Love makes the world go around...

Is money as important as we believe it to be in this world?  Some say yes – and some will say no.

What would you rather have in the world – world peace or everyone has enough money to sustain themselves?  Some will say peace – some will say money for everyone, and some will even go so far as saying if everyone has enough money this will create peace.

I truly beg to differ on this.  Not because of what I think – but rather because of what I believe.

If you believe people have enough money to create peace – this means you have a desire or love of money. 

The Bible teaches one thing on this matter:  1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Now – let’s think for a moment – God gave some people money to help out the Kingdom, to help the people of God.  Some of these men were richer than we can prossibly start to comprehend.  Yes there was a purpose for these men to be rich, to have all this money – but at the end of the day people were still starving.  People were still going without food and people were looking for something greater – they were looking for a Messiah.

Their Messiah came – and is no other than Jesus Christ.  Jesus was one of the poorest men to ever walk the earth.  Yes – the famous/infamous Son of God – Jesus Christ – was probably the poorest man to ever walk the earth.  Yet – here we are in a post Jesus day – and we are still longing for money to help one another.  What did Jesus say?

John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

I find this verse very interesting.  Love one another – as I have loved you.  Jesus had no money to give anyone – was He helping the poor by giving them money?  No – He wasn’t.  Yet why do we as declaring ourselves as Christians – followers of Christ – feel we need money to help one another?  The answer is simple:  we don’t need money.

You see – people start to value their worth with how much money they have, or how many people they’ve helped, or how many times they’ve forgiven someone.  If this is you – than you just missed the entire message of the Gospel – as it’s never been about any of this.  You receive your value from Jesus alone – because once all those other things are taken away from you, all those wonderful things you’ve done are taken away from you – what do you have left?  Absolutely nothing!  If you get your value from Jesus Christ -–and all those other things are added unto you and later taken away – what do you have left?  You still have Jesus left!

Yes – God has given people throughout history – but this simply goes to show how selfish man is.  You won’t help someone just from the goodness of your heart – you want payment in return for your works.  Ok – sometimes you may not be that way – but how often do you do something for someone to help them out and later you need a helping hand and are asking that person you once helped for help – but they can’t because they’re committed with something already?  Of those times – how often do you try and guilt them into helping you because you once helped them out?

I’ll tell you one thing – if that’s a category you’re in – you never did it out of love to begin with.  You were doing it out of selfishness because you were hoping and expecting they come back and help you when you need it.

Now – that doesn’t sound very Jesus like.

Jesus – paid the ultimate price for us.  Jesus died on a cross to pay the price for our sins – that we wouldn’t be ashamed – that we can come forward and that regardless of what others think – we can go out and love the world.  We can go out and do things and not need money to do them.  With this we can change the world.  In the long run – we would eventually eliminate the need of a currency in the world.  Why?

I tell you – it’s not money that makes the world go around.  It’s people.  Take people out of the equation and what good is your money?

People may watch the movie “A Christmas Carol” – a book originally written by Charles Dickens – every year.  Do you see it’s not just about an old rich man who says “bah – humbug” – but it’s actually a book about everyone of us who feel we need money to go on.  In the book, in all the revisions of the movie – we always see the Scrooge character give up on money because he comes to realize it’s not about money – it never has been.  It’s about love and relationships.

This my friends – is what makes the world go around:  Love and Relationships.

1 Corinthians 13

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Way of Love

13 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. ² And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³ If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned,^[a] but have not love, I gain nothing.

⁴ Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant ⁵ or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;^[b] 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

⁸ Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. ¹¹ When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. ¹² For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

¹³ So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

The partnership that is called marriage...

Today – I write a new type of message. A message of one that many disagree on. A message that is guided for one to live “the good life”. A message that most likely will be misunderstood. A message that will likely be ignored or disregarded.

The message today is one pertaining to marriage. One that talks about the partnership of marriage, but shows how that partnership is to take place.

Ephesians 5:22-23 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.  For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 

Now – I'd like to point out something. Yes – wives submit to your husbands. What I'd like to first off note – is it's stating wives. Not girlfriends, not fiancées, but Wives. Wives – prior to marriage you were most likely already submitting to the man anyways – the only thing changing now is you're married.

Yes, if your husband were to ask you to clean take the car to the garage for an appointment – you should do it.

