I'm sitting in my daughter, Sharon's house, in Red Water which is just north of Edmonton. I will be here a week with Wanda then we will drive over to North Battleford to visit our families.
I will take a break from the Blog, but will get back at it in July. I am back at the office on the Sunday of July 19th. On the 18th, the Saturday, I will be officiating at a wedding.
Have a great summer and thanks for checking out my Blog.
See you July 19th!
Monday, June 29, 2009
Saturday, June 27, 2009
A Thirsty Soul
What is worship?
Jesus met a woman at a well who was there to draw some water for herself. Jesus asked her for a drink. This surprised her because she knew that Jewish men never spoke with Samaritan women. Here He was speaking to her and asking something from her.
Jesus sees the thirst in her soul for relationships. He reveals to her the search she has been on to find love. With numerous husbands and broken relationships, her system is clearly not working.
Jesus sees her thirst. "...ask of Me and you'll never thirst again!"
Oh, to truly drink from the living water. To truly believe that He is our answer of refreshing for our souls. He is water of life.
Are we much different from the woman at the well? We seek and look for something to satisfy our deep longings for relationship. We feed our soul with the things of the world hoping to find something that we calm the thirst in us for satisfaction.
Jesus makes this profound statement to the woman when He declares that He can give living water to her. He is saying, "I alone satisfy the soul". No man or prophet before Him ever claimed to be this everlasting drink for man. Only Jesus dared to claim He was the Water of Life to all who came to drink from Him.
Are you thirsty? Have you found Jesus as the satisfaction of your soul? Have you drunk from the Christ? Are satisfied with your life? Do you "feel" full or empty?
Study the life of Jesus, than sit down before His Word and believe! A whole new world will open before you. It will be heaven on earth!
Jesus met a woman at a well who was there to draw some water for herself. Jesus asked her for a drink. This surprised her because she knew that Jewish men never spoke with Samaritan women. Here He was speaking to her and asking something from her.
Jesus sees the thirst in her soul for relationships. He reveals to her the search she has been on to find love. With numerous husbands and broken relationships, her system is clearly not working.
Jesus sees her thirst. "...ask of Me and you'll never thirst again!"
Oh, to truly drink from the living water. To truly believe that He is our answer of refreshing for our souls. He is water of life.
Are we much different from the woman at the well? We seek and look for something to satisfy our deep longings for relationship. We feed our soul with the things of the world hoping to find something that we calm the thirst in us for satisfaction.
Jesus makes this profound statement to the woman when He declares that He can give living water to her. He is saying, "I alone satisfy the soul". No man or prophet before Him ever claimed to be this everlasting drink for man. Only Jesus dared to claim He was the Water of Life to all who came to drink from Him.
Are you thirsty? Have you found Jesus as the satisfaction of your soul? Have you drunk from the Christ? Are satisfied with your life? Do you "feel" full or empty?
Study the life of Jesus, than sit down before His Word and believe! A whole new world will open before you. It will be heaven on earth!
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Dependence Upon is LIFE
SIN equals independence not just some bad behaviours that we do. SIN is man's attempt to find LIFE outside of God Himself. SIN is more than missing the mark, it is missing the very purpose you and I were made. We were made to glorify the LORD God Himself. God HATES independence!
You can hear people who are living in independence. They say things like, "I'll do it my way. No one can tell me what to do. It's my way or the highway. I am in control of my own life. I am my own boss." These statements and ones like them reveal that the person has placed his or her faith in themselves and they are independent from God.
FAITH means dependence upon. You have come before God and bowed your heart before Him and openly admit that you want and need Him. You want Him to live His life through your life.
When you were received by God unto salvation He re-created you in Christ to be a vessel of honour that He would use to express Himself to the world. You were "born-again" or "born from above". You are a new creation. The old has been destroyed and the new has come. You are not the same person before you came to know Christ.
The life that now desires to be expressed is a life that only finds joy in living in servanthood before the throne of God. Each day your new life wants to please the Father by bringing Him glory. The clearest way that God living in you is revealed to the world is through the outward display of love.
The word that is used for love in the Bible is agape. This word is an action word and means “doing the most constructive, compassionate, redemptive thing for another.” This love is what Christ desires to express through us right now, through our earthsuit. He expressed this love clearly through His earthsuit when He willing died on the cross for us and He will continue to bring honour to His Father through us and our earthsuits.
Jesus said: “He who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father” (John 14:12).
You cannot live the Christian life, only Christ can live His life through you. As we abide in Christ we bear much fruit. Our dependence upon Him to live through us is the secret of a powerful Christian life.
You and I have NO POWER outside of Christ. It is ONLY when we are in Him that this power to live is given. You must abandon any thoughts of independence. You CANNOT save yourself. Only the Christ can save you! And remember, after you have come to trust Him for your salvation, it is only His life that can continue to walk in obedience to the Father.
