Peace Makers

Peace makers
James the half brother of Jesus writes,

“Peacemakers who sow in peace

 raise a harvest of righteousness.”

                                         James 3:18.

The apostle Paul writes,

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, 

live at peace with everyone.” 

                                                                                 Romans 12:18
To Titus Paul writes,
“Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good,  to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.” Titus 3:1,2.
The writer of Hebrews states,
“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.
Being at Peace with God and with man is a major part of being a believer in Christ. When we are living peaceably with those around us it is much easier to present the gospel message.
Christianity is not a confrontational faith. While Jesus spoke against some of the practices of the Jewish leaders of his day. He a Jew had that right.
Jesus however never spoke against the secular Roman authorities or anyone outside his faith, nor did his disciples.
Jesus never raised a sword in anger. He lived at peace with those around him.
Thus if we claim to be followers of Jesus we must do the same.
Are you living at peace with those around you?
Please think about it. 

Wisdom that is from Heaven

Wisdom that is from Heaven
James the half brother of Jesus wrote,
“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.  
But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.  
Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil.  
For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.”  James 3:13-17.
Take a few minutes and read carefully what James is saying here. Ask God to show you your life. Are you exhibiting what comes from God or what comes from this world.
The apostle Paul states,

“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.

When people look at your life are they seeing these fruits?
Please think about it.

Your Tongue

Your Tongue
James the half brother of Jesus writes,
“Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.  
We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. 
When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.  
Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.  
Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.  
The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. 
All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man,  but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 
With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness.  
Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.  James 3:1-10.
Here James gives the believer in Jesus words of advice and warning.
“Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.”
To be a teacher of the gospel you need to be careful. People look up to teachers of the gospel. That’s why it is important that a teacher make certain what they are teaching is true.
Others see Jesus through the lense of a believers life. It is doubly so if they know the person is a teacher of the gospel.
Over the centuries many people have been led astray by false teachers. The apostle Paul even warns,
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 2Timothy 4:3,4
That is why we as individual believers in Christ Jesus need to read the Bible for ourselves and get to know what it says.
The other point James makes here is, watch what you say. Guard your tongue.
James noting “Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.”
An untamed tongue can cause a lot of grief. What people say can quite literally change their lives. James notes,
“With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness.  
Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.” 
Our tongue can be our worst nightmare. If we do not tame it, it can destroy others and ourselves. We must be cautious about what we say. It is better to say nothing than to say something you might regret.
The writer of Proverbs tells us,

“Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent,

 and discerning if he holds his tongue.” 

                                                    Proverbs 17:28.

Please think about it.

Faith and Action

Faith and Action
James in his letter writes
“Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 
You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.  
And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend.  
You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. 
In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?  
As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” James 2:21-26.
Over the years I’ve heard many Christians quote Paul as 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.
They then think “well now I’m saved I am going to heaven so I do not need to do anything else.”
Not so.
Christianity is very much a faith of deeds. Of showing God’s love to the world around us in word and deed.
Our faith should spur us on to do good deeds. To reach out with the love of Christ. To do what we can to help and reach others for Jesus.
James points out Rahab the prostitute (a sinner by any standard) who had faith in the one true God. Was “...considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction.”
The same principle is true today. Our faith in God is shown in our actions.
Please think about it.

