My Latest Epiphany

       Aug 13...I have heard people talk about longing for heaven. OK, it was always old people. I have even heard and sung the songs that speak of that longing. As a Christian, I have always viewed that longing as a distant longing. As I pray last night, I had the same emotions that I felt when I left home for basic military training. There was a time, during those days, that I ached for home. I was so homesick that I even cried with the despair of knowing that I was in a place far removed from home. Everything within me cried out to go home. Last night, for the first time in over 27 years, I felt the same feelings; the same emotions. They were so strong that, as I stood in my kitchen, I cried to God, "I want to come home!" It surprised me, somewhat to even feel this way, much less voice it. The thought of seeing my family drift further and further from God is heart-breaking. To know that out of all of the family that I grew up with I am the only one that even attends church, is difficult to accept (to those that would hear this with the wrong voice, I am not saying that I am better than them, just that they have left the path that they once traveled, for alternate paths). To know that my own sons may have less of a relationship with Christ than their parents and that statistically their children will have less and theirs even less is hard to watch. Now, I guess I should say, at this point that this doesn't mean that I would ever take my own life. Never! I still maintain that suicide is self-murder and sends us to Hell. What I think that I am saying is this: I am not afraid to die. I can enjoy life without fear. With anticipation and hope, even. Looking forward to the day that I am called home. I don't have to say "I can't do that because it's too dangerous." or "I can't get a motorcycle because I might get killed." When God calls me home, I am ready. Whether I want to go or not is irrelevant. Nothing I could do can change a thing, when he says that it is my time to board that train to glory. So why fear? If I find out that I have cancer, I will ask to be prayed for by the prayer warriors of my church, but I will request that they not pray for healing. Instead, I will ask that they pray for God's will in my life. Think about it...if that is my ticket home, then why pray to miss that chance? If God wants me to live on and work for him some more, then he will heal me in order for that to happen. I have relinquished my rights to him when I "gave my life to him." (wow! That cliche makes sense now). I am actually looking forward to him saying "Alright Michael, time's up. Let's go." I just remembered a scripture near the end of the book of Revelation. John says that Jesus states that he will return quickly and John responds with an invitation, "Come, Lord, quickly." I finally get it!
       I will live my life in an attempt to please God, my father, more and more. I will serve him while I am waiting. I will not be slack concerning the mission he has given me. But all the while, I will be longing for my home-going. I will not be completely satisfied with where I am until I am home. As a servant (slave), I cannot decide the date or the time. I have to be faithful with the job the master has given me until he returns and rewards is servants, whom he loves.

Sept 13 update
       My teaching has changed. I see a bigger picture. I am uninhibited by fear of offending and I have found a more fervant passion. It is not enough to be a follower of Christ, and to ensure my path is right, I must include others.
       I have stated this before, but it bears repeating...I am convienced that many "christians" either don't believe that hell is a real possibility or they simply don't care. How many of us fail to rescue the perishing? How many are reactive christians instead of proactive followers of Christ? How many follow the creed of "easybelievism" that says that grace covers all our unrepented sins and we don't have to change? Oh how Satan must get a good ol' belly laugh when he sees his plans working. When people repeat, even from the pulpit, the heretical teaching that says we need not repent (turn from our sins) as long as we are sorry for our sins, we set up a system that has failed us even before we get started.

A Study in Forgiveness: 1 of ?

       You may want to read this entry first (http://whatsupwithchristianity.blogspot.com/2011/01/understanding-nature-prelude-to-study.html)
       I want to understand the concept of forgiveness. I see many ideas that are passed off as forgiveness, but I think that many people are not fully aware of what forgiveness really means or what it costs us. If I believe that God has a plan for my future and that the plan which he has is contingent on the choices I make, can I forego forgiving someone when I perceive that they have wronged me? Do I expect that non-believers will act contrary to their nature? Do I expect believers to be more spiritually mature than I myself am?
       So I opened my Bible and flipped to the dictionary/concordance and looked up forgive(n)(ness)(s). It defined it thusly: "to pardon or aquit of sins; acquittal;new lease on life". That was followed by about 24 references to the word 'forgive', in scripture.
       What follows are those references and short synopsis of each:

• Numbers 5, 8, & 12....if a woman makes a vow and her husband or father don't allow it, then God will not hold her to it.
• 2 Chronicles 6:25, 27...if there is repentance, there is forgiveness
• Job 10:14...................Job laments
• Psalm 25:7.................a plea for forgiveness
• Psalm 32:1-5..............confessed sin and repentance brings forgiveness
• Psalm 86:5 ................forgiveness for those who ask
• Matthew 6:12 ............the "Lord's Prayer" teaches that we are to ask for forgiveness
• Matthew 18:21...........never withhold forgivess
• Matthew 26:28...........the blood of Christ is poured out for forgiveness
• Mark 2:7...................Jesus accused of blasphamy
• Mark 11:25................in prayer, forgive others before asking for forgiveness
• John 20:23................."If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
• Acts 10:49................."through his name"
• Acts 26:18.................repentance before forgiveness
• Romans 5:15..............gift of forgiveness
• 2 Corinthians 2:10.......Paul's forgiveness of a wrongdoer
• Hebrews 9:22............."...without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness."
• 1 John 1:9..................confession before forgiveness

       So what is all of this saying to us? Before God forgives us we must first confess our sins and repent of said sins. Then we may ask for forgiveness and be sure to receive that forgiveness. Why do I state what, to many, seems so obvious? It is because there are those who would have us to believe the false teaching that "Jesus died for all of our sins; past present and future, therefore I cannot sin my way out of heaven." While it is true that Christ died for ALL of our sins (past, present, and future), that does not mean that we are covered by a blanket of forgiveness that allows us to sin and not make things right. We cannot pray "God, you know that I am going out tonight, and I plan on sinning, so I want to take a moment and ask that you please forgive me for those future sins." Refer to one of my earlier posts for more about being a true follower of Christ: http://whatsupwithchristianity.blogspot.com/2011/03/true-followers.html
       So...questions arise about forgiving others and Christ's forgiveness of us. Do we recieve forgiveness if we don't ask for it? Do we recieve forgiveness if we don't repent? According to the scripture references that we read earlier in this post I would have to answer NO! & NO! Do you read it differently. Now, notice that I did not ask if you feel that it should be otherwise, or if you wish it was otherwise, or even if you believe it is otherwise. I asked if you read that it was otherwise. I believe in faith, but I also believe in evidence. Zechariah 3 shows Satan as an accuser before the throne of God. He presents evidence against mankind and God sits in judgement. Christ stands as our "defense attorney". Many things become more clear when we look at the evidence for or against a given argument. The scriptures we read are each pieces of evidence. People often state "...But, I believe blah, blah, blah". Who cares? (shame on me. That wasn't nice). But really...who cares what I believe if it is obviously contrary to what the word of God states. For instance, scripture says that Jesus was born in Bethlehem. I can believe all day that Jesus was from Egypt, and thus African (as one coworker once told me) but my strong belief does not change the facts.
       So, you may ask, "what if a Christian were to rob a bank and get shot in the process and dies before they are able to make things right? Are you telling me that this person will not go to heaven?" Quit laughing, for just a moment and realize this was asked of me. Take any scenario where a supposed Christ-follower turns to a lifestyle of sin and goes to meet his maker in a state of unconfessed non-repentance. What does the evidence of scripture say? Does it provide "loopholes"?

Please leave your arguments, suggestions, and other comments. I relish your input.
This post will be continued... 

Wow! How things have changed!

       Last year, I was blogging about our inability to tie into a church family. My! How things have changed! We visited a church that we had driven by on several occasions and really liked it. The Pastor was not scared to preach the truth. He was adament about avoiding a watered-down version of the truth. We have joined the church and after 6 months I find myself as the volunteer Youth Pastor. So much has happened...
       We wanted to find a church that would love us and allow us to serve. We have found that church. When my father-in-law passed away, they loved on us. We have become part of a church that needs people who want to serve God and God's people.

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