You can be "successful" as a Christian, you just must "die to self". Jesus has given us the hope we needed to bring glory again to our Creator. He alone brings us into a right relationship with God. He alone gives us a new life. He alone unites us again to Himself to walk as true people of faith.
This is possible because we are plugged into a Source that’s more powerful than we’ll ever realize this side of heaven! Father God is our Creator. Jesus is our LORD and Master. The Holy Spirit is our Strength and Sanctifier. The Triune God has won us and is desiring to live His life through us. Wow! I freely give my life to Him to redeem and use for His purposes.
I celebrate because I have come HOME!
You can hear people who are living in independence. They say things like, "I'll do it my way. No one can tell me what to do. It's my way or the highway. I am in control of my own life. I am my own boss." These statements and ones like them reveal that the person has placed his or her faith in themselves and they are independent from God.
FAITH means dependence upon. You have come before God and bowed your heart before Him and openly admit that you want and need Him. You want Him to live His life through your life.
When you were received by God unto salvation He re-created you in Christ to be a vessel of honour that He would use to express Himself to the world. You were "born-again" or "born from above". You are a new creation. The old has been destroyed and the new has come. You are not the same person before you came to know Christ.
The life that now desires to be expressed is a life that only finds joy in living in servanthood before the throne of God. Each day your new life wants to please the Father by bringing Him glory. The clearest way that God living in you is revealed to the world is through the outward display of love.
The word that is used for love in the Bible is agape. This word is an action word and means “doing the most constructive, compassionate, redemptive thing for another.” This love is what Christ desires to express through us right now, through our earthsuit. He expressed this love clearly through His earthsuit when He willing died on the cross for us and He will continue to bring honour to His Father through us and our earthsuits.
Jesus said: “He who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father” (John 14:12).
You cannot live the Christian life, only Christ can live His life through you. As we abide in Christ we bear much fruit. Our dependence upon Him to live through us is the secret of a powerful Christian life.
You and I have NO POWER outside of Christ. It is ONLY when we are in Him that this power to live is given. You must abandon any thoughts of independence. You CANNOT save yourself. Only the Christ can save you! And remember, after you have come to trust Him for your salvation, it is only His life that can continue to walk in obedience to the Father.
You can be "successful" as a Christian, you just must "die to self". Jesus has given us the hope we needed to bring glory again to our Creator. He alone brings us into a right relationship with God. He alone gives us a new life. He alone unites us again to Himself to walk as true people of faith.
This is possible because we are plugged into a Source that’s more powerful than we’ll ever realize this side of heaven! Father God is our Creator. Jesus is our LORD and Master. The Holy Spirit is our Strength and Sanctifier. The Triune God has won us and is desiring to live His life through us. Wow! I freely give my life to Him to redeem and use for His purposes.
I celebrate because I have come HOME!
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Proof of the Existence of God
Everything has a cause...
It is illogical to suggest that something had no cause. This is where the theory of evolution becomes inadequate. It can not explain how anything began, let alone life. When we consider the evidence (that there are things which exist) it logically demands that either something or someone caused it. We can then rule out "something" as the solution since we would be returning to the original problem (what made the something?). This demands that there must be Someone who has always existed (eternal) and is in themselves therefore uncreated. We don't have to understand this in order for it to be so.
At this point some say we should not even try to understand these things because our minds just get in the way. But I suspect the opposite is the case. That is, it is perfectly legitimate to ponder these things and rather than our minds being too bigger an obstacle, our minds are actually too inadequate to comprehend them. Therefore, faith and thinking are not incompatible, its just that we have realise that they both require discipline and exercise.
~Andrew Corbett
It is illogical to suggest that something had no cause. This is where the theory of evolution becomes inadequate. It can not explain how anything began, let alone life. When we consider the evidence (that there are things which exist) it logically demands that either something or someone caused it. We can then rule out "something" as the solution since we would be returning to the original problem (what made the something?). This demands that there must be Someone who has always existed (eternal) and is in themselves therefore uncreated. We don't have to understand this in order for it to be so.
At this point some say we should not even try to understand these things because our minds just get in the way. But I suspect the opposite is the case. That is, it is perfectly legitimate to ponder these things and rather than our minds being too bigger an obstacle, our minds are actually too inadequate to comprehend them. Therefore, faith and thinking are not incompatible, its just that we have realise that they both require discipline and exercise.
~Andrew Corbett
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Spiritual Health
When a person is unhealthy it can show up very quickly, even to the untrained eye. We may see a paleness to their features or a laboured approach to their walk. We may hear them coughing, hacking or sneezing. We may know that they struggle to get out of bed because of the pains they feel.
