Christmas cards ( Hebrews 11 v 35 - 38 )

I have just posted 4 Christmas cards to three countries, one to Bangladesh one to Vietnam,and two  to China..Three of these cards are going to Christians who are suffering for their faith,let us remember that in many countries Christians have a hard time . In Egypt  and in Pakistan young girls are abducted and forced into marriage with Muslim men,and then forced to sign a statement ,that they have converted to Islam,some of these girls are as young as fourteen. I have never been persecuted for being a Christian,but my heart  goes out to these dear people . Do pray for our Christian family that they may be faithful in spite of all they are suffering.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Remember those who are in prison,as                                                                                                       though you were in prison with them;                                                                                                       those who are being tortured, as though                                                                                                     you yourselves were being tortured.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            ( Hebrews 13 v 3 )                                                                                                     

The power of sin. ( Luke 8 v 26 - 39 )

Raymond Brown writes,' The terrible thing about sin - its awful power to go reproducing itself, not only in our own lives, but in the lives of other people'.There is no human way of combating sin ,we stop in one area and it breaks out in another area.There is no place on earth were sin is not present, and that's inevitable, for mankind is a carrier of this plague,and devastation lies in its trail.Some children inherit their parents illnesses ,not all, but all children are infected by the seed of sin from their father.Yes it is a terrible thing about sin ,and its reproducing power,nothing   can stop this. be not surprised at this, it is self evident,so many would challenge what I am writing,they speak of the nobility of the human spirit,they speak of the noble savage.  There is really no such thing as the noble  savage,but there are savages,and they are not all in the jungle.Everyday we read of people being knifed, wars still rage within this world.. Is there an answer?,yes the answer is Jesus,who can do, two wonderful things, the first thing He can do,is forgive us our sin when  we ask Him to be our Saviour,the second thing is,He breaks the power of sin, in our lives.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Amazing grace ,how sweet the sound,                                                                                                      That saved a wretch like me.                                                                                                                       I once was lost, but now am found;                                                                                                           Was blind but now I see.                                                                                                                                 ( John Newton )

Forbidden ( Deuteronomy 18 v 8 - 14 )

As Israel was about to enter the promise land they were warned not to engage in the religious practise's of the people who lived there ( Deuteronomy 18 v 8 - 14 )these practise were,'divination,sorcery, omens, witchcraft, casting of spells,spirit' ism,consulting the dead. These things were wrong then, and they are wrong now,they are not of  God,they are of the kingdom of darkness,and can only lead us more and more into darkness.They must be seen for what they are ,evil,opposed to God and His kingdom,a Christian should never be involved in these practise's.But unfortunately ,as Raymond Brown says writing of Israel,'One of the most dangerous  expressions of the people's waywardness and ignorance was to seek God's help by the wrong means' CP 2 Kings 17 v 16 - 17.There is only way to God, for the sinner it is through Christ as a Saviour,( John 14 v 6 ) and for the Christian ,Christ as their mediator.( 1 Timothy 2 v 5 )                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Stop looking at the stars,look to                                                                                                                  the Saviour,stop trying to                                                                                                                          contact the dead,and look to Jesus.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Just one sin ( Romans 3 v 23 )

In a local newspaper there is a list of people who were fined for breaking the speed limit,I do try not to break the speed limit, but there are times I fail. Even though I don't want to break the speed limit I do, would I be right in thinking  that all drivers have broken the speed limit?.When people get caught  speeding ,some will feel hard done by,because they where only driving one mile over the limit,the fact is, they  have broken the law,and the must suffer the consequences. The word of God tells us in James 2 v 10 ,'For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point   is guilty of breaking all of it'.Yes the breaking of Gods law in just one commandment, is a  sin and  has dire consequences for us.all, protesting your innocence does not change the fact that  in Gods eye you are a sinner,.and what does sinners need ? they need a Saviour,and Jesus is the only Saviour

Anger ( James 1 v 19 - 20 )

When I arrived home I was very angry,I was so upset,at the way someone spoke to me  publicly,I thought of the things I would say to that person.We are told in Ephesians 4 v 26 - 27.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      In your anger do not sin; Do not let                                                                                                          the sun go down while you are still                                                                                                            angry,and do not give the devil a                                                                                                              foothold.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   I believe that these words are telling us to not harbour anger ,like Cain did ( Genesis 4 ) with disastrous effect  . We should deal with it as soon as possible,because if we don't  our enemy will take advantage.I prayed about it committed to God and went to bed, the next morning my anger had subsided ,it goes without saying I am glad I did not act in a wrong way.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Compromise ( John 8 v 31 - 36/ 14 v 6 )

Viewing our country's political situation at this time, can cause one to be concerned,many voices are to be heard ,each zealously proclaiming their point of view.They have the answer,they know what to do, it reminds me of my history,in the land of my birth., a general strike brought down the government.The bombing and killing went on,until the one who appeared the most extreme person,compromised,the result, the violence stopped.Someone once said ,'the art of politics is compromise'.generally speaking that's true. Many conflicts in the world would cease,if people were willing to compromise,but unfortunately they wont,the result the suffering continues.As a Christian I know I cannot compromise in relation to vital truth,for truth is the most important thing in the world.I must hold fast not just for my own sake,but for others sake,and most of all for my Gods sake.There are many Christians who are paying the price  for not compromising ,they have lost everything,but they are still standing for the truth. It is my dear Saviour who said  the truth sets us free .C P.  John 8 v 32.true freedom is a very precious thing,many are enslaved in by false religion,by falsehood clothed in politics,materialism, science,race,but truth will not be silenced.

Its impossible ( Genesis 1 v 1 )

A friend of mine years ago was speaking at a school assemble ,in his message he spoke on creation, afterwards the person in charge challenged him,as the school taught evolution. As the conversation progressed, my friend said, 'that his wife  put his working shirt into the washing machine,he forgot to tell his wife that there was metal in the pocket.Well when the wash was finished they  discovered there wash a watch in the pocket,a perfect watch in every way,and his wife exclaimed,how could that have happened, there was no explanation, other than it just happened. That's impossible,yes it is,its like a hurricane blowing through a scrap yard,when it had finished the result a perfect aeroplane. Or like eating a beautiful meal and saying there was no cook,these are simple illustration, but they make one solitary point, this world with all its diversity of life, did not, could  not, have  just happened, its impossible.