I gather my American friends have an ellection in November. Much of what I get on the internet from over the pond, is American political stuff, mostly anti Obama. Now I sure am not going to give American friends advice on which way to vote, hey I'm British what would I know? ;)
Has President Obama a valid American birth certificate? Is he not very kind to, distant, relatives in Africa? I honestly havent a clue, and actualy dont care over much. Sincere appologies to all American friends.
What I do feel is, Thank God I'm not the American President, everything about a presidents life comes under a micrascope. I really really wouldent want people to know everything about my life, honestly there is too much bad stuff there :(
But here is a thought....Do we realise our lives come under God's scrutiny more than any American Presidents does in the media? I mean, this is awfull, God actualy knows everything about me, us. I mean all the baaaaaad stuff, the embarrasing stuff, etc etc etc.
Would any of us run in an ellection if every detail of our lives would be made known to the voters?
I guess if that could happen no one would take up politics, I sure wouldent.
We judge others in a way we wouldent like to be judged ourselfs. Think about it...God knows everything about us, and He gets to judge us! This my friends is a very sobbering thought.
Friday, 17 August 2012
Wednesday, 15 August 2012
Why should anyone stay in the church?
At best, the church is sooo imperfect. Often it can seem sooo disconected from lifes realities. Often the people in the church are the most judgmental bigots you could ever find.
OK I can agree with all the above, in many cases, certainly not all. So the church is imperfect...news flash...christians already know this! Even more impoprtant, God knows it!
Have I been hurt by fellow christians?...you bet I have. Have I hurt other christians....oh yes to my great shame.
I'm imperfect, I wish I wasnt! I'm everything that has made me who I am. We christians, our churches, are imperfect, some more than others. But answer this question, "To find God, be instructed in His Word. Where else can you Go?"
Come to our church, sit beside me, and your sitting next to an imperfect, often failing man.
So you say, "The church is imperfect why should I stay?" Or maybe even, "I know Ian Gentles, if he is what a christian is, I'm out of here"
But why is imperfect Ian Gentles sitting in church? Because I know I'm imperfect! I wish I hadnt failed soo much in my christian life. I truely feel my failures. But if your sitting besides me, I maybe praying, "God have mercy and help me"?
Paul the apostle once called himself, "The cheif of sinners." Paul is one of the greatest christians who ever lived.
Sadly I cant say I recomend all churches to you. But I can say many are genuine, though imperfect.
I stay in the church because God is working there, despite all we might concider imperfect. He is working in my "imperfect" life.
Stay with the church folks, or if its your case, join it. You will find it imperfect because I, and others like me, are there.
But, I do meet God there, in the preaching of His Word. In the love that many imperfect people show. In the real struggles of His imperfect people.
I hope to see you at church on Sunday, simply because its the best place to be, if your searching for the truth!
OK I can agree with all the above, in many cases, certainly not all. So the church is imperfect...news flash...christians already know this! Even more impoprtant, God knows it!
Have I been hurt by fellow christians?...you bet I have. Have I hurt other christians....oh yes to my great shame.
I'm imperfect, I wish I wasnt! I'm everything that has made me who I am. We christians, our churches, are imperfect, some more than others. But answer this question, "To find God, be instructed in His Word. Where else can you Go?"
Come to our church, sit beside me, and your sitting next to an imperfect, often failing man.
So you say, "The church is imperfect why should I stay?" Or maybe even, "I know Ian Gentles, if he is what a christian is, I'm out of here"
But why is imperfect Ian Gentles sitting in church? Because I know I'm imperfect! I wish I hadnt failed soo much in my christian life. I truely feel my failures. But if your sitting besides me, I maybe praying, "God have mercy and help me"?
Paul the apostle once called himself, "The cheif of sinners." Paul is one of the greatest christians who ever lived.
Sadly I cant say I recomend all churches to you. But I can say many are genuine, though imperfect.
I stay in the church because God is working there, despite all we might concider imperfect. He is working in my "imperfect" life.
Stay with the church folks, or if its your case, join it. You will find it imperfect because I, and others like me, are there.
But, I do meet God there, in the preaching of His Word. In the love that many imperfect people show. In the real struggles of His imperfect people.
I hope to see you at church on Sunday, simply because its the best place to be, if your searching for the truth!
Tuesday, 7 August 2012
How we christians love to argue theology.
We love our theological debates..and yes I do also. But sometimes, more than often, we just like to win them, to be seen as theologicaly "sound".
I love theology, its mind stretching, but can miss the point. It often divides us, in that love takes a second place. Now I am not saying someone isnt more correct than others, often they are. The problem is, the way we debate, can seek to talk each other down.
We cant seperate doctrine from love, something the Lord Jesus Christ didnt do. He taught in love, dieing for the sinner. We today, often, can hardly say anything civil about, or too, those we disagree with. I have found this in all theological circles, none escape this curse.
In my, errr more mature years, I feel despair for christianity. Not that we can differ in our theologies, that can be important, but in how we do it. Some of the most theologicaly sound people I have met, have also had the most unloving attitude to others they differ with.
Truth should lead to love, as God is Love. Yet christians can be the most hurtfull, unloving, people. How can we be followers of the God of Love and still not show love?
