Christians and The Great Commission

Christians and The Great Commission
“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.
Here in lies the duty of all Christians. To go into all the world and present the Gospel to all creation.
Jesus never said protest against anything. Even things contrary to Christian belief.  He never said scream angry words like “you’re going to hell”. He simply said love.
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.  Matthew 22:36-38
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. Prior to Matthew recording this, Matthew also recorded Jesus as 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.
The disciples of Jesus understood this. They knew that in order to reach out to a lost and dying world we as Christians need to show unconditional love to all people, even our enemy.
Billy Graham said of Christ’s disciples,
“The men who followed Him, were unique in their generation. They turned the world upside down because their hearts had been turned right side up. The world has never been the same.”Billy Graham.
We as Christians in the twenty-first century need to get our hearts turned right side up. We need to show love to all whom we come in contact with.
We need to approach all people with love. To be willing to listen to them to live at peace with them. For it is only in doings so that we will be able to reach the world for Christ.
Dear Christian are you showing love to those around you? Do people see Jesus reflected in you?
I like what Francis of Assisi said,
“The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today” Francis of Assisi.
What is your sermon saying?
Please think about it.

Hope

Hope

In a book called "Essentials in Christian Faith" by John B. Harrington, published in 1958, there is a quote that could have been written yesterday.
  It opens with this quote from Paul Gallico in Esquire Magazine in 1948:
"A writer in a popular magazine has written the following words; 'We are all, if you will pardon the expression, Headed for Hell in a handbarrow. If, ever the people of the world stood in need of a spiritual revival, it is now. We are beginning to poison the face of the earth with our miserable presence. The brakes are off. The cart of the world is sliding down the way greased with hatred, ambition, lies, self-seeking and avarice toward the pit.’"
  Harrington notes that Gallico makes no pretense of being "a religious man" noting that    "...for him it is precisely religion in its organized forms which has in part caused the situation he deplores. He is careful to state that it is not "religion" for which he is looking. For in his opinion, religion throughout the history of our culture has advanced its control over human beings by the investment of bigotry and persecution. 
Yet, out of despair over the current human situation he says; ‘The voice for which my heavy spirit is yearning must reach us all... For if it is not heard, we are lost. Something beyond our material enrichment and lust for power and position, some rewards founded on good will, selflessness, and the innate dignity of the human spirit...honour, humility, decency courage."
If Paul Gallico is right, and I believe he is. Mankind is considerably nearer the bottom of that slope than he was in 1948. Moreover at the bottom of that slope is a very deep lake filled with brimstone.
When Paul Gallico wrote his article the world the world was still reeling from world war two, the worst war in human history in which 56,000,000 plus people military and civilian died. 11,000,000 plus in Nazi death camps 6,000,000 plus Jews alone. Killed for simply being who they were.
Paul Gallico could not have even begun to see what the rest of the twentieth century and the first decades of the twenty-first century would be like.
The numbers may not be on the industrial scale of world war two but daily around the world innocent people are dying at the hands of terrorist.
People are being murdered in the streets of our cities by people who are not worried about the consequences of their actions. Crime around the world is rampant. And while crime in many areas may be down, the fact is man with all his laws and punishments has not been able to stop it.
The fact is all the laws and punishments for crime will not stop people who do not fear the law.
Another Paul writing to a member of the first century church wrote the following,
"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God" 2 Timothy 3:1-4
Particularly it seem since the second world war with the rise of consumerism and materialism, western society has turned away from God.
I was born, in England two years prior to the first satellite going into space. You got your news from the News paper, Radio or a black and white television. Music was played on record players. If you wanted to record anything you got a reel to reel tape recorder. Telephones were attached to the wall and used a rotary dial. My parents never used a credit card.
The big purchase in my teens after we moved to Canada, was a stereophonic record player about five feet long and two feet deep that cost me I think fifty dollars.
At the time the record player was a big thing. But I never remember advertisements telling me I “really, really needed it”. Although there probably were.
In today’s society we are bombarded in the media with adds telling us we need the “latest greatest gadget”. That we have to be connected. A simple cell phone is not enough we have to have a smart phone that is more computer than phone. We must have it so we can chase imaginary creatures around our city and town. Not to mention broadcast our every move to the world.
Life today is fast paced and God has it seems been left out. Materialism is the new God within our society. It seems our youth in particular can name more factitious characters in a video game than they can books of the bible.
Morality in the first part of the twenty-first century at least seems to be changing. As a now sixty-two year old observer or our society I have seen our society change.
My fathers generation sent its teens and those in their mid twenties to fight a war against the evil that was Nazism. Today it seems there are many teens and twenty something’s that are disillusioned with our western society and choosing to join the forces of evil.
My generation seems to be the link between the two groups. True my generation has seen little wars but my generation ushered in our materialistic society. A society that has put less and less faith in God.
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.
Today that bulwark, that defensive wall is being broken down. People no longer recognize God let alone have faith in him. Sadly as that faith fails I believe society will ultimately fail.
The writer of Ecclesiastes 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.” Ecclesiastes12:13,14.
Unfortunately this is a message lost, it seems in this generation, not just in North America but around the world. There is however I believe hope. That hope is Jesus.
The message of Jesus of Love for God, ones neighbours and even ones enemies is as relevant today as it was when he walked the earth. This is the hope I believe Paul Gallico was looking for sixty-eight years ago.
To my mind Jesus is the only hope for mankind today. His call of,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30.
Is for today. Is the answer to those who see no hope in today’s society.
Please think about it.