The same concept applies with Jesus and the church. Jesus asked Peter to throw in the net eventhough Peter had been fishing all day and caught nothing. This time he caught something. Amazing! It just shows that some of the greatest things happen as an outcome when your husband asks you to do something. You shouldn't doubt this nor be scared of this.

Now – does this mean in anyway by submitting to your husband, that he has the right to verbally abuse you, beat you, yell at you, or make you go and commit crimes? Absolutely not!

Ephesians 5: 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 

Interesting eh? The Bible not only tells a woman to submit to their husband – BUT then tells the husband how to treat his wife and all in the same chapter! Wives, future wives, women – let me tell you, if you think submitting to your husband is tough, try loving a woman in the way that Jesus did. What am I trying to say?

Imagine yourself for a moment as Jesus. You come to earth and your main responsibility is to save Israel. You come to do and do nothing but love Israel with all that you can. Israel says to the authorities “Crucify that person”. So you get whipped, and whipped and whipped, and then carry a cross all across your section of your city. You then get nailed to it. What are you thinking in your head right now?

Jesus says “Father forgive them for they know not what they do”.

That is the type of love that a man is to have for his wife.

Am I here to say one of these lives is more difficult than the other? Not at all. What I'm trying to say is both of these lives are just as difficult as one another. The purpose of marriage is to understand these difficulties and to be a partner for your spouse and help them through their roles and responsibilities.

Wives – if you don't submit to your husband, what do you think will happen? He'll go look for someone who will submit to him.

Husbands – if you don't love your wives, what do you think will happen? She'll go and look for someone else to love her.

Husbands! This is a big problem. I can't speak from a woman's perspective, but I can talk from a man's perspective and that perspective is this. If you're lucky enough, your wife won't leave you because you're not providing the love to her that she needs. The issue is where is she getting this love from? Do you have kids? She's probably seeking love from children. The problem is – children can't provide the love that she needs, and they were never created with that intention. That's your responsibility.

If you're not willing to accept that responsibility – than my advice to you is this: Don't get married.

Yes we all fail. Yes we all have our own issues – BUT men, if you are willing to accept the responsibility, get married. If you find the wife who will submit to you – she will help you on this journey. She will help pick you back up when you slip up. The thing is – you have to be willing to accept the responsibility which is to put your wife first before the rest of the world.

Women – next time you hear someone say – submit to your husbands. Don't think it's a bad thing. It really isn't. Imagine a man loving you so much that he puts you first ahead of everyone and everything.

That is love. If a man is willing to love you like that – what are you most likely to do? Submit to him and do his every will...

Futurists, that lack faith...

In my messages – I generally bring up a common message of “love your neighbour as yourself”.

Today – you will notice, a very different type of message. I'm going to present to you a message that may shock you, but it is what I believe.

The message is this: I believe that the 2nd coming of Jesus, has already happened, not as the Jehovah's witness believe it happened in 1914 – but I believed it happened in 70 A.D. at the destruction of the Jewish Temple – which is when Jesus said He would return.

My purpose in this message is not to explain why I believe this – leave comments below and depending on the feedback – maybe I'll write a message pertaining to this.

This message is simply to show the effects of believing Jesus has already returned versus Jesus will return in the Future.

This past weekend I spoke to a Futurist(someone who believes in a future return of Jesus) – and had some great discussion, and has confirmed things I previously was aware of but again this was my confirmation of what was revealed to me.

Here were some points I identified(not all points but some):

• Futurists have strong faith in a return of Jesus – but lack faith in what Jesus taught or did
• Futurists believe that things need to get so bad for everyone before Jesus will return
• Futurists also contradict scripture when it comes to living it out

Ok – let's say for a moment I'm a futurist. How do I lack faith in what Jesus taught? Well Jesus said things like “ Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”

Now – Jesus taught us to pray like this. Jesus himself prayed in this way. Did He do it in vain? I don't believe so. Otherwise the prayer in John 17 was also in vain, right? Why do I say it's in vain? Ok – well if I believe Jesus is returning in the future. I know things need to get really really bad in the world before He comes back, right? The “antichrist”, the 7 years of Tribulation(although I believe it was 3 ½ years), the plagues, the starvation and all that other stuff. So, if all these things need to happen – let's allow it to happen is most people's philosophy. Yet what did Jesus say? “Thy Will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” - do you think Jesus wants people to starve? Do you think Jesus wants the world to get worse and worse and worse?

