Are Christians Being Distracted?

There seem to be a lot of issues Christians find themselves involved in these days, whether it be abortion, freedom of religion, the upcoming 2016 Presidential election, as well as the homosexual/LGBT/same-sex marriage issue.

We are blogging, Facebooking, tweeting, Instagramming, Snapchatting, kiking,
and chatting about these issues and the general decline of American and world morality and civilization. Just like secular society, our faces are firmly planted in our phones, laptops and tablets commenting, reposting, and arguing about these critical issues, as well as telling everyone what we did on the weekend, what award our child just received and what our current favorite cupcake recipe is.

Let's be honest, this takes A LOT of our time as does doing the mundane tasks of life like cooking dinner, cleaning the house and running the kids here there and everywhere. The "busy-ness" of life, seems to be at all-time high for many of us.

Let me ask you, in all of this, how much time do we spend responding to Jesus' command from Matthew 28 to go into all the world making disciples?

Wait. Bob? I have to spread the Gospel too? I don't have time for that. I'm busy defending the unborn, standing up against the radical homosexual agenda, making sure radical Islam does not take hold in my community, as well as all the other everyday activities that have to be done! I leave spreading the Gospel and evangelizing to my pastor and elders.

But, Jesus said we were to be His witnesses throughout the whole world. He wasn't sending us out to cure the ills of society or make sure the right person gets elected (by the way, God says He puts people into authority).


What are the two greatest commandments according to Jesus? To paraphrase: Love God and Love people.

We shouldn't be refusing to bake cakes for lesbians or tweet photos of aborted baby parts or post disparaging pictures of Hillary Clinton on Facebook.

We are to be spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

I am not saying these other things are not important or that we should be ostriches with our heads in the sand, BUT, we need, as a church, the church of Jesus Christ, to refocus on the task at hand and that is to spread the Good News that Christ died for the world's sins and we all need that forgiveness and grace and mercy!

We do that by loving the lost. We were lost at one time and we should be so ecstatic about be saved from eternal damnation that we should want to tell whoever we can about the saving power of knowing and believing in our risen Lord, Jesus Christ!

Let's refocus. Pray. Things will change. Abortion can be stopped. Radical Islam can be defeated. The homosexual issues we face can and would go away only when the Gospel is spread and people come to saving knowledge and belief in Jesus Christ.

What do you think? I'd love to hear from you.

Marriage - A Conversation

WOW! Such consternation last week with the Supreme Court weighing in on marriage. They got it wrong, but, that is not surprising.

We Christians do not hate homosexuals. Well, real Christians who follow the teaching of Jesus Christ don't hate anyone. We believe that the Bible, written by men to whom God gave the words is the final authority on how to live, not some ancient text that needs to be updated.

In that Book, God says homosexuality is a sin. Not the unpardonable sin. Not the worst sin. A sin that can be wiped away when a person gives their life to Christ and is baptized into the Christian life. We believe this. If anyone has a problem with it, take that up with God.

We also believe what the Bible says when it tells us we are to love people. Love thy neighbor is in the Bible. It's as much the word of God as whatever sin we are talking about. As authentic Christians, then, we are to love those who know Christ and who do not know Christ. And we do. We aren't perfect, but thank God for His great mercy and grace!

Where in the World did Marriage Come From Anyway?

Well, it didn't come from the world. Marriage was established by God. That's not a stretch. It happened with the very first humans, Adam and Eve.

How can I say this? I believe the Bible is the inspired word of God. In Genesis it is recorded that God created Adam and then Eve. Genesis 2:24 tells us about marriage and how it should be according to God.

Government did not set up marriage, so it has no right to redefine it.

Also, let's look at the human race and its nature. Can anyone, with a straight face, actually suggest that any human thought having one spouse of the opposite sex for their lifetime was the best idea for marriage? No. I think if we were honest, humans would choose to have multiple simultaneous "partners" of various sexes and be free to change those partners at will whenever they cared to. Marriage was definitely God's idea.

Two Reactions

To my Christian brothers and sisters who scolded those of us who expressed a negative reaction, I have to ask why? Aren't we entitled to say how disappointed we are that America has taken yet another step away from God? This was nothing to celebrate or feel good about. As long as the reaction was not hateful, then I don't see the problem.

To those on the side of same-sex marriage who would squash the Christian's reaction to this ruling, I say, if you have the freedom to support same-sex marriage and speak out about it, we have the right to be against it and speak up about it. This is still America and we all enjoy the rights of the First Amendment. Certainly you are familiar with the concept of "rights" as you so often cite your right for this or that (whether true or not).

Why Marriage at All?

By most objective studies, marriage between one man and one woman is the best situation for children. And, God established marriage, not only as a way to help man (and thus woman) not be lonely, but to populate the earth. The earth could never be populated with two people of the same sex. Just cannot happen. That is why God set it up the way He did.

Happiness is a "Right"?

