“Let individuals make the most of what God has given them, have their neighbours do the same, and then do all they can to serve each other. There is no use in one person or one nation to try to do or be everything. It is a good thing to be dependent on each other for something; it makes us civil and peaceable.”

Sojourner Truth

Dear Dad,

I just want to say how privileged I feel to have been raised by you. You are someone about whom I can say with pride, “that’s my dad.” I can’t describe all of the ways in which your life, and your example and your teaching have helped me develop and mature, but I’d like to try.

The example that you set while I was growing up has allowed me to make decisions that have done nothing but improve my life. I think especially of your honesty, and integrity, your humility and kindness and patience. You respected yourself, and you showed respect to others. I think of your generosity toward your children both in time and money. Your wisdom, particularly in your spiritual life has been a life-saver for me. I am so fortunate to have a dad who isn’t afraid to stand alone for what he believes. I really admire that in you. I think also of the wisdom that you’ve shown in managing your money which has allowed me to avoid foolish choices and helped me to stay away from falling deep into debt. You’ve taught me how incredibly important it is to have a good name in the community, a name by which one is known as someone that can be trusted. The love and respect and kindness that you showed for mom has been worth more than words can say.

The most important thing to me, and what I love most about you, is your faith in Jesus. What a wonderful heritage it is to have a dad that prays, a dad that trusts God enough to obey Him, and to have a dad who is man enough to submit to God’s will. I can’t thank you enough for that.

All in all, what I’m trying to say, is that in my mind, you have be a terrific example of what it should mean to be a man, to be a husband and to be a dad.

Thank you for all that you’ve done for me over the years. I’m grateful to be your son.

I miss you. 

Atheists and Cherry Picking

You know how atheists never venture outside of the Old Testament lest they run into teachings of Jesus that convict them of wrong? And you know how atheists accuse Christians of cherry-picking verses to make our case? Do you think atheists ever do the same thing? Like, have you ever seen them ranting about this?

"When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the Lord your God."

Leviticus 19:9-10

"When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow."

Deuteronomy 24:19

"If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not treat it like a business deal; charge no interest."

Exodus 22:25

Unlike their neighbours, unlike our modern industrial societies, people in ancient Israel (those who atheists call bronze-age goat herders) were to make sure they did nothing to take advantage of each other.

Peace, Mercy and Justice were then and are today to be the hallmark of God's people.

Nothing is Good Enough

Have you noticed that? For those who don’t want to hear what God is saying to them, there isn’t a Christian on earth who can be good enough for them. And that’s true because for those kind of people, perfection is the only standard they’ll allow.

Now it’s true, gross sin in one who puts on the impression that God has made h/her better than others is disgusting. And this demonstration of human reality allows functional atheists to believe that they now have a good enough reason to reject Jesus and His offer of salvation. In reality, they don’t need to see ANY sin or foul play on the part of a Christian. It’s just an excuse and it's always been an excuse.

For example, John the Baptiser came into history leaving a negligible carbon footprint. He ate locusts and wild honey. He didn’t consume alcohol nor was he violent, greedy or prodigal. This, in the midst of a society bent on luxury and ease of living. However, John's frugal living was said to be evidence of his deeper faults, so people rejected his message.

Jesus came and enjoyed everything that His “sinful” hosts offered to Him. He drank and ate to the full. He consumed - living as a man among men and it was for this that they condemned Him.

For those who are terrified of seeing themselves from God’s perspective, any excuse, or no excuse will do. 

“According to data.org “More than 17 million Africans have died from AIDS and another 25 million are infected with the HIV virus, 

1.9 million of those infected people are children.”

Yeah pornography!!!

Booo censorship!!!! 

Yeah misogyny!!!! 
Booo love!!!!

Let's hear it for those who are terrified that the teaching of Jesus might be taught to our children. 

Life Goes South In A Blink

“God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. (John 3:17)

That’s a nice sentiment but you’d never know it from Jesus’ last public sermon.

The people were finally convinced that the long awaited Messiah had arrived. A Saviour had come who would set up a Kingdom so powerful that it would toss off the shackles of Rome. Who better to do this than a miracle worker; someone with power over nature and demons and someone who could heal all their diseases and give them free food and good grief! someone who could bring people back from the dead?

No leader is perfect of course and this Messiah had some kinks to His delivery. For example, He seemed to say some decidedly unkind things to the people; just as though He didn't care what they thought of Him. He seemed more interested in tearing down their religious traditions than in confronting Rome. Jesus showed utter disdain for money, and He was down right rude, even aggressive toward the religious elite. In fact, Jesus treated the religious leaders like they were unsaved gentiles. Come to think about it, this Messiah spent a lot of time telling people they weren’t even close to being on the right track spiritually.

This Messiah seemed to come from a Kingdom that was completely counter-cultural to the one the people had created. This Messiah, if He was one, did all the right things with those society considers to be the wrong people, and He did all the wrong things with those society considers to be the right people.

He refused to keep the rules and in the end it got Him killed.

Jesus road into town as a soon to be King. By the end of the week, after hearing His last sermon, He was hanging from a Roman cross.

And wonder of wonders, that was exactly the plan.

What Does It Matter?

Some people can’t be bothered to think through the evidence for the resurrection. 

They believe what they believe and nothing much is going to change that. If that’s how you want to live, I guess that’s your business. 

For me, I like my life to make sense. For example:

The resurrection means that my life is not futile -

It shows that God exists. People do not naturally rise from the dead. It was most certainly a supernatural event.

Certain important things in life are proven to have an objective base by the resurrection. For example:

. The resurrection means that God is in control.

. The resurrection means that Death is not the end.

. Jesus went into the tomb to show in an unmistakable manner that He came out. 

. Because Jesus lives, because He has proven His power over death, we too, according to His promise, will live again.

The resurrection means that Forgiveness is real -

Jesus has the right to condemn me to an eternity in hell.

He has promised to not do that because of my faith in what He has done.

He has shown the power to overcome the consequences of my sin.