Offer

Guilt is the first consequence of sin. Condemnation and punishment follow as a result. That is the Scriptural order-sin, guilt, condemnation, punishment. We all have a conscience and we all feel guilt when we do wrong.

If we ever go to a court we will see the judge handing out a punishment for a persons crime. This is the way of most societies and those who have committed a crime will be punished. Scripture shows us that if we disobey God we too will be punished but unlike the courts God has offered us forgiveness. God tells us the punishment for sin is death but instead of us dying God has sent us His son to take our place.

On the cross Jesus took our place. We the guilty sinner should have died but God has offered the free gift of salvation through Christ. Because of Christs death God offers us forgiveness both from condemnation and punishment.

Right now you may be feeling there is something missing in you're life but don't really know what it is. Many people spend their life searching for a meaning to their life and find it in many ways. Drink, drugs, sex, gambling, money etc but the truth is most seldom find peace or hope in these things.

God offers us real hope that will last forever. The question is, are you ready to take Him up on that offer

Sinners

Are we sinners because we sin, or, do we sin because we are sinners?
Scripture shows us that we sin because we are sinners.

Lets look at what sin means.

Sin is missing the mark to reach God's standard. All have sinned(That is everyone has sinned, every single person past, present and future have sinned) and come short of the glory of God. (Romans 3v23)
As sinners we fail to fulfil the purpose for which God created us for. Not only do we fail but we fail utterly and completely.

Let us not fall into the trap and think that just because we don't do bad things that we are not sinners. When we think that way,we are judging ourselves by the worlds standards of what is good and bad. So far as reaching God's standard we fail 100% however good we think we are.

My brother is an Alcoholic and the hardest thing he had to do was stand up and admit that he was an Alcohlic. This was the first step towards recovering and I am pleased to say that 12 years on he is still drink free. The journey was not easy and he has faced many trials in that time but not one drink has passed his lips.

Lets face it, we dont want to be thought of as sinners but the truth is we are sinners and until we accept that we are we will continue to live a life that is not pleasing to God.


but there is hope and I will write more on this each week



be blessed

New Year

So, what sort of New Year’s resolution should a Christian make?


Here are some suggestions: (1) Pray to the Lord for wisdom (James 1:5) in regards to what resolutions, if any, He would have you make; (2) Pray for wisdom as to how to fulfill the goals God gives you; (3) Rely on God’s strength to help you; (4) Find an accountability partner who will help you and encourage you; (5) Don’t become discouraged with occasional failures; instead allow them to motivate you further; (6) Don’t become proud or vain, but give God the glory. Psalm 37:5-6, “Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.”


May 2010 bring you into a deeper relationship with God

Christianity in Danger?

As a worldview - that is as a belief system - I feel that Christianity is solid. Now there are certainly points within Christianity that we don't have all the answers for, things that are not completely understood. However, because there are a few things we don't understand does not mean that we should abandon our faith any more than the neurosurgeon dismisses what he knows about the brain because of the vast amount he does not yet know.

But, I think what we should be asking is where is Christianity in danger as it is practiced today. In other words, "What is the problem with the practice of Christianity in the beginning of the 21st century?" I feel that the biggest problem Christianity is facing today is a lack of Biblical wisdom. Wisdom is defined biblically as knowledge or understanding (Prov. 2), but it encompasses more than just grasping a concept intellectually. It also means discernment. Wisdom is knowledge properly applied.

Many in Christendom today have faith without seeking proper knowledge of that faith. At some point, then, their belief becomes emotionalism without reason and substance. They take the view that since Christianity is the "right" religion and all the other ones are "wrong" that they're OK and don't have to worry anymore. This emotionalism is dangerous for many reasons, but two that I want to focus on specifically are how it allows heresies into the church and how it damages our witness to those outside the church.

In Hebrews 5 verses 12 to 14, the writer rebukes the Hebrew church for not truly understanding their own faith. He writes, "In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil." (NIV). As you can see from these verses, gaining an intellectual understanding of the difficult teachings of scripture help Christians distinguish good from evil.

Paul also commented on this in the Epistle to the Ephesians when he warned that "We are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ." (Eph 4:14-15 NAS )

Because many have thought that faith alone is good enough to sustain the Christian life, the church has become intellectually lazy. And because people don't want to study doctrine, they will sometimes accept teachings that are heresies without realizing it. In fact, many of the modern cults we see today got their start because Christians weren't equipped to recognize a heretical teaching when it was offered to them.

