Creating Thought

" Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near." Hebrews 10:23-26 (NASB) A frequent response to the question about whether attending an assembly of believers on a regular basis is necessary is that one does not need to attend a "church" in order to be a Christian. Yes, that is true. Being a Christian, a Christ believer who is saved by the blood of Jesus Christ and has the life of the risen Christ within them, does not require regular attendance at a gathering of believers.  It does not require attendance in any way. Mostly because a true believer cannot not be apart from the church since he or she are a part of the church wherever they are.  So, why does the writer of the book of Hebrews say that

This was surprising.  I never ever participate in chain letters - and that goes back to the days when sending letter through the USPS was the only way.  Invitation to participate in a chain letter went directly where it belonged in the round file and I never saw it again.  Same practice when they started happening on email and same thing when the new version of share games on Facebook cropped up.  Nope, I do not send the stories about sick children, miracles, or the appeals to "help me get _____ shares." The good luck/bad luck threats go past me too. Some of my best friends and even close family members show in my FB feed with the appeal they have passed on.  I ignore and with the very smallest amount of guilt which is adjusted by how close the friend or relationship is. It's a policy and I stick to it. But when I received one in my email from a casual friend, who I really like, I stopped and considered it.  It sounded so good, what can be wrong about this?  Well, no

Today the news in the world is once again full of what the wicked are doing in this world. And it seems like so many who say that they believe in God, in Christ Jesus, and call themselves Christian are being swallowed up by the world's reasoning.  It also reminds us that to truly believe and to stand up for what the pure Word of God says is going to be too difficult to do without God's understanding and His grace. A difficult time is coming for all who profess to believe the Word of God and commit to live according to its truth.   "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised if faithful;" Hebrews 10:23 (NASB) Now, there is a promise that all the other promised of God can be trusted. The promise that God is faithful is enough because with God there will be no exception. "God is not a man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he n

These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 If you are a true believer in Jesus Christ and if you live in America, you probably have never experienced what these words truly promised.  Yes, we have trials and tribulations which disrupt our lives and rob us of our peace and we turn to this verse and verses like it that promise God's  supremacy and sovereignty over the world and whatever is the source of our trouble. These trials are nothing to be trivial about, they are real.  Sometime what seems like a small matter to others is a major matter to us.  So I understand that Christians have had tribulations - but most of the tribulation we have are things that any person experiences whether they are believer or not. All who live may experience what we call tribulation such as:     death of a spouse, child, parent or even dear friend;     a terminal illness or a dis

I am in a d esperate place right now. In fact if I knew that this blog had a large following I would probably not be writing this particular post. But there are times, and this is one of them, that I become burdened to at least write a post and d ecide when it is d one if I will publish it or not. You can imagine that I have a good collection of d raft posts. That is the way it is. So what is the source of my d esperation? It is another D word. D epression. Yes that word and not the kind of d epression that is a normal part of our lives from time to time. This is Massive D epressive D isorder and it's cousin General Anxiety D isorder.  This is the kind that is very d ifficult to d eal with and to get away from. I am rarely able to d uck and d efend myself when it come d own on me.  But I am d etermined that by the grace of God and with His might it will not d efeat me. I may feel d efeated right now but I am not. My true condition is that I stand victorious in Christ and I wil

"Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him." Proverbs 30:5 (ESV) Imagine, something is coming at you, something you know you are not going to like. You know you will be disturbed, upset, or even angered after you are forced to encounter it. How do you prepare for it? What is it that drives your reaction?   Fear?  Worry? Faith? Trust? This is tough. We all want to avoid the battle and the pain that comes with it but we all know that we cannot escape from all of it. Sometimes in our lives we simply have to endure unpleasant encounters and the resulting consequences. Those are the times in our words and professions prove themselves; it is when the "rubber truly hits the road" and our faith is tested. You have to believe that this is really difficult for me to even write about because I wrestle with it a great deal. It is what I am coming to call my own personal thorn in the flesh. I fear and I worry far too much about things

