Hi my name is Mike and I have an addiction.
Everyone say hi Mike.
Did you say hi Mike? The chances very good that you should be in the same support group with me to fight this addiction.
The question becomes what is this addiction? John 12:43 answers this for allot of us.
For they loved human praise more than the praise of God.
They say the first step to overcoming an addiction is to admit that you have it. I do admit that sometimes I do love human praise and get all wrapped up in what people may or may not think of me and not for the glory of God but for the glory of me.
Sometimes I don't do or say the things I know I should for fear of what people might think. It is something that I realize and work on everyday, not always succeeding.
Now the question becomes if you have the same problem can you admit to it as well? And what are you going to do about it?
Monday, February 28, 2011
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Random thoughts from the week
1. A question has been asked a couple of times recently and that is what are you looking forward to the most in Heaven. I have not yet went on record for myself. I am looking forward to meeting and worshiping Jesus the most. I am also looking forward to sitting down and talking to Job.
2. I caught myself this week having information that may have made others mad and I considered not sharing it. I was however moved to share it and was glad that I did. I can't help but think how many times I don't share the truth and what was lost because of it.
3. This week I also thought what does the price of gas have to be before the American people do something about it. We have our own oil but are not allowed to get it. Its like having a garden full of fresh produce and going to the store and paying twice what it's worth. I mean you can pick the produce with out destroying the garden.
4. After last weeks Daytona 500 and the ten year anniversary of Dale Earhart's death I was reminded of the fact I thought it was weird how the death of someone I didn't even know could effect me so much.
5. Will the Iowa Hawkeye men's basketball team ever be competitive again?
6. I still love the cartoon Calvin and Hobbs.
7. I am still better than I deserve, blessed beyond believe and pray that I can fulfill God's purpose for my life.
2. I caught myself this week having information that may have made others mad and I considered not sharing it. I was however moved to share it and was glad that I did. I can't help but think how many times I don't share the truth and what was lost because of it.
3. This week I also thought what does the price of gas have to be before the American people do something about it. We have our own oil but are not allowed to get it. Its like having a garden full of fresh produce and going to the store and paying twice what it's worth. I mean you can pick the produce with out destroying the garden.
4. After last weeks Daytona 500 and the ten year anniversary of Dale Earhart's death I was reminded of the fact I thought it was weird how the death of someone I didn't even know could effect me so much.
5. Will the Iowa Hawkeye men's basketball team ever be competitive again?
6. I still love the cartoon Calvin and Hobbs.
7. I am still better than I deserve, blessed beyond believe and pray that I can fulfill God's purpose for my life.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Give Up, You Can't Do It
John 6:63-65 should be very comforting to some and yet very concerning to others.
Here is what it says.
63 The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But some of you do not believe me.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning which ones didn’t believe, and he knew who would betray him.) 65 Then he said, “That is why I said that people can’t come to me unless the Father gives them to me.”
I have recently read a chapter in a book about death, and you know what it said? It said that death was coming for everyone. I am afraid that most people don't understand that death is the beginning of forever. Everyone has eternal life it is just a matter of your permanent address. There are only two zip codes when you die Heaven and Hell. So what do these verses have to do with anything?
It's when it says human effort accomplishes nothing. That is why I said in the beginning this should be cause for comfort to some and concern for others.
Let's tackle the ones who should be concerned. These are the ones who think that by what they do will get them to Heaven, by being a "good" person. That if the good things they do out weigh the bad things God will be pleased. The ones that should really be concerned are the ones who think that God grades on a curve and as long as they are better than the other guy they are safe. My advice to those who try earn their way into God's grace. Give up. You can't do it.
Now for the ones who find comfort in these verses. These are the people who realize that they are sinners, that they are guilty, and that only by Gods grace can they get into Heaven. What a contrast from the ones who think that they are safe in a sense you can say that many good people call Hell home and only the bad can get into heaven.
Before you can get into Heaven you first have to realize how bad you really are and then ask Christ into your life so he can cover your multitude of sins. That is when you can take comfort in the fact that someone other than yourself is in charge of where you will spend eternity.
If you have not put Christ in charge of your life, ask him. Then you too can take comfort and have confidence that you are in the hands of the only one who can take you to Heaven.
Here is what it says.
63 The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But some of you do not believe me.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning which ones didn’t believe, and he knew who would betray him.) 65 Then he said, “That is why I said that people can’t come to me unless the Father gives them to me.”
I have recently read a chapter in a book about death, and you know what it said? It said that death was coming for everyone. I am afraid that most people don't understand that death is the beginning of forever. Everyone has eternal life it is just a matter of your permanent address. There are only two zip codes when you die Heaven and Hell. So what do these verses have to do with anything?
It's when it says human effort accomplishes nothing. That is why I said in the beginning this should be cause for comfort to some and concern for others.
Let's tackle the ones who should be concerned. These are the ones who think that by what they do will get them to Heaven, by being a "good" person. That if the good things they do out weigh the bad things God will be pleased. The ones that should really be concerned are the ones who think that God grades on a curve and as long as they are better than the other guy they are safe. My advice to those who try earn their way into God's grace. Give up. You can't do it.
Now for the ones who find comfort in these verses. These are the people who realize that they are sinners, that they are guilty, and that only by Gods grace can they get into Heaven. What a contrast from the ones who think that they are safe in a sense you can say that many good people call Hell home and only the bad can get into heaven.
Before you can get into Heaven you first have to realize how bad you really are and then ask Christ into your life so he can cover your multitude of sins. That is when you can take comfort in the fact that someone other than yourself is in charge of where you will spend eternity.
If you have not put Christ in charge of your life, ask him. Then you too can take comfort and have confidence that you are in the hands of the only one who can take you to Heaven.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Got Religion? I hope not!