Good health is so important. But how do we know if someone is spiritual healthy or spiritually sick? What are the vital signs to the spiritual condition of people?
Eight Character Traits of a Healthy Spiritual Person:
1. They have put their trust in Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.
2. They have a love for the Scriptures and for talking with the Lord.
3. They have deny their flesh and take up the cross of Christ.
4. They display the fruit of the Spirit in their lives.
5. They have a hatred for sin and desire for righteous in their lives.
6. They have a witness of Christ in their lives.
7. They are willing to work together with other like minded bleivers.
8. They humbly submit to the Scriptures, Holy Spirit and God's people.
I know that a person who has no connection with the Lord will not want to do these things. These character traits are lived out as an expression of our love to our Lord. It is in joy we abide with our Lord as He fills us with His Spirit to fulfills the glorifiction of the Father.
Ponder on the characteristics of a believer and follower of Christ. Then ask yourself, are you spiritually healthy?
Good health is so important. But how do we know if someone is spiritual healthy or spiritually sick? What are the vital signs to the spiritual condition of people?
Eight Character Traits of a Healthy Spiritual Person:
1. They have put their trust in Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.
2. They have a love for the Scriptures and for talking with the Lord.
3. They have deny their flesh and take up the cross of Christ.
4. They display the fruit of the Spirit in their lives.
5. They have a hatred for sin and desire for righteous in their lives.
6. They have a witness of Christ in their lives.
7. They are willing to work together with other like minded bleivers.
8. They humbly submit to the Scriptures, Holy Spirit and God's people.
I know that a person who has no connection with the Lord will not want to do these things. These character traits are lived out as an expression of our love to our Lord. It is in joy we abide with our Lord as He fills us with His Spirit to fulfills the glorifiction of the Father.
Ponder on the characteristics of a believer and follower of Christ. Then ask yourself, are you spiritually healthy?
Friday, June 12, 2009
It's Friday!
Ahhhhhhhhhhh, my day off has begun!
I went to bed early last night (1:30AM), exhausted from the day. I knew it was too early to go to bed so now I'm up at Starbucks at 5:30AM. Now, I know why I have to stay up to at least 3AM or 4AM every morning or I have to get out of bed before 5AM or 6AM.
Anyway, my day off just starts early, I guess.
I'm enjoying my coffee, answering some fresh emails and looking through some Bible passages that I want to see what they really mean, instead of what I think they mean.
Yesterday, I got to spend about 3 hours with someone just going deep into the scriptures about the gospel of Christ. I find that so enjoyable! The gospel is so overwhelmingly beautiful. The cross of Christ is so deep and so pure in its wisdom and grandeur, it is difficult to contain myself sometimes. Oh, if we knew the beauty of the cross...!
I think I'll ponder this some more as I get another coffee! Ahhhh, to enjoy a day off!
I went to bed early last night (1:30AM), exhausted from the day. I knew it was too early to go to bed so now I'm up at Starbucks at 5:30AM. Now, I know why I have to stay up to at least 3AM or 4AM every morning or I have to get out of bed before 5AM or 6AM.
Anyway, my day off just starts early, I guess.
I'm enjoying my coffee, answering some fresh emails and looking through some Bible passages that I want to see what they really mean, instead of what I think they mean.
Yesterday, I got to spend about 3 hours with someone just going deep into the scriptures about the gospel of Christ. I find that so enjoyable! The gospel is so overwhelmingly beautiful. The cross of Christ is so deep and so pure in its wisdom and grandeur, it is difficult to contain myself sometimes. Oh, if we knew the beauty of the cross...!
I think I'll ponder this some more as I get another coffee! Ahhhh, to enjoy a day off!
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Coffee Time
I am sitting at Chapter's having a cup of coffee. Grande with cream and a half teaspoon of sugar. Is there any better out there for taste? I think not!
I am sitting here thinking about some of the people who have into my life. These people have had an effect on me that is forever. I apprreciate each one. I've valued each one. I've hurt a few of them deeply but I believe they still love me. I have given much to many of them but always feel I have received more.
Paul J, Dave B & Don F, Tim & Joan, Amin & Sepideh, Rob B, Glen, Gary, Jack C, Gerry T, Dwight, Bob, Richard & Mel, Art, David N, Mary H & Marylou, Pearl, Sheila, Fred & Pat, Darrel & Sonja, Corinne, Harold, Chad, John, Graig, Dave C, John, Anita, Kellie, Don H, Rachelle & Andrea, Billy & Vi, Eduardo, George, Peter, Paul & Nancy, Jim & Elaine, Karrisa, Kyla, Tricia, Luke, Matt, Elin, Anthony, Joanne, Bruce, Abraham, Grace, Mark, Linda, Gerry H, Adam, Sarah, and the list goes on and on!
