The God of second chances.
Jeremiah 18:4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Balance?
Where in the Bible does it teach to have a 'balanced' life? Maybe in Ecclesiastes where it talks about 'a time for this a time for that'? The more I read the Bible and the lives of the apostles, Jesus, and those that came after outside the Bible like Whitfield, Spurgeon, Moody, Hyles, Booth, Bounds, and countless others I find that balance is definitely not what God wants.
To us balance is to put the Bible away, put the tracts away, and spend time with family. Maybe watching TV, or going to a sports game, or visiting relatives, or whatever. THAT is good stuff. BUT why leave the Bible at home? Why leave the tracts on the counter? I think many Christians will be caught in the balances, and found lacking.
For the past year I have observed my church, visited churches, talked to other people about their own church, visited numerous websites of churches, talked to people on the street about church, and this is my conclusion. Put your seat belt on.
#1 I believe there is a close percentage of equal value between backslidden Christians outside the church and dead Christians inside the church.
#2 I have seen a very close resemblance between a social club with rules and standards and many of our independent churches today. Instead of being ALIVE, HOLY toward God, and making a difference in the lives around us, the church today has seemed to settle in to a comfortable padded, gas warmed, electric cooled, indoor plumbing, running water building where a group of really, really good people congregate to listen to a weekly message of which the majority have no intent of applying to their lives.
#3 I am under the impression that sign up sheets for get-togethers for food, fun, or fellowship activities use more ink in comparison to the gas it would take to drive to the church to come for a prayer meeting. That gas is still in the tank.
#4 I have literally seen a parking lot full of cars going to a youth rally but empty for visitation. Then the youths are not rallied to do anything other than wait for the next youth rally.
#5 It use to be when men were called to preach they would go off to school and learn as much as possible about the Bible and then go out and serve the Lord. But many who now are called run to the nearest 'sign up' sheet for any open preaching opportunity and think they have fulfilled their godly calling.
#6 As we continue to teach about David and Goliath, Samson and Delilah, Noah's Ark, Jonah and the whale, we have Jehovah Witnesses, Muslims, Mormons,Shamanism, New Agers and other cults falsely indoctrinating their youth to proselyte others.
#7 I have seen a wicked contentment of 'waiting on the Lord'. I am not encouraged
'to go' as often as I think I should be by others.
So, what does all this mean? Well, first of all, if you are offended by any of this then you may be part of the problem. I am not the perfect Christian by any stretch of the imagination, but I do desire to get back to what Jesus actually had in mind for his church. AND if hell is real, and heaven divine, then why are we so selective in our witnessing? I want to see families unite their time for Jesus. I want to see our churches under attack by Satan. Isn't that a sign that we are doing something for Christ? I think it is.
Well, this could go on and on, but I want it to end with an emotion from our Lord and Saviour, author of our salvation, Jesus. Found in John 11:35 'Jesus wept'.
I believe Jesus wept because of those around him weeping. He saw they knew they had NO HOPE. We need to see others around us that they have NO HOPE.
I trust if this blog did anything, it would be to ask yourself, 'what did Jesus really want my church to be like?"
God bless.
To us balance is to put the Bible away, put the tracts away, and spend time with family. Maybe watching TV, or going to a sports game, or visiting relatives, or whatever. THAT is good stuff. BUT why leave the Bible at home? Why leave the tracts on the counter? I think many Christians will be caught in the balances, and found lacking.
For the past year I have observed my church, visited churches, talked to other people about their own church, visited numerous websites of churches, talked to people on the street about church, and this is my conclusion. Put your seat belt on.
#1 I believe there is a close percentage of equal value between backslidden Christians outside the church and dead Christians inside the church.
#2 I have seen a very close resemblance between a social club with rules and standards and many of our independent churches today. Instead of being ALIVE, HOLY toward God, and making a difference in the lives around us, the church today has seemed to settle in to a comfortable padded, gas warmed, electric cooled, indoor plumbing, running water building where a group of really, really good people congregate to listen to a weekly message of which the majority have no intent of applying to their lives.
#3 I am under the impression that sign up sheets for get-togethers for food, fun, or fellowship activities use more ink in comparison to the gas it would take to drive to the church to come for a prayer meeting. That gas is still in the tank.
#4 I have literally seen a parking lot full of cars going to a youth rally but empty for visitation. Then the youths are not rallied to do anything other than wait for the next youth rally.
