Happy New Year 2019.

New life, Peace and Heaven?

The world seeks 'Good health, Peace, and Prosperity and at times does not care how they get it!

But we already have it, if we are Born-Again, we are reassured of our faith and salvation, we have the peace of Jesus in our hearts and we know that a home is waiting in Heaven for us!

The world on the other hand has no security, it has a elusive peace and an insecure future?

So what are you waiting for now that you know these truths, confess repent and seek Jesus as the Lord of your life!

Amos 5:4,  John 14:2-3,  27,  Romans 7:6,   Hebrews 9:28.

Persecution!

The cost of being a Christian?

We tend to think of Stephen the first martyr of the Church which is mentioned in Acts 6:8-7:60, but we forget that the baby Jesus with His Earthly parents to had to take off in the middle of the night!

An Angels warned the wise men to return another way, while also telling Joseph to go down to Egypt until Herod's term was ended!

So we can see many pictures about human life from the Christmas story and that we will be persecuted and attacked for our simple faith in the death, resurrection and return of Jesus our Lord and Saviour!

Matthew/Levi 2:11-15,   Hosea 11:1. 

CHRISTMAS? Two.

Intercourse!

Many may find this a vile way to describe the miraculous conception of Jesus the God-Man into humanity, but this is how the Holy Spirit entered into Mary without breaking her waters!

We have to believe by faith in a God that we know exists, but we cannot see Him? 

Yet we believe because we know that it is only He who can change us from what we were to who we are now, bad or all right to, 'I know I am a sinner saved by grace or by His favour!

Our salvation is Spiritual, so was the conception and birth of Jesus!

Luke 1:35,  37,   Matthew 19:26,  Philippians 3:21,  Genesis 18:14.

CHRISTAMS ? One.

The authority of JESUS!

We are not marking the birth of any baby each Christmas, but that of a King and one with the ultimate authority THE KING OF KINGS!

He is not passing down the authority of man, police, judges, courts, gang leaders, vigilantes?

He has the authority over our soul, where will we be Heaven or Hell!

We have choices to make, if we have not already made them, we also have to the choice to witness to family and relatives about Jesus as the KING?

Numbers 24:17,   Psalm 2:9,   Isaiah 14:5,   Hebrews 1:8,  Jude 1:11,  Revelation 2:27,  12:5.

Aspects of Christmas? Three.

Debt!

Today many people in the western world are in debt and Christmas has been known to the biggest problem with the easy way to get credit!

Both the lure and the temptation to have nice things for the children and ones self is very hard to resist and thus when the time comes in six months to pay up, there is no money?

The other problem with debt, is going bankrupt, it may clear some if not all depending on the amount, but it leaves you marked as a debtor for life!

This will cause many problems for some in getting even a bank card or proper account, while also being refused a loan and many other unforeseen aspects in the financial world!

God wants us to be sensible people, trusting him rather than wanting the things of this world! One will hear many different takes on this, with some Church leaders dismissing it, as they know better?But we have really at the end of the day stay with what God wants for us and that is always the best!

Matthew 6:12,  18:24,  25:15-28,  Proverbs 22:26,  Luke 7:42. 

Aspects of Christmas! Two.

Gluttony?

Most people today are overweight, fast-food has changed the world and so has cheap food in the super markets where most of the poor head for?

But we are going to talk about greed in relation to gluttony and food, and here we will deal with the rich and their plenty!

Greed is an illness in its own right of the mind and eventually of the stomach the results of being fat, but this is not always the case?

Diabetes and several other illness that lead to loss of functions result from eating too much of the wrong foods! 

Greece is one of the biggest killers, all those fries and burgers, fried chicken and lack of walking with jacket potatoes, waffles, cakes, chocolate bars and so it goes on!

Christians are not exempt from the lure and temptations of nice food!

Self control is the answer to most of the problems that lead us astray at Christmas?

Genesis 29:22,  Psalm 36:8,  Ecclesiastes 10:16,  Jeremiah 51:39,  Matthew/Levi 22:2,  4,  8,   Mark 7:22,  1 Corinthians 9:25,  Galatians 5:23,   1 Peter 1:6.

Aspects of Christmas! One.

Loneliness?

This is perhaps the greatest downside of the Christmas holidays, loneliness! The festival only lasts a few days, but regret may lead to self-harm or suicide?

We may start well in life, doing our own thing but age brings its own problems? Friends and family pass-away and we may find ourselves alone not wanting to face truths and pains from mistakes in the past?

Christmas is full of fun, decorations, music, lights and kids who can have really enjoy it!

Believers need to look out for those older folks, a hot drink, meal, card and chat helps, feeling wanted also helps it really can go a long way!

