I just read an article about lies doctors tell their patients. The patient is trusting that he will be told the absolute truth about an illness, it's cause, it's treatment, and the probable course and chance of recovery. For various reasons doctors may not speak the truth about one or more of these. For example: He may not actually know for sure what is happening and makes a "diagnosis" which, in reality, is just a guess; he may not want to give false hope or depressing news; he may not be aware of a new treatment or doesn't believe in a certain treatment. etc.
Most of us, at some time in our lives, have had a "spiritual" question and have sought an answer from a spiritual leader. Here are seven of the most dangerous lies being told. Lies which could have eternal consequences.
The Lie: Don't be so hard on yourself, you're putting yourself on a guilt trip.
The Truth: There is such a thing as false guilt, but there is also real guilt that needs to be dealt with now, in this life, before it's too late.
The Lie: Religeon is just man's attempt to find answers to the unanswerable and to find some kind of meaning in life. It is man made. Someday soon we will no longer need it. Don't take it so seriously.
The Truth: There is an "Intelligence" reflected in all of creation and especially the highest creation, man. It is reasonable to assume that this Intelligence, God, would communicate with man, and He has in many ways. His inspired scripture, The Holy Bible, is His only guidebook to a relationship with Him and a for a meaningful life.
The Lie: It doesn't really matter what you believe. Just try to live a good life.
The Truth: It really does matter what you believe. You can't turn your back on the true God, make Him to be something He isn't, ignore His communications and not suffer the consequences.
The Lie: You're OK. I'm OK, we're all OK.
The Truth: We're not OK. We have all sinned against an infinitely Holy God.
The Lie: There are many roads to the top of the mountain. All of them are ok.
The Truth: Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father but by me."
The Lie: The Bible is full of untruths and contradictions.
The Truth: There are some things difficult to understand, but no errors or contradictions.
The Lie: Jesus did not suffer the wrath of God on the cross to atone for your sins. We don't really know how God takes away our guilt.
The Truth: Jesus died on the Cross for your sins and mine in order to satisfy the infinite justice of God. If there was another way for man to be saved from his sins, Jesus would not have died the humiliating and terrible death by crucifiction.
Don't believe the lies and more important, don't tell them to others who may be seeking answers. The worst thing you could do to a person with a serious illness would be to tell them that they are ok and deny them the very thing that would cure them.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Thursday, December 2, 2010
dot, dot, dot; dash, dash, dash; dot, dot, dot
Dot dot dot dash dash dash dot dot dot. ...---...
Does this have any meaning to you? Well, if you are over 50 years old it is full of meaning and just hearing this strange "code" conjurs visions of storm tossed ships on the high seas in danger of sinking. Morse telegraph code for the letters
"S", "O", "S" which mean "Save our ship".
Today with G4, Smart phones, satellite communication and the "world wide webb" there is a generation of young people who don't know what "telegraph" or "Morse code" are. If you ask them what dot dot dot dash dash dash dot dot dot means they may tell you they think it is something from Harry Potter.
There was a time when everyone knew the meaning of SOS. We were taught that someday, if we were in danger, this could save our lives.
There is another "life saving message" that is being forgotten in America and Europe. It is the message from our Creator who says, "Your sins have separated you from Me. My Infinite Justice and Holiness demands a penalty which you cannot pay so I came to earth and took the penalty upon myself in the Person of Jesus Christ. If you will receive Him as your Savior and Lord then you will be saved from the guilt and penalty of your sin because the penalty has been paid in full."
That the Son of God, Jesus, could take upon himself the penalty for your sins and mine is not an archaic message. It is the only pathway to eternal life.
Believe it, receive it. It will save your life.
Does this have any meaning to you? Well, if you are over 50 years old it is full of meaning and just hearing this strange "code" conjurs visions of storm tossed ships on the high seas in danger of sinking. Morse telegraph code for the letters
"S", "O", "S" which mean "Save our ship".
Today with G4, Smart phones, satellite communication and the "world wide webb" there is a generation of young people who don't know what "telegraph" or "Morse code" are. If you ask them what dot dot dot dash dash dash dot dot dot means they may tell you they think it is something from Harry Potter.
There was a time when everyone knew the meaning of SOS. We were taught that someday, if we were in danger, this could save our lives.
There is another "life saving message" that is being forgotten in America and Europe. It is the message from our Creator who says, "Your sins have separated you from Me. My Infinite Justice and Holiness demands a penalty which you cannot pay so I came to earth and took the penalty upon myself in the Person of Jesus Christ. If you will receive Him as your Savior and Lord then you will be saved from the guilt and penalty of your sin because the penalty has been paid in full."
