Christian

Are you really trying to help them reach God? (A guide to Christians wishing to post Blogs)

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Recently I was trying to help another blogger in posting his blogs since he was breaking one of the basic rules of posting. Something I myself have had to learn to control. I can tell he did not listen, which is sad, but that is human nature for you. So here goes. I hope this helps.
1) NEVER spam. Your message is unsolicited. No one wants to see it. It is your job to get them curious enough to decide to look at what you have to say. If you post the same message or a group of messages within a very short time period, you are spamming. I have been a gamer since 1996. So I know how people in a social media environment respond to repetitive messages one right after the other. It blocks what is going on before, during and after this plastering of your message that you felt was so important that it should be more significant than those before, during and after your post. This is the act of selfishness, and as I have pointed out in other post of mine: Selfishness is not the act of a Christian. Simply, be courteous to your fellow bloggers and this will itself open doors. You are trying to introduce those that have not come to Jesus to Him. If they see someone that is selfish and self-serving they see how everyone one else is in the world and say to themselves “Christianity is no different than how I live now…. no thanks”
2) Use graphics. You are trying to get those searching through the blogs to stop and read yours. Just posting words is just that words. It does not catch their eyes and so they pass you by.
3) Never delete a comment. Always post comments to your blog be they good and especially if they are bad. It is your task as a servant of God to try to teach people about how our Lord acts and cares. If people challenge what you have to say it is your place to answer them. You have chosen to be a blogger so it is your duty to try your best to answer these comments. When attacked respond with love, turn the other cheek in other words. You made the blog post you have to be able to defend it. You may fail to defend it properly but at least you made the effort. We are only human after all. Your response to someone attacking your post can do more to serve God then your actual post could have in some cases. (The only exception is spam comments which appear in your spam filter)
4) Make it as short as possible. I personally have the most problem with this one. Once you hit 1000 words, end it. If you cannot, divide it into something you continue the next day. See rule 1. If you are close to the end, go ahead and finish, but try to make the next one shorter.
5) Posting only Bible verses turns people off. Also, do not start with a verse. Jesus taught by telling stories. He did not go around spouting out verses from the Torah. He was teaching mainly to the sinner. They do not want to be preached too, and that is what you are doing when you post only Bible verses. Tell a story and if needed add a Bible verse that matches your point, but ONLY if needed. We are told to be like Jesus. Since he told stories, why can’t we? Personal experiences are a plus. It helps people to identify with you when you tell of events that happened to you.
I hope this helps.

Confessions of a screwed up middle aged man: The unheard voice

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A day has passed since I talked to someone. A realization, an euphony, an insight from on high. My brother had mentioned it to me last week, but to actually encounter it just astonishes me.
Someone who believes that they are of the fold but their interpretation of the word and the own actions say otherwise. I tried to give guidance and teach them, but they were locked into their stance. Is he not of the fold? I honestly do not think so, but that is not for me to say, only God and the Bible can answer that with certainty. What I have done is planted a seed. A seed that will not bear fruit till a time of God’s choosing. A time I fear may be very trying from this person and the world, but will allow him to be called blessed if he follows through and learns.
I waivered in my faith in the past. I allowed those within the religious dogmas to cause me to falter from the path God had placed upon me. He has given that burden to someone else now, but God has given me a new task. A task that will cause me to be ignored by most, shunned by others and truly hated by even more. It is a burden I gladly accept.
I will write more posts. Many that have looked at my posts in the past may ignore me and even block me, but I will still write more post. I have been given a burden to call to those that slumber. That think they are awake, but they are in a dream of their own making. A dream in which they feel and believe they are one with God and of God, but it is just a dream.
Some will awaken from their dream when they read my words. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but someday they just may awaken. For I do not do this for my vain glory but for the glorification of God and His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. I will continue to teach the true meaning of the Bible as it is shown to us in the Greek and Hebrew which is the closest available at this time to the original inspiration of the words by God to those that penned them. Showing that many current translations of the Bible are not truly translations, but commentaries by those that wish to change to Bible to where it allows them to live in sin and not feel the sting of sorrow and remorse from guilt.
This is the mission, this is the goal that God through His Son Jesus that I have been set to follow and fulfill.
A voice in the electronic highway known as the internet. A simple voice blowing in the wind that time to time someone hears, understands and grows. Yet most time I will be nothing more than an unheard voice in the wilderness.