I am a man who is most blessed!
I am so thankful for all the people who have invested in me. I am a privledged person.
This is a great coffee time.
I am sitting here thinking about some of the people who have into my life. These people have had an effect on me that is forever. I apprreciate each one. I've valued each one. I've hurt a few of them deeply but I believe they still love me. I have given much to many of them but always feel I have received more.
Paul J, Dave B & Don F, Tim & Joan, Amin & Sepideh, Rob B, Glen, Gary, Jack C, Gerry T, Dwight, Bob, Richard & Mel, Art, David N, Mary H & Marylou, Pearl, Sheila, Fred & Pat, Darrel & Sonja, Corinne, Harold, Chad, John, Graig, Dave C, John, Anita, Kellie, Don H, Rachelle & Andrea, Billy & Vi, Eduardo, George, Peter, Paul & Nancy, Jim & Elaine, Karrisa, Kyla, Tricia, Luke, Matt, Elin, Anthony, Joanne, Bruce, Abraham, Grace, Mark, Linda, Gerry H, Adam, Sarah, and the list goes on and on!
I am a man who is most blessed!
I am so thankful for all the people who have invested in me. I am a privledged person.
This is a great coffee time.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Pray to Know God
There is nothing more worthwhile than to pray to God and to converse with him, for prayer unites us with God as his companions. As our bodily eyes are illuminated by seeing the light, so in contemplating God our soul is illuminated by him."
St John Chrysostom
Prayer is God's way to draw us closer to Him and His will. As we come to know God deeper through seeing life through His eyes we become more like Him in behaviour; compassionate, merciful, loving, angry at sin, etc.
These behaviours begin to become part of our outward expression of our inside transformation that has already happened. When we came to be known by Christ, He gave us a spirit that is totally connected and dependent on Him and He expects us to walk in that spirit. This new spirit longs to live out the desires of God! Prayer is God's way to guide your spirit into the activity of Himself.
Prayer is not attempting to convince God what you are doing is important and He should be involved with you. Prayer is your heart linking with His heart so you can see and interrupt what He is doing and how you may adjust so you can follow Him.
Praying without a knowledge of scripture can easily become a vain effort to know God on your terms. To manipulate God to do what your flesh desires. Remember, God is not tricked. He never moves unless His Glory is the final outcome. God can only do right. You must know the scriptures that reveal Him or you will create a false god in your mind and move toward it. Idols are the false imaginations of man attempting to reveal God that does not exist.
Only God can reveal Himself. No man can know or discover God without God so willing. Man's mind is continually bent to evil and self so if you pray in this mind of flesh and earth thinking your prayers will be long and vain. Jesus said, "babbling...;
Prayer is to move you into the heart and ways of God. As you come to know God through His Word, you will be brought to a God who is nothing like the world as created. God is not a giant Santa Claus dispersing gifts to all who ask. This is so alien to the true heart of God it's a shame Christians even let any of this false teaching into their home and even around their children.
God is Holy. He is Almighty. He is compassionate. He is Pure. He is full of mercy. He is a God of Wrath. He is love. He is just. He is unchanging.
Unless your one desire is to know God and be known by Him, you will always struggle with prayer. You will struggle because you basically see prayer as a means "to get" instead of a means "to know".
To know the beauty of God is the goal. To walk with Him as He brings all of His enemies under his feet is the adventure. To live with an understanding that He is ever present, with you right now causes you to purify yourself. Prayer is the awesome privilege we get to have an audience with the King of kings and Lord of lords.
Prayer's purpose is to know God, to become one in Him.
1 John 3
1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
St John Chrysostom
Prayer is God's way to draw us closer to Him and His will. As we come to know God deeper through seeing life through His eyes we become more like Him in behaviour; compassionate, merciful, loving, angry at sin, etc.
These behaviours begin to become part of our outward expression of our inside transformation that has already happened. When we came to be known by Christ, He gave us a spirit that is totally connected and dependent on Him and He expects us to walk in that spirit. This new spirit longs to live out the desires of God! Prayer is God's way to guide your spirit into the activity of Himself.
Prayer is not attempting to convince God what you are doing is important and He should be involved with you. Prayer is your heart linking with His heart so you can see and interrupt what He is doing and how you may adjust so you can follow Him.
Praying without a knowledge of scripture can easily become a vain effort to know God on your terms. To manipulate God to do what your flesh desires. Remember, God is not tricked. He never moves unless His Glory is the final outcome. God can only do right. You must know the scriptures that reveal Him or you will create a false god in your mind and move toward it. Idols are the false imaginations of man attempting to reveal God that does not exist.