"For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted." Hebrews 2:18 "For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin."  Hebrews 4:15 How many times has you wanted a "do-over"?  How many times have you wished for a mulligan in your life - and I do not mean on the golf course where mulligans are actually possible.  The idea might be attractive but really?  Do you really want to do it again - especially in view of the state we are in in this world?   I find it interesting when I hear people say "the times are changing and we just have to get used to it."  Well it isn't really the times that are changing but the people who are changing as time goes by. Of course this has always been the normal course of history for humans. There has been no time in history that society has not ex

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6 We have been talking a lot about suffering because or for Christ. It comes in many ways and God is not shy about letting it come. Remember we have been appointed not only to believe in Him but to also suffer for him. Well, the suffering part has been my reality recently as I once again have had to face spiritual battle and attacks from the enemy in its effort to knock me down.  It is the "do not lean on your own understanding" part that really trips me up. I want to understand everything that is going on in my life - I do not want to leave any stone not turned. So when I get broadsided by the enemy, as has happened to me this week, I want to know why. I can hardly fault myself for this but it does get in the way.  There are so many things that are not understood by me about my walk. There are a

"Do not be afraid of sudden fear nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes;" Proverbs 3:25 (NASB) This blog is not about various bible translations. However, there are times when one version can cause confusion and another or several others can help us understand.  I hear many who fear what lies ahead for us. Most hope for a revival and a restoration of our society based on Christian principles. I don't think that going to happen. I think the clock is nearing the Day of Christ.  What is sudden fear that we are not to be afraid of? - I think it is just what is happening. Suddenly we have things to be afraid of that we have not though of until the last 2-4 years. Things are happening that were unthinkable a very short time ago.  What is the onslaught of the wicked? - The word "onslaught" carries the idea of an attack and so I think that the verse predicts an attack of or by the wicked. Actually is reverse is more to the point.   A quick comparison

“If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. John 15:18-19 May I see a show of hands of those who seek to be hated?   No? None? I didn’t think so.   None of us want to be hated. We pretty much want to be liked at least, if not loved at most. It’s not going to happen – at least not from this society.   There is a world of people out there and around us and trying to be loved or liked by them just might be one of the most dangerous goals we can set for ourselves. Do I really have to explain that I am not suggesting we make ourselves unlikable? Do  I really need to say that I am not recommending that we make an effort to be disliked or hated? I hope that is understood.   Oh we can be liked and loved by the world if we want to but the cost is going to be prett

For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake. Philippians 1:29 [This verse stayed on my mind for some time and here is another go at it.]    Imagine yourself as a merchant in the first century about 50 AD and you live in the city of Philippi. In to your town comes a man who happens to be a Jew but not the kind of Jew you were used to seeing and knowing. This Jew has a message about a person called Jesus the Christ. After listening to him, you come to believe him and began to learn about a new way to live and a new God to worship. Your life changes and you become a part of the Philippian Church – a gathering of those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God and God himself.   This travelling Jew is named Paul and he claims to be an Apostle of Jesus. One day he travels on with his message to other towns but you keep in touch through messages and letters. One day a letter arrives from this person Paul and

"For to you it has been granted for Christ's sake not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,"  Philippians 1:29 Directly out of the first chapter of the letter to the Philippians by the Apostle Paul - the book in the Bible that often is referred to as the "Book of Joy" or "Book of Rejoicing" because Paul writes so much about joy and rejoicing.  But this does not sound like a reason to rejoice. It is not the most pleasant thought - that we have been granted "also to suffer for His sake." But it is. It will happen and it will likely be happening in our country more and more in the days ahead than has happened in the days past.  We are facing the reality of the blessings of knowing Christ Jesus and our profession of that knowledge will be tested. Christ Jesus is interested in separating out those who profess but do not believe. Those who claim to believe but actually have not come to Him in truth and in repentance seeking Hi