#5 It use to be when men were called to preach they would go off to school and learn as much as possible about the Bible and then go out and serve the Lord. But many who now are called run to the nearest 'sign up' sheet for any open preaching opportunity and think they have fulfilled their godly calling.
#6 As we continue to teach about David and Goliath, Samson and Delilah, Noah's Ark, Jonah and the whale, we have Jehovah Witnesses, Muslims, Mormons,Shamanism, New Agers and other cults falsely indoctrinating their youth to proselyte others.
#7 I have seen a wicked contentment of 'waiting on the Lord'. I am not encouraged
'to go' as often as I think I should be by others.
So, what does all this mean? Well, first of all, if you are offended by any of this then you may be part of the problem. I am not the perfect Christian by any stretch of the imagination, but I do desire to get back to what Jesus actually had in mind for his church. AND if hell is real, and heaven divine, then why are we so selective in our witnessing? I want to see families unite their time for Jesus. I want to see our churches under attack by Satan. Isn't that a sign that we are doing something for Christ? I think it is.
Well, this could go on and on, but I want it to end with an emotion from our Lord and Saviour, author of our salvation, Jesus. Found in John 11:35 'Jesus wept'.
I believe Jesus wept because of those around him weeping. He saw they knew they had NO HOPE. We need to see others around us that they have NO HOPE.
I trust if this blog did anything, it would be to ask yourself, 'what did Jesus really want my church to be like?"
God bless.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Christ is coming!
What if Christ was to come this Friday at 4:45? God dropped fliers from heaven! The whole world knows! Would we jump for joy? Not go to work?Not do the dishes? Not make our beds? Forget the lawn and yard chores? Quit school? Would we be rejoicing? Would we be singing hosanna, and holy, holy, holy, Hail Christ Almighty? Would we be calling all our friends/family and begging them to listen to the plan that Jesus laid out for eternal life? Would we pray to God for power in our 'last of the last days' of witnessing? Would we fast and witness? Would we stay up without sleep praying at night and witnessing by day KNOWING that the Lord of the harvest returneth this Friday at 4:45? What would you be doing at 4:44? crying, because you KNOW those left behind will never sit on a curb of the streets of gold with you? Will your heart be so swollen with hurt because you know your loved ones will NEVER be standing with you watching the river sparkle from the glory that Jesus provides as he is the LIGHT? At 4:44 on that Friday afternoon, one minute before Jesus BUSTS through the clouds to receive unto himself those that believe and trust the blood he shed for the remission of sin, where will you be? Who will you be leaving behind? Who will you never see again, until the Great White Thrown judgement where they will be cast into the Lake of Fire, forever? Well, we don't have a flier, but we do have where Jesus says 'get busy' in so many words, and he did give us signs to look for and these signs are definitely being fulfilled, so, it may not be prudent to quit school, or your job, BUT how about joining your church with its soul winning outreach program? How about calling a friend and inviting them to church? how about praying for courage now? memorize some soul winning passages now? How about fasting and praying now? NOW, is the time we have to work. NOW is the time we have to pray. NOW is the only time there will ever be for salvation. NOW is the accepted time, behold TODAY is the day of salvation. God help us.
I am not afraid to admit to others that I do not want to see Christ come right now. I believe this is why God offers a crown of righteousness to those who love his appearing as He understands how heart breaking it will be to depart this world with loved ones lost forever to an eternal hell without hope. Let's get busy while there is still time.
God bless.
I am not afraid to admit to others that I do not want to see Christ come right now. I believe this is why God offers a crown of righteousness to those who love his appearing as He understands how heart breaking it will be to depart this world with loved ones lost forever to an eternal hell without hope. Let's get busy while there is still time.
God bless.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Sweet sound
Day Two of VBS
God has blessed day two of our Vacation Bible School with an attendance of 79! This is the 5th and 6th grade class reciting their Bible verse.
The Bible tells us in Proverbs 20:11 that 'Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether they be right.'
It most certainly is a sweet sound, isn't it?
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Add to your faith
Add to your faith virtue.
Virtue is strength of mind. Once we step out in FAITH to God our mind is the next thing He wants. First our hearts, then our minds. Then from virtue we add knowledge. II Peter 1:5
We can also use the 'adding to our faith' the fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22,23
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Hearing from God
Hearing from God is always exciting as manifested prayers are an encouragement to pray more often. Don't take things for granted when something appears that you have asked for. Be sure to give thanks always.
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