To those of you who call yourselves Christians, take your time to read this article and reflect on it.... because I know of some "Christians" who actually will react the way these Churchgoers reacted in the article.

If Jesus / God can forgive.... who are WE as sinners to condemn?

Original Article : The Pastor´s Son (Clickable Link)

The Pastor’s Son

Author Unknown

Like many inspiring movies and books, this short story may be fictional. However, the impact that this work will have on its readers is very real. Enjoy!

One night in a church service a young woman felt the tug of God at her heart. She responded to God's call and accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior.

The young woman had a very rough past, involving alcohol, drugs, and prostitution. But, the change in her was evident. As time went on she became a faithful member of the church.

She eventually became involved in the ministry, teaching young children.

It was not very long until this faithful young woman had caught the eye and heart of the pastor's son. The relationship grew and they began to make wedding plans.

This is when the problem began. You see, about one half of the church did not think that a woman with a past such as hers was suitable for a pastor's son.

The church began to argue and fight about the matter. So they decided to have a meeting.

As the people made their arguments and tensions increased, the meeting was getting completely out of hand.

The young woman became very upset about all the things being brought up about her past.

As she began to cry the pastor's son stood to speak. He could not bear the pain it was causing his wife to be. He began to speak and his statement was this:

My fiancee's past is not what is on trial here. What you are questioning is the ability of the blood of Jesus to wash away sin. Today you have put the blood of Jesus on trial. So, does it wash away sin or not?

The whole church began to weep as they realized that they had been slandering the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Too often, even as Christians, we bring up the past and use it as a weapon against our brothers and sisters.

Forgiveness is a very foundational part of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

If the blood of Jesus does not cleanse the other person completely, then it cannot cleanse us completely.

If that is the case, then we are all in a lot of trouble.

What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Psalms 55:231 John 1:9

Adventure Time

Tuesday December 16, 2014

As my wife tried to get home from visiting our daughter over the holidays, bad weather shut down numerous flights. After 2 days, she had a fistful of boarding passes for planes that couldn't leave the ground, and she joined thousands of weary travellers scrambling for places to stay.

The occasional delay is one thing. Sleeping on your luggage is quite another.

Jesus apparently spent a lot of time sleeping on the ground. When someone declared, "I will follow you wherever you go," Christ told him, "Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the SOn of Man has no place even to lay his head" (Luke 9:57-58).

No doubt, many people showed Jesus hospitality. But it´s odd to think of Him as homeless. The simple fact remains that He wasn´t averse to sleeping under the stars.

In the week prior to Jesus' death, Luke tells us, "Each evening he returned to spend the night on the Mount of Olives" (21:37). Then, early in the morning, He would go back to the temple to teach.

I like the idea of this outdoorsy, accessible Jesus. Imagine the Creator of the cosmos going up the mountain to talk with His Father deep into the night. But then I´m reminded of His hard statement : "The Son of Man has no place even to lay his head." The Son of God, born in a stable... wandering as a homeless rabbi... nailed to a cross.

Commitment to a great cause sounds adventurous, but reality soon intrudes. Believing in Jesus is easy, but following Him poses a challenge. He may lead me to places I don´t care to go. And my pledge of allegiance rings hollow if I don´t count the cost. "Anyone who... looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God" (9:62). - Tim Gustafson

Read
Luke 9:57-62
As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go."
Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."
He said to another man, "Follow me."
But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."
Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God."
Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-bye to my family."
Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."

Matthew 11:28-30
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Question to Ponder
What commitments (if any) have you made to Jesus?
How can you seek His help in living up to them?

**Article taken from ODJ (Our Daily Journey with God) Dec 2014 - Feb 2015 issue

Joy of Faithfulness

Thursday 13 November 2014

In early 2014 the attention of the world turned to Sochi, Russia, where Olympic athletes pursued their lifelong quests. Our family loves the Summer and Winter Games - the global pageantry, the athletes' grit and fight, the goodwill expressed among countries.

Our favourite moments are the individual athlete stories. From the Olympic Trials through the 2 weeks of the Games, we hear tales of athletes who spent years training, who overcame hardship, who became (over years of persistent devotion to their sport) women and men prepared to represent their homeland and compete on the world stage. Hearing the Olympians' stories, I'm struck by the way so many of them are compelled by the joys of competition, love for their sport and hope for the glory of a medal.

In Scripture, God called His people to a lifelong obedience - a dogged faithfulness of commitment to God´s ways. Moses challenged Israel to "carefully keep all his commands" (Deuteronomy 28:1). God provided these instructions as guides for life. They weren´t fickle whims, but a holistic pattern of living and being.

Yet there was much joy and promise accompanying these commands. For in keeping them, Moses reminded Israel, "you will experience all these blessings "(v.2). Their cities would be blessed (v.3). Their families and farms would be blessed (v.4). They would know abundance (v.5). And to make sure God was clear about the extent of the promised joy to come, Moses concluded with a flourish : "Wherever you go and whatever you do, you will be blessed" (v.6).

A life enduring, persistent faithfulness to God requires much and is often difficult. But the path leads to eventual and eternal Joy. - Winn Collier

Read
Deuteronomy 28:1-6
If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God.

You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country.
The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock - the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.
Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed.
You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.

* Read the rest of Deuteronomy 28*

Question to Ponder
Where in your life do you struggle most with faithfulness to God and the life He´s provided for you?
How might joy come as a fruit of saying "yes" to God?

** Article taken from ODJ (Our Daily Journey with God) Sept - Nov 2014 Issue.