A study of 2 Timothy 3:16

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The actual King James Version of this is as follows:
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
Now I must say as I was preparing for this by looking into the original Greek that all humans make errors. In a previous post I had stated that This letter was not “scripture” at the time it was written (You can’t cherry pick God), but as you look the meaning of the Greek you come to realize that anything that meets the criteria set forth in this verse can be considered “scripture” for it is given unto the writer through the Holy Spirit. So I admit I was wrong and will do better in the future.
What is truly important beyond that fact that is given to any through the Holy Spirit is these criteria items:
It is for doctrine which actually means for instruction meaning to give those that have read it the ability to teach it unto others.
It is for reproof or evidence you can use to show someone they have not been following the teaching of God. I wish to stick on this one for a moment. Several times I have done this very thing. Used this book the Bible as a foundation to show that someone has erred in their ways and choices. They have allowed themselves to fall into a misguided lifestyle thinking they are one with God but the Bible itself says otherwise. So I challenge them I show them the proof and the say I am judging them. I tell them it is not me judging them but the word of God. Yet still I am the scapegoat that has judged them and they turn from me vindicated that they are in the right when it is not me that is right and especially not them, but the Bible is right and correct and proof that they are in the wrong and not following the teaching of Christ or His Father.
This leads right into the next word “correction” meaning to fix your ways to match that of the Bible it is here that many fail to do so especially those that have labeled the person actually trying to help them as a “judge.”
For truly what is the Bible? It is an instruction manual in righteousness designed to embed character into us through moral facts presented within the Bible.
As I have said more than once if it is called a sin in the Bible then it is a sin and you need to work on trying to stop it.
“All” in the Greek is “pas” meaning to including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.
“Scripture” is “gramma” which is a writing, i.e. a letter, note, epistle, book.
“Is given by ispiration of God” is “theopneustos” which means it is divinely breathed in.
“And” is kai – is apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:–and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
“Is profitable” ophelimos which is helpful or serviceable
“For” is pros – which is a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. toward
“Doctrine” is “didaskalia” or instruction.
“Reproof” – “elegchos” or proof, conviction:–evidence.
“Correction” is “epanorthosis” which is a straightening up again, i.e. (figuratively) rectification (reformation):– correction.
“Instruction” or “paideia” meaning to give tutorage, i.e. education or training; by implication, disciplinary correction:–chastening, chastisement, instruction, nurture.
“In” – “en” – a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of; “in,”
“Righteousness” – “dikaiosune” – equity (of character or act); specially (Christian) justification:–righteousness

Assistance in finding the Greek words and their meaning was thanks to “Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance” you can find it online.