No – he does not! In fact doesn't scripture teach things like:

Matthew 18:14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. 

So – does God want people starving? Does God want things to get worse? Apparently not. So why does it happen? Let's not even get into talking about this “demon” named Satan. It happens simply because people allow it to happen. Why do they allow it to happen? Because they lack faith in what Jesus taught. The fact that people lack faith isn't something new either – this was another things Jesus taught.

Matthew 8:26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.

Jesus was talking to His own apostles and stating they had such little faith. Yet WE the church are to be full of faith – we are to have the faith of Abraham. Let's just go and read Hebrews 11. Or let's just go back and look at the faith that Abraham had.

So you see – I don't believe in a future second return of Jesus – I believe it already happened. So where does that leave me?

I believe we're living in God's kingdom. I believe that things are going to get better – and I know this because Jesus himself prayed for that and taught that. I don't need an antichrist to come along – as it already happened. I just need my Jesus and that is all.

Do you have faith my friends? Do you believe Jesus is returning in the future? If so – do you mind me asking why you pray the “Our Father” in church every Sunday? There's no point in asking for things to be done on Earth as it is in Heaven – if things need to be done on Earth as it is in Hell first. This is the contradiction.

Faith is a powerful thing. Jesus again taught

Mark 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. 

So – you want to know Futurists – why the world is so bad? Because when you pray the Our Father – that His will, will be done on earth as it is in Heaven – you don't believe that to be true until something Future happens.

Have faith my Christian Futurist friends. The world can get better – if you believe.

give us a king!!!

Hmmm....sometimes I wonder, when are people going to learn?

Yes – people → We're talking about you!

I see so many posts about “sheeple” and stuff on facebook and twitter that it's getting embarrassing.

Then again – people are getting exactly what they want. Yes, people → the stuff going on in the world is exactly what you want.

Now – perhaps it's not quite that simple, BUT perhaps it is, BUT I know that people are stating they don't want war – yet war goes around and how is that your fault, right? Well it comes down to a few basic moral things:

• we as a people, don't love our neighbours as ourselves
• we have a love for money
• we want a government to protect us

Now – I'm not going to push religion down your throat today on what you “have to do” and what you “don't have to do” - that's not how I roll. I'll provide suggestions, but at the end of it – it's your decision on what you want to do.

I say we don't love our neighbours as ourselves – because while you're reading this from your Computer, or Laptop, or Tablet, or Smartphone, or iPod, or eReader or whatever other device you may have – you have neighbours in other countries who are starving and lacking nutrients.

Do you really need that stuff? How can we say we love our neighbours as ourselves, yet we have war going on in many countries.

Well, again how is the war your fault, right?

I Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Let's see – we're in a country(Canada or USA) that's deemed “richer” than poorer countries, so we have to protect what we have right. We go to work everyday. We invest our money to make more money in things such as stocks, bonds, Bank accounts, whatever else you can think of. You don't go to work everyday because you love going do you? You go to work so you can get some money.

The thing is – what do you do with this money? Do you give to the poor? Do you give to your neighbour? Do you give to others? Most likely you don't because you feel you've worked too hard for this money that you're not going to give it away, right?

Now of course, we have to protect our money right? So we put it in banks where it can be protected, right?

Matthew 6:19-21 ¶ Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

I didn't know that a bank account was considered “Heaven”. Especially when people complain about banks all the time. You can say what you want, BUT Jesus did warn people of banks and stuff.

Again – what does this have to do with me sending people to war?

Everytime – I talk about “no government” - people defend our need of a government. The Government protects us, the Government provides us all these services: Health Care, Education, Protection, Roads, Highways/Freeways, etc. Is the Government not also keeping the banks “honest”?

So if you need a government – is it not your government who's sending people to war – even when you think we shouldn't be going to war? Too bad – you want them, now you got them.

This too is a story all too well known.

You see – I don't see the need for a government, but that's because I already have a King.

The old nation of Israel had this scenario once upon a time. They could've served their King → God. Here's how the story goes:

I Samuel 8:6-22

But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. 8 As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. 9 Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.”
10 Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. 11 He said, “This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. 12 Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14 He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. 15 He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. 16 Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle[c] and donkeys he will take for his own use. 17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. 18 When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.”
19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want a king over us.20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.”
21 When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the Lord. 22 The Lord answered, “Listen to them and give them a king.”

