Imagine if........

I'm not going to name names, call anybody or organization out, but this post is intended as a tool for me, for you, for our places of worship, to reflect on each ones priorities.

Imagine if we cared less about appearances, and more about function....
Imagine if we cared more about others, and less about convenience...
Imagine if we cared more about resolution, and less about comfort...
Imagine if we did things because they right, and not for noteriety....
Imagine if we invested more in the needs of people than we do in material things...
Imagine if buildings were built for function instead of monuments....
Imagine if church was attended to glorify God and serve others, instead of "going to get"....
Imagine if sermons were preached to equip and draw others to Christ, instead of other motives...
Imagine if Corporate Worship was about God, and not a performance, worship leader, or style...
Imagine if everyone would be honest before God, instead of trying to justify their actions, or lack..

These may seem like lofty goals to some, but they are how scripture instructs the believer to live. These goals are humanly unattainable, but with genuine faith in Christ, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, these will be an ongoing work of being "conformed to the image of Christ", the "New Creation" the Apostle Paul speaks of.

The life of the true believer is a call to Holiness, to have a focus far beyond what this life has to offer, and reaches for the eternal hope, that we should have.

Where do I sit in this picture? Where do you sit in this picture? Do our churches reflect this picture?
Something to think about,

Have a blessed day!

How's Your Relationships?

Relationships are one of those things, that directly yield proportionately what is invested in them.

If you have a pet, that pet will respond and bond to you directly in proportion to the level of quality time you spend with it.

Your family should respond with the same level of love, respect, and intensity that you invest into them, and the same should be expected of friends. Sadly, this is not always true, many times much is invested and nothing is returned. By invest, I mean investing one's self, not necessarily things or money. If there is no reciprocation, there is no relationship.

For those of us who are married, we must always remember that every moment, in every manner that we spend with our spouse, is one that only happens for the moment when it occurs, and real time does not allow a "do-over" of that particular moment. When we miss the mark in these relationships, we must move forward by doing right, we can't revisit what has already past.

God desires to have a relationship with each and everyone of us, but is in our nature to care about what is self-serving. God invested His Son, Jesus to be the bridge for our sin, to suffer the consequences that sinning against God that we deserve.
God invested the ultimate in each one of us, but relies on our will to respond to His desire to have a relationship with us; a forever relationship, an eternal relationship.

Have you responded to God's invitation to have an eternal relationship with Him?

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. (James 4:8)
If you confess with your mouth, that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)

Please don't delay, yo are only promised the moment you are in, tomorrow, even the next moment is uncertain in this life. Choose Jesus Christ!

The Purpose of Christmas

A Blessed Christmas, to all my family and friends on this day we set aside to celebrate the birth of the Saviour. While the 25^th of December may not be the actual day (Actual day probably March 23^rd), it nevertheless is when we choose to observe the Saviour’s birth.

Several things come to mind on this day, God gave all, came to serve in the person of Jesus, at His birth received no gifts, was dawned with but one decoration, a star marking where he abode. It wasn’t till several years later when the Maggi arrived bearing gifts; one gift a fragrance intended for burial.

We should in the spirit of God’s gift, give to others as part of our celebration, God’s love was and is extravagant, so in one sense there is a case for extravagance, but His love was also sacrificial. Our extravagance should be to others for their well being, and salvation, not necessarily “laying up treasures” here.

God has never stopped giving, we shouldn’t either, it should be a 24/7 – 365 mission for us, as a component of reaching others for Christ, if possible snatching them from eternal punishment.

Something to think about this Christmas…..blessings!

Speaking The Truth In Love

We live in a world that is “Results Oriented”, which plays into extreme scenarios of pragmatism. Now in fairness there are a few (very few) instances where pragmatism can be exercised with wisdom and justice, but those are the exceptions not the rule. Most “Pragmatic Practitioner’s” operate in default, only considering the truth when it fits their agenda.

In the Gospels, Jesus numerous times informs and instructs His followers to Love; Paul in 1 Corinthians 13, sums up the importance and necessity of Love, but bear in mind that Love, never replaces Truth, it supports Truth, and in every fashion is Truth.

As Christians (if we follow the Truth in obedience), there are no options; we either lie, or we tell the truth! Withheld truth is not telling the whole truth! Partial truth is not the truth! The “serpent”, Satan himself did this in the Garden of Eden! A partial and/or withheld truth is still a lie! Deception in any manner is actually a lie. There cannot be “white lies” because a lie is still a lie, and is still inspired by the “Father of all lies”, Satan himself!

