Serving Two Masters

"No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be loyal to the one and have contempt for the other. You cannot serve God and wealth." –Matthew 6:24

I believe this verse goes beyond the aspect of serving God versus money. The Amplified Bible translates it as, "deceitful riches, money, possessions, or whatever is trusted in."

We're all guilty at times of attempting to serve God while serving our own desires apart from Him. And yet we know the outcome is always negative. Any time we place something or someone on our altar, so to speak, and elevate it above the Lord Jesus, we attempt to take away the power and total sufficiency of the Cross!

We can't serve both. It's like mixing oil and water, there will always be division and a settling for one over the other.

Serving Him comes when we choose to accept Him as our Savior and Lord. It comes when we realize that living this life apart from knowing Him and His wonder, grace and love, is a futile and lonely existence. It comes when we acknowledge that Jesus alone is the way, the truth and the life and that no one comes to the Father except through Him. (John 14:6) Serving Him is the outpouring of our love for Him in response to all He has done and continues to do for us. And we have a say in the matter of who or what we will serve.

Commingling Jesus with anything or anyone else will thankfully, never bring one fulfillment. So in the words of Joshua…

"And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." –Joshua 24:15

Much love to you.

—Dave

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Reflecting on the horrific tragedy in Connecticut

Dear Friend,

How much more evil do we need to see demonstrated throughout the world to convince us that things are not getting better here? We can think all the positive thoughts we want and continue on our merry way in the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness, but reality is shouting at us something very different.

If you think that with enough human goodness and reform we can turn this world around than you are deaf, dumb and blind. Is it any surprise that we as a nation, as a world, after a generation of walking away from God and His moral absolutes, have sunk this low? We can blame handguns and demand for more control, but never come to the root cause of this disease. Quite simply it’s sin in the heart of man. And the enemy of mankind, the devil himself, is laughing all the way to Hell.

If you’re not a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ then your blindness seems understandable. But if you are a believer and deny these things then please wake up. This “age of grace” is coming to a close quickly. God is incredibly patient and long suffering, but a time is coming when He will judge evil.

We can't say He hasn’t warned us with signs and wonders lately. Just look at the calamities around the world these past few years. Are you still going to say, “Oh, these things have always happened.”?! I'm not saying that God Himself is the author of all these disasters. Man can claim much responsibility himself. But I believe He has been shaking things up to get our attention off of our happy-go-lucky, independent selves and on to our dire need for Him.

It’s going to get a lot worse before it gets better. And Jesus remains our only hope. Do you know Him? I mean more than head knowing. Do you know Him as your Lord and Savior? He made it so incredibly difficult for Himself to give you eternal life, with His willingness to die on a cross for our sins, but so incredibly easy for you to receive it. Please receive Him now. He loves you more than you’ll ever realize.

As the apostle Paul wrote:

“In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." — 2 Corinthians 6:2

And again:

“if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” —Romans 10:9

The Good News (aka: the Gospel) is just that, good news to a world corrupted by sin: God  Himself became a man like one of us. He lived a sinless life and became the perfect, righteous sacrifice for our sins. He died, but death couldn’t hold him in the ground. He arose and now lives in hearts of those who know Him, who call Him Lord. The Good News is that He invites us to know Him and to be known by Him. He invites us into a relationship that is wonderful, eternal, true, fulfilling life now and forever.

I pray you consider this message and seek Him today while the light is still shining. It’s getting darker by the moment.

Much love and hope for you,

—Dave

EVER WONDER WHY...?

EVER WONDER WHY the little nation of Israel has been so hated? The US used to be her greatest ally, but this administration has turned its back on her. So, even as the Bible foretold, Israel in these last days stands alone to defend herself. But actually she is not alone. God, who called out a people called Israel a few millennia ago, the One who brought those people back to its nation status in 1948 (also foretold in the Bible) is the One who will protect Israel from its enemies. And her enemies are increasing.

Why should one care what happens to Israel or the Middle East in general? Because all that is unraveling there will affect us here. And again, it was prophesied hundreds, thousands of years ago that these things would happen in the last days, so it proves that the Bible can be trusted. And if the Bible is worthy of our trust (especially in a time where so much in this world is untrustworthy) then it's worth finding out what else the Bible has to say about the times we're living in.