You can’t cherry pick God

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Due to recent events I feel drawn to revisit this understanding of how to use a Bible. In 2 Timothy 3:16 it states that ALL scripture is inspired by God and is good for the development of those that wish to know and be one with God.
First let’s look at the 2 Timothy itself. When this was written it is just a letter sent out to those that called themselves “Christian.” It was not scripture then as it is now considered; in fact you can say that for the entire New Testament until it was formally called that by the commission of King James. So when this letter was written what was the scripture it was referring to? That would be the Old Testament. Jesus clearly states that he did not come to replace scripture but to fulfill it. If you do not read the Old Testament you do not know what it is He has come to fulfill. So all of the Old Testament is relevant and needs to be read and studied.
Now the entire Bible is considered scripture so it is now just as important to consider all part of it old and new.
I will tell you an event that happened in my life and I hope it brings the point home. I was eighteen and a Methodist church had opened directly behind my parents’ home which I was living in. So I said to myself what the heck I will give it a try. I go in and I try to adjust myself to the formal procedures that you must follow during one of their services. I thought to myself ok I can adjust to this, but I wasn’t fully comfortable having been raised in churches that weren’t so formal in their procedures. Then the minister started to talk. One of the first words out of his mouth was that that book of Revelation was a fairy tale. My jaw dropped. I knew 2 Timothy 3:16 and to hear a church leader say that a book in the Bible was just a story, a lie, I couldn’t believe my own ears. This belief on his part totally destroyed the need to even know this verse in the Bible. So why was he even in the pulpit? His job wasn’t needed per him so why even be there. Needless to say I never went back, but I wish I had the courage I now have and had gotten up and walked out of there the moment I heard him say that.
The thing is this minister is not alone out there, may-hap people that listened to him passed on these false teachings to others and a cascade effect has transpired to the resulting misunderstanding many that think themselves to be “Christian” now have of the Bible. They go to church hear someone in the pulpit mention this verse or that verse and they feel they are good to go for the week, or until such time as they decide to go back.
Well this is not how it was meant to be. We are required to know the entire Bible not this verse or that verse, which in turn can be misinterpret or stated out of context. We are required to know it so we can reprove those that do not teach the Bible correctly. Do we do this for all to hear? No we do not. For it even tells us in the Bible how to tell someone they are in error. We pull them aside and quietly try to straighten them out on the correct interpretation of the scripture. If they do not listen them we are to go with another person and if that fails we are to go to the elders of the church and get them to help fix the issue.
But now even these days that may not work, for many elders are afraid to confront their members that are in error. Afraid they may leave and take their money with them. This is not how it was meant to be. If God wishes the church to exist then it will. So the church leadership should do just that lead and yes confront the person that is in error for if they are allowed to continue in their error it can spread like a plague throughout the congregation and then it is nothing but a church in action not spirit and is dead to God.
It is important that all study the Bible and have a true understanding of what is written within it. Will we all have it memorized? No, but we will have a working knowledge of the scriptures that will carry us throughout our journey, growing ever stronger in our belief and love for God and His son the Lord Jesus Christ

There is a difference between seeking freedom and seeking the freedom to sin

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Here is one of those things that people do not realize. Having the freedom to openly sin actually takes your freedom away from you. While seeking after true freedom can be costly not only in blood and treasure but requires all to adhere to a group of principles because it was so costly, but due to this is more worthy to receive once it is gotten. This lesson was learned by those that fought in World War II. The hardships they went through in some cases are to horrifying to comp template, but we must remember them. We must understand what it costs to have true freedom. For without understanding the cost this true freedom starts to turn into the freedom to sin which now plagues this nation as well as others.
I dread the day when many will finally come to realize the truth. It in many cases it will itself be more horrifying to comp template

Watered down faith

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More and more I see and witness things that just astound me. As I have stated in other post believe in God, His Son Jesus and the Bible is black and white. Yet I see those that have fallen for the propaganda given out by the humans. When you think upon it who are the humans going to favor? Why themselves of course.
So this is a huge factor in how people come to treat their “beliefs.” God through the Bible makes it very clear. Live in sin or out of sin. Living out of sin does not mean you will never sin, but when it happens you will feel guilt. It is this guilt people do not wish to experience. So they try to tell all that the world is no longer black and white but is grey. They try to shut down those that are saying the truth by call them the liars, judges and the hate mongers when in reality they have become the liars, judges and hate mongers. They are so determined to be allowed to live in sin that they blind themselves to what is written in the Bible. Even to the point of using the Bible to accomplish their goal. Taking selectively from it yet ignoring important statement and facts mostly spoken by Jesus Christ Himself. You must take the entire book and you must know the entire book for those that hate God know the entire Bible and use it to their advantage.

It is truly life changing.

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When you ask Jesus to come into your life you change. This is something many have not experienced yet they say they have Jesus into their life.
There is a singer songwriter I once met. He was in a world famous hard rock band. He used drugs, he drank alcohol and he enjoyed the company of many a groupie. One day he reached a low point in his life and upon that day He asked Christ into his life. The next day when he awoke he no longer was addicted to drugs, alcohol made him want to vomit and he became faithful to his wife. He now writes and sings about God and His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the most extreme example I know that shows how instantaneously and complete Jesus coming into your life can be.
In my own life I remember entering into the age of accountability at thirteen and seeing the boy I had been no longer exist. I become a liar and I lusted after women and thought only of myself and my own needs and desires. Not caring if I hurt anyone. When I accepted Jesus into my life I knew form the moment it happened to this very day that the boy I had been to the age of twelve was now the man I am today. I could really see the change in my personality back to the one I had before the age of accountability came upon me.
If you think you have asked Christ into your life and yet you are exactly the same. Still living a life filled with sins as they are called and described within the Bible. Then I must ask: “Are you really saved?”

