"Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him..." Romans 6:8
We are saved to rise up, not to sit down. Salvation is not the end, salvation is only the beginning - the beginning of our journey through a land that is not our own - a land foreign to the people of God.
Salvation is Jesus' gift to us [lest any man should boast] - our service, our life of commitment is our gift back to Him.
Many never allow salvation to grow, keeping it locked away for fear. Fear of rejection, fear of ridicule, fear of.... far too many hang on tightly to the familiar, fearing the uncertainty - forgetting our LORD assuredly spoke that He would never leave us or forsake us.
Salvation opens the door to a new life - a life in Christ, a door opening to light, hope, guidance, encouragement. Perhaps not your best life now [but throughout eternity] for our LORD told us to pick up our cross and follow Him?
Many are called; but few are chosen. Many receive the call to "Come" but few are willing to walk the narrow road Jesus walked - choosing instead to remain with the crowd, calling themselves 'Christians' while continuing to enjoy the pleasures of this foreign land.
Examine yourself fellow traveler - examine yourself.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Warm feelings or human conformity to a set of precepts is not Biblical Christianity. The essence of Christianity is not about religion at all, but about the Person of Christ. Religion is a dead, man-made ideology but at the heart of Christianity is something else entirely.
God Himself - Alive - Forevermore.!!. Clothed in Christ - we are sheltered in truth, through Him - we see things as they really are.
Complacency reigns where life is easy. We live what we believe - the rest is only religious talk.
"I believe if I live my life as well as I can, I will be rewarded. For me, sin is being out of alignment with my values. A great role model for me, someone who combined everything I wanted to do in my life, one who never slipped into tolerance or dogma was Gandhi." - Barack Hussein Obama.
God Himself - Alive - Forevermore.!!. Clothed in Christ - we are sheltered in truth, through Him - we see things as they really are.
Complacency reigns where life is easy. We live what we believe - the rest is only religious talk.
"I believe if I live my life as well as I can, I will be rewarded. For me, sin is being out of alignment with my values. A great role model for me, someone who combined everything I wanted to do in my life, one who never slipped into tolerance or dogma was Gandhi." - Barack Hussein Obama.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
"Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness....Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight!" Isaiah 5:20-21
Stephanie Meyer's popular Twilight series is cashing in to be sure. Her four books which have sold over 17 million copies, and two movies thus far, are setting new records. To those of us who object, they will tell you that the theme of vampirism is just folklore. They aren't in the Bible. Relax.
So the recent Christianity Today review of this phenomenon titles their article, "There's Power in the Blood."
In the article, University of Richmond English professor Elisabeth Rose Gruner notes that both Christianity and vampirism equate blood with life. She states, "Humans instinctively understand that blood is life-giving. But the blood-drinking aspect of vampirism is a 'ghastly parody of Christianity.' While the Christian believer attains eternal life by accepting the blood freely shed on his or her behalf, the vampire achieves immortality by sucking the life out of another.
"So, in spite of what should be obvious, one Christian publishing house after another is turning away solid manuscripts for corrupted ones on this demented topic.
What an example of Isaiah 5:20 with evil being called good and good evil. Vampire fascination makes a mockery of the pure, atoning nature of Christ's blood.
Allen Arnold of Thomas Nelson Publishers states:
"Since the story of Christianity is one of redemption, Christian fiction should depict that redemption regardless of the subject matter. Rather than flee from a genre (like vampirism), we prefer to dive in and try to redeem it through a wholly original take."
Translation - Let's follow the money trail.
Never in my lifetime have we had to contend for the faith 24/7. What was once blatantly evil is suddenly ok. Spiritual applications can be made from worldly scenarios. Up is down, down is up, right is wrong, wrong is right, and we're all drinking tea with the Mad Hatter!
This sounds like what might happen in the last days.
“An astonishing and horrible thing has been committed in the land: The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own power; And My people love to have it so. But what will you do in the end?" Jeremiah 5:30-31
Are you listening for the sound of the trumpet?
Stephanie Meyer's popular Twilight series is cashing in to be sure. Her four books which have sold over 17 million copies, and two movies thus far, are setting new records. To those of us who object, they will tell you that the theme of vampirism is just folklore. They aren't in the Bible. Relax.
So the recent Christianity Today review of this phenomenon titles their article, "There's Power in the Blood."
In the article, University of Richmond English professor Elisabeth Rose Gruner notes that both Christianity and vampirism equate blood with life. She states, "Humans instinctively understand that blood is life-giving. But the blood-drinking aspect of vampirism is a 'ghastly parody of Christianity.' While the Christian believer attains eternal life by accepting the blood freely shed on his or her behalf, the vampire achieves immortality by sucking the life out of another.
"So, in spite of what should be obvious, one Christian publishing house after another is turning away solid manuscripts for corrupted ones on this demented topic.
What an example of Isaiah 5:20 with evil being called good and good evil. Vampire fascination makes a mockery of the pure, atoning nature of Christ's blood.
Allen Arnold of Thomas Nelson Publishers states:
"Since the story of Christianity is one of redemption, Christian fiction should depict that redemption regardless of the subject matter. Rather than flee from a genre (like vampirism), we prefer to dive in and try to redeem it through a wholly original take."