Only God can reveal Himself. No man can know or discover God without God so willing. Man's mind is continually bent to evil and self so if you pray in this mind of flesh and earth thinking your prayers will be long and vain. Jesus said, "babbling...;
Prayer is to move you into the heart and ways of God. As you come to know God through His Word, you will be brought to a God who is nothing like the world as created. God is not a giant Santa Claus dispersing gifts to all who ask. This is so alien to the true heart of God it's a shame Christians even let any of this false teaching into their home and even around their children.
God is Holy. He is Almighty. He is compassionate. He is Pure. He is full of mercy. He is a God of Wrath. He is love. He is just. He is unchanging.
Unless your one desire is to know God and be known by Him, you will always struggle with prayer. You will struggle because you basically see prayer as a means "to get" instead of a means "to know".
To know the beauty of God is the goal. To walk with Him as He brings all of His enemies under his feet is the adventure. To live with an understanding that He is ever present, with you right now causes you to purify yourself. Prayer is the awesome privilege we get to have an audience with the King of kings and Lord of lords.
Prayer's purpose is to know God, to become one in Him.
1 John 3
1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
...Thrown Into The Lake of Fire
And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15)
People say, "this verse can't mean God will thrown people in the lake of fire. A loving God would never do that to people.
"I can't believe in a god that would do that to people."
"I think my time here on earth is the only hell"
"I think hell is not real"
"I think..."
My answer to this and other comments that blantantly go against the Bible is "it does not matter what YOU THINK, it matters what God says. If you don't believe something is true and it is true than your believe is in error. Your belief does not create reality. If it true, it's true. It does not matter what you believe about it."
Many humans desire to live in a world with no God. We want to even claim we know God but sadly many even so called "Christians" areonly Christian in name but are functioning Atheists! We really don't believe what has been clearly laid down by the holy writings. We hope against reality that God will not cast people into the lake of fire. We life with the false hope that He's "too nice" to do that.
Hell is an awful place of glorification of God. Hell is not a place that was created by Satan, it was created by God Himself and God only makes things to bring glory to His holy Name. So why would He make hell and the Lake of Fire?
Look at some of the Scriptures on the subject:
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21)
"But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." (Revelation 21:8)
And I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds... And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11-12, 15)
And death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:14)
"Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. (Matthew 7:13)
And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. (Revelation 20:10)
He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." (Matthew 3:12)
"Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. (Matthew 7:19)
"Therefore just as the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the end of the age. (Matthew 13:40)
True love is not permissive.
The first false assumption is that love allows the object of that love to do whatever he or she wants. However, this permissive kind of "love" isn't really love at all. Any of you who are parents will recognize that allowing your children to do whatever they want to do is not loving at all. If you were to do this, your children would grow up to be spoiled selfish brats, incapable of loving other people. Permissive gods, who are caught up in their own intrigues, and so allow humans to do whatever they want without repercussions, are found in the pagan religions. However, the God of the Bible wants us to love Him and other people above everything else we do.
God's moral laws have a purpose
The Creator God of the universe is obviously a God of order. The laws that govern the physical universe are so precise that we can calculate the positions of planets, stars, and galaxies thousands to millions of years into the future. Would a God of this kind of precision design moral laws that are random or changing? It doesn't seem likely or consistent with the character of the Creator that we know from the reality of the creation. Therefore, it seems likely that unchanging moral laws are consistent with the God of creation. The Bible says that the moral laws are consistent with the character of God. Therefore, the main purpose of the moral laws are to teach us what God requires for us to enter into His kingdom. The moral laws also allow us to live with each other on earth without hurting each other. In fact, if we all perfectly fulfilled the moral laws of God, we would be in perfect harmony with each other. Our failure to fulfill God's moral laws leads us to seek Him as the source of our salvation.
God's creation of free will beings must allow for the possibility of rejecting God completely
Since God created spiritual beings for the purpose of expressing love, those beings must have complete free will in order to express that love. Of course, free will allows for the possibility of those beings rejecting God and His plans. Unfortunately, most people do not agree that God's rules are good and do not want to embrace them. In fact, the vast majority of people want to run their own lives without submitting to God at all. Somehow, they feel that God will just let them into heaven because they have behaved about as good, and maybe even better, compared to the rest of the people on earth. The problem with this idea is that God does not grade on the curve.
All who enter God's kingdom must be absolutely holy, since no sin is allowed in God's presence. In addition, people must be willing to allow God to prevent them from sinning ever again, since there is no sin in heaven. This means that people must be willing to submit fully to God's will in order to get into heaven.
Of course, all humans fall short of God's moral requirements. Therefore, God has made a provision to erase all sins that we have committed in this life and to perfect us so that we cannot sin when we receive eternal life from Him. Sin means "independance from God". The opposite of sin is not good behaviour. The oppositeof sin is faith, "dependance upon".