Barrier or Bridge

Barrier or Bridge
James the half brother of Jesus said,
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?  
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.  
If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?  
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.  
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. 
You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?” James 2:14-20.
I once heard a preacher yelling from the pulpit accusing people on social assistance as being “lazy bums”. I couldn’t believe I was hearing it from someone calling himself a man of God.
I admit there are people on social assistance that should not be.
By the same token I know there are many men and women calling themselves men and women of God, preaching from the pulpit that are scamming people. Men and women who are not truly believers in Christ.
Harper Lee in her book To Kill a Mockingbird noted,
“Sometimes the Bible in the hand of one man is worse than a whisky bottle in the hand of (another)...” Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird.
Sadly it is true. The preacher I heard calling those on social assistance lazy will not win one person to the Lord. If anything that person will push them away from God.
Most of the people who are on social assistance are truly in need as are the mentally ill drug addicts and alcoholics are also in need. And we as believers in Christ need to be reaching out to them.
The apostle Paul said,
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.” 1 Corinthians 13:1.
As Christians we need to have the kind of love Jesus showed, unconditional love.
We do not know what is in the hearts and minds of a person. We do not know what caused a person to be in the circumstances they are in. However we can help them. Sometimes it’s as simple as feeding them. Other times it might be by getting them to a place they can get help for their addiction or simply into a safe injection sight.
Doing this builds bridges between those in need and God.
The way I see it if you claim to be a believer in Jesus, you are either a bridge or a barrier.
      I live in a city with a canal running through it. Periodically the bridges go up to allow ships to pass by. What was the roadway allowing safe passage for all, becomes a huge concrete and steel barriers, preventing all surface traffic from reaching the other side.
You are such a bridge. You can choose to be in the up position and prevent people from coming into contact with Christ. Or you can be in the lowered position allowing all who wish to pass safely over.
You do this through your words and deeds. It is through your words and deeds that people will see Christ. They can either be a barrier or a bridge. It is something all who believe in Christ must be aware of.
As Francis of Assisi said,

“The deeds you do 

may be the only sermon 

some persons will hear today” 

                                                                 Francis of Assisi.
So are you a barrier or a bridge?
Please think about it.

Show Mercy

Show Mercy
James the half brother of Jesus said,
“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!” James 2:12,13.
Here is a caution from James. “Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom...”
As Christians we must be careful how we speak and act. Our words and deeds can introduce Christ to a persons or turn them away. The writer of Proverbs states,

“Reckless words pierce like a sword, 

but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” 

                                              Proverbs 12:18.

I think especially today in our high tech world, where our words can be transmitted around the world in an instant and never be retracted we must be careful.
We as followers of Christ have no right to judge someone else, especially when it come to where they will spend eternity.
We must show the love of Christ to all we come in contact with. For in doing so we show God’s mercy to them.
We must remember the words of Jesus who said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16,17.
Furthermore, James reminds us, “...judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.”
Jesus tells us,
“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. 
Please think about it

A Law Breaker

A law breaker
James the half brother of Jesus wrote,
“My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism.  
Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in.  
If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 
Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?  
But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?  
Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong? 
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.” James 2: 1-11.
James here as he does throughout his letter turns things upside down with respect to the secular world. He calls the poor rich stating,
 “Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?”
Sadly in our world today as it seems to have been throughout history someone dressed in fine clothing is looked on by many, if not most, to be a good person. A person you can trust. This is not necessarily so.
We only have to look over the past decade or so to see men who are well dressed with a nice house and cars who were nothing more than scam artist stealing from anyone who trusted them.
Someone  told me that a person dressed in a dirty tee shirt and trousers, robbing a convenience store gets away with at most a couple of hundred dollars.
Someone holding a bank up at gunpoint dressed casually gets away with a thousand or so.
However a person dressed in an expensive suit, fine jewelry, driving a high end car and living in an expensive home can get away with stealing multimillions. Yet such a person is usually accepted into exclusive clubs and even our church congregations without question.
Now not everyone who is well dressed and wealthy is a thief. Quite the contrary throughout the centuries wealthy people have contributed much to the spreading of the gospel.
The point James is making here is that all are equal before God and should be treated as such within our church congregations.
James notes,
“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.”James 2:9-11 
Thus the question becomes in light of what James is saying here, are you a law breaker?
Please think about it.

Religion that God our Father Accepts

Religion that God our Father Accepts
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27
I believe what James is saying here is a warning to all believers.
Tony Campolo the American Evangelist wrote,
“These issues are biblical issues: to care for the sick, to feed the hungry, to stand up for the oppressed. I contend that if the evangelical community became more biblical, everything would change.” Tony Campolo.
Sadly especially here in North America in many ways what passes for Christianity is simply secular things given a Christian name.
The “pollution” of the world has entered our churches.
Within the so called evangelical churches a confrontational philosophy has taken over in some cases. A philosophy that attacks anything deemed to be “Unchristian”.
While in many of the so called mainline or traditional churches secularism has slipped quietly into their teachings.
I believe it is time for all who call themselves Christians to get back to the basic teachings of the Bible. To remember that it is the inspired word of God and needs to be followed.
I believe a great light shines on Christians. Christians have been given the task of taking the good news of Jesus Christ to all the nations of the world. It is a task we must take seriously.
In doing this task we must present the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the purest form possible.
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.

