A MEMORIAL DAY THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO GAVE ALL

Thank you to all military personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice for the United States of America. The  giving of their life. As Jesus says in John 15:13, Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends. Thess fine young men and women did just that. They sacrificed THEIR DREAMS so we could LIVE OURS. As we go about spending time with our family and friends on this Memorial Day, remember your barbecues and fellowship would not be possible without their sacrifice. Please take a moment to reflect and honor their sacrifice. Today is about THEM and not you. In addition, remember the families of these military personnel who endured the pain of losing a love one for their country. ALL GAVE SOME BUT THEY GAVE ALL.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you!
Gary

ARE YOU PREPARED?

Mr. Harold Camping, an American Christian radio host made a bold prediction about “The Rapture” and “Judgment Day”, also, known as the “End of Days.” He predicted that this event would occur on May 21, 2011 at 6:00 pm. How did he come about the date for this day? He claims the Bible and his formulas gave him the answer. So, if you are reading this, CONGRATULATIONS! You survived the “End of Days.” Well maybe you didn’t! Maybe all the good people have been taken up to heaven and you are left behind like me to fight it out with all the evil people. Oh don’t worry. We have a second chance. According to Mr. Camping, his calculations were off by 5 months. The NEW DATE for the “End of Days” is October 21, 2011. (Side note: Mr. Camping gave a first “Rapture” date prediction for September 1994. He was just as wrong about that date as he was of the May date.)

The “End of Days” is not about Mr. Camping and his predictions. In fact, if he truly studied what the Bible says about the date for the “End of Days” he would have discovered what Jesus says about this subject in Matthew 24:36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.” Think about that scripture for a second. Only God knows the date of “End of Days”. God hasn’t told his Son Jesus of this date. If God hasn’t told Jesus why in the world would He tell Mr. Camping? No answer needed. It’s obvious! He didn’t tell him because scripture says so. I believe Jesus is a lot farther up “the need to know” chain with God then Mr. Camping.

The bigger story in all this for Christians is ARE YOU PREPARED? Are you prepared to meet God? The world “End of Days” or your own personal “End of Days” also, known as death may occur at any given moment and it will happen. In either case you need to be prepared.

So again, I ask ARE YOU PREPARED? Here are a few things to ponder as you reflect upon your own preparation for this guaranteed day. Have you lived your life according to God’s will? Is your life Christ-like?  Have you studied the scriptures, strengthen your faith, and drawn closer to God on your journey of life? Have you followed Jesus’s commandment? ….Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another (Matthew 13:34). Have you humbled yourself? Are the Fruits of the Spirit in you? (Galatians 5:22-23 list the Fruits). Do you believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God? (This one is really important). Do you rejoice in your life’s trials and tribulations? Do these trial and tribulations lead to perseverance….which leads to character…which leads to hope….and our hope is Jesus. (Romans 5:3-5).  Have you surrendered your life to God? Do you hate this life as Jesus states in John 12:25 anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Have you asked God for the forgiveness of your sins? Do you pray without ceasing? Do you help the poor, widows and the orphans? (Isaiah 1:17). Can someone look at your life and know that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior?

Only you know the answers to these questions. It’s easy to believe we are doing all these things based on the world’s standards. However, those standards don’t count. It is God’s standards that count. Remember His standards are righteous, fair and just. You can’t lie to God or hide from God. If you have answered “NO” to any of the questions, you need to be concerned. However, there is still hope. You can turn your answers into a “YES”. How? Open the Bible. God doesn’t hide the answer to life’s test. In fact He would prefer you take life’s test with an open Bible. You are allowed to cheat on this test! You can look at someone else’s test. You can go back and change your answers. You can change your life! But you need to start this minute. The “End of Days” is coming. You don’t know if that will happen tonight, tomorrow, next week or next year. Just know it is coming. Jesus will return. Once, the “End of Days” arrives whether to the world or you personally it will be too late to change. Your fate with God is sealed!

Mr. Camping only used scriptures and his own formula to support his prediction and fails to recognize the scripture (Matthew 24:36) that disputes it. Why? Only he knows for sure. I can guarantee his PRIDE is a part of the equation. His PRIDE has blinded him to the truth about his predictions and scripture.

Maybe we need to thank Mr. Camping even though his predictions are wrong. This includes the October 21, 2011 prediction which will prove to be false. Why thank him? For me and hopefully others all this talk of “End of Days” will help us to reflect and correct the things God does not approve of in our lives. All Christians and Non- Christians will receive God’s judgment. That is a prediction that is GUARANTEED by scripture to come true. I hope for me and everyone involved God’s judgment brings us eternal life.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you!
Gary

ARE YOU LIVING AS A CHRISTIAN?

“I am a Christian. I go to church on Sunday.”  This is the most common reply I hear when in a discussion with someone who professes to be a Christian. It reminds me of a favorite quote of my late father-in-law, “If going to church makes you a Christian. Does going to the garage make you a car?”  Many people believe going to church makes you a Christian.  Many people believe that stating they believe in Jesus Christ makes them a Christian.  I hate to be the bearer of bad news but being a Christian goes much deeper.  Being a Christian is easy to define with words but more difficult to live. Why? because your actions give life to your words.