God so loved this world He made that is why He gave us Jesus His one and only Son, for whoever believes in Him will have Eternal Life?

Luke 2:7,  12,  16,  John 3:3,  15-18,  Romans 3:23,  5:16-18,  6:23,  1 Peter 4:10. 

Conduct?

People always Watching!

We can forget when we are believers that the world is watching us, sometimes they do want to catch us out, but other times they envy secretly in their hearts the freedom that we have!

It is something that is hard to fathom and it is perhaps better to leave that with God! 

But meanwhile our conduct does matter, we can be silly and humorous but it must be clean, our attitude should be different from that of the world?

We should always be honest and do what is good and right and not be involved in past interests or idea of cheating others, but rather be looking out for them! They may not do that for us, but that does not matter, God will in His time deal with them as He too will with us!

Proverbs 14:2,   Ezekiel 23:49,  Romans 13:3,  1 Thessalonians 2:10,  James 3:13,  1 Peter 3:1, 16,   2 Perter 2:7.

Terrorism and Wickedness. Two.

'Our free Choice?

God has never been unfair to His creation as some people think He has? 

He has given all of humanity free will and choice for us to work out our own course of life!

All humanity is born into inherited sin, this is our incurable terminal-illness that we on our own cannot fathom to cure or heal!

But God has given to us His one and only Son Jesus, by placing our faith in Him we will enter into the promised New Life!

People are shaped by circumstances to what they become, a hard life can either lead to evil or a born-again active Christian? A good life can lead to being drawn into a false sense of security and many are lead into terrorist idealism?

1 Samuel 9:2,  Psalm 119:101,  Isaiah 58:6,  Luke 14:7,   Romans 9:16.

Terrorism and Wickedness. One.

Historical!

This is the time of the year when Europeans and all nations linked to them around the world mark Halloween, when God overthrew the power of Satan!

The holiday and festival has much to do with children today, but some aspects of it still remain the reserve of Pagans and Witchcraft?

November the 5th is Guy Fawkes night, marking the burning on the strake of a very British terrorist!

Most nations and cultures will have their historic moments of victory over evil, wither Spiritual or criminal?

But these evils come from choices made by individuals!

Job 34:4,  Psalm 25:12,  73:9,  125:5,  Philippians 1:10, Hebrews 10:26.

Political Deception?

Excuses, false claims and lies!

We can do all these things and claim to have a faith in God, but at the end of the day we are only fooling ourselves! People will see through us, as fakes and they will not trust in God when they see that Christians are crooks!

Many politicians play this game and make claims to their faith, but they are not real believers and nothing more than charlatans!

The Holy Bible warns us than in the last days that there will be many false prophets and people will live for themselves, wanting what they want and deceiving to be deceived! Blinded by hypocrisy, by greed, racism and sectarians religious madness, while living in sin and covering it up with more and more evil!

Numbers 16:14,  Psalm 12:2,  Proverbs 16:29,  Matthew 24:24,  Galatians 6:7,  Ephesians 5:6,  1 Timothy 4:1-5.

'Our Heart? Two.

Where are We?

We know that God tells us that our hearts are deceptive, we may like to think that we are alright? Because we are living in the right way in our own eyes, people like us, respect us, because we are being honest and truthful?

But this is not enough with God, we have to believe that Jesus died for our failures and rose again on the third day from the grave! It is through our confession and repentance that we make that mental change of our attitudes of hostility towards Him, that tell and ask for His forgiveness of past failures then we are born again?

We have a choice to make and being Born-Again does not mean an excuse to pretend to be saved and live as the world, but to be filled with the Holy Spirit and live in the power of God daily in this hostile world?

Genesis 50:21,  Deuteronomy 28:67,  Psalm 28:3,  73:7,  John 2:25,  3:3.  15-18,  Romans 3:22-23.

'Oh Lamy, Lamy?

Justifying Criminality!

When our representatives to government start defending the rights of criminals and paedophiles, because they deserve to have the same rights as British citizens one has to wonder where are we going if you get into a new government?

One had hoped that he would of worked to cut the crime on the streets of London and throughout the U.K., but he has got himself into another political puzzle and it may cost him his seat? He is not alone in that serious error, unfortunately many who claim to be clever get entrapped in their own making and includes many pious Christians!

We all need to stand back and reflect on our causes, to see if what we are doing is the right thing and try not to justify crime to make things right? What should be done is serious criminals have their citizenship revoked or their passports removed, but still be allowed to both vote and remain in the country!

1 Kings 8:31-32,  2 Chronicles 6:22-23,  Esther 7:9,  Proverbs 18:7,  Luke 17:2,  Romans 4:5.

Our Choices? Two.