Please think about it

Keep a Tight Reign

Keep a Tight Reign
“If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.” James 1:26.
Sometime ago this story came to mind it’s called the eleven o clock prayer. When I read it I was reminded of the above verse in James. It reads,
The Eleven O Clock Parable
It’s eleven o clock. Inside the court house a judge is about to make his ruling. A community, a nation, waits. 
Will the new law be legal? 
Outside the court house men and women with placards chant. 
On one side of the street stand a group of gay men and women. All in favour of the new law.
On the other side of the street separated by a line of police stand radical evangelicals, denouncing the new law.
One man among them screams angrily . “HOMOSEXUALS ARE GOING TO HELL!!!”
Approached by the media he says it again, “homosexuals are going to Hell.” 
From my office window I watch asking myself the question, ‘is this man an Christian?”
Wasn’t it Christ who told us not only to love our neighbour but our enemy also?
Wasn’t it Christ who told us not to judge, lest we be judged likewise?
Wasn’t it Christ who said go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation?
Is this man showing love?
Is this man judging another? 
Can this man be effective in reaching the whole world for Christ of which a percentage are homosexual?
Is this man even a Christian?
A question keeps rolling through my mind for which I know the answer, “Can we truly know what is in someone else’s head?
Do we really know why a person is like they are?”
For a moment I stare down at the crowd. All the time asking myself who is on the way to Hell this day, and how can I reach them for my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ?
Turning away from my window I kneel down and pray, “Lord guide me this day. Let me make the right decision on this law.”
Those calling themselves Christians in the above story to my mind will never win a gay man or woman to Christ. Their confrontational style is more likely to turn people away from Christ both in they LGBT community and outside.
Such a confrontational attitude is wrong plain and simple. It has no place in Christianity. Jesus and his apostles were not confrontational despite living in a secular Roman society that had many things their faith did not agree with.
While it is true Jesus and the apostles spoke against the religious leaders of their day. They were Jews speaking against Jewish leaders who were not correctly presenting the word of God.
The apostle Paul wrote something everyone who claims to be a Christian needs to think carefully about when he said,
“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 great American evangelist Billy Graham said,

“It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God’s job to judge 

and my job to love, 

                            Billy Graham

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.

Please think about it.

Two Points

Two points
James the half brother of Jesus writes,
“Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror  and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.  
But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.” James 1:23-25
There are two points in this portion of scripture that I think are important for all who consider themselves followers of Jesus Christ.
1/ Anyone who listens to the word of God and does not do what it says is essentially a non-believer. They haven’t let the word of God change them. They’ve forgotten what Jesus called them to do.
2/ If on the other hand a man hears the word of God and continues in it he will be blessed in all he does. The ultimate blessing being seeing souls saved and going to heaven to be with God.
Where do you stand?
Please think about it.

Doers of the Word

Doers of the Word
James the Half brother of Jesus wrote,
“My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,  for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.  
Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. 
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”  James 1:19-22.
Someone has said that if you are a believer in Jesus Christ it is through the lense of your life non-believers will see Jesus. As Francis of Assisi put it,

“The deeds you do 

may be the only sermon 

some persons will hear today” 

                                    Francis of Assisi.

The apostle Paul said,
“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.
If you claim to be a believer in Jesus Christ are these the attributes people see in you.
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.
If you claim to be a Christian do you show true unconditional love to all you come in contact with?
Love as defined by the apostle Paul as,

“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.

When people see you life are they seeing the unconditional Love of God?
Please think about it.

Your Heart

Your heart
James the half brother of Jesus writes,
“The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position.  
But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower.  
For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business. 
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”James 1:9-12 
Notice James reverses things when comparing the rich man to the poor man. In our secular society the one who is rich is quite often considered to have a high position. While the poor man has a low one. Not so with God.
A person of humble means needs to rely on God every day. They are drawn toward God to help them meet their daily needs. Not necessarily so with someone who is rich. They can rely on their riches. As a result they may not turn to God in the way a poor person does.
The apostle Paul warns,
“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.
Notice Paul here states it is “the Love of money that is a root of all kinds of evil”. Having a lot of money is not sinful. It’s what we do to get that money, and how we use that money that can be sinful.
Money if we use it wrongly can pull us away from God.
Matthew’s gospel tells this story of a wealthy man that came to Jesus,
“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
In this case the rich man did not have complete faith in God. His riches it appears were more important than God.
The key here goes back to what Jesus said,
“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
Thus the question is. Where is your heart?
Please think about it.