“For thus said the Lord of hosts, after his glory sent me to the nations who plundered you, for he who touches you touches the apple of his eye:” —Zechariah 2:8

“For the nation and kingdom that will not serve you shall perish; those nations shall be utterly laid waste.” —Isaiah 60:12

“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.” —Luke 21:20

EVER WONDER WHY the weather has been acting rather fierce lately? It's not a secret or theory that the world's weather has grown more wild and unpredictable. We just had Frankensandy, the "storm of the century" and climatologists say that we're in for more of the same in the future. Earthquakes have greatly been on the rise. There have been 6 major world quakes (above a 6 magnitude) this past seven days alone:

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/quakes_all.html

“And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.”  —Luke 21:25-26

The truth is, until something hits close to home we're not affected, so it's pretty much just business as usual for us. And when something does hit us (like Sandy) we quickly get over it (unless you’ve lost a loved one or a house as a result) and get on with life.


EVER WONDER WHY we don't go to God and admit our dire need for Him? We should be admitting that we in fact are not in control of this life. We don't know when calamity may strike with our name on it. I truly think that with all that is transpiring around the world that God is graciously trying to get our attention. Lovingly trying to cause us to turn to Him, seek Him with all our hearts.

“I love those who love me, And those who seek me diligently will find me.”
— Proverbs 8:17

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Time is shorter than any of us think. Just keep looking at Israel, the Middle East, and the continued, unnerving natural signs around the globe. All is increasing and where things are heading will affect every one of us.

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DO YOU KNOW JESUS?  I mean really know Him. He’s more than some icon on par with Buddha, Mohammed, Krishna or the like. He is the very Son of God, the One who declared Himself to be the Great I AM. And yet He is knowable to each one of us. It is more than having some head knowledge about Him. It’s having a relationship with Him. And it begins by simply asking Him to reveal Himself to you.

If you don’t know Him personally then you don’t realize how much you need Him. You don’t know that you cannot make it out of this life without Him. It’s as if there is a veil over your eyes preventing you from seeing this truth. But that’s not His fault, it’s the fault of you or anyone that rejects Him, refuses to come to Him. It’s about this amazing thing called free will that he gave us — the ability to choose. Choose Him or reject Him. Choose life or choose death.

“Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” —John 17:3

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If you've been patient enough to all read this I pray you will seriously consider all that has been written here.

God so desires for us to know Him, but He won’t force Himself on us.

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Please, simply ask God, pray this simple prayer: Jesus, if you are real please let me know. If you are real as the Bible says, then I want to know you too.

If you’re sincere with that prayer He will honor it and respond. I know He will because He did for me some thirty years ago.

I'm praying for you.

—Dave

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“Then they said to Him, ‘What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.’” —John 6:28-29

”For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” —John 3:16

“Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”  —Luke 21:27-28

 
“Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” —Matthew 11:28-30

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” —John 14:6 

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IS GOD STILL IN THE BUSINESS OF JUDGEMENT?

IS GOD STILL IN THE BUSINESS OF JUDGEMENT? Does He still send harbingers of warning to get mankind's attention? Or is that just Old Testament stuff?

With all the incredible seismic activity throughout the earth (just the past few days alone) between earthquakes and volcanic activity, massive fish and animal deaths and now this impending "Frankenstorm" Sandy, maybe we should stop and think about this. If He is trying to get our attention perhaps we should be asking why. Could these be what the Bible calls the "birth pains"of the end of the age, an omen of more devastating things to come? (read the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 24)

Do you know Jesus? I mean more than just in name. Do you know Him as your Savior and Lord?

God has already provided a way of escape from the calamities that are surely coming. His Son, Jesus is that escape. Though one might lose his or her physical life he or she can be assured of eternal life by believing on Jesus Christ. And it's more than just believing that He probably existed. It is fully trusting in His dying on the Cross for our sins and in His resurrection from the dead. It's trusting in Him for what He had accomplished for us 2000 years ago. If you don't know Him come to Him now. Invite Him into your life. You will experience the greatest experience you have ever known. And you can be sure of where you'll spend eternity.

God continues to speak to us, to warn us. He is so patient and long suffering and He wishes that no one should perish. But we have a choice in the matter, whether to accept His offer of salvation or reject it. I pray that you will consider all that I've shared here.

God bless you and may he open your eyes so that you may see.

Love,

Dave

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For an interesting article that furthers this conversation, read Joel Rosenberg's...