The way we want to be Seen?

Religion is the way we appear perhaps one or two days a week for certain people, otherwise we are blown to the wind in depravity and the world?

But faith in God, through both confession and repentance leads us to be Born-Again and enter into a new relationship and Life!

There is a big difference between keeping rules or none and faith in the death for us of Jesus and His rising from the dead on the third day!

It is up to us to choose, do we continue being hypocrites or will we be a people of faith?

Psalm 16:5,  John 3:3,  15-17,  31-36,  Romans 3:22-23, 6:22-23,  Philippians 1:29.

Political Sickness?

Anarchy!

The world is mad at the moment with its conceptions of what is politics, many are being seen for what they are and what they should not be?

Many nations are in political anarchy and they can no longer hide their lies or pull the wool over peoples eyes! Meanwhile those in opposition are no better, with confusion reigning and members  allowed to run wild with their ideas and prejudices?

Who to vote for and what will be the outcome, this is now becoming a harder question than it has been for some time, and one does not know the answer!

But faith in Jesus, is the answer to a New Life and a New way! Leaving behind the concerns of the world, and coming into new things!

Yes we have to live in the world, but the world will no longer live in us!

Matthew 5:14,  24:21,  Mark 10:30,  Luke 9:25,  John 1:9, 29,  1 Corinthians 3:19.

Our Heart? One.

Judge not and be not Judged!

Everything in relation to our condition starts with ourselves?

We today are going to look at how others see us, in relation to our conduct and walk with God! They may not see us fully as they think they see themselves and so they may think we are not saved or have come to a fulness in God?

But it is the heart within us that is where God is working, something that cannot be fully seen by others! One has to draw on ones own experience, because I have been judged by others as not being Born-Again?

Romans 10:8-9,   Acts 13:38-39,   Matthew 10:32-33,   2 John 1:7.

RETURN?

The Lord!

We are told that even Jesus does not know when He will come back, but He is coming back at the time that the father chooses!

In the rush of the world and Christian activity, many forget this one important promise? We look to Christmas and Easter with some emphasis and we press on with all that daily life throws at us, we may recall the day or moment we were saved, converted?

We may hope for relief or pray for many things, think on the death and resurrection of Jesus? But we forget His Ascension and promised return, some are confused by the book of Revelation but here we are only dealing with that promised return and the result of the Judgement that is to follow !

So our conduct is to be examined now unless we are found naked and ashamed on that great and terrible day?

Psalm 98:9,  Ezekiel 16:37,  Mark 13:33-37,   Acts 17:31,  Romans 2:5-6,   1 Thessalonians 5:2-3,  Revelation 1:7,  16:15.

Our Choices? One.

Determine!

Many people find it easier to blame the environment for failed choices, over that of taking responsibility?

It is always easy to blame another factor and we see this first in the garden of Eden, when Adam blamed Eve! But Adam knew as well as eve that they were not to eat from the tree of knowledge, so they both shared in this disobedience to God which brought in the second sin of shame!

What is happening in our lands, cities and streets are well within our influence and this is proved by the reaction of people to build up mistrust that then fuels the laws of the ghetto or anarchy!

Genesis 2:25,  Psalm 119:116,  Proverbs 8:10,  Mark 8:38, Acts 15:7,  1 Thessalonians 5:23,  Titus 2:8.

Aftermath?

One stabbing, 347 arrested 30 police injured!

Two days of bands, spice food, dancing, drink, Grenfell and wrong attitude, with one million in attendance?

2019 is in the planning and so is the heightened security in relation to a probable Islamic terrorist attack! 

This year it would seem the community did work together for another great parade, but they still do not seem to want to end the gang violence that could see the end of this annual street party? 

Where are the Christians, why are they not seen to be speaking out and if not why not?

Genesis 31:44,  Proverbs 6:19,  14:25,  Mark 10:19, Exodus 20:12-16,  Romans 9:1,  2 Timothy 4:1.

Notting Hill Carnival! Two.

Acid, guns and Knives?

Another year another opportunity for the gangs to spoil the event for all the others, including the many foreign tourists and another year for the new locals wanting to see a final end to this unwanted street party?

Time will tell if it will last, once known for its race riots, today it is associated with criminals, drug dealers and thieves! Time will also tell if the Hackney and Brixton events will finally replace it and spread out to more local parades that can be controlled?

People want to enjoy themselves and west-Indian culture has nothing to do with criminal activity, but was once based on a Christian festival that was adapted over the years! Carnival should be inclusive, but all cross community for it to diverse, grown and continue to be the best of the best?