Cheap Grace, Costly Grace

Cheap Grace, Costly Grace
“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
Is the grace you received cheap or costly?
I came across this note from Dietrich Bonhoeffer,
"cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline. Communion without confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ."
Or, even more clearly, it is to hear the gospel preached as follows:
"Of course you have sinned, but now everything is forgiven, so you can stay as you are and enjoy the consolations of forgiveness." The main defect of such a proclamation is that it contains no demand for discipleship. 
In contrast to this is costly grace:
"costly grace confronts us as a gracious call to follow Jesus, it comes as a word of forgiveness to the broken spirit and the contrite heart. It is costly because it compels a man to submit to the yoke of Christ and follow him; it is grace because Jesus says: "My yoke is easy and my burden is light." 
Bonhoeffer’s argument is that Christianity and specifically  the church has become more secularised. Accommodating itself to society.
In doing so the gospel was “cheapened” and obedience to Christ gradually lost under all the ritual and formulas.
While Bonhoffer wrote this prior to his death in a German concentration camp in 1945 he could have been writing about the church today. Especially the church in North America.
There are many preachers out there that have a “formula” for receiving blessings and salvation from God.
They say pray this prayer or that prayer and you’ll get this or that. Give and it will be given to you. The mantra of the name it claim it crowd.
One television station we receive here in Canada from across the U. S. border seems to have a Christian version of everything from health food to beauty products to elixirs and other potions.
Other groups have watered down the gospel to the point of no effect. For them going to church is a pleasant thing to do each Sunday. A time to socialize.
These people need to heed the words of 2 Chronicles that are as true to day as when written.
“if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”  2 Chronicles 7:24.
When a woman caught in adultery was brought to Jesus John records the following,
“When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”  
Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. 
At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.  
Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 
“No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”  John 8:7-11.
Note here Jesus makes it clear that this woman who could have been stoned to death for her sin was told to go and leave her life of sin. She had been forgiven but Jesus said turn from what you are doing wrong.
Her forgiveness had to be accompanied by action.
This is what it should be like when we become a Christian. We have to leave our life of sin.
We cannot continue on. Paul writing to the Romans says
“What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?  
By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?” Romans 6:1,2
When we accept Christ into our lives we must be willing to give up our way of life if necessary, in order to live a new life for Christ.
By new way of life, what I’m saying is that if we have to change jobs then we should be doing so. If we need to change whom we associate with we need to be doing so. If we need to change our lifestyle completely then we should be willing to do so.
When we accept Christ into our lives we cannot continue doing the bad things we were doing prior to accepting him.
This is what I believe Bonhoffer meant by costly grace.
We need to be asking our selves are the things we are doing truly acceptable to Christ?
Think about it.

Serving God

Serving God
The Book of Joshua states,
“Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.  
But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. 
But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” 
Then the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the LORD to serve other gods!”Joshua 24:14-16.
In this world there are many gods even in the twenty-first century. Some may not think of them as god’s but they are. Especially here in North America. Many worship the dollar bill, materialism, and all that goes with it. Some are Atheist who claim to have no faith yet have faith in what they believe. They worship if you will an idea. Others worship other things sometimes without even knowing it.
I believe we must decide here and now in this life, on this earth, whom we believe. I because I am a Christian believe people must believe in Almighty God the creator of heaven and earth and His one and only Son, Jesus, who is God incarnate.
The gospel of John states of Jesus,
“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.
The apostle Paul writing to the Romans said,
“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.
Question what God do you believe in?
What God do you serve?
Please think about it.