You see – there wasn't always a king over the nation of Israel – the people wanted one, eventhough God warned them of what would happen.

Who brought slavery upon Israel long after Egypt? Israel.

Who brought the problems upon ourselves? We did – requesting a Government to rule over us.

Doctor Who - Part II

Ever sit down and wonder why God does certain things to people? Why some people become blind or some people are deaf, etc?

People would say this God is a horrible God.

Or how about people when they say that “non-Christians” are going to Hell as they're not “saved”.

This is something pertaining to trying to understand God's ways. But really, who can understand them?

Why was a person placed into an accident at a young age and was blinded for life? Or why was that person crippled at such a young age, as they had such potential?

Here we are asking questions we don't know the answers to.

Now – in the Doctor Who episode titled “Journey's End” ***SPOILERS*** there was a woman named Donna Noble. After a certain series of incidents, Donna, a human being, ended up with an Alien thought process. The issue, is over time the thought process was killing her.

- The solution

The Doctor has to wipe Donna's memories. Donna can never be able to remember who The Doctor is or anything pertaining to him including his Big Blue Police Box aka the TARDIS.

So – she is shown right in front of her that she has to go back to her old life. She saved the world several times over while traveling with The Doctor, and these are things she could never remember.

Why did The Doctor do this? Why did he cause her to lose her memories? Well it seems like a simple situation – it's that or she dies.

The deeper question is why did The Doctor tag Donna along in his travels?

These are questions we can never truly ask The Doctor. It would seem obvious through Donna's story here that it seemed like Donna Nobel was rising to her potential as “Doctor Donna” - but that potential was short lived. The options were her death, or her losing her memories.

There may be times in someone's life – when it becomes an option that someone has to make – perhaps that God is making. The options are probably most likely “death” or the loss of something.

Would you rather die in a car crash, or have a chance to live, but be blind, or deaf, or handicapped in some way?

The God of the Universe, knows what's best for you, even before you ask. Why do you question him?

The Doctor knew what was best for Donna. God knows what's best for you.

Matthew 6:7-8 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

Doctor Who - Part I

After recently watching a few re-runs of the British show Doctor Who – all I can say is that the role of Hero or God may appear easy, but is far from an easy one.

Now – for those who've never watched the show and may be interested in the show – I shall warn you – SPOILERS.

The reason I bring this entire topic up – is because there are things from the episodes titled: “End of Time” that really resonated with me.

Here you have David Tennant's character – The Doctor – who's been told of a prophecy concerning himself: After you hear 4 knocks you will be killed. This prophecy is believed by The Doctor to be about his nemesis The Master, who previously has allowed us to know that there is a drum of 4 beats constantly beating in his head. It would seem obvious that the true enemy of the story and future killer of The Doctor would be none-other than The Master.

Oh – how the tides have turned.

As it turns out – a friend of The Doctor's, Wilfred Mott, would be the man to “kill him”, but not intentionally.  He's stuck in a machine with Radiation about to kill him - but cannot escape unless someone else goes into the other compartment.

The Doctor found himself in a internal WAR with this. Thoughts on his mind most likely would've included:

• I've done so much for the Universe and a “nobody” is who I have to sacrifice my life to.
• I've just saved the entire planet and now I have to save one more person, but die in the process
• Why me?

Wilfred goes as far as to tell The Doctor not to worry about him, as he is an old man and lived a good life. The Doctor on the other hand – said everyone has to die sometime, and chose to sacrifice himself for Wilfred.

To sacrifice oneself – such a powerful thing.

John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

This was greatly portrayed in this episode of Doctor Who. The Doctor, regardless of all his works – laid down his life for someone. This in itself reminds me of another passage.

Mark 9:35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.

Why is Doctor who considered to be a “great Alien” or Hero? He chose to put himself “Last” and by doing so is an Icon or some could say an Idol.

All Doctor Who did in that episode was portrayed the teachings of Jesus. Yet – we people of this World would rather turn from the Teachings of Jesus because someone pissed us off in the way we were taught something at one time. I suggest to you – for a moment disregard what the person said to you and look to what Jesus taught.

Jesus taught to Love, but not in a way that a majority of people “love”. Jesus taught to lay down your life – lay down your selfishness and truly love that other person.