I want you to take a minute and think about people you know, have heard or have seen on TV who, claim by their own words to be a Christian but their actions don’t match their words?  This could be a friend, a family member, a celebrity or even YOU! Have you wondered why this happens and no one challenges them.  One answer is people don’t fully understand what it means to be a Christian.

I am going to say something that will be hard to swallow for some Christians. Ready?  Here goes!  If, you profess to be a Christian you can’t disagree with anything that is written in the Bible. Let me repeat what I said, if you profess to be a Christian you can’t disagree with anything that is written in the Bible. A pretty strong statement! But true!  I know some are finding this hard to swallow. Why do I say this? Well to disagree with what is written in the Bible is to disagree with GOD who is holy and perfect.  How can you disagree with someone who is perfect, who is all knowing and ever present.

I have heard people who live a homosexual life make claims of being a Christian. Wrong! I have heard abusers of many kinds say they are a Christian. Again wrong! We have churches with people in leadership roles, who lifestyles and actions go against what GOD tells us is correct and these churches claim to be doing the work of GOD. Once again wrong. When will the people of GOD stand up and tell these people they are wrong.  Right now some of you are saying to yourself, it is not my place to judge them that is left to GOD.  Judge them. This is your excuse!  Really!  It is our obligation as a Christian to speak out against non-Christian behavior especially, when fellow Christians are exhibiting the behavior.  If you don’t believe me read Matthew 18: 15-20. In these passages of scripture Jesus outlines the procedures we are to go through in dealing with sinners amongst Christians. GOD has given us the authority to speak to fellow Christians when they are living a non-Christian life. By not doing so we are not following what GOD has commanded us to do.  I agree judgment is left to GOD.  When I tell someone their behavior is wrong because it goes against GOD, I have been given authority to do so.  If I tell them they are going to hell because of their behavior now I have judged them. And my pay grade doesn’t allow for that.

I love Christian rock music. It is just about all I listen to. One of the leading Christian musicians is Steven Curtis Chapman.  He does a wonderful job in his song, The Change, summing up what a Christian’s journey through life should be about. I have quoted the opening verse and chorus.

THE CHANGE by Steven Curtis Chapman

Well I got myself a T-shirt that says what I believe

I got letters on my bracelet to serve as my ID

I got the necklace and the key chain

And almost everything a good Christian needs, yeah

I got the little Bible magnets on my refrigerator door

And a welcome mat to bless you

before you walk across my floor

I got a Jesus bumper sticker

And the outline of a fish on my car

And even though this stuff’s all well and good, yeah

I cannot help but as myself

What about the change

What about the difference

What about the grace

What about forgiveness

What about a life that’s showing

I’m undergoing the change, Yeah

I am undergoing the change

So many people believe if I have the T-shirt, bracelet, or a Jesus bumper sticker this makes me more of a Christian. Kind of like the quote about the car and going to the garage. Not true! I had a student a couple years ago who had a cross drawn on his school folders, a picture of Jesus as a screen saver on his cell phone and wore a big old cross around his neck.  I asked him why he had all those things. His reply “Jesus is my Lord and Savior.”  I thought awesome a young fellow Christian. Far from it! This student was a heathen. His language was inappropriate, about every other word was an explicative, he was rude, disrespectful and constantly being suspended from school.  If he really believed Jesus was his Lord and Savior then a change for the good would have been taking place. As Christians we don’t advertise our faith externally we advertise it internally.  Wearing a Christian T-shirt or bracelet, or saying we are Christian has nothing to do with our Christian beliefs. How we act from the change going on inside of us is what tells the world look I am a Christian.

GOD has given us all the answers to living a Christian life.  It’s called the Bible.  If you have a question about what you are to do as a Christian the Bible is your resource. The answers are spelled out in black and white. There are no gray areas for GOD.  Gray areas are created by people in order for scripture or situations to justify their sinful behavior. If you steal a pencil or steal a car it is still stealing in GOD’s eyes. HE doesn’t care what you stole HE is disappointed that you broke one of His commandments and stole.

Time for a small history lesson: The word Christian only appears three times in the bible.  The word Christian was first used by the Romans to identify people who were followers of Christ.  In fact, Jesus himself would call us disciples. John 8:31 Jesus says, “If you hold to my teachings, you are really my disciples.” So the real question should be, Are you a disciple of Christ?  Does your life hold to HIS teachings?  Do your actions hold to HIS teachings? If your answer is NO to either question then I recommend you fall to your knees and ask GOD for mercy and forgiveness and for Him to send the Holy Spirit upon you. When you have finished get up, grab your Bible and begin reading and studying.  The Bible is GOD’s game plan for a Christian life. Hopefully, you will have a life that’s showing you are undergoing, “The Change”.

Maybe we need to use the word “Believer” when describing a true disciple of Christ instead of Christian. Why? Because when you believe in something your actions will support your words. It is easy to say you’re a Christian. Those are just words. It is more difficult to say you are a “Believer” in Christ. When you believe in Christ your actions will be proof to the world and GOD that you are HIS follower.

In the end, when our time on earth is finished, we will stand before GOD and have to be accountable for all we did or didn’t do. I hope we all hear the greatest words any Christian can hear coming from GOD, “Well done my good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:21)

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you!
Gary