To the Christian

To the Christian
Jesus said,
“Many will say to me  on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we miracle prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matthew 7:22,23.
As Christians we need to be careful what we do and how we do it. We should ask ourselves “am I truly doing what God wants me to do, in the way He wants me to do it.”
According to what Jesus says when he returns “Many will say to me  on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?”
Yet Jesus will say “Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!”
As I look around the Christian world here in North America, I see, especially within the evangelical and Pentecostal communities, preachers and evangelist making great claims. If true that is good. If not they run the risk of turning people away from Christ.
Sadly some making these claims will not allow independent verification of the claims especially those pertaining to healings. They claim it’s a private matter.
If a minister of God’s word claims a healing or other miracle then I believe it should be verified by independent sources.
Even in the old Testament if someone claimed to be healed it had to be confirmed by the Priests.
Jesus even told some whom he healed to go to the priests and get it verified as the law stated. Christian leaders should accept nothing less.
Still apart from those who claim the miraculous there are those who come to church work within the church who are not truly saved.
They believe there is a God and they work for Him in there way. But they have not put their faith in God completely. This group includes everyone from the person sitting in the pew to the pastor himself.
As Christians we need to make sure our trust is in the Lord.  That what we say and do brings glory to God.
Over the years I’ve heard many people say I believe in such and such evangelist or pastor. Only to find sadly that the pastor has done things wrong. Such a thing can be devastating to the faith of some people.
I’ve also heard pastors and evangelist say “it is my ministry” “my ministry” cannot do without me. They fail to realize that what they are calling “their ministry” is actually God’s ministry. That God is working through them and can stop using them at any time.
We as Christians must believe the words of the Psalmist who said,
“Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.” Psalm 127:1.
If you claim to be a Christian take a few minutes to evaluate your work for God. Are you truly doing God’s will or are you doing things your way?
Will you hear God say to you “depart from me” or “Well done thou good and faithful servant?”
Please think about it.

Do you Believe

Do you believe?
“The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” Psalm 14:1.
It is my belief as a Christian there is a God and he will one day judge the world. I believe the Psalmist quoted above.
Just because someone says there is no God does not make it true. In order to know for certain there is no God, that person would have had to check everywhere. It is impossible for a mortal man to be everywhere and check everywhere. Mortal man cannot see for example what is beyond deaths door.
Knowing what is beyond death takes an act of faith. You either believe God exists beyond that door or you do not. Upon what you believe I firmly believe determines your final resting place.
The Poet wrote,

“Life is it a divine opera played out before God.

An opera played out on a high mesa, 

On a stage suspended between heaven and hell.”

The writer of Proverbs said,

“For a man’s ways are in full view of the LORD, 

and he examines all his paths.” 

Proverbs 5:21.

The writer of Ecclesiastes states,

“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. 

The apostle Paul 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.
Getting to heaven is a matter of faith. Jesus speaking of Himself 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.
Jesus made a clear statement 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.
Even when faced with violence against him personally Jesus did not deny who He was. John’s gospel recording,
“The Jews gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 
Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.  
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.  
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.  
I and the Father are one.” 
Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?” John 10:24-32.
Christian belief is simple. It is stated in The Apostles Creed.  The apostles creed while not written by one of Christ’s original apostles gives what Christians believe in a nut shell. It states,
1.I believe in God the Father the almighty maker of heaven and earth
2. I believe in Jesus Christ God’s on and only Son, our Lord and Saviour.
3. I believe Jesus was conceived by the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary
4. I believe Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate; That He was Crucified, died, was buried. That he descended in hell.
5. I believe He rose again on the third day from the dead.
6. I believe that he ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
7. I believe Jesus will one day Judge the living and the dead.
8. I believe in the Holy Ghost
9. I believe in the Church which is the communion of the saints,
10. I believe in the forgiveness of sin.
11. I believe in the resurrection of the body.
12. I believe in life everlasting.
Thus my questions are: Do you believe in God? Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God? Do you believe Jesus is the Saviour of your soul?
The apostle Paul tells us,

“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.

Please think about it.