Provision to remove us from sin and place us into the presence of God is through the sacrifice of God's son, Jesus Christ. Jesus took the punishment that we deserve and gives us the reward that we do not deserve - eternal life. In accepting Jesus as Lord and Saviour, all our sins are erased.
People prefer hell over complete submission to God
So why doesn't God make everyone into perfect beings and allow them all into heaven? It would actually be more cruel if God were to do this, since many people prefer hell to the alternative (complete submission to God). All the people who end up going to hell will have done so because they actually prefer hell to being forced into the presence of God for all eternity. People like to live in their sin and favorite sins and answer to no one else. They know that if they accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour that God will want them to change their lives and they would have to give up their autonomy.
Conclusion
At this time in history, there is more evidence demonstrating the existence of God than at any time in the past. In addition, there are missionaries throughout the world proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ and the salvation that He offers as a free gift. Although the gift is "free," it will cost you your life, sin, selfishness, and pride. Since none of these character traits are allowed into heaven, those who insist upon holding onto these traits and remaining independent from God cannot enter into heaven, but must be separated from God in a place called hell.
Therefore, those who go to hell do so voluntarily, preferring hell to complete submission to a holy and just God.
(Much of this article was from a site; www.godandscience.org)
People say, "this verse can't mean God will thrown people in the lake of fire. A loving God would never do that to people.
"I can't believe in a god that would do that to people."
"I think my time here on earth is the only hell"
"I think hell is not real"
"I think..."
My answer to this and other comments that blantantly go against the Bible is "it does not matter what YOU THINK, it matters what God says. If you don't believe something is true and it is true than your believe is in error. Your belief does not create reality. If it true, it's true. It does not matter what you believe about it."
Many humans desire to live in a world with no God. We want to even claim we know God but sadly many even so called "Christians" areonly Christian in name but are functioning Atheists! We really don't believe what has been clearly laid down by the holy writings. We hope against reality that God will not cast people into the lake of fire. We life with the false hope that He's "too nice" to do that.
Hell is an awful place of glorification of God. Hell is not a place that was created by Satan, it was created by God Himself and God only makes things to bring glory to His holy Name. So why would He make hell and the Lake of Fire?
Look at some of the Scriptures on the subject:
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21)
"But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." (Revelation 21:8)
And I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds... And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11-12, 15)
And death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:14)
"Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. (Matthew 7:13)
And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. (Revelation 20:10)
He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." (Matthew 3:12)
"Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. (Matthew 7:19)
"Therefore just as the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the end of the age. (Matthew 13:40)
True love is not permissive.
The first false assumption is that love allows the object of that love to do whatever he or she wants. However, this permissive kind of "love" isn't really love at all. Any of you who are parents will recognize that allowing your children to do whatever they want to do is not loving at all. If you were to do this, your children would grow up to be spoiled selfish brats, incapable of loving other people. Permissive gods, who are caught up in their own intrigues, and so allow humans to do whatever they want without repercussions, are found in the pagan religions. However, the God of the Bible wants us to love Him and other people above everything else we do.
God's moral laws have a purpose
The Creator God of the universe is obviously a God of order. The laws that govern the physical universe are so precise that we can calculate the positions of planets, stars, and galaxies thousands to millions of years into the future. Would a God of this kind of precision design moral laws that are random or changing? It doesn't seem likely or consistent with the character of the Creator that we know from the reality of the creation. Therefore, it seems likely that unchanging moral laws are consistent with the God of creation. The Bible says that the moral laws are consistent with the character of God. Therefore, the main purpose of the moral laws are to teach us what God requires for us to enter into His kingdom. The moral laws also allow us to live with each other on earth without hurting each other. In fact, if we all perfectly fulfilled the moral laws of God, we would be in perfect harmony with each other. Our failure to fulfill God's moral laws leads us to seek Him as the source of our salvation.
God's creation of free will beings must allow for the possibility of rejecting God completely
Since God created spiritual beings for the purpose of expressing love, those beings must have complete free will in order to express that love. Of course, free will allows for the possibility of those beings rejecting God and His plans. Unfortunately, most people do not agree that God's rules are good and do not want to embrace them. In fact, the vast majority of people want to run their own lives without submitting to God at all. Somehow, they feel that God will just let them into heaven because they have behaved about as good, and maybe even better, compared to the rest of the people on earth. The problem with this idea is that God does not grade on the curve.
All who enter God's kingdom must be absolutely holy, since no sin is allowed in God's presence. In addition, people must be willing to allow God to prevent them from sinning ever again, since there is no sin in heaven. This means that people must be willing to submit fully to God's will in order to get into heaven.