EXPERT WARNS HURRICANE SANDY IS A “MONSTER,” “BEHEMOTH” STORM: Is God about to shake us again?"

http://flashtrafficblog.wordpress.com/2012/10/28/expert-warns-hurricane-sandy-is-a-monster-behemoth-storm-is-god-about-to-shake-us-again/

“Let not your hearts be troubled” BUT let not your minds be fooled!

It appears Mr. Romney was the winner of last night’s US presidential debate. I did not watch it. I have long tired of listening to political lies and blame games. And particularly tired of Mr. O and the increasingly, frightening radical Marxist direction he’s taken this country for the past four years.

If Romney gets elected, then what? Does he, will he have the capability to move this country out of the perilous debt and destruction we’re facing. No, he won’t. The ship is going down folks. And this follower, not of any man, but of Jesus Christ, believes still that Jesus remains our only hope. He is our only Rescue Ship. It’s time to wake up and smell the stuff that our leaders have been dumping on us for what it is… bullshit. They cannot save us and saving is what we need.

”The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

—Jesus (Gospel of John, 10:10, 16:33)

He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

"And He said to them, 'He who has ears to hear, let him hear!' But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable. And He said to them, 'To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables, so that,

‘Seeing they may see and not perceive,
And hearing they may hear and not understand;
Lest they should turn,
And their sins be forgiven them.’”

Are you listening? Are you watching? Are you paying attention to the things that are happening around the world, in this country, the nations, the land, sea and skies?

The Lord God is just a breath away from all of us. Today... tomorrow... weeks or years from now may be your last breath on this planet. Do you know where you will be going after this life has passed? Do you know Jesus?

You may believe that you're a "Christian" because you attend a church, but do you know Jesus personally? Have you placed your trust in Him to save you?

He calls us to come to Him. Desiring that no one should perish He sent His Son, Jesus to die on the Cross, to pay the price for our sinful condition. He calls us to repent, which simply means to turn around, turn from our selfish, sinful ways and turn to Him to save us through Jesus.

The parable of the lost son, in the Gospel of Luke, 15:11-32, is a wonderful illustration of this loving, Heavenly One who so desires us to know Him as Father.

If you don't know Jesus I pray you think about what is shared here. Consider these words. They come from someone who dearly cares about you and where you will spend eternity. Unfortunately it's become such a trite expression, but Jesus does love you.

'He who has ears to hear, let him hear!'

The following article hit the nail on the head for me and for those who believe, those who are watching, without a shadow of a doubt, that we are in the very last of the last days of planet Earth as we know it.

Look around. Open your eyes. Do you really think that all that is happening in the world — between natural disasters, economic collapse and world wars rapidly building up — is normal ? ? ?

Scoff if you must. Joke about it. Pretend that this stuff always happens and it's all just going to get better.

Please... now is the time to check your spiritual pulse. Are you sensitive to what God may be trying to tell you? Or are you numbed by what the world keeps tossing at you?

Many of you know me personally. Some may be surprised by the boldness I share on Facebook, but not in person. For that I am ashamed. If you really knew me you'd know that my greatest love in the world is Jesus Christ. He is the only way out of this rapidly decaying and dying world. He began His ministry 2000 years ago as the Way, the Truth and the Life and the only way to the Father — and He remains so.

Place your trust in Him. He is the way of salvation. And today is the day of salvation for you. How will you respond? Will you just scoff all this off as some lunatic friend who's crying wolf? Or will you open your heart and believe in the only One who can bring everlasting peace and eternal life to you?

"For He says:

'In an acceptable time I have heard you,
And in the day of salvation I have helped you.'

Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." — 2 Corinthians 6:2

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CRYING WOLF? — by Tim Cameron

"When I was a kid, like many people I heard the story of the little boy who cried wolf. The moral of the story was to instruct us to only "cry wolf" when there really is a wolf, otherwise people will turn a deaf ear!

To many in the Church, the message of Jesus Soon Return has been relegated to "crying wolf" It's a 2,000 year old message and many have heard it all their lives and have put it in a category of non relevant at a time it's becoming most relevant.