Our Treasure

Our Treasure
Matthew’s gospel records,
“Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” 
“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.” 
“Which ones?” the man inquired. 
Jesus replied, “ ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony,  honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’’” 
“All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” 
Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 
When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Matthew 19:16-22.
Illustrated in this scripture is a concept some Christians may be asked to do. It concerns a wealthy man that approached Jesus.
 Now there is nothing wrong with being rich. There are many wealthy people in the church today who are doing good as there were in the early church. It’s the priority you give to your wealth. Wealth can make your life easier and even allow you to help others. However it is a two edged sword. It can pull you away from God.
The apostle Paul tells us,
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” 1 Timothy 6:10.
It’s the love of money that can cause us to wander away from our faith.
The man who came to Jesus and asked , “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” intellectually believed in God. He had obeyed the rules God set down for following God from his childhood.
This man however lacked faith in God. He relied on his wealth for security. When asked to give up that wealth and rely on his faith in God to provide all he needed he turned away. He was unable to give up the security of his material wealth.
Jesus said this,
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21.
Like I said there is nothing wrong with having wealth in its place, but our true treasure must be in heaven. We must be willing to give up our wealth in this world if God asks us to do so.
We if we are true followers of Christ must be willing to go where God calls us to go. Be that to talk to the neighbour next door or on the mission field thousands of miles away.
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.
If we claim to be Christians this is what we must be willing to do.
Please think about it.

The Standard for Christian Living

The Standards for Christian living
As Christians I believe there are certain standards we must live be. By live by I mean everything we do must line up with these standards. Standards set by Jesus himself and the apostles.
1/ Love,
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.
Jesus 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.  
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.
From the above scriptures we can see that we must love God, our neighbour and even our enemy. These are absolute truths directly from Jesus.
2/Live in Peace.
The apostle Paul states,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”Romans 12:18.
The writer of Hebrews agrees with this saying,
3/ Live Holy lives
“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14 
Thus we must endeavour to live at peace and live holy lives, for “...without holiness no one will see the Lord.”
4/Respect authority.
The apostle Paul tells us to,
“Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good,... “Titus3:1
5/Do not slander
“.....slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.” Titus 3:2.
6/ Respect others
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.
This says it all. We must treat others in the same way we want to be treated, with love, with respect, with dignity.
7/ The fruits of a true Christian.
A true Christian exhibits the fruits of the spirit before all.
The apostle Paul tells us,
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  
gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22,23.
These scriptures are for me guide post when determining if someone is a Christian.
If you claim to be a Christian I would ask are you living in accordance with the scriptures I have presented above?
Please think about it.

The First Question

The First Question
“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
I like what the Talmud says here. What will you say when you stand before God. 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.
Be you rich or poor we will all stand before God at a moment in our life. A rich person may have more to answer for when it come to dealing with their employees, investors or other people in their life. But everyone else will also have to answer to God also for how we treat our fellow man.
We deal with people everyday be a a cashier in a store, the postman, our coworkers, our neighbours our family. How we treat them is of concern to God.
I do believe God is as much concerned with the small things as he is with the big things. He is very concerned how you teat your fellow man.
As a Christian I believe you get into heaven by faith. The apostle Paul states,
“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.
At the same time I do not believe you can be a true Christian and not teat your fellow man fairly an compassionately. The apostle James tells us,
“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.
Christian or not it is only right that we treat people with respect and compassion. It is my belief that if we don’t, is to one day experience the judgement of God.
Please think about it.

Praise the Lord

Praise the Lord
The book of Exodus records,
“When Pharaoh’s horses, chariots and horsemen went into the sea, the LORD brought the waters of the sea back over them, but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground.  
Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her, with tambourines and dancing.  
Miriam sang to them: “Sing to the LORD, for he is highly exalted. The horse and its rider he has hurled into the sea.” 
              Exodus 15:19-21.
Dear Christian do you praise the Lord after a victory?
In Exodus we see the children of Israel being protected by God. Pharaoh’s armies being destroyed. It was a great victory.
We may never see such victories in our lifetime but we do have small personal victories. In my own life I can praise God that I survived cancer and my wife survived a major health problem also. Both conditions could have killed us. The two of us can also praise God for other victories in our life big and small.
I believe it is important from time to time to simply praise God for all He has done for us in our lives.
Take a moment to take stock of your life and ask God to show you victories in your life. We all have them.
Sing with the Psalmist who wrote,

Praise the LORD. 

Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. 

Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. 

Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, 

praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, 

praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. 

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. 

Praise the LORD. 

Psalm 150.

Please take time to just praise God!