Psalm 68:24,   Isaiah 63:1,   2 Corinthians 2:14,   Colossians 2:15,   Numbers 16:26,   Psalm 112:10,   2 Peter 3:17.

Notting Hill Carnival! One.

'Its carnival Time?

The largest street party event in the U.K. is approaching once more, with street music and food from more than just the Caribbean! But so comes bad people, gangs, muggers, thieves and molesters, one gets all of these things in all events even Glastonbury but we don't hear much about it?

What it originally was meant to be has today moved far away, but things like this develop as the mixing pot of London or most big cities occur!

 If it ever had a Roman Catholic emphasis, it was never really seen in the forefront and many people from the W-Indian communities who refused to go perhaps revealed truths that others did not want to hear!

Exodus 12:14,  17,  Judges 11:40,  1 Chronicles 16:4,  Psalm 98:6,  Isaiah 38:18,  Luke 15:6,  9,  23-24,  John 4:36,  1 Corinthians 11:20.

Fire People? Two.

Ready to witness Jesus?

Today thousands of believers globally are sharing their faith in Jesus, some because they want to and others because they have too? 

Some will die, some maimed, others rejected or ignored, it is a cost to us personally but in the long run lives near and far to each conversation, each tract sent will be changed!

Never give up doing good, never give up talking about Jesus-God! 

Because many strangers in Heaven will one day than you for your perseverance and kindness to them, if not Jesus love shining through the Fire Peoples!

John 4:14,   10:28,   1 Timothy 4:16,   2 Peter 1:10.

Acid Attacks Two.

Father on Son?

What sickness is our world today, what depth of sin in the heart of a man to do this to his son! We are warned that the days are getting darker and worse, that the times will be worse than in the days of Noah before the great flood!

But now our planet is reserved for fire, when sinful and wicked people will hide underground from the heat on the Earth!

Can anything be done to show people in our society a better way?

We can show them that our Father-God has proved His love for us by sending His one and only son Jesus to die and rise again to forgive us our failings and not look at them again setting us free into living the New Life!

Genesis 6:5-7,  Job 21:30,  Ecclesiastes 8:11,  Romans 3:23-31,  6 :21-23,  2 Peter 3:7,  Jude 1:13.

Acid Attacks. One.

Three year old Attacked!

The depravity of the human heart has no bounds to its wickedness, this is the first reported attack on a child of this age and it is not clear what the motive was, if there really can be one!

We have covered this subject before, but it is one that needs to be reconsidered in relation to its continuation in the U.K., where the police lack the means to fight crime and this is playing into organised crime?

Prayer for believers is key, witness of Jesus for those who have come out of gangs is essential, working with the community to try to mediate and to rid our street of this hatred!

Genesis 6:5-7,  Numbers 16:26,  Psalm 1:1,  Matthew 13:49,  2 Corinthians 7:10,  2 Peter 2:7,  3:17.

Addictions! Two.

Possession?

What is this and what does it mean?

When we allow something to control us outside that of the Power of the Holy Spirit, it is demonic and this is were we are snared and caught not able or wanting to escape!

The world is blind in the first place and is deluded into believing that what they are doing is fine, but if we who believe choose this way we may be in danger of loosing our salvation!

Hebrews 4:12,  Psalm 9:16,  Proverbs 6:2,  Romans 3:23, 6;23,  1 Timothy 4:1-5,  James 3:13-14.

Summer Opportunities? Two.

Every moment an Opportunity!

As believers our main mission is to share our faith in love and win others to Jesus, as we were to won to Him! This witness has to be done in kindness, but also with a warning of the grave consequences that if this message is not heeded disaster lays ahead!

We live in an age of the doctrine of the Love of God and this is true up to a point and that of sin? The bible has not changed in relation to what God has said about sin, only that we who believe by faith have had the law fulfilled for us by Jesus death on the cross/stake/tree!

But when this time of grace or Gods favour is over comes His wrath of Judgement and His conditions will be met before Eternity, which is the final dispensation!

Psalm 5:11,  Proverbs 18:21,  Matthew 3:7,  John 3:15-21,  31-36,  Acts 4:12,  Romans 3:23,  5:9, 6:23,  Galatians 5:14,  Ephesians 2:4,  Colossians 1:28,  3:8,  1 Peter 1:8,  1 John 2:5.

Addictions? One.

Alcoholism to Narcotics!

Psychology believes that we are all addicted to something, and one supposes that why we need psychologists to deal with our addictions? 

But there is a truth in that many people struggle with being addicted to drink, smoking, gambling, narcotics and pornography!

Society shapes the sinfulness of the human heart, what was a problem one-hundred years ago is coming back to haunt many nations?