How many of you would've saved Wilfred – knowing that you just saved the World and you deserved some sort of Vacation or Reward, but now have one last person to save and that will mean your own death. How many of you would really do that? Would you save Wilfred?

If the answer to the question is far not a direct YES – than you're found lacking in the Love department my friend.

I'm not going to tell you what to do and what not to do – I'm just asking why we ignore the teachings of Jesus – as when they're demonstrated everyone states how beautiful that is, and it could be like that all the time – if we would just follow His Way of life.

The role of Hero or God is a difficult one. A role that requires much love. How many of you have the amount of love necessary for that?

It's not about needing a God so you can avoid going to Hell - it's about knowing the ways of God that you can bring Heaven down to Earth.

To like facebook or not like facebook...

This has been on my mind for quite some time. Every time I'm on facebook there's a new picture of “get 1,000,000” likes; “click like if you have a daughter that you love”; “click like to show you support your troops”; and the list just goes on and on and on.

The only thing this shows is that people will support an idea – or that people will show they like something. What's the reason in this? They're looking for acceptance, approval, or they click “like” because that's what people expect of them. Here's a question I'd like to ask.

What did a man who once walked the earth have to say about this? Well, there was a lot said about this – but let's look in detail at Matthew 6:1-6:

Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.   2  Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.   3  But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:   4  That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.   5 ¶ And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.  6  But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.   7  But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

It's quite clear that Jesus was clear in his statements. Don't do as men do – don't seek acceptance from others – as that's all you'll get. Do you seek acceptance or respect? Jesus teaches so much to us in this passage – and it's quite clear that many people in the world lack a God they so much claim to believe.

If Jesus said – pray in secret so that you would be rewarded openly, then do so. If Jesus said if you pray in the street as the publican did seeking people's acceptance and stating “that man is a religious man” - well that's all you'll get.

We live in a world that so lacks the teachings of Jesus. We live in a world that claims they are followers of Jesus – yet I'd say a large number of these followers are big people who click that “like” button on facebook – or click that “follow” button on Twitter.

One thing they lack – Jesus.

Jesus said: Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

Do you sound a trumpet when giving alms? Are you shouting “look what I did” - well you just earned your reward.

Jesus said: And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 

Are you praying or liking things in public, on facebook, on twitter and so on that it would be seen by many? Well you just earned your reward.

Yes – Jesus did many things in Public. Here is a question: Was he doing this to get approval from the people, or to give glory to God?

Think why you're doing what you're doing. If for the wrong reasons, you're no different than the Hypocrites, the Pulibicans, the Pharisees and others.

A World that lacks God – is truly lacking cures for many things in the world – all because they don't follow the teachings of Jesus, let's finish with Matthew 6:7-13

But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.   8  Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.   9  After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.   10  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.   11  Give us this day our daily bread.   12  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.   13  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.  

Love your Neighbour as you love yourself - Part II

So – a while ago I wrote a blog about “Love your Money as yourself” – and also “Love your Neighbour as you love yourself”.

What's interesting about this – is this seems to be a central theme that I see in my surroundings.

About a week or two ago – I was waiting for my bus in the rain. All these people were driving by in their cars. For the most part, 1 person per car. Now – why can't people be more friendly and offer people rides who are waiting for the bus?

Ok – maybe it's not raining today, but when you take in the Humidex factory we're probably talking 40+ degrees(Celcius) in the sun. Again – why aren't people driving by offering people rides?

The whole - “Love your neighbour as yourself” thing – stems from put yourself in the other person's shoes, and would you want to be there? If there answer is “No” - then it's a responsibility of each and every one of us to offer to help that person.

What this simply proves is that deep down inside us all – we're selfish. The reason you probably bought the car was so that you could get to work and get back home sooner. This in turn would allow you to spend more time with your family – or getting time to watch that game or TV show before the kids get home, or whatever other reason there may be.

Have you ever pondered if the person waiting for their bus is also a family person? That they too would love to get home and do all those things?

“Well, if I do all those things – I'm not going to have the time I had before to do all the things I used to do.” Now, I didn't say it would be easy, but would you feel better about yourself? Knowing you helped someone get home to their family sooner?

“Oh – but I'll be late for work” - ok, well did you not used to get up at 5:30am to catch the bus? But since purchasing the car you now roll out of bed at 6:30 – 7:00?

There's a line from a movie called Spiderman with Toby McGuire.

