Hope in the Ukraine. Christian Pastor Named as Interim President

Good article from Christianity Today.  After decades of communist rule, then struggles for freedom and a move back towards oppressive rule, the people of Ukraine have a chance for freedom - including freedom of Religion.

Our prayers should be that Russia's influence wains and that the free governments of the world, particularly our American President and Congress, have the moral courage to support the people of Ukraine.

Billy Graham's Last Message? Could Be...So Don't Miss It.

As We Celebrate Our Liberty, An Iranian Pastor Faces Death

By David French  National Review

On this holiday weekend an Iranian pastor’s life hangs in the balance. On June 28, the Iranian Supreme Court upheld a death sentence against Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani. His crimes? Apostasy and evangelism. Pastor Nadarkhani had publicly opposed an Iranian practice requiring that all children, regardless of faith, receive Islamic instruction. In spite of alleged religious-freedom guarantees under the Iranian constitution, he now faces death — a sentence that could literally be carried out at any time.

Time is of the essence, and at the ACLJ we’re doing all we can. Yesterday we sent letters to the State Department and to the Iranian Mission of the United Nations. These letters outline Iran’s obligations not only under its own constitution but also under international agreements it has voluntarily agreed to uphold. While the nature and character of the Iranian regime is well-known, as the saying goes, where there is life; there is hope.

And as of today, Pastor Nadarkhani is alive.


 

Religion: Freedom versus Diversity

Evangelicals should be firmly for freedom of religion but should be deeply saddened by religious diversity. The former because belief in Jesus is an individual matter of freedom that cannot be dictated by the state. The latter because vast diversity necessarily means that many people are lost and destined for horrible judgement.

Love What You Have?

Most of us give lip service to the truth that we should not put our possessions above God or other human beings. Here's a good test for you. Estimate what percentage of your awake life has been devoted to money and possessions. Remember to include investing, managing, maintaining, using, researching and purchasing them. Then add the time spent working to obtain them.

Have you been that dedicated to anything else in your life?

How to Take up Your Cross

Jesus tells us to take up our cross daily...but what does that mean? It is often mischaracterized as meaning that each Christian will have his or her own unique burden to bear. Further, this line of argument seems to usually imply some sort of physical malady (thorn in our side) that we have to endure for the sake of Christ.


However, a careful reading shows this as a misinterpretation. The text does not say this and the context does not imply it.


Instead, it is Jesus teaching us how to live the LIFE He promised us while we are still on this earth. It is so simple that it is difficult for us to comprehend. It seems too easy.


The WHOLE key to living is this: Everyday, decide to trust Him instead of following the desires of the flesh. That's it. It's not about trying harder to do better or to do more. It's about trusting Him.


Warning: Your flesh will rebel against that notion and The Adversary will whisper lies about this saying "surely you must do.". Satan may even quote Scripture to you, "faith without works is dead."


Yes. But your job is the faith (which comes first). God's job is the works. Trust God first and the result will always be good and perfect works. Works not preceded by trust in God is nothing more than us striving to do it on our own. That is called religion.


Everyday, before anything else, trust Him to work through your life. Everyday. Before your family, friends, ambition, insecurities, plans - first take up your cross that was borne by Him and simply trust Him. Deny self and everything and everyone else and trust Him first and only.
Matthew 16, Matthew 10, Luke 14

Great Question - Why do you.....?

“If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” (which all refer to things destined to perish with use)—in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.”  

(Col 2:20-23 NAS95S)

Well, what's your answer?  Making rules to live by doesn't work.  If it did, then Jesus' sacrifice was pointless.  It seems like a wise thing to do.  But, in reality, it does nothing to keep you from sin and in a close relationship with your Father.  So, again, what's you answer?

God's Will

I like what this guy says about God's will.  He is Monte Wolverton and he writes for the Plain Truth Ministries (PTM) website.  Interestingly, PTM was once a cult-like group that repented and turned from its false teaching to embrace the real Truth.  I would add that the "third path" Wolverton talks about is walked with the understanding that God our Father is always walking with us - through all the good and through all the fires.  ALWAYS. 

Christians, like all human beings, have free will. Our lives are the cumulative result of our decisions, some good and some poor -- some wise, some unwise -- some where we have invited Jesus to be part of our decisions -- others where we have, sadly, asked him to stay out! Additionally, our lives are shaped by decisions that other people make, as well as time, chance and factors that are out of our control, such as the ups and downs of the economy, weather, etc. We can ask God to intervene, and often he does. Of course we thank God for our blessings and our friendships.We give him the credit and glory whenever good things happen to us, since he is the one who has given us our free will, resources and abilities. But we do not know specifically how he orchestrates events or how or whether he brings people into our lives. 

Walking quickly but aprehensively down one path are those Christians who believe that everything depends on what they do. They may think they are being obedient to God, yet it may well be what they call obedience is actually a compulsion to control and micromanage their own lives, a compulsion with often extends itself into the lives of others. They believe God's acceptance of them is based on their performance, and as a result they agonize over every decision, worry about whether they have made the right decisions, and live in either false confidence or guilt and fear because of what they have or have not done. You don't have to be a theologian to see that this is not at all compatible with the gospel of Jesus Christ -- which brings freedom from fear and anxiety.

Wandering blissfully down another path are those who think that all events in the word are continually being orchestrated by God -- for their ultimate personal benefit! So, when they reach a fork in the trail -- when it's time to make a difficult decision -- such people find themselves paralyzed, waiting for God to make the decision for them. In actuality, God is telling them -- "Look, I've given you a mind -- and I'm living in you through the Holy Spirit, and I've given you myriad other resources. Now be brave -- get busy and decide!" But, as the lyrics of the old Rush song "Freewill" go, "If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice" -- a choice to abandon your God-given responsibility and to let circumstances make your decisions for you. This isn't the gospel either.

There's a third path -- the path of mature Christians. They know there may be obstacles ahead, but they still stride down their path with confidence. They do the best they can with what they have -- but they also realize there are things they cannot do. First of all, they know they can't save themselves spiritually through any of their own efforts -- they let God take care of that entirely. They also know that, even though they may diligently work, think and make choices (which they should) in planning and charting a course in matters of career, family, finance, health, education, relationships, etc., -- there will still be times when they come to the end of their rope and find themselves out of options -- when they must rely solely on God to offer solutions.

Legalism versus The Life

This is a must listen audio.  It's a long clip but something that is absolutely worth while. Okay, I'm begging you to listen to it. 

Question 1:  What do you think?  Question 2:  Were you surprised that this man would deliver this message?  

Couldn't Then - Can't Now

The requirement for salvation is the same requirement for living as a Christian.   

In Galatians 1 & 2, Paul admonishes Galatian Christians and some of his own close friends to stop falling back into living by the law.  He calls this action "another gospel."  The point is clear.  A Christian cannot live by the law now any more than he could back before he trusted Jesus.  

But, that is exactly what we try to do.  We start believing that our own works gain us favor and better standing with God.  Not true at all.  Not true then and not true now.

Sure enough, God calls us to do things.  By trusting Him, we'll be able to.  We've got to get back to where we were when it was just us and Jesus - forsaking all else.  Because, just like Paul said, 

For through the law I have died to the law, that I might live to God.....

Galatians 2:19