There are many words in the Holy Bible that deals with the condition of our soul and that we are in one right our own destiny by choice?

Psalm 10:3,  Proverbs 2:2,  3:5,  4:17,  23:31,  Isaiah 5:11,  Matthew 5:8, 28.  Revelation 14:8.

Summer Opportunities? One.

Prayer and Witness!

This is a great time of the year to share our faith with others and also to start something new in our prayer lives?

Good weather and holidays brings people out and there is almost unlimited opportunities for us to start a conversation, make new friends and listen to others problems, before we take not and go home to pray or share with our fellowships!

We will be rejected by some, but others will want someone to listen to their situation as someone listened to ours that lead us to faith in Jesus!

Psalm 145:2,  Proverbs 15:29,  Matthew 6:1-4, 6,  Romans 12:2, 12,   Philippians 1:19,   Hebrews 10:10.

Fire People? One.

Living in the power of God!

When we are born-again we are given an internal fire or power that helps us to be active for God! There are many issues today in the Church, which stop believers from remaining active, such as criticism and unbelief!

But if we are empowered we will not stop, since our witness will be done in secret or rather we will not brag about it to others? 

At the end of the day our service for the Kingdom is to know that we are in partnership with Jesus and this is not a work of self!

John 1:7,   5:32,   Acts 23:11,  Philippians 1:5-6,  Hebrews 2:4.

Fatty Issues. Two.

Food Attraction?

One is cheap food and the other is offers or meal deals that fool us into thinking we are getting more for less? The truth is less for more money over that of buying and cooking for ourselves!

Fat people are not poor people, there are as many rich and fat people too in most western societies and the same principle as mentioned above applies to them too!

What is the answer to help people loose weight, walking, having a dog, getting a job? That has been the traditional view for a long time, but it don't work, because it has to be our will to do it for ourselves!

No one can become a believer in the death and resurrection of Jesus, without seeking their need for Him, confessing and repenting and not returning to what we once were!

Proverbs 15:27,  Matthew 5:6,  Romans 8:26-27,  1 Thessalonians 2:8,  1 Peter 4:3.

Social Media! Part-Three.

Cultural Music Attack?

Many are now starting to question the viability of Rap and Driller music, because with the use of social media transfer it is believed to be encouraging the ongoing gang violence?

It was interesting to note how quick the rappers came up to defend their music, which the most profitable at this time in digital sales! But nothing was considered by them in relation to changing some of their language that seems to encourage violence and murder?

The problem that lays with many similar communities is their lack of taking responsibility and this is not limited to Black culture, because much of white society is not much better if not worse in other ways!

Psalm 37:1,   Matthew 12:36,   Romans 4:8.

Fatty Issues. One.

Later in life Illnesses?

Weight is a serious problem in the western world today, but it nothing new accept now it is more widespread than before and more children are obese?

Everyone is talking or reporting, but no one is dealing with all the social issues that cause these problems! Work hours, depression, addictions, social disruption, greed, and laziness are some of the problems that are causing the further breakdown of the family unity?

The other factor is that we are bombarded with media advertising on both TV and radio, if not the mobile phone and the Internet?

The bible talks about fat people too and it also encourages one to exercise both physically and mentally!

Psalm 36:8,  Judges 3:22, Proverbs 13:4, 1 Timothy 4:8.

A British Royal Wedding!

Fire, Love, Vows?

Its a time for change in the British Royal family and may it continue over colour and religions, but may these marriages last the trial of life?

Saturday 19th May was Pentecost and the theme was Love and Fire, accompanied by the vows of promises to each other and to God!

Love is something that is much said in our world today, but many of us who have come from broken homes and witnessing domestic violence know how much it was lacking from mum and dad?

But because Jesus found us, He has given us the fullness of His Love in accepting us and yet He was rejected by all at the Cross/stake/tree!

Matthew 18:18,  19:5-6,   Acts 2:3,  Ephesians 4:13,  1 John 3:18,  4:8,   Genesis 2:24,   Numbers 6:21.

Ascension and Pentecost!

Leaving, Holy Spirit and promised Return.

The Disciples were privileged to see Jesus their risen Lord return to Heaven, ten days later they received the Holy Spirit in the Temple of Jerusalem, Roman occupied Israel!

This time the Holy Spirit was given to all believers and there were many more from all over the known world that day of Shavout, Jews from the very east, south and west.

Today believers live in that same empowerment to reach out to the dying, decaying world around us! But we are also waiting the return of Jesus, who every eye will see when the sky is torn apart!

We have no time or date for His promised return, but we have been told not to be found naked and be alert for He will come like a thief in the Night!