The right to be happy is not a right at all. No one has the intrinsic, God-given right to be happy. If that were the case, we would have the right to do anything that made us happy and we know that's not the case. What if killing people made you happy, as it does for some? What if, as for some, setting buildings on fire made you happy? What if robbing the elderly made you happy? Far-fetched ideas? No, not at all when you think happiness is a "right".

What Now?

In the end, we all can rest assured God's got this. He is in control of everything, even those things (like this country's morals) that seem out of control. He's also got our back. 

Now, it might seem boring, but we Christians need to just keep praying and leaving this all in God's very capable hands. We need to ask for forgiveness. We must repent of our sins. We must also heed the call of 2 Chronicles 7:14 that God gave the Israelites.

Do not stop speaking out, but do so in love and with respect. Gently bringing the Truth to those who need to hear it.

To those who do not agree with God's take on marriage and homosexuality, I would ask you to extend the same "tolerance" to our position that you so fervently demand of us.

ROMANS 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love for us in this; while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Questions? Comments? Leave them here, but be respectful.

Luke - The Good Doctor

The Gospel of Luke, chapter 1 (New Living Translation)

Verses 1 through 4

1 Many people have set out to write accounts about the events that have been fulfilled among us.2 They used the eyewitness reports circulating among us from the early disciples. 3 Having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I also have decided to write a careful account for you, most honorable Theophilus, 4 so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught.

Though not named in the writings of this book, it is agreed throughout Christian scholarship that the writer is Luke, the physician, who was a companion of the Apostle Paul.

Reading the introduction of this book, we can see Luke is writing to someone named Theophilus, so this might more succinctly be characterized as an epistle or letter, such as those from Paul that make up the bulk of the New Testament.

Apparently, Theophilus had some questions about what he was taught about Jesus, what he's read from people other than the disciples, so we can assume Theophilus is a believer. Luke is writing to encourage and assure him that he's been taught the truth. 

After the writings of those who were eyewitnesses of Jesus' ministry, life, death and resurrection were circulated, others have used those accounts to write their own version or pass on what they've read or heard. 

Luke starts out by assuring Theophilus that he's carefully investigated all the accounts from the very beginning and is now endeavoring to write his own careful account of the events that occurred, the teaching that was brought and the miracles that were performed. And being a doctor, we can believe that Luke's investigation was exhaustive and well thought out. It is by this careful account that Luke hopes to prove to Theophilus that what he's heard and read is the truth about Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

What's Really Behind the Attacks on Religious Freedoms?

What's Really Behind the Attacks on Religious Freedoms?

Poll: Majority of Americans Believe Unborn Are People and Killing Them Should Be Illegal | MRCTV

Poll: Majority of Americans Believe Unborn Are People and Killing Them Should Be Illegal | MRCTV

Stop Saying You're A Christian Mr. President

Mr. President.

With all due respect, until you genuinely give your life to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are immersed in baptism, your comments about “fellow Christians” are invalid and carry no weight whatsoever.

And, how dare you, time after time, at events that are meant to be uplifting and encouraging, such as prayer breakfasts, continue to mock, bash and attempt to intimidate those of us who follow the King of kings.

So, sir, until such time as you become a genuine Christian, kindly keep your comments to yourself. No one is interested in them.

Communion, How Important Is It Really?

At our church, Nesconset Christian Church, we celebrate Communion every week. Sometimes it's in the beginning of the service, sometimes towards the end after the pastor's sermon.

Wherever it is positioned in the service, it can be argued that it's the most important part of the service.

In 1 Corinthians 11, Paul recounts what the Lord told him regarding communion. Jesus didn't give instructions on the sermon or teaching. He didn't give the disciples hints on what kind of music to play. He did, however, give specific instructions on Communion.

We see in Acts 2:42 and Acts 20:7, that the "breaking of bread" is a central part of every meeting of the believers. They did this each and every time they met.

In 1 Corinthians 11, we see Paul said, "whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes". Why is that important?

This is of the utmost importance, because without the Lord's death and resurrection, every other element of the service is meaningless. If Jesus never died for our sins and then arose from death, He is shown to be a charlatan, at best. However, in the days after His bodily resurrection, He was seen by over 500 believers (1 Corinthians 15:6). This has never been disputed or proven false.

And, as humans, we tend to forget, so the Lord knew how important it was for us to be reminded of His death, which He took on so we did not have to suffer the punishment for our sins, each time we meet.

DaVinci's Last Supper

As you approach Communion time at your church, remember. Remember the Lord's death and his resurrection. Remember his body, when you take the bread. The body that hung on that tree. Remember, it is you and I who belonged there, but in His love, grace and mercy, Jesus, God in bodily form, allowed Himself to be nailed there with all our sins. And as the cup is passed, which represents His shed blood, remember the writer of Hebrews (9:22) reminding us that there is no forgiveness of sin without the shedding of blood. We must remember, that the reason we are saved is because of this one act of love on God's part. 

Never forget. That's what Communion is about and it's the reason we should partake of it every time we meet as believers.

It's that important.

Communion - by Third Day