• 
  

     - With Great Power, comes great responsibility -

The more you have, the more you should be able to give. Now – don't think it just ends at cars.

Did you buy that new big screen TV last week or last month? Have you invited people over for a movie night yet?

Did you recently buy a big huge 4 bedroom house? How many of those rooms are sitting empty at this time? Could you help a friend out by renting out a room to him, or charging him for room and board?

The point is – you can't say that you love your neighbour as yourself, if you're not giving what you currently have in excess to other people.

This is how the human race will succeed. Ultimately – we need to take the “love your neighbour as yourself” quote – and live it out.

Love your money as yourself......

The other day, I was riding our Public transit system – when someone got on the bus and was upset at the fact the bus was late and/or the previous bus never showed up. He wanted to bring this up to the bus driver and the bus driver essentially said to the rider - “Sorry, I'm just a bus driver, you'll have to bring this up with someone else.”

In that moment it occurred to me, an epiphany if you will......

Now why was this man upset? Most likely because he had to go to work, get to an appointment or get to his next bus transfer, all I know is this man had to get somewhere.

And it continues – the bus driver was too selfish to deal with anything, and nobody on the bus even sympathized with this man – and I was going into my own new aware paradigm.

The problem is simple: the Love of money is the root of all evil(I Timothy 6:10).

Now – I'm sure people are thinking how money fits into all of this. Well that's just it – it's all about the money.

There used to be a time, when you lived in a small community, perhaps it had a bus service; perhaps you worked in a small office or for a small local restaurant. If you were late for work because of the bus, it wasn't a big deal. Yes it was busy and stressful for the other employees for a brief moment perhaps, but it didn't ruin the day.

Now – for the most part of people we live in this world of Capitalism. Yes, people will say Capitalism and Corporatism is the same – but they are just slightly different from one another. Both of these systems though I'd say work hand in hand with one another, and Capitalism is the main thing we see. I wouldn't say Corporatism is the problem – when in reality it's more a political and Capitalist problem.

We have this thing called the Stock Market – which allows people to purchase shares/stocks of a company on the exchange. Every company has the same thing in sight - “THE BOTTOM LINE” - and that bottom line goes to the investors which essentially are the shareholders/stockholders. For a Company/Corporation to continue to be able to provide a RETURN/profit to the shareholders, the company has to become more and more strict in how it does business.

The result: You end up with a man who is running late because of a bus that was late, and when he arrives late for work – he gets reprimanded because it's costing the shareholders profits and return.

Now – wait a minute here – what happened to the small offices people used to work in? What happened to the small stores and small restaurants where these sorts of things were ok? We've lost all that in this society of Capitalism.

The Love your Neighbour as yourself motto has gone out the window, all in exchange for Love your Money as yourself.

People don't want to invest money and make a loss – yet at the same time, people are willing to invest into people, and when a loss is occuring – they decide to cut their losses with that person and cut the person out completely.

Look at your banks – they make record profits every year – BILLIONS of dollars – yet we have people in the streets starving. Why is this allowed? Because shareholders are getting returns on their profits.

And behold – the root of all evil – the love of money....does it surprise you that the HeadQuarters of the NYSE is a a big “Golden calf” out front? Symbolic of much you think.

I've said it many times and it would seem to be visible in the world and that is people in this world lack God. Now whether you believe in God or not – I would say the teachings from the Bible teach a lot, and people should invest into that which is good – rather than investing into stocks.

Corporations are not the problem. Capitalism is.

Love your neighbour as you love yourself

There have been many times, I’ve been in discussions with people in regards to God, or a relationship with God.  Depending on the person, this relationship generally ends with “you know what, I believe a relationship with God is personal and talking about this isn’t really appropriate.  Yes I believe in certain things like ‘love your neighbour as yourself’ but I’m not comfortable in this discussion”.

Fine – I have no problems with that.  If someone wants to take that approach that is their choice.  What bother me is the fact that many people will say the Golden rule is true:  Love your neighbour as yourself.

Here is the problem:  Many people will say they believe in such things – and they do believe in such things, just so long as it doesn’t get in the way of their selfish lifestyle, or just as long as it doesn’t it doesn’t make them admit to their own wrong doings in their own life, or just as long as they have their “peace of mind”.

Why is this a problem?  Well the things they believe in they themselves only follow it conditionally.  If this is the case, does this mean they only love themselves conditionally?