You and God

You and God
James the half brother of Jesus writes,
“When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;  but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.  
Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. 
Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers. 
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:13-17.
By nature God is good. He does not tempt us to do bad things.
God however has given us a free will. When God created man He did not create a robot. He gave each individual a freewill do to as he wished.
God set in the hearts of man and through his written law what God expected of each individual. We see this in a nutshell in the Ten commandments.
The ten commandments lay out for man, how God expects him to act with respect to God and his fellow man.
If man chooses not to do so he is sinning. Sinning is falling short of what God expects of the individual. And there is a penalty to be paid for disobedience of God’s laws. The apostle Paul noting,
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23.
Paul however notes there is hope for those who sin when he writes,
“And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. 
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  
Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.  
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:5-8.
The apostle John quoting 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.
Thus you the reader and indeed every individual hearing about Jesus has a choice to make. Believe in God and believe that Jesus Christ is His one and Only Son the Saviour of mankind or not.
The choice is yours.
Please think about it.

Remembering the Prisoner

Remember the Prisoner
The writer of Hebrews tells us
“Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.”Hebrews 13:3 
Around the world today men and women are facing persecution for their belief in Jesus Christ.
In fact as I write this a Canadian Korean pastor has just been released from over two years in a North Korean prison. His crime believing in Jesus. Many who believe in Christ Jesus however are still in prison for their faith.
Quite often they are forgotten men and women.
In December of 2013 the United Kingdom parliament heard that one Christian is killed every eleven minutes for their faith.
MP Jim Shannon said the persecution of Christians is “the biggest story in the world that has never been told”
He said that although the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, there are many countries in which these rights are not given.
Shannon alleged that 200 million Christians will be persecuted for their faith this year,(2013) while he said 500 million live in dangerous neighbourhoods.”
In early November, 2013 German Chancellor Angela Merkel declared that Christianity is "the most persecuted religion in the world."
As Christians we need to be conscious of our fellow believers in Christ who are suffering for their faith.
We need to at the very least be praying for them. We who live in the western democracies need to be informing our politicians about the persecuted church. We need to be asking our politicians to do what they can to help the persecuted.
Prayer and petition to governments does work.
The Canadian pastor I mentioned at the start of this article was released because of prayer and the intervention of the Canadian government, who incidentally has no diplomatic presence in North Korea.
We in the west with all of our freedoms need also to remember that it is our sacred duty to tell the world about Jesus in word, in deed and in love. We need to be remembered for what we believe in not what we are against.
As the apostle Peter wrote,
“Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  
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 2:11,12
This pastor that has just been released is an excellent example of that. He was taking humanitarian aid to North Korea, nothing more. His only crime was being a Christian.
Please think about it. 

Your Faith

Your Faith
            The Psalmist wrote,

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. 

He makes me lie down in green pastures,

 He leads me beside quiet waters, 

He restores my soul. 

He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, 

I will fear no evil, 

for you are with me; 

your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. 

You anoint my head with oil; 

my cup overflows. 

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, 

and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. 

                                                                            Psalm 23

Do you have complete faith in God?
The writer of Hebrews tells us,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for 

and certain of what we do not see.” 

                                                        Hebrews 11:1

Martin Luther King jr. said,

“Faith is taking the first step 

even when you don't see the whole staircase.”

                                                 Martin Luther King, Jr.

Charles Spurgeon wrote,

“To trust God in the light is nothing, 

but to trust Him in the dark—

that is faith.” 

                                             Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

It can be very easy to confess being a Christian in the good times when life is easy and trouble free. However it is a different for many when life becomes difficult. When trouble and persecution come along.
God however requires faith in the bad times as well as the good times. The apostle Paul writing,
“Here is a trustworthy saying:

if we died with him, we will also live with him; 

if we endure, we will also reign with him.

If we disown him, he will also disown us; 

if we are faithless, 

he will remain faithful, 

for he cannot disown himself.