God Knows you

God knows you
The Psalmist writes,
“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 read the above quote is God knows all about us right down to our genetic code. He knows why we are the way we are and why we do what we do. That is why I believe God did not want men judging men when it comes to getting into heaven.
Jesus made it clear saying,
“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 tells Christians,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?”1 Corinthians 5:12.
The only reason Christians can judge those inside the church is because they share a common value system. It is also essential for Christians to judge one another to ensure that what someone claiming to be a Christian, is actually teaching the beliefs of Christians correctly.
However Christians as Paul states cannot judge those outside the Christian community.
To judge someone is to say you know what motivates them. Know human can truly do that.
I have met many Christians over the years that have made a blanket statement that various groups or individuals will not go to heaven. The question I always ask is how do you know?
I believe in a God so loving that He entered this world in the form of His One and Only Son Jesus to show man how far He would go to reconcile man to himself.
It also served another purpose. In coming to earth Jesus experienced all there was to be a man. He experienced the mundane things like the sun and rain on his face. The smell of the earth after a rain storm. The love of friends and family. He also experienced the pain of being accused of crimes he didn’t commit. As well as a merciless beating and the death on the cross.
As a result we can never say when we stand before him “you don’t understand what it is to be human” because He does.
Thus when you stand before God, He can judge you honestly and justly.
Please think about it.

The fear of The Lord

The fear of The Lord
The Psalmist writes,
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.” Psalm 11:10.
When man forgets there is a God, or denies His existence or perverts God’s truth to justify his own actions society goes wrong.
On a large scale we can see this happened during the reign of Hitler and his henchmen in Germany during and just before World War two. We see it happening today on a large scale with terrorist groups lacking the fear of God and perverting God’s laws to justify what they are doing and thus causing strife around the world.
We see the lack of fear of the Lord on a smaller scale with street gangs in various cities killing people. We see people stealing on a small scale such as a pick pocket or on a grand scale such as a white collar criminal who steals millions from innocent victims.
The writer of Ecclesiastes states,
“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.
When people do not believe this then the road is open for them to do as they wish.
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.
God set for all humanity a set of basic laws that I believe is on the hearts of all men. Universal laws that are enshrined in the ten commandments.
The book of Exodus records,
“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 
“You shall have no other gods before me. 
“You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.  
You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,  but showing love to a thousand  generations  of those who love me and keep my commandments. 
“You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. 
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.  
Six days you shall labor and do all your work,  but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates.  
For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. 
“Honour your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you. 
“You shall not murder. 
“You shall not commit adultery. 
“You shall not steal. 
“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. 
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” 
Exodus 20:2-17.
These laws be you Jewish, Christian, Muslim or of other faiths are universal laws we all can understand.
These are universal laws, if you will “God basic principles for living”, that if practised correctly allow our society to function in the way God intended.
Sadly today there are many around the world that have lost their fear of God and His righteous judgment. The result is suffering and death.
It is time for our society as a whole both here in North America where I live and around the world to turn back to God’s basic principles for living.
Please think about it.

God is.

The Psalmist wrote,

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 

Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. 

There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. 

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 

Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. 

There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.” 

Psalm 19:1-3.

I believe there is a God who created the universe and everything in it. I believe the psalmist who said the heavens declare the glory of the Lord.
I cannot believe the universe simply assembled itself randomly.
George Washington Carver said,
“I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in.” George Washington Carver.
Above I have posted three photographs one was taken by the Hubble Telescope of the Eagle Nebula. There is a microscopic look at the red blood cell the most common cell in the human body. Then there a microscopic view of a potato stoma. All are connected.
Mathematics is showing that there is a formula for everything in creation. We may not have all of them yet but they are working on it. I believe if science is done right they will find those formulas and even one linking all of them.
I know some say our world simply evolved from the big bang. It’s possible, but I believe we will one day find that it was God that created the big bang, setting in motion processes that has resulted in the perfect environment for life as we know it. Be it in six days or billions of years, it makes no difference God created the heavens and the earth.
I believe the Psalmist cry  “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
I believe the writer of Genesis who said,
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1.
My question to you is, Do you?
Please think about it. 