2 Peter 3:3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, 6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

SCOFFERS are SCOFFING

In this late hour and it is late, how do we know? Because the Bible said that when we saw Israel reborn that a final countdown would have begun and that the clock for us to watch would be Israel. That there would come a time when the nations of this world would begin to align against Israel and that Jerusalem would become a burden to the world in regards to Peace. Jacob's Trouble is a time our God has mercifully warned us about and told us the state of mankind's hearts would be .."as it was in the days of Noah" "as it was in the days of Lot"

"HELLO" when have we ever saw a more volatile time globally speaking? The enemies of Israel are aligning at an alarming rate and they have made their intentions very clear..."Israel shall be no more" Hmmm or should I say Holy Moly Psalms 83 warned us that this mindset would be prominent at such a time as this Psalms 83:4 They have said, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation,That the name of Israel may be remembered no more.” Coincidence? Crying Wolf?

How bout our culture...has it changed in recent years? I mean there was a time people left their doors unlocked, where shows on TV were The Waltons, Little House on the Prairie, and Andy Griffith but we are not in Mayberry RFD anymore

I mean do you NOT think Paul was speaking of "this time" when He penned these words to Timothy?

2 Timothy 3:1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Now, before you just say to yourself, I've heard this all before, please take a moment and stop and think about what we are talking about as Bible Believing Followers of Jesus Christ. This is a SIGN POST in time that we were told to look for.

The Apostle Paul writes Timothy a letter of description of what the world will be looking like when "it's the LAST DAYS"

LAST DAYS? Ahh man I've heard this all my life...I mean Hal Lindsey's Late Great Planet Earth is over 40 years old since it's original publication! People have been preaching Jesus is coming back forever!

True ..but that mindset is what Peter warned to watch out for when writing about now! And let me remind you, Noah preached for a hundred years of the coming wrath of God and was mocked over and over UNTIL it started to rain. And let's be honest and look back and do so in light of Daniel's "Last Days" warnings of how mankind would know time was running out, Daniel 12:4 “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.” In the last 40 years, has knowledge increased, has travel increase and on what type of scale in light of the last two thousand years?? Seriously stop and think! Just in light of this one passage of prophecy ..if you will be honest it should shake you awake to stop and think and then believe!

I liken it to last years family vacation. I and my wife took our 3 kids to the ocean for the first time. In the prior weeks to our "taking off" from Missouri to Destin Florida their was a lot of talk about what to expect, what to look for and what to hope for. The day finally arrived to head out on our journey and their was great anticipation but of course in a 13 + hour car ride with 3 kids their was some agonizing about "are we getting close?" "how much further" to ..."we are never gonna get there" but as soon as we hit Interstate 10 and they saw Ocean Water (a sign post) that Destin was getting closer, a growing sense of urgency and excitement began to hit us all..we were right to know ...we were close to our destination, not because of our feelings or desires but just because we were sincerely getting closer and the signs were all around us telling us that very thing!

EARS to HEAR

IF there was ever a time to be listening to what God is sharing, it's now. Today IS the day of salvation and it's time to work the harvest fields for their is coming an hour that no man can work. The beating of the clock is winding down while many Biblical Indicators are screaming out to those who would study to show themselves approved. The Prophetic Compass of God's Word says to keep an eye on Damascus and it's soon destruction prophesied by Isaiah, to pay attention to the wars and rumors of wars, to notice the shaking of the earth intensifying, the groaning of earth and sea, the violence of man's hearts growing darker and love waxing cold...are we listening? Or is it just a "Cry of Wolf" in our hearing? does the almost 16 trillion of national debt hear in America seem normal or do we realize that "the debtor is enslaved to the lender" are we shaken awake that nations of this world like Greece and Spain are going bankrupt? That an evil plan is even now being put into place to micro chip each human being for "medical purposes", people are being arrested for having a bible study in America? In our paying attention to all these things we are told to "look up and to watch and pray" Are WE? or are we tuning it all out?

DEAF EAR?

What does turning a deaf ear to the message of Jesus Soon return look like? Complacency, lethargic, lukewarm living for your best life now, self kingdom building, turning a blind eye to those who are perishing without any sense of urgency life styles.

What do you think is on the Heart of our God for His people right now? At such a time as this? That we His children would fall madly and passionately in Love with Him. Returning to first love!

We have been told by Jesus Himself in Mathew 22:37 ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

This is not some legalistic appeal to try and guilt a response, to put a heavy yoke of doing to earn!!

This is all about "where is our heart?"

The first thing I want us to remember is that we are told "that without faith it is impossible to please God" Noah by faith believed God and built an ark....and that is exactly what I'm about to ask you to do. It's time to build an end time structure of escape...what is that?