The hardest lesson I have learnt is to forgive. Its taken a long time for me to learn it, and I'm not perfect even now. I may disagree with you theologicaly, but if "I have not love I am nothing"
Its easy to love those who agree with us, but do we manage to love those who dont?
Love has to be what we are, its not a suggestion, or an ideal, but a command.
I love theology, its mind stretching, but can miss the point. It often divides us, in that love takes a second place. Now I am not saying someone isnt more correct than others, often they are. The problem is, the way we debate, can seek to talk each other down.
We cant seperate doctrine from love, something the Lord Jesus Christ didnt do. He taught in love, dieing for the sinner. We today, often, can hardly say anything civil about, or too, those we disagree with. I have found this in all theological circles, none escape this curse.
In my, errr more mature years, I feel despair for christianity. Not that we can differ in our theologies, that can be important, but in how we do it. Some of the most theologicaly sound people I have met, have also had the most unloving attitude to others they differ with.
Truth should lead to love, as God is Love. Yet christians can be the most hurtfull, unloving, people. How can we be followers of the God of Love and still not show love?
The hardest lesson I have learnt is to forgive. Its taken a long time for me to learn it, and I'm not perfect even now. I may disagree with you theologicaly, but if "I have not love I am nothing"
Its easy to love those who agree with us, but do we manage to love those who dont?
Love has to be what we are, its not a suggestion, or an ideal, but a command.
Monday, 6 August 2012
Wealth and the christian.
I honestly dont envy rich christians. Simply because they come under the scrutiny, the criticism of those less well off.
Lets be honest, the christians without wealth secretly wish they had it. I guess we could say such christians covet their friends wealth. Yet, few, if any of us go without. According to our western scale of things I am not rich. Yet, I have a home, am comfortable, have a car, etc etc.
Having spent my life in the ministry I didnt make good money, many others are like me. In the present financial climate many christian organisations, churches, are having to cut back. This obviously hurts many in full time christian work, who often find themselfs out of work, with little to show for long years of service. These dear folks may have a hard time seeing many who didnt do christian service full-time, comfortable when they are not.
Yet is this the rich christians fault? I would honestly say that it isnt. Wealthy christians often are the ones who make God's work possible. In my thirty years of ministry I was always concious that wealthy christians helped finance my work in a big way. Without their wealth much would not have been done that was, is, done.
I will be sixty-three on my birthday, life is passing quickly. I hope God will add to my, and my dear wifes years. However my time on earth is now shorter than it ever was. I will die, if Christ dosent return first, we all will die. This is one of lifes certainties. Would I like more money? oh yes! Would I like my dream house? oh yes! But am I happy with what God has given to me? oh yes!
In the church, as in society, there will always be the wealthy, and the less wealthy, or simply put folks who are poor. Yet in the end, we all stand before God, are judged according to our works in this life.
My richer christian friends help keep the work of the gospel going, this is God's calling to them. My calling was to do that work with their support. God supplies the needs of us both, both have to answer to God for their stewardship.
I give my tyth, a tenth of what I have, as do rich christians, and often far more in their case.
Our attitude to riches must be, its not the important thing, being obediant to God with what we have, what He calls us too, is!
My dear friends, rich and poor, let us realise life is short. Rich or poor, only what we do for God counts. Money is nice to have, but in the end, it dosent count for over much, does it?
Lets be honest, the christians without wealth secretly wish they had it. I guess we could say such christians covet their friends wealth. Yet, few, if any of us go without. According to our western scale of things I am not rich. Yet, I have a home, am comfortable, have a car, etc etc.
Having spent my life in the ministry I didnt make good money, many others are like me. In the present financial climate many christian organisations, churches, are having to cut back. This obviously hurts many in full time christian work, who often find themselfs out of work, with little to show for long years of service. These dear folks may have a hard time seeing many who didnt do christian service full-time, comfortable when they are not.
Yet is this the rich christians fault? I would honestly say that it isnt. Wealthy christians often are the ones who make God's work possible. In my thirty years of ministry I was always concious that wealthy christians helped finance my work in a big way. Without their wealth much would not have been done that was, is, done.
I will be sixty-three on my birthday, life is passing quickly. I hope God will add to my, and my dear wifes years. However my time on earth is now shorter than it ever was. I will die, if Christ dosent return first, we all will die. This is one of lifes certainties. Would I like more money? oh yes! Would I like my dream house? oh yes! But am I happy with what God has given to me? oh yes!
In the church, as in society, there will always be the wealthy, and the less wealthy, or simply put folks who are poor. Yet in the end, we all stand before God, are judged according to our works in this life.
My richer christian friends help keep the work of the gospel going, this is God's calling to them. My calling was to do that work with their support. God supplies the needs of us both, both have to answer to God for their stewardship.
I give my tyth, a tenth of what I have, as do rich christians, and often far more in their case.
Our attitude to riches must be, its not the important thing, being obediant to God with what we have, what He calls us too, is!
My dear friends, rich and poor, let us realise life is short. Rich or poor, only what we do for God counts. Money is nice to have, but in the end, it dosent count for over much, does it?
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