Translation - Let's follow the money trail.
Never in my lifetime have we had to contend for the faith 24/7. What was once blatantly evil is suddenly ok. Spiritual applications can be made from worldly scenarios. Up is down, down is up, right is wrong, wrong is right, and we're all drinking tea with the Mad Hatter!
This sounds like what might happen in the last days.
“An astonishing and horrible thing has been committed in the land: The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own power; And My people love to have it so. But what will you do in the end?" Jeremiah 5:30-31
Are you listening for the sound of the trumpet?
Friday, January 1, 2010
It is popular today to live a trivial lifestyle and have a trivial worldview. If you want to maintain a trivial worldview, avoid difficulties, and entertain yourself ~You can. Turn on a sitcom, play a video game. You can go to an arts and crafts fair, play pool or frequent the bars.
You don't have to take life seriously.
If you avoid trying to expose false belief systems for what they are, it's called "tolerance" and "respect" and "sin".
Taking the path of least resistance has never been so popular or so easy.
But ~ as we begin the new year, I pray each of us will, as King David, fall on our face before G-D in recognition of the sins that have so easily beset each of us. NOT the sins of America, not the sins of our spouse or our children, but "our" own, personal sins and like King David cry in anguished sobs:
"I acknowledge my transgressions [ sins], my sins are ever before me. Against You and You only have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight... create in me a clean heart, O G-D, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take your Holy Spirit from me... " Psalm 51
Examine yourselves, see if your faith is really genuine. Test yourselves. If by your lifestyle choices you cannot tell that Jesus the Christ is in you, neither can anyone else. [2 Cornithians 13:5]... and you have failed the test.
You don't have to take life seriously.
If you avoid trying to expose false belief systems for what they are, it's called "tolerance" and "respect" and "sin".
Taking the path of least resistance has never been so popular or so easy.
But ~ as we begin the new year, I pray each of us will, as King David, fall on our face before G-D in recognition of the sins that have so easily beset each of us. NOT the sins of America, not the sins of our spouse or our children, but "our" own, personal sins and like King David cry in anguished sobs:
"I acknowledge my transgressions [ sins], my sins are ever before me. Against You and You only have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight... create in me a clean heart, O G-D, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take your Holy Spirit from me... " Psalm 51
Examine yourselves, see if your faith is really genuine. Test yourselves. If by your lifestyle choices you cannot tell that Jesus the Christ is in you, neither can anyone else. [2 Cornithians 13:5]... and you have failed the test.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
2,000 years ago our Lord Jesus came to us as the Suffering Servant. He came as the Bridegroom to the bride, bringing His dowry, His gift, His offer of redemption and hope.
His return will be quite different. He will return as Conquering King, Creator of the Universe and Righteous Judge.
Our L-RD, The long awaited Messiah will return to this earth - Jesus the Christ/Yeshua HaMashiach will bring closure to the holy history of this age.
The 7th seal will follow bringing in the final establishment of His glorious Millennial Kingdom.
Are you ready?
His return will be quite different. He will return as Conquering King, Creator of the Universe and Righteous Judge.
Our L-RD, The long awaited Messiah will return to this earth - Jesus the Christ/Yeshua HaMashiach will bring closure to the holy history of this age.
The 7th seal will follow bringing in the final establishment of His glorious Millennial Kingdom.
Are you ready?
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
""Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28
Which road have you chosen ~
The wide, popular road that pleases the world and brings earthly success -- or the narrow road so despised by the world? Only those who choose the latter will know the wonder of His eternal riches, the joy of His presence, and the peace that surpasses all human understanding.
In a world that has forgotten God's Word, refuses to surrender to God's Will while rejecting God's Way, we can expect intolerance, hostility and persecution. That's why Jesus warned us,
"If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.... If they persecuted Me they will persecute you... for they do not know the One who sent Me." John 15:19-21
Following Him, we have nothing of lasting significance to lose, and we have everything to gain! Walking with Jesus in His lowly path -- never ceasing to demonstrate His love, yet never compromising His truths to win approval -- we enjoy a peace and joy that far surpasses all earthly thrills. Our lives will be full of challenges, but He has promised to provide all the resources we need.
“My grace is sufficient for you," he assures us, "for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”
Hopefully, you and I will echo Paul's heartfelt response:
"Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Which road have you chosen ~
The wide, popular road that pleases the world and brings earthly success -- or the narrow road so despised by the world? Only those who choose the latter will know the wonder of His eternal riches, the joy of His presence, and the peace that surpasses all human understanding.
In a world that has forgotten God's Word, refuses to surrender to God's Will while rejecting God's Way, we can expect intolerance, hostility and persecution. That's why Jesus warned us,
"If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.... If they persecuted Me they will persecute you... for they do not know the One who sent Me." John 15:19-21
Following Him, we have nothing of lasting significance to lose, and we have everything to gain! Walking with Jesus in His lowly path -- never ceasing to demonstrate His love, yet never compromising His truths to win approval -- we enjoy a peace and joy that far surpasses all earthly thrills. Our lives will be full of challenges, but He has promised to provide all the resources we need.
“My grace is sufficient for you," he assures us, "for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”
Hopefully, you and I will echo Paul's heartfelt response:
"Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
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