                                          2 Timothy 11-13

Thus the question is do you have complete faith in God?
The writer of Hebrews reminding 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

Please think about it.

Do not Judge

Do not Judge
Matthew’s gospel records Jesus as 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 writes,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
Someone said Christians are not allowed to Judge people period. That is not entirely true. We Christians have the right to judge those within our own faith, but only to tell whether or not the person is teaching the scriptures correctly.
We may also judge someone to ensure our safety and the safety of others.
We however have no right to judge a person and say where they will spend eternity.
Tony Campolo the American Evangelist said,
"We ought to get out of the judging business. We should leave it up to God to determine who belongs in one arena or another when it comes to eternity. What we are obligated to do is to tell people about Jesus, and that's what I do.” Tony Campolo.
 Billy Graham the great American evangelist said,

“It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God’s job to judge 

and my job to love,” 

                           Billy Graham.

Question: Do you love as Jesus Loved?
Please think about it

Put it this way

Put it this way
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

Put this way in the A. D. 2017 this means,

If you are

demonstrating against anyone. 

You are telling them 

they can demonstrate against you.

If you are 

speaking out and trying to restrict the rights of others 

given to them by the lawfully elected government.

You are telling others 

they can try to restrict your rights.

If you are 

imposing your morals however good they may be on others.

You are telling them 

they can impose their morals on you, 

even if they are not as good as yours.

If you are 

trying to impose your faith on others rather than presenting your faith.

You are telling others 

they can impose their faith on you.

If you are

judging others.

You are telling others 

they can judge you in the same way.

If you 

are telling the world you are a Christian

You should be telling the world 

I love you as Jesus loves you,...

unconditionally. 

Please think about it

Fruits of the Spirit

Fruits of the Spirit
The Apostle Paul wrote,
“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 are the attributes of all who truly believe in Christ Jesus. If we are truly following Christ we should be known as exhibiting these attributes.
The apostle Paul writing to the Romans, states,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”Romans 12:18.
Paul writing to Titus said,
“Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.”Titus 3:1,2.
Living at peace with all men is a Christian attribute. Christianity is not a confrontational faith. 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.
Jesus did not say to force anyone to become a Christian. He never said to argue with anyone, judge them or condemn them in any way.
 The job of the Christian is to present the gospel message to those around them, then let them decide for themselves if they believe or not.
The apostle Peter writes,
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  
Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 
Dear friends,
 I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  
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 2:9-12.
Is your life truly reflecting the fruits of the Spirit?
Please think about it.

Jesus is

Jesus is
The apostle John states,
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  
He was with God in the beginning. 
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  
In him was life, and that life was the light of men....
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”John 1:1-4,14.
The apostle Paul writes,
“For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.” Colossians 2:9
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.
The apostle Paul tells us,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8.
The apostle John quotes Jesus as saying of himself,
“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.
These are the bedrock beliefs of all Christians. You cannot be a believer in Jesus Christ and not believe these things. They are not left to interpretation they are fact.
Simply put,
Jesus is God incarnate, God in the flesh.
Jesus is the creator of the universe and everything in it.
Jesus came to earth to show in human terms how far God was willing to go to point man to heaven. To pay the price for our sins.
Jesus gives us a Choice believe in Him or not.
Those who believe are not condemned. However those who do not believe are condemned “for they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”
Do you believe this?
Please think about it.

A Need to Study

A Need to Study
The apostle Paul writes,
“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—  having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.” 2Timothy 3:1-5.
Paul’s warning to Timothy is especially true today. Today as never before there are many in the church who have a form of godliness but are not true believers in Christ. They are not following the scriptures correctly.
These are people within our church congregations and denominations. They are evangelist pastors and people in the pews. Men and women we need to be cautious of.
I believe the best Christian is an educated Christian. Someone who not only studies the Bible but also studies church history from the time of Creation to the present.
Believers in Christ should at the very least know what they believe and why they believe it. Sadly all too many Christians do not know why they believe what they believe. They simply go on the word of a pastor or evangelist.
The thing is, as good as pastors, evangelist and Christian teachers are they are fallible and from time to time even the best teacher and preachers make mistakes. That is why we need to study the scriptures.
The advice of the apostle Paul told Timothy applies to us all,
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”  2 Timothy 2:15.
Do you study the Bible on your own? Do you take time to study the history surrounding the scriptures?
Please think about it. 

