A lady informed me recently that she had been visiting with an old couple and being friends for many years, the 88 year-old man asked her to write his obituary. Both people are professional horse trainers, but she is also a Christian, a popular writer and author. She attends church with the old man’s wife and had always thought that he shared the same views as his wife. Whatever his beliefs were, it would appear that they were not deeply rooted within his soul, because during their conversation it showed up that he had Continue reading “His Total Love for the Total Man”
The Natural is Out the Supernatural is In
Over the years since becoming a Christian, more than once have I heard a fellow believer speak in glowing terms over the personality and talents, gifts or abilities of certain unbelieving people and then say something like, “It’s such a pity that he (or she) is not in Christ. He (or she) would make a lovely Christian.” When asked why, the responses have been pretty much the same….”What an asset he’d be for God with a gift like that.” Or, “The church could do with someone with talents such as hers right now.” Of the people that I Continue reading “The Natural is Out the Supernatural is In”
UnScriptural Religious Traditions & Church Programs
A pastor of a church privately shared that God had shown him his “black heart.” He left it at that. He was asked what he was going to do about it and he replied that it was so horrible he wasn’t going to do anything about it. He was advised that if he didn’t, then eventually it would be all over for him. Sexual immorality was part of that blackness. Adultery was to be exposed later. Prior to this sad situation, he was for a few years mightily blessed by God, a gifted preacher, teacher and church builder. Some years later, another pastor came into that Continue reading “UnScriptural Religious Traditions & Church Programs”
Twice-A-Year Christians
I was speaking with a couple of people who told me, “we make sure we go to church twice a year … at Christmas time and Easter.” They had a proud kind of, “waddya-think-of-that?”-type look on their faces, so I responded with, “Big deal. It sounds to me like you believe you’re doing God a favor.” Each gave no verbal response but it was clear they were not happy with mine. I was then prompted to thinking again of times past when I’d heard others make that statement. Not all twice-a-year Christians go believing they’re doing God a favor though, there being most who go out of a sense of obligation to calm their nagging conscience … to appease Continue reading “Twice-A-Year Christians”
You Have a Wrong Spirit
A little over a couple of years ago a minister of a church accused me of having, “a wrong spirit.” He made the statement after reading a testimony of my experiences within his church. Added to this, he said of the testimony, “It is rubbish.” An elder of a church that I was a member of (at the time), told me that he didn’t believe it was God speaking through me, “in fact, I think it’s the enemy.” A few weeks earlier at a private meeting I had strongly challenged the leadership for lying and deceiving the church on a matter and now, I was called before them to either recant my statements or leave. The statements of both men echoed Continue reading “You Have a Wrong Spirit”
But these are Lovely People….
A few years ago I cautioned a young person on the dangers of blindly accepting all preaching and teaching from the pulpit of the church and mid-week home group studies as being that from God. I spoke of the definite need to remain in prayer and to ask and wait for the Holy Spirit to bring guidance and distinctions as to what was truth versus error. I had reason to bring caution because of continuous doctrinal over-emphasis or over-balance being taught in that place, resulting in imbalance, which is error. But, without Continue reading “But these are Lovely People….”
I Wanted to Know the Subtle Differences
About ten years ago I asked the Lord in prayer to show me what was on His heart about the church. I wanted to know the subtle differences between the true and the false. Not only did I ask Him to show me these differences but I also asked Him to reveal what He wanted me say and/or do about it. Did I really know what I was praying at the time? No. But I’m very grateful for being given the opportunity to do so and although the revelations have come at an extremely high cost, I Continue reading “I Wanted to Know the Subtle Differences”
A Great Curse of Society
What is it about a person who thinks nothing of swearing and blaspheming the name of Jesus Christ in the company of born again Christians but who wouldn’t dare do so in the company of a priest or a nun? I have experienced this many times over the years since turning to the Lord. In fact, among the people who’ve done this are the church affiliated. To me it shows very clearly the natural hatred people carry within them towards the biblical Jesus, but, the great fear they carry within them of the “religious” Jesus. In other words, the Jesus Whom they Continue reading “A Great Curse of Society”
To Have that Which I can’t Have
The one thing about human nature that never ceases to fascinate me is the driving force within to take to ourselves that which is not meant for us. Or, to have that which I can’t have. The small child is told that he or she can,”look, but not touch.” Once we turn our back, what’s the first thing that child will do? Another child is told they are not allowed, “to go into that room.” One day when nobody is around, what’s the first thing that one will do? It all started in God’s garden Continue reading “To Have that Which I can’t Have”
The Hardest thing for People to Embrace Is……
A religious man was diagnosed with prostate cancer. At his request some people prayed for him that his operation would be successful and that he would be given the all-clear. Those prayers were answered. As a result, the man decided to get up early and go to his church every morning. When told that God is not looking for that, he rejected it by saying that he loved God and that his church-going, “was the least I can do.” A soldier with much experience in war, years later experienced the Lord Jesus in His life and he began to see that it was God who had been protecting him. He too decided he would pray and go to church, “because I owe Him that much.” Continue reading “The Hardest thing for People to Embrace Is……”