.

Being Prepared

  Being prepared 

"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

Here is a simple parable with a simple meaning for all Christians. Be prepared because we do not know when Christ will return.

I have heard many throughout the years say that means we should study Revelations because the time is short and Christ return in imminent. That might be true, and there is nothing wrong with studying Revelations. The problem is many are studying Revelations to see if they can pin point the hour when Christ returns. 

The hour when Christ returns is immaterial to the Christian walk. The key in the above parable is ‘BE PREPARED' 

All to many Christians are not prepared. They are not studying the word of God they are not praying, they are not reaching out to the lost. There lives are not wholly committed to Christ.

As believers in Christ we must be doing what Christ commanded us to do. 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.

If you consider yourself a Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus, are you doing this?

Please think about it.

The Call to Love

 The Call to Love

In the book of Deuteronomy we read,

“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.”  Deuteronomy 6:5-7.

Jesus referred to Deuteronomy 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 22:36-40.

Are you in love with God? Do you put him first in your life? Do you love your neighbour as yourself?

The apostle Paul wrote what is perhaps the best definition of Christian love, when he 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....

                                                   1 Corinthians 13:4-8a

Is this the kind of love you practice? 

Please think about it.

Here is the conclusion

 Here is the conclusion

The writer of Ecclesiastes writes,

“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.

To my way of thinking God exists. The world and indeed the universe and everything in it seems fine tuned to allow us to exist. Only God could do such a thing.

Even Stephen Hawking one of the greatest minds of the twentieth century and an Atheist noted,

“The universe and the laws of physics seem to have been specifically designed for us" Stephen Hawking. 

And there are many other scientist that believe in God because of what they see in science.

Dr. Arno Penzias 1978 Nobel Prize winner in Physics

"Astronomy leads us to a unique event, a universe which was created out of nothing, one with a very delicate balance needed to provide exactly the conditions required to permit life and one which has an underlying (one might say ‘supernatural') plan." Dr. Arno Penzias.

William Philips Nobel prize winner in Physics stated,

“I believe in God more because of science than in spite of it" William Philips

Werner Heisenberg father of Quantum Mechanics, winner of the Nobel prize in Physics stated,

The first gulp from the glass of natural science will make you an atheist, but at the bottom of the glass God is waiting for you" Werner Heisenberg.

The Psalmist wrote, 

“The heavens declare the glory of God;

 the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”

                                                                 Psalm 19:1.

Do you believe in God?

Please think about it.

Christian actions explained

  Christian actions explained 

Jesus said, 

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. 

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.  

When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” Matthew 13:44-46.

As Christians. As believers in Christ Jesus. We believe we have found the field with the hidden treasure. The pearl of great value. And it is our job to tell the world about this. 

Jesus telling us,

"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.

If we are wrong we have nothing to loose. Blaise Pascal stating,

“Belief is a wise wager. Granted that faith cannot be proved, what harm will come to you if you gamble on its truth and it proves false? If you gain, you gain all; if you lose, you lose nothing. Wager, then, without hesitation, that He exists.” Blaise Pascal.

Please think about it.

God Loves You

 God Loves You

The apostle John states,

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.  

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.  

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.  

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1John 1-4.

Sin is falling short of Gods ideal for our lives. Sin separates us from God. As such we need to confess our sin directly to God.

The apostle John writing,

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  

If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives." 1John 1:9-10

In John’s Gospel we read,

"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 apostle John also 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, not of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God." John 1:12,13.

Do you consider yourself a child of God? A believer in Christ Jesus? 

Have you received Christ as your saviour? If not why not consider it now. There is not magic words to say. You simply have to pray something like this,

Dear Heavenly Father,

I know I am a sinner and sin separates me from you. Please forgive me and come into my life. 

Now if you sincerely accepted Christ into your life. I would suggest you get a copy of the Bible. If you read English I would suggest the New International Bible. It is generally recognised as one of the better translations and easy to read. 

I would also suggest that you pray and ask God to lead you to a good church. I recommend a Mennonite church, or Baptist church which are in most countries around the world. There is also some good Christian content on the internet. 

While my blogs are independent of the church I attend. The church streams its services live on line at 11:00am Eastern time. The church is North End Mennonite Brethren church here in Canada. You can find it at Northendchurch.ca.

All I would ask anyone searching for meaning and direction in life, is to pray and read the Bible and see what you think about God and the salvation that comes from His One and Only Son Christ Jesus.

Please think about it.