Ever wonder where famous people are after fading into obscurity after brief or even extended time in the limelight of hollywood, the media or politics? Actually no we don't wonder too much because we forget about them as the newest shooting star or media darling quickly takes their place. This is why you have TV and radio programs dedicated to updating us on what our favorite long lost star is doing now.
Today a man who was despised by many and loved by everyone else, died after battling a brain tumor. Ted Kennedy held to the opposite view of everything that I personally stand for. I had no respect for the man but this is not a postmortem rant about what he did that I think was wrong.
My question is, where is he now?
This week it was also announced that Michael Jackson's death is now being ruled a homicide. Again I am not here to write a biography of Michael nor to state anything about his troubled life. If anything it's really sad.
I just wonder where is he now?
Both these men along with millions of others slipped into eternity so far this year. Their bodies stopped working and they were transported to another place. All the arguments in the world won't change the truth that everyone at some point will realize there IS a heaven and there IS a Hell.
While I can't accurately say where either of these two men ended up since I am not God, I can however, look at their lives and say that they never displayed any evidence that their lives had been changed by the power of Christ. The things they stood for and their actions are testimony to lives that were lived for self and not in line with any principles of the one true God. So one can conclude they are not in the presence of God but instead in torment, being separated for all eternity in a real place called hell. How can anyone be happy that these men are gone, because being dead means they are beginning an eternity of suffering.
Those who don't believe in hell can just go on with life zooming headlong towards the same fate. Those who aren't sure better start to consider the reality that without the saving power of a risen saviour Jesus Christ who has made a way to eternity with God, they too will be with these men.
And finally for those who believe that Christ IS the answer and that hell is a real place where those without Him will go, listen up! Why aren't we shouting out the good news? You don't have to go to hell! How much do we have to love ourselves and hate people to NOT tell them about the freedom in Jesus and the peace that comes with knowing where we will spend eternity. Fear is not an excuse. Ability is not an excuse. We have no excuse other than the sad reality that we don't truly believe with our heart, not our heads, that there is a place of eternal punishment called hell.
If you meet the same fate as these two men, and you will, will others be able to answer, "Where are they now?"
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Have You Ever?
Have you ever let someone merge into traffic only to have them go slow, make it through the light and force you to have to stop and wait as they go on their way oblivious to the fact that your kindness made you wait?
Kindness and acts of service are only worthwhile if you are willing to happily accept the possible negative ramifications of your actions in order that someone else may benefit, even if they don't have knowledge of what you sacrifice.
Kindness and acts of service are only worthwhile if you are willing to happily accept the possible negative ramifications of your actions in order that someone else may benefit, even if they don't have knowledge of what you sacrifice.
Think About It
Are you a Christian? If so what does that mean? Why do you believe what you believe and do you really believe it?
You may think that those are not difficult questions to answer. But are they that simple? Is our faith in Christ and belief in God that simple to answer? Regardless of your ability to answer them is the greater question of can you answer them correctly?
I have become increasingly frustrated with believers who claim the name of Christ and yet years after conversion still know little to nothing about their faith. As humans we take big things and make them small so we can deal with them. Instead of exploring the vastness of God we fit him into a box we can understand. We over simplify.
Why are we not more wise in our faith and what we believe? People look at Christians and say we are ignorant. And we respond with, "I'm not very smart or Christ came to the poor and the weak". True he did. But through his power, those poor and week became strong. Not in a physical sense, although that may be the case sometimes, but mentally. He gives wisdom. We can't understand and know everything, but he gave us minds to think.
I have a growing desire to know more about my God and to take a stand when challenged on what I believe. Because of that I have started reading more and have really been drawn in by Ravi Zacharias who has a program called "Let My People Think". On a recent broadcast of his he had Dr. Peter Berger on his program. Dr Berger was asked, "Is evangelical intellectual an oxymoron?" Berger replied "No it isn't. There is a prejudice, in fact it's one of few prejudices in elite american society that is still permissible. Everything else is racism, sexism, or whatever. I think it is a very unfortunate stereotype which has little to do with reality. It is deplorable that this prejudice exists and it should be counteracted." Counteracted by knowing what you believe. By the way, Dr. Berger is by his own statement not an evangelical.
Why are we considered ignorant? We have not given the world a reason to think otherwise. I believe we have become lazy. We listen to others tell us what to do, what to think and it is often the world dictating these things to us. No wonder only 9% of people who called themselves Christians had a biblical world view. It's a result of watching Oprah all week and listening to the pastor on Sunday. I can assure you those two messages don't jive. We even need study guides to help teach others the Bible. Why is the Bible not enough? I'm not knocking study guides, they are helpful but they are often a crutch. We need to tap into the wisdom God says he will give if we ask for it. (James 1:5)
We have watered down our faith. The Gospel is simple and easy to understand. God made it that way. Praise Him for that. But our faith and knowledge of God is not. We need to be willing to work through difficult issues. Matthew 10:16 says to "Be wise as serpents and harmless as doves". We are do be wise about our faith. As 1 Peter 3:15 says, "...be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear"
Are you ready to give an answer? What will your answer be and will it cause someone to run to God or run away?
You may think that those are not difficult questions to answer. But are they that simple? Is our faith in Christ and belief in God that simple to answer? Regardless of your ability to answer them is the greater question of can you answer them correctly?
I have become increasingly frustrated with believers who claim the name of Christ and yet years after conversion still know little to nothing about their faith. As humans we take big things and make them small so we can deal with them. Instead of exploring the vastness of God we fit him into a box we can understand. We over simplify.
Why are we not more wise in our faith and what we believe? People look at Christians and say we are ignorant. And we respond with, "I'm not very smart or Christ came to the poor and the weak". True he did. But through his power, those poor and week became strong. Not in a physical sense, although that may be the case sometimes, but mentally. He gives wisdom. We can't understand and know everything, but he gave us minds to think.
I have a growing desire to know more about my God and to take a stand when challenged on what I believe. Because of that I have started reading more and have really been drawn in by Ravi Zacharias who has a program called "Let My People Think". On a recent broadcast of his he had Dr. Peter Berger on his program. Dr Berger was asked, "Is evangelical intellectual an oxymoron?" Berger replied "No it isn't. There is a prejudice, in fact it's one of few prejudices in elite american society that is still permissible. Everything else is racism, sexism, or whatever. I think it is a very unfortunate stereotype which has little to do with reality. It is deplorable that this prejudice exists and it should be counteracted." Counteracted by knowing what you believe. By the way, Dr. Berger is by his own statement not an evangelical.
Why are we considered ignorant? We have not given the world a reason to think otherwise. I believe we have become lazy. We listen to others tell us what to do, what to think and it is often the world dictating these things to us. No wonder only 9% of people who called themselves Christians had a biblical world view. It's a result of watching Oprah all week and listening to the pastor on Sunday. I can assure you those two messages don't jive. We even need study guides to help teach others the Bible. Why is the Bible not enough? I'm not knocking study guides, they are helpful but they are often a crutch. We need to tap into the wisdom God says he will give if we ask for it. (James 1:5)
We have watered down our faith. The Gospel is simple and easy to understand. God made it that way. Praise Him for that. But our faith and knowledge of God is not. We need to be willing to work through difficult issues. Matthew 10:16 says to "Be wise as serpents and harmless as doves". We are do be wise about our faith. As 1 Peter 3:15 says, "...be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear"
Are you ready to give an answer? What will your answer be and will it cause someone to run to God or run away?
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