Of course, all humans fall short of God's moral requirements. Therefore, God has made a provision to erase all sins that we have committed in this life and to perfect us so that we cannot sin when we receive eternal life from Him. Sin means "independance from God". The opposite of sin is not good behaviour. The oppositeof sin is faith, "dependance upon".
Provision to remove us from sin and place us into the presence of God is through the sacrifice of God's son, Jesus Christ. Jesus took the punishment that we deserve and gives us the reward that we do not deserve - eternal life. In accepting Jesus as Lord and Saviour, all our sins are erased.
People prefer hell over complete submission to God
So why doesn't God make everyone into perfect beings and allow them all into heaven? It would actually be more cruel if God were to do this, since many people prefer hell to the alternative (complete submission to God). All the people who end up going to hell will have done so because they actually prefer hell to being forced into the presence of God for all eternity. People like to live in their sin and favorite sins and answer to no one else. They know that if they accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour that God will want them to change their lives and they would have to give up their autonomy.
Conclusion
At this time in history, there is more evidence demonstrating the existence of God than at any time in the past. In addition, there are missionaries throughout the world proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ and the salvation that He offers as a free gift. Although the gift is "free," it will cost you your life, sin, selfishness, and pride. Since none of these character traits are allowed into heaven, those who insist upon holding onto these traits and remaining independent from God cannot enter into heaven, but must be separated from God in a place called hell.
Therefore, those who go to hell do so voluntarily, preferring hell to complete submission to a holy and just God.
(Much of this article was from a site; www.godandscience.org)
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Man Gives $60M To His Employees
Miami banker lavishes $60M on his employees
February 26, 2009
MIAMI (AP) - At a time when U.S. bankers are being pilloried on Capitol Hill as heartless and greedy, Leonard Abess Jr. stands apart.
After selling his U.S. bank for a fortune last fall, he quietly handed out $60 million in bonuses from his own pocket -- and not just to top executives. In all, 471 employees and retirees, including tellers, clerks and secretaries, were rewarded, receiving an average of about $127,000 each.
"I think everybody was surprised. But knowing Leonard, the type of person he is, I can believe him giving it away," said retiree William Perry, who spent 43 years at City National Bank of Florida, rising from janitor to vice president. Perry, 78, got $50,000, which he is using to help his son pay for law school.
"He's a brilliant banker, which I think is obvious because of how well the bank has done all these years. And, obviously, a very generous man," said Ginger Nunn, a managing senior vice president. "He can not only set an example for other bankers but for any businessperson."
Abess, 60, did not return several calls for comment Wednesday. He never wanted to make a big deal out of his largesse; he didn't even show up at the bank when the envelopes were distributed in November. It wasn't until he mentioned the bonuses in a recent interview with The Miami Herald that they became publicly known.
Abess' father founded the bank in 1946 and he began his career in the print shop, working his way up the corporate ladder. His family sold the bank in the early 1980s to an investment group, which in turn sold it to a Colombian coffee magnate. When the magnate was convicted of fraud, Abess bought a majority stake out of bankruptcy in 1985 for $21 million, all of it borrowed, and then acquired the rest for $6 million.
The bank, under his ownership, grew from $400 million in assets and seven offices to $2.75 billion in assets and 18 offices.
While other U.S. bank CEOs passed out million-dollar bonuses to their cronies as their institutions failed, Abess kept City National profitable and received no money from the federal bank bailout. When he sold an 83 per cent stake to a Spanish bank for $927 million, he decided to share the bounty with his 399 employees and 72 retirees.
"Those people who joined me and stayed with me at the bank with no promise of equity, I always thought someday I'm going to surprise them," he told the Herald. "I sure as heck don't need" the money.
But others persuaded him that dropping such large checks on the employees without warning wasn't a good idea.
Abess, who remains the bank's chairman and chief executive, made a video telling the employees a bonus would be coming with the sale and assuring them it wasn't severance. A vice president, Linda Naughton, contacted some retirees and told them they would be getting a letter from Abess and should "sit down before they opened it."
Joyce Andrews, who has spent 57 years at City National, including a stint working as a secretary for Abess' father, has known Abess since he was a toddler. On Tuesday night, the 75-year-old woman said, she was so proud she felt like his mother.
Andrews would not say how big her bonus was, but she said she invested it for her retirement.
"It's so unbelievable. I think it has to be the best feel-good story of the year. Don't you? When a man shares that much, $60 million. The fact that he could even do it or thought about it," she said. "There are people that get money that don't do a thing. It's theirs, you know? I think it was a wonderful thing."
What a great story! There is genrousity still out there.
February 26, 2009
MIAMI (AP) - At a time when U.S. bankers are being pilloried on Capitol Hill as heartless and greedy, Leonard Abess Jr. stands apart.