Acts 1:6-11,  2:3,  19:6,  Exodus 23:16,  Matthew 25:36-44.   2 Peter 3:10,  Revelation 3:3, 16:5.

Social Media! Part-Two.

The killings go On?

Guns and knife murders are continuing despite appeals and calls for them to end both in the United States and England, U.K! 

Gang culture powered by wrap and viewed on Social media, such as You Tube is perhaps the cause of much prowess and insult that brings on the challenge to our do in respect!

We who have been there Know what it is like and how easier it is getting to be worse than ever before? The communities have a big Responsibility to take charge of the matter, working with local councillors and politicians in their contact with the police!

But social media also needs to clean up its act in relation to knowing and filtering what is going up as they have with the Islamic State?

Meanwhile the governments have to spend more money on young people, while the Church in the community preaches the cross and the need of confession and repentance of failures!

Matthew 10:38,  Mark 8:34,  Luke 5:32,  15:7,  1 Corinthians 1:17-18,  2 Corinthians 7:10,  Ephesians 2:16. Colossians 2:14-15,  Hebrews 12:2.

Social Media! Part-One.

The Facebook Debacle?

Today we depend on social media within the Internet to do most things, young people and every new generation of young children are more and more savvy to using it as a normal activity! But we tend to forget that prior to this it was Newspapers and comics that had the domain for over two-hundred years in the world of the printed press?

Facebook made a serious error of judgement and trust is doing what is normal in the world of data and personal information, since most companies will sell your data to others! But who is not being blamed is the British (Canadian registered) Cambridge Analytica who is responsible for political election interference in both the U.K. and the United States!

This hack was alleged to have taken place in the Ukraine by Israel Mossad agents, but it seems that Hillary Clinton and Theresa May believes this is Russia? They must of been crap at school with geography? 

Exodus 28:38,  Ephesians 4:14, 1 Thessalonians 2:3,  Jude 1:11.

Knives! Three.

No one cares?

Parents care, families care, loosing your child and a loved one!

But the police don't care about how many will be murdered on the streets of the world nations? Today Prince Harry marked and spoke for the father of Stephen Lawrence a young man butchered by a white racist gang twenty-five years ago in SE-London!

But most of us know that the British police force remains riddled with racism and the legal system with Institutional racism! We are seeing this now with the immigration issues of British Caribbean citizenship and the Windrush children!

PM Mrs May and Amber Rudd when in the Home-office implemented their anti-black policies believing and still do that they will get off with it?

God cares for people, because He sent us His one and only son Jesus who was staved to a wooden tree on false allegations! But it was all done for us who have seen are state, confessed our failures and are re-assured of being forgiven!

 1 Corinthians 15:3,  1 Peter 3:18,   Isaiah 26:19.

Knives! Two.

Islam and Paganism!

This is the one time that the bible mentions something that is still practiced today across the Middle-East, the acknowledgement of justifying self slashing! For them it means the shedding of sins, but this is a false idea and has nothing to do with faith in God!

The cutting of the flesh is as old as men were on the Earth and it probably started in the days of Tubal-Cain before the great flood, but like all sins it has continued! Today we see it in tattooing and many have tried to justify it, but we must not run against God because He wants the best for all of us!

1 Kings 18:28,  Leviticus 19:28,   John 3:3,  15-21,  Romans 3:23,  6 :23.

Knives! One.

Murders from Stabbing.

Life is cheap when gangs resort to stabbing out of their understanding of twisted ideas?

Respect, facing up or down, rivalry, showmanship are all aspects of the same thing?

There is no easy solution to gang warfare, because it is going on all over the world and no one as yet has been able to stop it!

London has seen fifty-five murders in the last four months, but considering the population is ten-million plus its not a big figure as is being made out?

What we learn from the bible is that it is mostly evil people who open themselves up and refuse to submit to God! If they do not do it with a weapon they do it under their tongue in inflammatory speech to raise the game!

We are warned that in the last times evil will prevail much more than it is now and knowing this we should understand that while it is still light we seek Jesus and Eternity!

Proverbs 30:14,  John 9:4,   Hebrews 3:13,  15.  Revelation 9:8.

EASTER! Three.

Arisen and Seen!

There are many Church going people who enjoy celebrating Easter, but they only go half way not believing in the resurrection? They think that to accept that Jesus died for their sins is enough, but they fail to see that they cannot be fully saved without the power unleashed by God in the resurrection of Our Lord?

We cannot enter into the promised New Life, without first recognising Jesus victory over the sting of death and the setting free of the captives! These are essential to having the full assurances of knowing that we have been called and chosen by God!

We need to understand today where we stand with God and know the essential truths of these serious matters in relation to our onw individual destinies?