In Truth

In truth
Henri Nouwen said,
"One of the most arduous spiritual tasks is that of giving up control and allowing the Spirit of God to lead our lives."- Henri Nouwen.
Jesus said,
“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.  
God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” John 4:23,24.
How do you worship God?
Do you simply go to church to feel good? Do you go to church for the music and to fellowship with friends?
Sadly many go to church to feel good. They go because they like the music and can meet their friends there.
It’s only a small percentage of people who attend church that do most of the work. Every church big or small has a need for more workers.
And perhaps, just perhaps, if the truth be known only a small percentage of those attending a church are truly Christians.
I was once told by a pastor that the people that were brought up in the church are the hardest to reach.
They have made going to church a lifestyle. They know what to say and when to say it. They know all the rules of the church and all the ritual. They even know a good bit of scripture. They may even say, and sincerely think they have Christ in their lives but they do not.
They believe there is a God but they do not put their faith in Him.
The writer of Hebrews tells us we need to have faith in God, writing
“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.
He defines faith as,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”  Hebrews 11:1.
Faith for a Christian is believing in God and serving Him. It means worshipping God as Jesus said “in spirit and in truth”.
One of the definitions the Oxford dictionary gives for spirit is, “...the real meaning or intention of something as opposed to its strict verbal interpretation.”
We as Christians have to really mean what we are doing as opposed to simply praying because it’s the thing to do. When we sing praises to God we have to truly mean what we are singing as opposed to singing because we feel good.
Faith in God and a sincerity of worship is essential in the Christian life. We have to be willing to give our whole life to God. As Henri Nouwen said,
"One of the most arduous spiritual tasks is that of giving up control and allowing the Spirit of God to lead our lives."
That’s what true faith in God is all about. Giving up control of our lives to God. Allowing God to work through us to complete His work on this earth.
Please think about it.

A Talk

A talk

“For the word of God is living and active. 

Sharper than any double-edged sword, 

it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; 

it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.  

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. 

Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him 

to whom we must give account.” 

Hebrews 4:12,13

C. S. Lewis said,
“A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word 'darkness' on the walls of his cell.” C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain.
Lewis is right, you can say there is no God, but that dose not change the fact there is a God and that he one day will judge everyone. Someone once wrote,

A Conversation

A man:

”you can’t be!”

God: 

“but I am”

A Man: 

“You don’t exist!”

God, 

“I do.”

A Man: 

“But I couldn’t see you.”

God: 

“I know I asked you to have faith. Through Hebrews I told you,

 “Now faith is being sure of what we hope

 for and certain of what we do not see.”  

Hebrews 11:1

A Man: 

“if only I could have seen you.”

God: 

“You could have seen all I did. The Psalmist told you 

“The heavens declare the glory of God; 

the  skies proclaim the work of his hands.”

Psalm 19:1. 

Didn’t you look?

A Man:

 “Of course I looked. 

I seen evolution!”

God,

 “So you seen an orderly universe and thought 

it just dropped perfectly into place

 randomly? 

You didn’t think I could do it be it that way or any other way 

I felt like doing it?”

A man: 

“But I didn’t believe you existed.”

God: 

“so you never had faith in me?”

A Man: 

“I didn’t.... 

I don’t...

 I must be delusional.”

God: 

“No I am really here and through the words of Hebrews I warned you saying, 

“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.

Man:

“So what will happen to me?”

God:

“The Apostle Paul wrote,

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith

and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 

 not by works, so that no one can boast.”

 Ephesians 2:8,9 

Did you accept my free gift of Grace?

Dear reader
Please think about it.

The Heart of Existence

The heart of existence
“Love is the heart of existence.”  Author unknown.
A natural disaster strikes a world away and people unaffected do everything they can to send aid. Someone is murdered or killed and not only family but strangers come to console the relatives of the victim.
Fire destroys a neighbours home or a child or loved one is hurt and those around go out of their way to help the family even if they don’t know them.
Why because deep inside everyone there is love. Love planted there by God.
Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver wrote,
“...love is the enduring sanctuary of life. Life may rob you of many things.  It often does.  But it can never bereave us of love itself.  That remains.” -Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver, rabbinic leader, from a December 22, 1940 sermon.
The apostle Paul wrote,

“Love is patient, love is kind. 

It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, 

it keeps no record of wrongs. 

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  

It always protects, always trusts, 

always hopes, always perseveres. 

Love never fails....

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.

 But the greatest of these is love.”  

1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13.