If you Love Jesus

If you Love Jesus
Matthew’s Gospel records,
“Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”  John 14:23
Do you love Christ?
If so, are you following the teachings of Jesus?
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.
The apostle Paul defines what true Christian love is 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....

And now these three remain:

 faith, hope and love. 

But the greatest of these is love.”  

                                               1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13.

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
If you claim to be a Christian are you following these teachings of Jesus?
Please think about it.

F.A.I.T.H.

F.A.I.T.H.
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
For some Christians the word FAITH means,
                                                       Forsaking 
                                                       All               

I                   

   Take               

     Him.                 

Faith is a very personal thing. You cannot force people to have faith in anyone or anything they must make that decision for themselves.
For a true follower of Christ, faith in Christ means we will follow him to our grave. No matter what the circumstances.
A true believer in Christ understands the words of the Apostle Paul who wrote,
“Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.” 2 Timothy 11-13.
Please think about it.

Are you really looking?

Are you really looking
The apostle Paul speaking to the learned men of Athens 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.  
‘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.” Acts 17:24-31
In my previous blog post I wrote the Bible does not debate the existence of God. After all it was written to believers.
Here Paul is speaking to men and women who believed in a pantheon of gods. People who were looking for the truth about God. Thus Paul presented the message of Jesus Christ to them.
At the end of his presentation some believed him, some did not, while others wanted to hear more.
It is the same today.
Many in our society today say there is no God. I respect that fact. We all have the right to choose what we believe. However just because a person does not believe God exist, does not mean God does not exist.
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.
The way I see it you have two major choices in this life. To believe in God or not to believe in God.
It is your right to choose. Keep in mind however that your choice will determine where you will spend eternity.
Are you truly willing to risk where you will spend eternity on what you know? Is there any doubt in your mind that what you believe might be wrong?
I know many who do not believe in God have made their mind up and will not change. That is why they cannot see God.
To quote C. S. Lewis again,
“He shows much more of Himself to some people than to others-not because He has favourites, but because it is impossible for Him to show Himself to a man whose whole mind and character are in the wrong condition.”  C.S.Lewis.
In order to find God you must be looking for Him. You cannot find God if you are not looking for him.
So my question to you is, Are you truly looking for God?
If you are truly looking to see if God exists take time to read at least the New Testament. Sincerely pray and ask God to show Himself to you. After all it cannot hurt.
Please think about it. 

The Biblical Choice

The Biblical Choice
The Book of Genesis states,
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1
The Gospel of John states
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  
He was with God in the beginning. 
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  
In him was life, and that life was the light of men....
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. ” John 1:1-4,14
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.” Joshua 24: 14,15.
Jesus is recorded as saying this about himself,
“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.
The writer of
“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.
The Apostle Paul writing t the Ephesians said,
“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 
The writer of Hebrews telling us,

“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 Bible does not debate the existence of God. After all it was written to believers.
The Bible however gives all who read it a choice. They may believe in God and go to heaven, or not believe in God and pay the consequences of their unbelief. It is not ambiguous.
It presents the truth about God and leaves it to the individual to decide for themselves.
So my question to you the reader is, Do you believe in God and that Jesus Christ is the One and Only Son of God the Saviour of mankind or not?
Before you answer however I would ask that you read at the very least the New Testament asking God to show his reality to you.
Please think about it.

Your Wager

Your Wager
The writer of Ecclesiastes notes,
“I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. 
Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 2:10,11.
Atheist claim there is no God. If so what the writer of Ecclesiastes wrote above is true. Everything is meaningless a chasing after the wind.
That being said I am not an atheist and believe they are wrong, God does exist.
Peter John Kreeft Wrote of Atheism,
“Atheism treats people cheaply. Also, it robs death of meaning, and if death has no meaning, how can life ultimately have meaning? Atheism cheapens everything it touches,....”Peter John Kreeft ph.d 
The way I see it Atheist make themselves into god. They make a blanket statement saying God does not exist. However in order to truly know God does not exist one must have been everywhere and know everything. An attribute of God.
Lets be practical here. No person living today knows everything. And no one living today has gone beyond the grave and come back to tell about it. Thus it is impossible for an Atheist to say beyond a reasonable doubt that God does not exist.
The consequences are eternal for both those who believe in God and those who don’t. If someone believes in God and it is ultimately found He does not exist. The Believer in God has nothing to fear in the light of eternity.
If on the other hand one does not believe God exist and he does exist, the non-believer has a great deal to worry about.
I like what Blaise Pascal wrote,
“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
As for me personally I have placed my wager and gone all in that God exists. I believe the writer of Ecclesiastes who finally come to the conclusion,
“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 .
Please think about it.