Psalm 14:1,  53:1,  Matthew 13:25-40,  Acts 2:31,  4:2,  Romans 1:4,  14:17,  1 Peter 1:3,  2 Peter 1:10-11.

EASTER. Two.

Cross and Tomb!

Jesus died on the cross/stake/tree between two criminals, murderers who deserved this death!

Many events took place around that Roman torture peg, darkness for three hours, Jesus promising the repentant sinner paradise!

When Jesus died he was laid in the tomb of a rich man Joseph of Arimathae, one of the many secret believers in that time!

Today this same message is as powerful as the events on that day, we see many movie depictions of these events! There have been thousands upon thousands of books written over the last nineteen-hundred years, taking a standpoint from every possible position?

But today is another opportunity for you to choose wither you will repent, confess, seek forgiveness and walk with Jesus?

Luke 22:20,  23:43,  Matthew 27:45,  John 8:12,  Isaiah 1:18-19,  53:12,  2 Corinthians 3:4-6,  5:18-19.

EASTER. One.

Garden of Tears.

If you ever get the opportunity to visit the Holy land on one of those Church tours, this is one place worth visiting! It is not much, but for believers it is great place to remember the cost that Jesus paid for us, even the shedding of tears to blood and that well before the Cross/stake/tree!

Jesus went to pray on that little hill and He took His Disciples, of course he knew the sequence of events that were to follow! He knew those loyal men were weak and physically tired and would fall asleep! He knew what Judas was up to and the men of violence were on their way!

With this we open the events of three days that have changed the world, because of the so many individuals who lives like our who have been changed for evermore! The question is what are you going to do with this opportunity to seek, confess, and repent of your failure?

Knowing that a loving unconditional God will forgive you and never bring to book again that sin?

Luke 22:39-47,   John 12:27,   18:1-9,   Romans 8:32,   Hebrews 5:7.

Disibility? Part-One.

Is not a Limitation!

Many people today forget that to be disabled is not a loss that it once was to an individual? We  are seeing this with the Para-olympics and in many other sports fields, but there are as many people working daily across the professions that are disabled in some way but they are not limited to what can be achieved?

The Bible tells us about many conditions that people were able to live with, such as lameness in the case of Mephibosheth and the leprosy of Job.

In the New Testament even Paul had a nagging problem!

But there are other disabilities that have to be addressed in relation to mental illness and their was Saul and Herod, who due to their power led to thousands being killed! So their is a time and place for disability and not all people can work or should because they could be a danger to others?

2 Samuel 4:4,  9:6-7,  Job 2:7-9,  2 Corinthians 12:7.

The Chasm? Part-Two/

Many have it in this life?

These many include the many who claim to be Christians, but the reality is that they are imposters!

They are like the greedy evil people of this world who are now enjoying the fruits on the backs of others, but God is not blind and He will not be mocked when all of humanity will have to face the Judgement seat of God!

What many forget is that there is no once saved always saved and it is up to us to work out our own salvation by keeping on the path of truth!

The chasm that is in place between us and God has been filled by Jesus, since He is the only way to salvation! It is he who we must seek and who real followers must press on with daily!

1 Samuel 25:36,  2 Thessalonians 1:4-10,  James 5:1-7,  Revelation 22:11.

The Chasm? Part-One.

The Chasm between Classes!

Our world and society today claim that it is free to live and do as one pleases?

But we soon discover that this is not so, since in society we know that there is a massive widening chasm between the rich and poor classes!

The amazing thing is that class still exists, we see this blatantly on offer in relation to all that is not happening with the survivors of the Grenfell tower disaster in W-London. U.K. it is also seen in many other places such as the far-east, where old people are cleared off their lands and out of their shanty towns by prospecting planners and corrupt officials!

But there is another chasm that the bible speaks about in relation to all of human failure, this separates us from God and without faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus we cannot cross it into Eternity?

Luke 16:19-26,  Psalm 50:22,  Malachi 3:18,  John 3:36, James 1:11-12.

LOVE Applied?

Where humans Fail!

Sin in us is the block to remembering to keep loving by care, having concern and applying it all the time? Believers on the other hand should be, but there are many reasons as to why we do not?

Jesus did not stop loving and God our Father has not either, since people all around the world everyday are turning from darkness to light!

We have been left an example or pattern to follow and we have one step ahead of the world, since we are a temple for the Holy Spirit He is able to guide us in the application of Love!

Proverbs 2:2,  22:17,  Ezekiel 30:21, James 1:23.

LOVE Expressed?

St. Valentines Day.

The romantics in us will perhaps mark this day with the card, roses, box of something nice and the meal? Some will do it as an appreciation of the wife/husband other to get that partner into bed for a randy night of passion?