The Gospel of John tells us,
“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.” John 3:16.
Love is something atheist cannot explain. Why would someone feel love for someone thousands of kilometers away who have undergone hardship and wish to help? After all they are not affected?
The answer is love. Love is fundamental to human existence. Without love the human race would have become extinct long ago.
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.
Jesus took love 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.”Matthew 5:43-45.
Love is selfless.
Francis of Assisi wrote,

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace, 

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

where there is sadness, joy;

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; 

to be understood as to understand; 

to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive; 

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; 

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

                                                                                      Francis of Assisi.
Are you showing Love?
Please think about it.

Without Love, Without God

Without Love Without God,
“The world is trying to get by without God and is doing a miserable job without Him.” Author unknown.
Abba Hillel Silver said,
“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.
As I look around society today. I see especially in the United States a society in crisis. In the America the spectre of racism has raised its head it seems higher than ever. Police harassing and killing innocent black men. Misguided individuals killing police. It all resembles the early years of the 1960's and the civil rights movement.
I don’t remember much about the civil rights movement in the United States. I wasn’t even a teenager and I didn’t live in America at the time. All I remember was my father praising Dr. Martin Luther King jr. for his non-violent stance in the face of such injustice.
Dr. King was a Christian who believed in Love.
Dr. King said two things that are as important today as they were then. He said,

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; 

only light can do that. 

Hate cannot drive out hate; 

only love can do that.” 

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Dr King made it clear,

“Love is the only force capable 

of transforming an enemy into friend.” 

Martin Luther King, Jr. 

The early civil rights movement attained what it did because they refused to let hate rule. To quote King again he prayed,

“We thank thee, O God, for the spiritual nature of man.

We are in nature but we live above nature.

Help us never to let anybody or any condition pull us so low as to cause us to hate.

Give us strength to love our enemies 

and to do good to those who despitefully use us and persecute us.” 

Martin Luther King jr.

Leaders like Dr. King realized that hate begets hate. He realized the words of Jesus who 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.
Who 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.
I admit I am a white man living in Canada and cannot fully understand what most people of colour in the United States have to put up with. Still I can understand what injustice is.
I also realize that unless people turn back to God society is in trouble.
I believe it is time for all churches. All who claim to be Christian to stand against injustice everywhere.
If ever there was a need for God in society it is now and not just in the United States but around the world.
Hate is everywhere in the world today and it is only through the love of God that we can truly overcome it.
Please think about it.

You, God and Faith

You, God, and Faith
Raphael Simon said,
“To fall in love with God is the greatest of all romances; to seek him, the greatest adventure; to find him, the greatest human achievement.” Raphael Simon.
Jesus said,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30.
The book of Deuteronomy states,

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
To know Jesus as one’s personal Saviour. To allow Christ into one’s life and fall in love with God is indeed the most incredible thing an individual can do.
The writer of Proverbs tells us,
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”Proverbs 3:5,6.
God indeed loves us. The Apostle Paul writing to the Romans states,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8.
God loved us so much that He in the form of His one and Only Son Jesus entered the world to point us to Himself.
The writer of Hebrews states,
“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.  
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” Hebrews 1:1-3.
God exists and God loves all people.
Most people in the world today believe there is a God. However they do not have faith in Him. Something God asks of all people.
In my previous Blog post I quoted the writer of Hebrews as telling us,

“And without faith it is impossible to please God,

 because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists 

and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” 

Hebrews 11:6.

Faith is something that has been exercised by all of God’s prophets in the Bible. The writer of Hebrews tells us,

“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.  

By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.”Hebrews 11:8,9

Abraham believed God existed, but he didn’t stop there he exercised his faith in God by doing what God told him to do even though he couldn’t see what his actions would bring about. 
The writer of Hebrews defines faith, saying,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for 

and certain of what we do not see.” 

 Hebrews 11:1.

This what Abraham did. He was sure of what he hoped for and certain that God would bring about what he could not see. Abrahams faith was not simply intellectual.  He truly believed.
Do you simply believe intellectually that God exists or do you have actually have faith in him as the writer of Hebrews defines faith? I ask this question because it is by faith that we get to heaven.
The apostle Paul 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.

Getting to heaven is a free gift of God. It is by His grace we get there. Still it is only through faith that we can receive that grace.
Jesus speaking of himself 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.
Speaking to Martha Jesus gave us all a question we must answer saying,
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;  and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
“Yes Lord” she told Him, “I believe you are the Christ the Son of God, who was to come into the world,” John 11:25,26,27.
So my question is do you simply believe intellectually there is a God and leave things at that. OR do you truly have faith in God and that Jesus is His one and only Son who died for your sins.
Please think about it.