That the Son of God, Jesus, could take upon himself the penalty for your sins and mine is not an archaic message. It is the only pathway to eternal life.
Believe it, receive it. It will save your life.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Are you committing the sins of Sodom? Take the test - it might surprise you.
Q.1. Comparing yourself to the 1 billion half starved, poverty stricken Asians and Africans, do you think you might be considered a proud person?
Q.2. Do you have more than enough to eat every day? If you are 1 lb. overweight the answer is yes.
Q.3. Do you have a lot of spare time? There are 168 hours in a week. If you have a 40 hour work week there are 128 hours remaining. Sleep 8 hours a day? You have 72 hours left. That's almost half a week. What do you do with those 72 hours? Watch tv? Play video games? Shoot hoops? Hang out?
Q.4. What exactly are you doing for the poor and needy? A 5 dollar turkey once a year? Your generousity overwhelms me.
Now read the "other" reasons why God sent fire and brimstone down on Sodom.
MAYBE IT'S TIME FOR ALL OF US TO DO A SERIOUS SELF EXAMINIATION AND REARRANGE OUR PRIORITIES. WE MAY BE GIVING AN ACCOUNT BEFORE THE "BEMA" OF CHRIST SOONER THAN WE THINK.
Ezekiel 16:49
"Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy."
Q.2. Do you have more than enough to eat every day? If you are 1 lb. overweight the answer is yes.
Q.3. Do you have a lot of spare time? There are 168 hours in a week. If you have a 40 hour work week there are 128 hours remaining. Sleep 8 hours a day? You have 72 hours left. That's almost half a week. What do you do with those 72 hours? Watch tv? Play video games? Shoot hoops? Hang out?
Q.4. What exactly are you doing for the poor and needy? A 5 dollar turkey once a year? Your generousity overwhelms me.
Now read the "other" reasons why God sent fire and brimstone down on Sodom.
MAYBE IT'S TIME FOR ALL OF US TO DO A SERIOUS SELF EXAMINIATION AND REARRANGE OUR PRIORITIES. WE MAY BE GIVING AN ACCOUNT BEFORE THE "BEMA" OF CHRIST SOONER THAN WE THINK.
Ezekiel 16:49
"Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy."
Saturday, November 13, 2010
The Nose of the Camel
Have you heard the story of the bedouin who found himself out in the middle of the desert on a very cold night? He unloaded his gear from his camel, pitched his tent, cooked a very meager dinner then curled up under some blankets and tried to go to sleep. It wasn't long before the camel stuck his nose between the tent flaps and pleaded, "Master, it's terribly cold out here and I worked so hard for you all day. Please let me warm up my nose for awhile." The bedouin thought to himself, "Yes, the poor thing has had a hard day. I should let him warm his nose, that's the least I could do to thank him for his labor." So he let the camel warm his nose and soon the bedouin was nodding off to sleep. After a short while he heard a noise and looked up to see the camel had pushed his entire head into the small tent. "Hey, what are you doing?" he shouted. "Please Master", said the camel, "My ears were freezing. Be so kind and let me warm up my ears for awhile." The bedouin thought, "I'll be nice to him. It is a very cold night." So he let the camel leave his head in the tent. It wasn't long before he was awakened again and found the camel had now pushed his front legs and shoulder into the tent. "Oh, please Master. Just let me warm my feet. It's freezing out there."
You get the drift. Before the night was over the bedouin was sharing his little tent with a big stinking camel and there was no way he could get him back out into the cold air.
This story is ancient. It has been told over and over to childen, families, individuals, tribes, organizations and yes, even to churches to illustrate how important it is to be discerning with regard to what you are willing to accept.
2 John 10 "If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house" (or tent)
You get the drift. Before the night was over the bedouin was sharing his little tent with a big stinking camel and there was no way he could get him back out into the cold air.
This story is ancient. It has been told over and over to childen, families, individuals, tribes, organizations and yes, even to churches to illustrate how important it is to be discerning with regard to what you are willing to accept.
2 John 10 "If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house" (or tent)
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Isaac Newton
The mathematical and scientific discoveries of Sir Isaac Newton (1642 - 1727) are astronomical. Some of the most notable of his achievements include the invention of calculus, the discovery of the laws of motion and the law of gravitation, and the construction of the first reflecting telescope. He also was a man known for his Christian faith. He spent a great portion of his time studying the Bible with a special interest in prophecy. Following are some of his quotations.
On the Bible:
"I have a fundamental belief in the Bible as the Word of God, written by men who were inspired. I study the Bible daily."
On atheism:
"Atheism is so senseless. When I look at the solar system. I see the earth at the right distance from the sun to receive the proper amounts of heat and light. This did not happen by chance."