After selling his U.S. bank for a fortune last fall, he quietly handed out $60 million in bonuses from his own pocket -- and not just to top executives. In all, 471 employees and retirees, including tellers, clerks and secretaries, were rewarded, receiving an average of about $127,000 each.
"I think everybody was surprised. But knowing Leonard, the type of person he is, I can believe him giving it away," said retiree William Perry, who spent 43 years at City National Bank of Florida, rising from janitor to vice president. Perry, 78, got $50,000, which he is using to help his son pay for law school.
"He's a brilliant banker, which I think is obvious because of how well the bank has done all these years. And, obviously, a very generous man," said Ginger Nunn, a managing senior vice president. "He can not only set an example for other bankers but for any businessperson."
Abess, 60, did not return several calls for comment Wednesday. He never wanted to make a big deal out of his largesse; he didn't even show up at the bank when the envelopes were distributed in November. It wasn't until he mentioned the bonuses in a recent interview with The Miami Herald that they became publicly known.
Abess' father founded the bank in 1946 and he began his career in the print shop, working his way up the corporate ladder. His family sold the bank in the early 1980s to an investment group, which in turn sold it to a Colombian coffee magnate. When the magnate was convicted of fraud, Abess bought a majority stake out of bankruptcy in 1985 for $21 million, all of it borrowed, and then acquired the rest for $6 million.
The bank, under his ownership, grew from $400 million in assets and seven offices to $2.75 billion in assets and 18 offices.
While other U.S. bank CEOs passed out million-dollar bonuses to their cronies as their institutions failed, Abess kept City National profitable and received no money from the federal bank bailout. When he sold an 83 per cent stake to a Spanish bank for $927 million, he decided to share the bounty with his 399 employees and 72 retirees.
"Those people who joined me and stayed with me at the bank with no promise of equity, I always thought someday I'm going to surprise them," he told the Herald. "I sure as heck don't need" the money.
But others persuaded him that dropping such large checks on the employees without warning wasn't a good idea.
Abess, who remains the bank's chairman and chief executive, made a video telling the employees a bonus would be coming with the sale and assuring them it wasn't severance. A vice president, Linda Naughton, contacted some retirees and told them they would be getting a letter from Abess and should "sit down before they opened it."
Joyce Andrews, who has spent 57 years at City National, including a stint working as a secretary for Abess' father, has known Abess since he was a toddler. On Tuesday night, the 75-year-old woman said, she was so proud she felt like his mother.
Andrews would not say how big her bonus was, but she said she invested it for her retirement.
"It's so unbelievable. I think it has to be the best feel-good story of the year. Don't you? When a man shares that much, $60 million. The fact that he could even do it or thought about it," she said. "There are people that get money that don't do a thing. It's theirs, you know? I think it was a wonderful thing."
What a great story! There is genrousity still out there.
Monday, June 1, 2009
30 Years Married!
Today is 30 years of marriage with my wife. 30 years of having a close friend. It is amazing how the Lord has blessed us through the years.
I met Wanda while she was a waitress at a local coffee shop in the area. We met on March 1st and married on June 1st of the same year. It has been a real ride since 1979. I've enjoyed it and I hope she has!
"God, thank You! Thank You for my wife, who is my best friend! Thank You for the four beautiful children that you blessed us with. Thank You for the great friends You blessed us throughout the years, the list goes on and on! Thank You for Abundant Life Christian Fellowship and the ministry You called us to when we were there. We so enjoyed our experience. Thank You now for Royal Heights Baptist Church. We love the people and feel so cared for and blessed."
"Father God, You alone are the Maker and Builder of lives. I bow to You and Your holiest. Forgive me where I failed to display Your glory and beauty through my deeds and actions. Father, thank You for blessing me in Grace. I know I have recieved so much of what I do not deserve. Thank You! Thank You! Thank you for my wife, my friend, and my covanant partner till death do us part."
Wanda, I love you!
I met Wanda while she was a waitress at a local coffee shop in the area. We met on March 1st and married on June 1st of the same year. It has been a real ride since 1979. I've enjoyed it and I hope she has!
"God, thank You! Thank You for my wife, who is my best friend! Thank You for the four beautiful children that you blessed us with. Thank You for the great friends You blessed us throughout the years, the list goes on and on! Thank You for Abundant Life Christian Fellowship and the ministry You called us to when we were there. We so enjoyed our experience. Thank You now for Royal Heights Baptist Church. We love the people and feel so cared for and blessed."
"Father God, You alone are the Maker and Builder of lives. I bow to You and Your holiest. Forgive me where I failed to display Your glory and beauty through my deeds and actions. Father, thank You for blessing me in Grace. I know I have recieved so much of what I do not deserve. Thank You! Thank You! Thank you for my wife, my friend, and my covanant partner till death do us part."
Wanda, I love you!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)