Just a quick thought here…If you’re not “sharing your faith” often, how do you know it is really yours?

Have you no concern in the slightest for the lost? I know we can tend to go to the other unhealthy extreme of allowing legalistic angst be the motive behind urges to give a tract or have a conversation with every single person around us, and that’s not what I’m trying to prompt you with; even evangelism can be an idol if we let it. But are you naturally trying in some way each day to reconcile sinners with God?

If you say you have a part in the Christian (“Christ-follower”) faith, you have been given a job to do: it is called the “ministry of reconciliation” (2 Cor 5:18). Furthermore, take Paul’s example, and he told the Colossians “Him we preach, warning every man” (1:28). When was the last time you warned anyone with a word, a tract, a letter…something?

Posted: July 31st, 2009 under Challenge, Evangelism, Getting Started, Gospel Tracts.
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In rereading the story of Moses at the burning bush, look at what the Lord says to him in Exodus 3:7,8: “And the LORD said: ‘I have surely seen…for I know…So I have come down to deliver‘ God was fully aware of the bondage of His people under the cruel taskmasters of Egypt. “Israel groaned because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry came to God because of [it]” (Ex. 2:23). God is a rescuer, a deliverer. He willingly condescended to save His people from their helpless plight.

And He didn’t stop there.

The message of Christianity is found in God’s words above, “I have surely seen…for I know…So I have come down to deliver”. You and I, and every person who has ever lived, have been held in hopeless bondage to sin. We, like Israel, serve a cruel taskmaster “with rigor”, the Devil, through pride, envy, lying, drunkenness, sexual immorality, drug addiction, gluttony, hatred in our hearts (murder), etc. Yet, God has surely seen the pain and destruction our sin has caused in our lives. He knows the wicked effects of greed, cruelty, gambling, etc.

“So I have come down to deliver”

Jesus Christ, the Only God’s Only Son, left all His kingly glories in heaven, leaving them aside like the scepter, crown, and robe of royalty, to be born like one of us, but sinless, so that God Himself would deliver us. Jesus died on the cross to pay the punishment for the sins of the whole world so that we would not have to go to hell as the just reward for what we do and think and say here.

There is a better way! God’s Way. Jesus Himself said, “I am the Way” (Jn 14:6). God’s compassion and mercy stopped at nothing–not even killing His Only Son–because He saw, He knows, and He wanted to set us free. And He promises that just as He raised Jesus from the dead, we can be raised in new life in Him.

“Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent…” (Acts 17:30)

No other religion has its god saying such things as “I have seen…I know…I came down to deliver”. Not one! Call out to Christ. He is strong to rescue to you like He rescued Israel. He will take your rigor and give you gladness!

Posted: July 30th, 2009 under Devotions, Hope, Scripture.
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This just in from the “Why do the people plot a vain thing?” files…

MSNBC reported last week that the already-delayed particle accelerator is forced to undergo more extensive repairs requiring further delays.

The 17-mile long accelerator, built at a cost of $10 Billion (that’s a ‘B’ back there) is intended to ‘unravel the secrets of the universe’. Well, the only thing it has unraveled so far is the hubris of man because it broke shortly after it went into service last year. The repairs cost another $29 Million so far.

One would think they would’ve bought an extended warranty…

Oh, and just how much is $10 billion? Well, according to search engine WolframAlpha.com, 10 billion is roughly the number of people who have EVER lived, so it would be like asking everyone from Adam to the newest newborn babe to all cough up $1 (oh, not including money for the extra repairs)…

Or it would be like asking every person currently alive to cough up $1.50 (oh, not including money for the extra repairs)…

10 Billion seconds ago it was September…in the year 1692.

And perhaps in the sweetest irony of all in trying to show the cost of the contraption meant to recreate the “Big Bang”…10 Billion minutes ago would be 19,000 years ago, which never existed because the Lord hadn’t create Time to exist yet! (oh, not including money for the extra repairs).

Go God!

P.S.: Note to the Super Collider Folks: Good news! It’s not too late to get in on the “Cash for Clunkers” deals!

Posted: July 29th, 2009 under Current Events.
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Do you know what the terms “SQL Join Statement”, “Subnet Mask”, or “VPN Tunnel” mean? If you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ and can answer “Yes” to one or more of the above, do you know that the Lord is looking for YOU to work in His fields using your God-given IT skills?! Check it out:

Check out http://www.itwow.org or http://www.checkitout.org for more information.

Posted: July 29th, 2009 under The Church, World Missions.
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“No one can lose you, my God, unless he forsakes you. And if he forsakes you, where is he to go? If he abandons your love, his only refuge is your wrath.” – St. Augustine, Confessions, IV,ix

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Jesus, Matt. 7:13,14

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” – Jesus, Jn 14:6

Every human being has two witnesses which will testify against him on the day of judgment: His God-given conscience which knows lying, adultery, blasphemy, coveting, stealing, greed, dishonoring God, etc. are wrong, and God’s creation all around us that shows us He really does exist. We have no excuse for our choices and actions in this life, and God must punish us with death (hell) accordingly.

YET, the Gospel is GOOD NEWS. God sent His Only Son, Jesus, to bear upon Himself every ounce of punishment we deserve. God the Father crushed His Son, nailing Him to the Cross, killing Him to provide us a way to escape our due “reward” for our many sins. When He raised Him to life again on the third day, Christ conquered death and now God, in His infinite kindness, offers us life again instead of death.

Freedom instead of punishment.

A new start instead of a guilty conscience.

The Gospel is this: If you will humble yourself before your Judge and plead for mercy, repent of your crimes, and by faith accept what His Son did for you and surrender before Him you can be saved; moving out from between the cross-hairs of God’s just wrath (which He takes no pleasure in whatsoever, by the way). He will embrace you as His very own adopted son or daughter, purchased with the very life of His Son. Thereafter you can enjoy your Creator like He originally intended. That is the love, grace and mercy of the Lord!

There are only two possible places to be in this world: Enjoying God’s love or taking refuge in His wrath.

Beloved, where are you?

Posted: July 23rd, 2009 under Challenge, Devotions, Quotations, Scripture.
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Posted: July 21st, 2009 under Challenge, Evangelism, Hope.
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