At the time of his death, he left more than a million words of notes on the Bible. Six years after his death, Observations Upon the Prophecies of Daniel and the Apocalypse of St. John was published. Not only was Isaac a great scientist but also a dedicated student of the Bible.
from BlueLetterBible
On the Bible:
"I have a fundamental belief in the Bible as the Word of God, written by men who were inspired. I study the Bible daily."
On atheism:
"Atheism is so senseless. When I look at the solar system. I see the earth at the right distance from the sun to receive the proper amounts of heat and light. This did not happen by chance."
At the time of his death, he left more than a million words of notes on the Bible. Six years after his death, Observations Upon the Prophecies of Daniel and the Apocalypse of St. John was published. Not only was Isaac a great scientist but also a dedicated student of the Bible.
from BlueLetterBible
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Despised and Rejected
"It is enough for the disciple that he be as His Master." Matthew 10:25
No one will dispute this statement, for it would be unseemly for the servant to be exalted above his Master. When our Lord was on earth, what was the treatment He received? Were His claims acknowledged, His instructions followed, His perfections worshipped, by those whom He came to bless? No; "He was despised and rejected of men." Outside the camp was His place: cross-bearing was His occupation. Did the world yield Him solace and rest? "Foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay His head." This inhospitable country afforded Him no shelter: it cast Him out and crucified Him. Such—if you are a follower of Jesus, and maintain a consistent, Christ-like walk and conversation—you must expect to be the lot of that part of your spiritual life which, in its outward development, comes under the observation of men. They will treat it as they treated the Saviour—they will despise it. Dream not that worldlings will admire you, or that the more holy and the more Christ-like you are, the more peaceably people will act towards you. They prized not the polished gem, how should they value the jewel in the rough? "If they have called the Master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of His household?" If we were more like Christ, we should be more hated by His enemies. It were a sad dishonour to a child of God to be the world's favourite. It is a very ill omen to hear a wicked world clap its hands and shout "Well done" to the Christian man. He may begin to look to his character, and wonder whether he has not been doing wrong, when the unrighteous give him their approbation. Let us be true to our Master, and have no friendship with a blind and base world which scorns and rejects Him. Far be it from us to seek a crown of honour where our Lord found a coronet of thorn.
C.H.Spurgeon
No one will dispute this statement, for it would be unseemly for the servant to be exalted above his Master. When our Lord was on earth, what was the treatment He received? Were His claims acknowledged, His instructions followed, His perfections worshipped, by those whom He came to bless? No; "He was despised and rejected of men." Outside the camp was His place: cross-bearing was His occupation. Did the world yield Him solace and rest? "Foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay His head." This inhospitable country afforded Him no shelter: it cast Him out and crucified Him. Such—if you are a follower of Jesus, and maintain a consistent, Christ-like walk and conversation—you must expect to be the lot of that part of your spiritual life which, in its outward development, comes under the observation of men. They will treat it as they treated the Saviour—they will despise it. Dream not that worldlings will admire you, or that the more holy and the more Christ-like you are, the more peaceably people will act towards you. They prized not the polished gem, how should they value the jewel in the rough? "If they have called the Master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of His household?" If we were more like Christ, we should be more hated by His enemies. It were a sad dishonour to a child of God to be the world's favourite. It is a very ill omen to hear a wicked world clap its hands and shout "Well done" to the Christian man. He may begin to look to his character, and wonder whether he has not been doing wrong, when the unrighteous give him their approbation. Let us be true to our Master, and have no friendship with a blind and base world which scorns and rejects Him. Far be it from us to seek a crown of honour where our Lord found a coronet of thorn.
C.H.Spurgeon
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
What is your standard of truth?
Is it you yourself? Oh, thou all knowing one!!
Is it a text book? They change almost every year.
Is it a great philosopher? What do you do with the others who see it differently?
Is it history? They say that the victor writes the tale. Revisions are too common.
Is it the majority, or consensus? The majority is often wrong. (Germany 1937-1945)
Is it science? We don't know an awful lot more than we do know!
Mine is the Holy Bible and I have a lot of reasons for accepting it as THE standard of truth in all that it affirms. It is God's revelation to man. Heed it and be blessed!!
Is it a text book? They change almost every year.
Is it a great philosopher? What do you do with the others who see it differently?
Is it history? They say that the victor writes the tale. Revisions are too common.
Is it the majority, or consensus? The majority is often wrong. (Germany 1937-1945)
Is it science? We don't know an awful lot more than we do know!
Mine is the Holy Bible and I have a lot of reasons for accepting it as THE standard of truth in all that it affirms. It is God's revelation to man. Heed it and be blessed!!
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