Church

Church
Marks Gospel records,
“One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain.  
The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” 
He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need?  
In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.” 
Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”  Mark 2:23-27.
Here is a classic example of legalism. Jesus and his disciples were walking through a grain field on the Sabbath. They were hungry so they took some heads of grain rubbed them in their hands to remove the outer part and ate the rest.
The pharisees interpreted this as Jesus and his disciples harvesting the wheat and threshing it. In other words doing work. Something forbidden on the Sabbath.
The Pharisees forgot that God’s rules are made to make mans life better. Not designed to restrict Man.
In this case the Sabbath was intended to give ones workers one complete day of rest. Something doctors today say is a very good thing.
Today we have well meaning groups in Christianity that say we should worship on the Sabbath and not work. While others say we should worship on the Sunday.
The bottom line here it makes no difference as long as we take a day to assemble with others of our faith. Take time from our labours and worship God.
Unfortunately over the years, over the centuries, well meaning Christians have created a rule book of do’s and do not’s.
I can remember a time when You had to go to church in your best Sunday suit or dress. Shined shoes hair perfectly done. Women not allowed to wear makeup of any kind or jewelry.
I can remember some of my Christian friends would not play games at home. They never turned on the television or radio. Although playing praise music on the record player was allowed.
Now there was nothing wrong with any of this except I found that if at times formed a barrier, especially if the person didn’t have a nice suit or dress to wear.
The constant emphasis on the do’s and don’t on the superfluous things like watching televison on a Sunday or playing games was also a problem for some people. Thus they turned away from church and unfortunately Christ.
Somehow I don’t think Jesus worried about how a person dressed he accepted everyone. Everyone felt comfortable in his presence. He placed no barriers between people and worshipping God. Nor should we.
I know from experience that having a church that is open to everyone produces results. My wife and I recently moved to a new Church. It’s a new congregation small in number but growing.
For a number of years it was an outreach of a larger church reaching out to the people living on the street.
 That larger church we were a part of is a come as you are church they didn’t care what you wore to church as long as you came out. That church went from four hundred or so to a congregation now of over three thousand.
As for our congregation like I said it is small but growing. We are very much a come as you are church. No one wears suits. Not even the pastor. Women do wear dresses but the majority wear pants. Blue jeans are the norm for some men and women. No one bats an eyelid no matter how you’re dressed.
The message our congregation wants to give to the world is that God loves you no matter who you are, and wants to have a personal relationship with you.
While service starts at ten thirty, for those who come early there is coffee tea and other drinks as well as confectionaries free of charge. As a result people come early and have a time of fellowship both before service and after.
New comers are welcomed and get a chance to know and meet people.
To me this to me is how church should be. No barriers just open arms and a listening ear showing the Love of Jesus.
Please think about it.

Shout to the Lord

Shout to the Lord

“Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. 

Worship the LORD with gladness; 

come before him with joyful songs. 

Know that the LORD is God. 

It is he who made us, and we are his; 

we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. 

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;

 give thanks to him and praise his name. 

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; 

his faithfulness continues through all generations. 

                                                                    Psalm 100:1-5.

Can you shout to joy to the Lord?
When I read psalm 100, I think of Paul and Silas who were in Prison. The book of Acts records,
“After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully.  
Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. 
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.”  Acts 16:23-25.
They were praising God after being flogged and put in the inner most part of the prison with their feet fastened in stocks. To my mind that was incredible faith.
Here they were in the face of adversity after being flogged praising God and the other prisoners with listening to them. What a witness!
When I read this about Paul and Silas I have to say to myself, if they can do it under such adverse circumstances I should be able to do so in the freedom of  my living room, in my car, or even on the street.
Likewise if you claim to be a follower of Christ you should be able to do it too.
Are you?
Please think about it.