It's a united remnant of called out believers working in one accord to simply love the Lord by loving His Sheep, by lifting up the Only Name given unto man by which the can be saved...Jesus Christ and Him Crucified!

When Peter had failed the Lord by denying Him, Jesus came to Peter and restored him by asking him "Peter, do you love Me?" "Yes Lord I love you" "Peter, feed my sheep" Jesus asked him again, "Peter do you love me?" "Yes Lord, you know I do" "Feed my sheep" and that is exactly what Jesus is asking us during this time of when its seeming that the Church has failed Our Lord by denying Him on so many levels in our lives. Yet our high calling ..is to hear

"Well done thou faithful servant, I was naked and you clothed me, I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirty and you gave me a drink" Jesus is once again asking "Do You Love Me?"

Time is running out to do what Jesus has commissioned us to do!

LOOK at the Clock!

Israel, May 14th 1948...tick tock, missiles fired upon them almost daily, suicide bombers, nations aligning with the sole purpose to eradicate Israel and the great satan the USA. The Great Tribulation is also known as Jacob's Trouble, a time Israel will be surrounded and vexed on every side, can't we see that is even now taking shape? If We know the end of the story ...it brings great and reassuring news, but for those who are even now lost and headed towards all of eternity separated from the Love of God and doomed to an eternal hell, it's URGENT that we be about our Father's business ....spending time getting to Know Him and Making Him Known

The Little Boy cried wolf when there was no wolf, but many in the kingdom are now crying "make straight the way of the Lord" because Jesus is about to shout "come up here"and that is the The Gospel Truth!

In hearing that, does your heart scoff? "where is the promise of His coming?" does it say as the evil servant in Luke 12 "my master is delaying His coming" or does it align with the Spirit of God in crying "even so Lord, come quickly"

Back to this thing called "Crying Wolf" As believers we have no business looking for the Anti Christ but we should be very aware of the stage he is about to step out on. What is his stage? what are the problems he will seemingly solve. A Global "financial crisis" and he will be a peace broker between Israel and her enemies at a time of great volatility...If that stage is even now being set, we who have ears to hear and eyes to see can take great heart that our "blessed hope" is even at the door!

Maranatha"

My hope is built on nothing less

. . .

What is your hope built on?

My hope is built on nothing less


Than Jesus' blood and righteousness;


I dare not trust the sweetest frame,


But wholly lean on Jesus' name.


On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;


All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness veils His lovely face,


I rest on His unchanging grace;


In every high and stormy gale


My anchor holds within the veil.


On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;


All other ground is sinking sand.

His oath, His covenant, and blood


Support me in the whelming flood;


When every earthly prop gives way,

He then is all my Hope and Stay.


On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;


All other ground is sinking sand.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,


Oh, may I then in Him be found,

Clothed in His righteousness alone,

Faultless to stand before the throne!


On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;


All other ground is sinking sand.

Author: Edward Mote, 1834  |  Composer: John Stainer, 1873

. . .

What Are We to Make of Jesus Christ?

By C. S. Lewis

This is a question which has, in a sense, a frantically comic side. For the real question is not what are we to make of Christ, but what is He to make of us? The picture of a fly sitting deciding what it is going to make of an elephant has comic elements about it. But perhaps the questioner meant what are we to make of Him in the sense of 'How are we to solve the historical problem set us by the recorded sayings and acts of this Man?' This problem is to reconcile two things. On the one hand you have got the almost generally admitted depth and sanity of His moral teaching, which is not very seriously questioned, even by those who are opposed to Christianity. In fact, I find when I am arguing with very anti-God people that they rather make a point of saying, 'I am entirely in favour of the moral teaching of this Man and of His immediate followers, moral truth is exhibited at its purest and best. It is not sloppy idealism, it is full of wisdom and shrewdness. The whole thing is realistic, fresh to the highest degree, the product of a sane mind. That is one phenomenon.