But this is not what St. Valentine is all about, but rather expressing Christian love to those who are without, the poor, the immigrant, the refuges, the homeless and so the list can go on and on? What is involved is putting yourself out for others, a meal, a blanket, clean clothing, a chat, showing interest and concern for what they have are and possibly might go through!

It about showing the love of Jesus, if what we claim is real in that we know the Lord Jesus as our saviour? We have to show His compassion, because any of us could fall and end up on the streets, be homeless or addicted to something?

Matthew 9:36, 15:32, Ephesians 2:4,  1 John 4:10-11, 19.

Modern Slavery. Part-Two.

Today?

When we come to think on the subject of slavery, it is always in the past but it is the same today, if not worse than the past! We may use many terms and words such as exploitation, forced labour, prostitution, but they all are slavery, because when something is done against the will of another it is control and submission in fear!

There are many other aspects of this in cheap labour, in non-contract work or casual labour? These are all border line slavery, which are more and more prevalent today in the so called Gig economy?

Many African-Americans are concerned about the language that the new U.S. president Mr. Trump is using in relation to them and several other communities in the United States and they should be, because history is repeating itself!

Adolf Hitler sounded plausible in 1928, but he showed his real colours in 1931 and black people were not on his agenda for the 1936 Olympics in Berlin!

Deuteronomy 24;17,  Isaiah 56:11,  Micah 3:11,   2 Corinthians 12:17,   2 Peter 2:3,   Revelation 18:11-13.

Vitriol. Part-Two.

Fatalism?

Many today believe that this is the new attitude of the 21st Century youth, we no longer care about ourselves or anyone else? But surprise, surprise it like most things is nothing new under the sun, back in the 1930's Europe this attitude built on many existing ideas from the 19th Century, which lead to the Nazi-German Holocaust!

Fatalism is in many ways nothing more than an excuse to deny the power of God, to accept His authority over that of the worlds! The police, courts, laws of the land today are still corrupt and nothing will really change in the future either!

We live in a world of great social advances, its okay to have sex with your parents, sleep with you dog and have multi-trans gender feelings? Today a boy, tomorrow a girl and so on, but they are not a fact, its all feelings and they eventually will lead to suicide or mass murder?

Leviticus 19:18, Psalm 4;4, Amos 9:2, Matthew/Levi 4:5-6,  Acts 14:15, 16:27, Galatians 5:20.

Modern Slavery. One.

Emancipation?

It is at this time not clear to the situation in the United States of America in relation to Black Afro-Americans and where they stand with this new U.S. Administration?

One would like to believe that all is well, but it seems that DJ Trump is a very changeable character and nothing is as straight with him as it would seem?

Right-wing politics are dictating a return to second class citizenship in the U.S., with many Christians believing that they have been duped at this time at least on Immigration issues? Its the good folks that are getting sent back and not those so called cartel drug leaders and other criminals?

History may be in the beginnings of repeating itself in America, when it comes to Black rights and by the end of this term the clock may have been turned back some twenty years??

Proverbs 30:6,   Isaiah 29:13,  Matthew 15:7-9,  Mark 7:2-13,  Colossians 2:22.

Vitriol. Part-One.

Acid Attacks.

This is a new wave in street criminality across the United Kingdom, but it must be a reflection of society that has become vitriol to the state, police? 

After so many years of seeing no change in the West-Indian community and relations with the police, this new form of vicious crime is the reply! Today the law is catching up with this evil crime and soon, when it comes to the doors of the government youth will see long sentences, if not life terms?

Crime does not pay and any of us who have been there know it well?

Jesus is the answer for young people today, as he was for us yesterday! What can we do, talk try to help, get that anger out and find out what can be done to improve or turn them away from gangs, guns, and theft?

Job 7:11,  10:1,  Proverbs 14:10,  John 3:3,  14-21,  31-36,  Romans 3:14,  Ephesians 4:31,  Hebrews 12:15.

New year 2018.

Seasons Greetings and A Happy new Year!

This is another New year and the time when our emergency rooms and hospitals will be filled with people facing terminal illnesses, following the excess of the season in food and drink? 

It is also the time of the year when people will realise that they are in debt, from wanting to buy everyone something for Christmas? Many people are not serious today about being in debt, they think it can all be swept away, but in latter life they may find the essentials that they need will be refused because of their pasts!

This is the same with knowing or not knowing God?

Rational thinking in the Church is blocking off the powerful message of Jesus Virgin birth and the importance to us of who He is!

Isaiah 7:14,  Matthew 6;12,  Luke 1:27,  Romans 3;23, 6;23,  Ephesians 5:8,  2 Peter 2:17.