The fact is: Speaking the truth IS Love! We don’t have to be antagonistic in our delivery; we don’t have to judge in our statement of Truth! We do however have a requirement to always speak the truth, regardless of the outcome and consequences! For the Christian (especially pastors and teachers), avoiding the Truth is never an option, rather consistently speaking the Truth is a requirement.

I realize that I just offended a significant group of “Christians”, but that’s what Truth does. The messenger, takes the heat, but the Truth stands on its own. The Truth clearly spoken, in and of itself has the ability to expose, judge and convict if properly, and does not require any assistance to do so, but the messenger will take the heat, because in a fallen world, a world that constantly seeks approval and validation for its sin; Truth is anything but popular.

While we should be always “speaking the Truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15), realize that not speaking the Truth, is anything but loving! Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father, but by Me”. Jesus gave us but two options, to accept or reject Him, the Truth.

We need to hold each other accountable to the Truth, even when it hurts; to do so is to love, and Jesus said we would be known for our love one to another.

Something to meditate on……Have a blessed day!

Be Worried if You Don’t Feel Conviction, When You Sin……

There are many, who at some time in their life, heard a stirring message, through a sermon, talk, or song, and were compelled to say the “Sinners Prayer”.

This is where it starts, because no-where in scripture is “Holy Fire Insurance” ever offered.

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:9 & 10 (KJV)

For salvation to happen, not only must we confess Him, we must believe in our heart (or literally believe with all that we are, our whole person) in Him, who He is, what He said He will do, what He said He has done. That type of belief and confession, changes the way we view everthing.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” – 2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)

[18] A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. [19] Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. [20] Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. – Matthew 7:18-20 (KJV)

So, does that make a Christian perfect? No, not at this time, but as we grow in faith, we become more conformed to the image of Christ. That will not be complete until we leave this “vessel of sin”, until we die or are “caught away” in the air to meet Christ. So if there is no change, no difference in your life, there is no evidence to you or anyone else that you are saved, period!

If you say you know Christ, and can sin without conviction, and repentance BE WORRIED! The Holy Spirit who lives in every Christian, works continuously to reprove us and conform us to the image of Christ.

I don’t express any of this to be judgmental! It is because I care, because it is not my desire to see anyone spend eternity in Hell.

“Today if ye hear His voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.”

 Hebrews 3:15(b) [Geneva Bible - 1599]

[21] Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. [22] Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? [23] And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. [24] Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: Matthew 7:21-24 (KJV)

Choose you this day, whom you will serve!

Not Always What it Appears To Be….

I remember many years ago (probably about 38 years), I was a young man, with not a lot of resources but dazzled by what one might obtain in a lifetime.

I drove a truck for an Industrial Supply Company, for a living and had stopped in a parking lot one day to eat my lunch. Well I was sitting there minding my own business when an enterprising fellow came knocking on my truck window, and proceeded to show me his great selection of watches he had for sale.

He asked me what kind of watch did I think was one of the best made, and well my Dad had mentioned if a man could buy himself a Longines watch he’d have him a great watch a decent value. The fellow jumped right on that suggestion and proceeded to show me a “blue faced Longines” and told me it just happened to be on sale that day, and I could take it home with me for only $25! Well, I managed to talk him down to $20, and gladly parted with my money.

Proud of my purchase, I couldn’t wait to show my Dad the great deal I had made, I found a reason to make it by my parents’ house that afternoon. I showed my Dad the watch, and well he was not impressed. He told me first of all, I should buy an important item like a watch from a reputable jeweler, not some thug in a parking lot; Then he proceeded to point out to me that the blue face was too light in color, and the name on the watch was “Longenes” not Longines. I’d been taken, defrauded, ripped off! What I had was a complete fake!

There are people who are the same way, in every situation, in every walk of life; People who defraud for many different reasons, and in many different ways. Some are very good at “faking” their way, and fool many people, some even leave this life without human discovery of their fraud.

But it’s not that way with God; Scripture tells us, “it is appointed unto man, once to die, and after this, the judgement” (Hebrews 9:27), so there are no do-overs!

Salvation isn’t genetic or communicable, but a decision each person must individually accept or reject. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23)

God can’t be fooled, the only person you will fool, is yourself! “²¹ Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. ²² Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? ²³ And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity (Matthew 7:21-23)

Today is the day of salvation; choose you this day, whom you will serve!

Purpose....

If you lose your purpose in life, you lose your passion;
If you lose your passion, you lose your drive;
If you lose your drive, you lose your direction;
If you lose your direction, you wander;
If you wander, you will question the purpose of life…
For the Christian, our purpose in life is to glorify Christ;
Stray from that, and nothing else matters…..