If you were surprised by the title of today's blog please consider the following words very carefully. If not perhaps they will just be a good reminder.
Religious people are extremely dangerous and to be honest Hell is full of religious people. Sounds crazy doesn't it? But through out the four Gospels Jesus is constantly going up against the Pharisees and they are continually trying wipe him out and the Pharisees were the most religious people of that day. Look what Jesus has to say in John 5: 39-40
39 “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! 40 Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life.
You can be a really good person. You can be as religious has you can stand. You can study as much as you want. You can be the most giving person in the whole world. Why you can even go to church every Sunday but just remember one thing.
Religion doesn't save people Jesus does!
Religious people are extremely dangerous and to be honest Hell is full of religious people. Sounds crazy doesn't it? But through out the four Gospels Jesus is constantly going up against the Pharisees and they are continually trying wipe him out and the Pharisees were the most religious people of that day. Look what Jesus has to say in John 5: 39-40
39 “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! 40 Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life.
You can be a really good person. You can be as religious has you can stand. You can study as much as you want. You can be the most giving person in the whole world. Why you can even go to church every Sunday but just remember one thing.
Religion doesn't save people Jesus does!
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Shock someone today
Is the only time you talk about Jesus is with those that already know him? I think at times it is very easy to fall into that trap. Satan just loves it when you only talk about Jesus to other believers. That way you are leaving his people alone. The cool thing about this whole battle between God and Satan is that Satan cannot take any of God's people but God can certainly take as many of Satan's people has he chooses. God can and does choose to use us at times to be his tool in rescuing people from the other side. But if you only go to those already on your side you are not going to be successful at all. You may very well have to talk to someone that is different than you.
Look at John 4:27 and see what Jesus' own disciples thought about that Samaritan women he was talking to.
27 Just then his disciples came back. They were shocked to find him talking to a woman, but none of them had the nerve to ask, “What do you want with her?” or “Why are you talking to her?”
They were shocked that he was even talking to her. So my advice for you today and myself is to go out and shock someone today.
Look at John 4:27 and see what Jesus' own disciples thought about that Samaritan women he was talking to.
27 Just then his disciples came back. They were shocked to find him talking to a woman, but none of them had the nerve to ask, “What do you want with her?” or “Why are you talking to her?”
They were shocked that he was even talking to her. So my advice for you today and myself is to go out and shock someone today.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Prequel and Sequel
Okay practically everyone knows John 3:16
“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
It's so nice, and so warm and fuzzy. When it says that God loved the world some think that's everything and everyone. If this is all the Bible you know, you may think you are safe because God so loved the world, everyone is going to end up with him in Heaven.
Wrong
You don't have to read the whole Bible to find out that, that is not the case. All you have to do is read the prequel and the sequel to John 3:16.
The prequel is John 3:3
Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”
Being born again is a scary topic for some but here Jesus says I tell you the truth and he repeats himself 2 more times between verses 3 and 16 that you must be born again. Being born again must be important.
Then there is the sequel which comes in John 3:18
“There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.
In today's society we talk about diversity and understanding all the different kinds of people in the world when in fact Jesus makes it clear here and throughout the Bible there are only two kinds of people in the world. The guilty and the not guilty, believers and non-believers. And there are only two destinations Heaven to be with God, and Hell to be separated from God.
So when you hear John 3:16 don't focus on the words world, and everyone to much without thinking about the prequel and the sequel. Then think about what will happen to you when you die.
“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
It's so nice, and so warm and fuzzy. When it says that God loved the world some think that's everything and everyone. If this is all the Bible you know, you may think you are safe because God so loved the world, everyone is going to end up with him in Heaven.
Wrong
You don't have to read the whole Bible to find out that, that is not the case. All you have to do is read the prequel and the sequel to John 3:16.
The prequel is John 3:3
Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”
Being born again is a scary topic for some but here Jesus says I tell you the truth and he repeats himself 2 more times between verses 3 and 16 that you must be born again. Being born again must be important.
Then there is the sequel which comes in John 3:18
“There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.
In today's society we talk about diversity and understanding all the different kinds of people in the world when in fact Jesus makes it clear here and throughout the Bible there are only two kinds of people in the world. The guilty and the not guilty, believers and non-believers. And there are only two destinations Heaven to be with God, and Hell to be separated from God.
So when you hear John 3:16 don't focus on the words world, and everyone to much without thinking about the prequel and the sequel. Then think about what will happen to you when you die.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Lost in life's maze?
Do you remember as a kid the mazes you did? Where you had to start in one place and take your pencil and try to find the one path that would lead you out of the maze. The problem was there was never more than one correct path. I was reminded of this today as I was reading John 1:51 it says:
Then he said, “I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth.”
There are a couple of things that stood out to me.
1. In John's Gospel this was the very first thing that Jesus taught his disciples that he was the only way to Heaven. He also started by saying I tell you the truth. Must have been important.
2. Jesus is still to this day the one thing that separates Christianity from all other religions.
There are all kinds of people in the world that pray to gods (notice the little g) But Jesus is the only way to the one true God. (notice the big G)
So in this maze called life just like the ones on paper there is only one way out and it's up.
Then he said, “I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth.”
There are a couple of things that stood out to me.
1. In John's Gospel this was the very first thing that Jesus taught his disciples that he was the only way to Heaven. He also started by saying I tell you the truth. Must have been important.
2. Jesus is still to this day the one thing that separates Christianity from all other religions.
There are all kinds of people in the world that pray to gods (notice the little g) But Jesus is the only way to the one true God. (notice the big G)
So in this maze called life just like the ones on paper there is only one way out and it's up.
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