The expression goes “love your neighbour as yourself” but it would probably make more sense to people to hear it as “love your neighbour as you love yourself.”  From here it begins to make more sense.

Now – let’s relate to the adulterous woman story from John 8:1-11, of which everyone concludes and points out “you shouldn’t judge.”

Assume for a moment that any little “wrong” aka sin in life earned you the death penalty.  Would you want the death penalty or would you want a person like Jesus to step forward and see the fear in your eyes, and offer you another chance.  Offer you another chance to live life.  I guarantee you, that one who realizes they’ve done wrong, would be thankful to hear:  I don’t condemn you either.  Go and sin no more.  Guaranteed that person would not go and do the same thing again.

What does our society with such people?  You go to court, you get judged, and if you’re in a country or state where the death penalty exists, you’re going to be put to death.  Yet, people don’t see a problem with society, because they’d rather a person who’s learned their lesson go to jail or suffer the death penalty.

How would you feel if you were in that situation?  Would you not want to be forgiven and let go?

This is what our society and our court system doesn’t allow.  Everything that allows you to get a clean slate, always has a condition upon it.  Jesus didn’t have that condition.  He said “I condemn you not either – go and don’t do that again”.

No condition – just a request, clean slate, as simple as that.

The problem with society is we don’t have it within us to just freely forgive people, there’s always a condition:  I’ll forgive the person, but it doesn’t mean I have to trust them anymore.  Another condition:  I’ll forgive them, but it doesn’t mean I have to keep them in my life.

Again – what would you want, if you realized you made a mistake?  What would you want if you realized things you did when you were younger influenced someone’s life for years and only now they’re getting their life back on track?

That’s what love your neighbour as yourself can look like.  That is what it should look like.  People and society have just taken those words and they’ve simply become a cliché.

What causes such things?  Public Media, people who don’t have good morals influencing others, but moreso, people’s selfishness and love of success.

People should stop saying they believe in “love your neighbour as yourself”, and should start living life in a way that is said:  love your neighbour as you love yourself.

Take the Blindfolds off....

You know, I was waiting at a stop light earlier this evening when I happened to notice why People aren't getting more and more fines and/or cirminal charges against them....There was a cop sitting at a red stop light, started to take off, slammed on the brakes, waited for the light to turn green, then waited 3-5 seconds, then proceeded to take off – all the time while using his cell phone.

You know – there's this moral/ethical concept being taught in our society, by our schools and by our government, that if you don't have anything nice to say, it's best not to. They combine that with practise what you teach. Then it gets taught out in this way: You can't tell someone they're doing something wrong if you go and do the same thing, you'd be a hypocrite.

So – what do we end up with? A society that needs more rules to regulate everything. More rules that won't get enforced. More police officers to enforce these rules and regulations. What will this accomplish? The honest people will become more and more honest – but while keeping their honesty, will lose their privacy, and moreso, will lose their freedoms.

You know, they say it's great to have a government, they put a system in place to protect you. And while they're protecting you, they're putting a big huge blinder over your eyes in the process. These blinders will stop you from seeing it is you getting imprisoned. It is you who are getting trapped.

My problem with this? We used to have a society that was based on morals. Some say our basic laws are based on Biblical morals. So if we're going to apply Biblical morals – why not follow one simple teaching from the Biblical book?

Ephesians 6:12 - For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

So, what do we do in our society? What does the government do to us? They teach us to be afraid as someone may kill you. Someone may steal from you. Someone may assault you. Someone may DO ALL THIS STUFF and MORE to you.

Why are you scared of your flesh dying? The Bible teaches the enemy. We wrestle against principalities. Who enforces our principles of daily living? Who talks and gossips these principals? Who are these powers? Who are the rulers of the darkness of this world? WHO?

And here, the eyes start to open, those blinders start to get removed........

Boston Marathon – probably soon to be called the Boston Massacre Marathon....A bombing takes place.

Who teaches about the principals? Who lays down the law? An article found on Telegraph.co.uk quotes Mr Barack Obama, as saying: “We will find out who did this and we will hold them accountable”.

What happens in Boston afterwards? Essentially......a Police State. And this is only going to spread. Well everyone – they're putting us all in one huge giant jail cell. How does it feel?

Why? Why oh WHY?! Why is this happening?

Again – it's simple. Your news reports so much conspiracy, talks and gossips about how the government should proceed, rather than just give you the cold plain facts.