The most bothersome part of this condition is how it is so detrimental to our witness. We tell other people we have the truth of God. We tell cultists that they're wrong and we're right, yet we don't subject our beliefs to the same scrutiny and diligent study as we hold them to. Mostly what happens is we try to "out argue" them. If we haven't taken the time to really investigate what we believe to be true, then why should we require anyone else to do so?

The other great problem that stems from lack of true wisdom is the ability of the church itself to become corrupt. In 2 Timothy 4 we read "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths."

Because many Christians judge the reality of a doctrine not on their investigation and comparison against the rest of scripture, but on how it makes them feel, many churches have become replete with all kinds of error. We see things like holy laughter, barking as dogs, gold fillings or gold dust manifestations all done in churches that are supposed to be exalting the name of Jesus. People are no longer able to "rightly divide the word of truth" as Paul commands, but just waiting for the next emotional high.

Even Christians who have been taught doctrinally sound beliefs can fall into this trap. Look at the attention all the last days scenarios get. You have people who hold pre-trib, post trib, premillenial, dispensational, and preterist viewpoints, all who are eager to show you why their view is correct. The end-times books fly off the shelves at Christian bookstores. However, hand someone a Bible and ask them to prove the doctrine of the Trinity from it, and you'll most likely be met with blank stares.

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that we shouldn't discuss eschatology and examine the differing perspectives - not at all. I am asserting that when a core belief of Christianity cannot be defended while we have endless debates on secondary issues it shows the church has become ill and we need to reprioritize our Christian walk.

Although all these issues that I've brought up seem dire, the Christian church is not going to crumble away. I believe that God will protect His church until He is done with it. But I also believe that as Christians we are to be good stewards with the truth that has so rightly been given us. This means we must study and understand all that Christianity is. A good place to start is by buying a good Systematic Theology book, such as Grudem's. Then, set aside a time every day to pray and read your Bible - and seek to understand it from an intellectual as well as a faith-based framework. Finally, talk about what you learn and discover with other Christians; iron sharpens iron.

Christianity under attack

The link between people and Christianity, many centuries old, has now been broken. A small boy was walking with his grandfather past a church in a small town. "whats that strange building? whats it for" he asked. You and I may find that very strange but this is becoming the norm as parents are no longer taking their children to church.

In the UK were we like to call ourselves a christian country, there is a subtle political correctness that hopes too destroy the Christian religion through a thousand regulations. But first they have to rob it of all its ancient standing by treating as an equal (if not slightly inferior) to Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism. We can see an intolerance towards Christianity in the state sector, a campaign that will be spread to the private sector eventually by cunning regulation. We are being encouraged to promote equality and support diversity. This rule comes from the EU, which makes most of our laws, and which recently refused to put any mention of Christianity in its constitution. Equality and diversity are codewords for political correctness, and this makes it compulsory.

Many years ago a client of mine asked me to pray for his mum who was ill. She did get better and phoned my work to thank me for praying. I was put on report even though it was her son that asked me to pray for his mum. On another occasion a Muslim colleague took a client of his to the mosque during an open day and nothing was said. Months later I took a client to an open day at a local church and again was put on report.

Christianity is already under attack and unless we stand up and do something about it we will soon be unable to openly witness to others. The word "Christian" will be removed from our churches.

BE BLESSED

MAY THE LOVE OF GOD BE WITH YOU ALL DURING THIS TIME.

I PRAY THAT YOU'RE FAMILY FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES WILL BE BLESSED AND THE SEED OF FAITH BE PLANTED IN THEIR HEARTS.

REMEMBER CHRIST IS NOT JUST FOR CHRISTMAS



LOTS OF LOVE XXXX

Psalms

Christian music has to be the worst music that is out there. For me the Psalms are the best and always will be. I once heard the psalms sang in Gaelic and it was AMAZING. If you have never heard them sang in Gaelic then try and find a CD because it is a wonderful experience and truly moving. Sadly most Scottish folk don't speak their native tongue and for many years it was banned after the English conquered us. I only know a few words but it is such a wonderful language and I would encourage you to learn it.

I enjoy the simple nature of the psalms sang without instruments. There is such beauty that comes from a persons voice when they are praising God with His own words. It does not matter if you have a voice like metal on metal, God is only interested in your heart when it comes to singing.

Churches have fallen into that trap where they desire to appeal to the modern world and slowly the Psalms have been removed from our churches and replaced with some romantic idea, mans idea of what sounds good.

Have a read of the psalms today and if you have never heard them sang then find a place that does.