The other phenomenon is the quite appalling nature of this Man's theological remarks. You all know what I mean, and I want rather to stress the point that the appalling claim which this Man seems to be making is not merely made at one moment of His career. there is, of course, the one moment which led to His execution. the moment at which the High Priest said to Him, 'Who are you?' I am the Anointed, the Son of the uncreated God, and you shall see Me appearing at the end of all history as the judge of the universe.' But that claim, in fact, does not rest on this one dramatic moment. When you look in to His conversation you will find this sort of claim running throughout the whole thing. For instance, He went about saying to people, 'I forgive your sins;. Now it is quite natural for a man to forgive something you do to him. Thus if somebody cheats me out of five pounds it is quite possible and reasonable for me to say, ;Well, I forgive him, we will say no more about it.' What on earth would you say if somebody had done you out of five pounds and I said, 'That is all right, I forgive him'? On one occasion this Man is sitting looking down on Jerusalem from the hill above it and suddenly in comes an extraordinary remark - 'I keep on sending you prophets and wise men.' Nobody comments on it. And yet, quite suddenly, almost incidentally, He is claiming to be the power that all through the centuries is sending wise men and leaders into the world. Here is another curious remark: in almost every religion there are unpleasant observances like fasting. This Man suddenly remarks one day, 'No one need fast while I am here.' Who is this Man who remarks that His mere presence suspends all normal rules? Who is the person who can suddenly tell the School they can have a half-holiday? Sometimes the statements put forward the assumption that He, the Speaker, is completely without sin or fault. This is always the attitude. 'You, to whom I am talking, are all sinners,' and He never remotely suggests that this same reproach can be brought against Him. He says again, 'I am the begotten of the One God, before Abraham was, I am,' and remember what the words 'I am' were in Hebrew. They were the name of God, which must not be spoken by any human being, the name which it was death to utter.

Well, that is the other side. On the one side clear, definite moral teaching. On the other, claims which, if not true, are those of a megalomaniac, compared with whom Hitler was the most sane and humble of men. There is no half-way house and there is no parallel in other religions. If you had gone to Buddha and asked him: ;Are you the son of Bramah?' he would have said, 'My son, you are still in the bale of illusion.' If you had gone to Socrates and asked, 'Are you Zeus?' he would have laughed at you. If you had gone to Mohammed and asked, 'Are you Allah?' he would first have rent his clothes and then cut your head off. If you had asked Confucius, 'Are you heaven?', I think he would have probably replied, 'Remarks which are not in accordance with nature are in bad taste.' The idea of a great moral teacher saying what Christ said is out of the question. In my opinion, the only person who can say that sort of thing is either God or a complete lunatic suffering from that form of delusion which undermines the whole mind of man. If you think you are a poached egg, when you are not looking for a piece of toast to suit you may be sane, but if you think you are God, there is no chance for you. We may note in passing that He was never regarded as a mere moral teacher. he did not produce that effect on any of the people who actually met him. He produced mainly three effects - Hatred - Terror - Adoration. There was no trace of people expressing mild approval.

Taken from: "God in the Dock" by C.S. Lewis

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The United States of Laodicea?

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Are You the Coming One?

“When the men had come to Him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, ‘Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?’” —Luke 7:20

This passage just came to my mind and I was thinking how it relates to where we are… we, the antsy, awaiting Bride of Christ.

John the baptizer is held up in prison, awaiting his demise, and he’s wondering if this Jesus is the One, the Messiah, after all. If I were John I could see myself wondering the same thing! John knew his time on earth, his ministry, was all about Jesus… preparing the way for the Savior, turning his own disciples into followers of Christ. I don’t know what kind of relationship John had with Him while they were growing up. They were cousins after all. But nothing is said about their closeness. Though John had no problem recognizing Jesus when He came to be baptized by him.

So here we are with all that we see and know in this world that is rushing towards a climax. And though we don’t doubt that Jesus is the One and that He is indeed coming for us, don’t we still feel weak and weary, feeling like we’re held up in prison and experiencing our own doubts and worries? Maybe our question to Him is more, “Are we sure we understand You correctly Jesus? Are you still coming soon or have we misunderstood something?”

Maybe if we listen real carefully we’ll hear Jesus replying:

“Child, remember and do not lose heart! Remember the Truth that you embraced in the beginning. Remember My miracles. Remember My love for you. And remember that I CHANGE NOT. The race is coming quick to the finish line. I AM coming soon!”

Keep the faith and hold tight to Him!!!

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The wonderful testimony of Christopher Yuan

This is a wonderful testimony of God's saving grace in the life of Christopher Yuan.

我的生命改變了-袁幼軒 from Gideons on Vimeo.

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." —Jeremiah 29:11-13

The Lord used this passage, on a note scrawled in Christopher's prison cell, to grab his attention and to begin a life of transformation through the wondrous, saving grace of Jesus Christ.

And the Lord still saves and transforms...

"...that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” — Romans 10:9-13

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