To deny why Christ went upon the cross is to deny Him

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Within the book of Leviticus is the laws Moses received from God upon Mount Sinai. Each sin is listed and every type of sacrifice is named according to each sin from minor offerings to even the death of the person. These sin are why Jesus Christ went to the cross and the sacrifice He made from being beaten, whipped, nailed to the cross and even His death were why Leviticus was written and why Christ did what he did.
Many in today’s world though do not acknowledge the book of Leviticus. They use the statement “Jesus died for our sin this book is now moot.”
I say, if you do not know what is a sin how can you know you are clean of it? All of the Bible is relevant and important:
2 Timothy 3: 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
If you deny any part of the Bible you are in essence denying Jesus Christ.
Matthew 10: 33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
So I challenge all to read the book of Leviticus and accept what is written within it. If it is called a sin within that book then it is a sin. If it is still a part of your life and you feel no remorse in committing these sins or sin then are you in denial?

It is time for a revival

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Too long has those within the “church” gone about thinking they are saved and blessed and going to heaven. To long has this belief been handed down to the next generation to the point that these generations see the hypocrisies and so turn away from God. Not truly understanding that it is not God they are turning away but from man-made doctrines.
It is these same type of doctrines and behavior that faced the Jewish religion two thousand years ago when Christ came to fulfill prophecy. The religious leadership was so blinded by their lust for power and control that they failed to recognize the true Messiah.
This is how the “church” is today. Too few are truly “Christian” and most of these struggle to maintain their beliefs. Bombarded from inside the “church” as well as from outside it. Many that were “Christian” have fallen away back into a life of sin. Many that think they are “Christian” live on day to day not realizing that they are actors in a play and in reality are hypocrites.
But who will be the leader to come forward and challenge all to set forward and change not only for their own good, but for the sake of the children and their children’s children? I have no answer. For I am but a voice in the wilderness of the internet. A voice upon the wind that some will hear and others will ignore, but this is my destiny, this is my calling, and I will not shirk it, for I know it is what God wishes me to do.

Christians and the vote and why it is important to place God first.

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Let’s start with the greatest commandants given by Christ:
Luke 10:27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
First and foremost as professed children of God we are to place Him first in ALL that we do. This includes voting. That is why I have come to the point that when I go to the ballot box I do not say “I am voting for so and so” I say “I am voting for God.”
Now yes I know no one is perfect and we all sin. That is why it is so important to go and vote for God. We must find someone that reflects God as much as possible. Will this person win? Maybe not, but we placed God first. If that there is no one left that we feel best represents God then we must choose as the statement goes “the lesser of two evil.” In other words the one that is closest to God.
Now we get to the next part of what I want to try and get across.
Matthew 10:33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
This statement Jesus made to me is the key of where all Christians should come from when they go to vote after the afore mentioned Luke 10:27. Why? Because we as Christians should always think like this. Now some would say that there is the separation of church and states. I would say being Christian and following the first verse I placed here does not give you that option, but let’s look at the first amendment anyway:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances,
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion: The government has no right to make any law to make a religion. Now why say this? This is because of what Henry the Eighth did so it would allow him to live in sin and end up marrying several times. This was a key element that led people to come to America in the first place. To freely practice their faith without the government getting involved.
or prohibiting the free exercise thereof: This is the most important statement in the First Amendment about religion. This is the core of the statement “separation of church and states” What this means is that the government cannot stick its nose into religion NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND, but many have been taught it is the other way around. As you can see that is not the case and needs to be remembered and passed on to all so they will know what is the truth.
Per Luke 10:27 if we place God first we must place religion into how we deal with government which first and foremost is the ballot box which leads me to Matthew 10:33. One party has officially removed the word God from any of their public documentation. So to me they are denying Christ and so Christ is denying them to God.
With that in mind and remember Luke 10:27 we as Christians have one full party we should never support in anyway shape or form until they see fit to once again officially acknowledge God. So to me there is no Democratic Party. This leaves Independents and Republicans.