The powers are simply ourselves. We have more power than you think, but rather than trust in ourselves, we trust in a government, put in power by ourselves. The outcome? The rulers come out to play. The government comes out and states the action they will take. Why doesn't the government take the action we tell them to follow?

In simple terms? We're selfish. Because our selfishness is so strong, to some people it comes across as unfriendly, to some it comes across as laziness, and to some it comes across as pure stupidity.

Take action people! Wake up! Why don't some people read their Bible, rather than take advice from someone who twists what it says and teaches you to follow what he says, when Jesus told you to follow what He says?

Wake up! WAKE UP!

Is God Real? - Part II

Hmmmm....Is God Real? That is the question now isn't it?

Now – in my last post, I talked mostly about 2 main reasons for people's lack of belief in the God of the Bible:

• I don't believe in God because look at all the evil things the Catholic church has done over the years
  
• I don't believe in God because look at what Christians have done over the years – look at the Crusades, etc.

I left us with a 3rd main point, as it can become very complex, the 3rd one being:

“I don't believe in God, because how can a loving God send people to hell for eternity?”

As said previously – this is a very complex topic to explain. So many things to consider:

• Is hell actually real?
• Why do people fear such a thing?
• Is it actually God who sends people to hell?

Now – from within these points, we can actually develop further on the subject, but here's probably the main point that people hear from Christians:
“You're a sinner if you don't believe in Jesus, and if you don't believe in Jesus you're going to go to hell.”

Now – I know many people that would rather that not talk about eschatology – study of “End Times” - but it's amazing how End Times can really influence this common saying of “You're going to hell”.

There are many essentially 2 main views when it comes to Eschatology – from within each of these views it can grow into many others, but the two main views are this:

• Preterist View – The End Times were fulfilled in the past
• Futurist View – The End Times will be fulfilled at an unknown date in the future

Now depending on the view you fall into there's a main difference between these two views.

• The Preterist believes that “hell” was thrown into the “Lake of Fire” and therefore destroyed
• The Futurist believes that at the Return of Jesus, all people who deny Jesus as LORD will go to hell and from there be cast into the “Lake of Fire”

So – what I find interesting is when you speak to someone who doesn't believe in God – it's generally because of someone at one time told them “If you don't believe in Jesus you'll go to hell”.

My question is this: Did Jesus ever say that?

Other things said - “oh don't do that, or you'll go to hell”

My question is – when did these Christians stop being sinners and know they're going to Heaven and these “other sinners” are going to hell?

Generally the Christians who talk like this – are the Futurists. The one thing that most Futurists look forward to is the infamous “Rapture” that will happen. I even have had friends with whom I've had discussions with and said “Well if this is all true, aren't you concerned about all these people going to hell, and shouldn't we pray for them?” - to which I get responses like:

• There's nothing I can do to save them, only God can save them
• It's impossible to save that many people

Yet – the Jesus they believe in, the Bible they believe in so much, says things like:

• I Thessalonians 5:17 – Pray without Ceasing
• John 16:23 - And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.   24  Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
• Philippians 4:13 -  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. 

It would seem that many Futurists doubt the words of the Book they hold so much to be true. If I can do all things through Christ, and I can pray asking things in His Name – it is possible to save the Entire World and stop them from going to “hell”.

Why do Futurists say things, and then shoot themselves in the foot with silly things?

Generally – and it's sad to say this, but it's because of a few other things:

• They don't know God, they want to, which is why they look forward to Jesus' return in the “Rapture”
• They don't spend much time in prayer for themselves, so how can they pray for others?
• They do things almost identically to the rest of the World, yet the difference is they believe in Jesus, while the rest of the World doesn't.

As for the Preterist? Well, the Preterist believes hell was done away with and destroyed in the Lake of Fire.

In Summary, I'd just like to summarize that people who don't believe in God because “how can a loving God send people to hell for eternity?” - this is certain Views of Christianity that teach such things – so it'd be more accurate to say “You don't believe in God because you believe what other 'Christians' say about where you're going to go when you die is true”. This my friends – is purely lack of knowledge.

I warn you – we still have not discussed if hell is actually real.

We still have not discussed why people fear hell.

We still haven't discussed if it's God who sends people to hell.

These topics – will be brought up in another blog, about “Is Hell for Real?”