Is the Gift really free

Well we are off to the Laurence Welk Resort tomorrow after work. John and I were kind of succered into signing up for this time share presentation thing. Silly I know, ,but what can I say we all have to do it once right? We are getting a discounted room at the lovely resort on Friday Night and plus they offered us free stuff. I love free stuff. Everyone loves free stuff I bet there is not a person in the world that does not love getting free stuff. But yet people all the over the world deny the free gift of Jesus Christ everyday. But then I guess we must ask is the gift really free? When we offer this gift of Christ to the lost do we tell them that in return for their salvation they are called to be obediant to their Creator God. Do we tell them that Christ calls them to deny themselves. I think now adays these commands tend to get left out. The mentality is more come to Jesus he will fix your problems.....come to Jesus you will go to heaven. Now these our truths that happen when we do come to Jesus but the most important part has been left out. Our surrender to Him wholly and completed. As it is the good news that Christ came may we offer it as a gift to the lost but lets not forget to leave out the part that we need to count the cost. I think of Luke 14 when Jesus was talking to the crowds and he said

26"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. 27And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

Are we willing to give up our lives to hate anything that draws us away from Jesus, and to count the cost and reallize what it really means to pick up our cross, and follow Jesus. The gift of salvation is free for those who surrender their life to Christ and obey his commands. What a wonderful gift.

Yesterday, Today, and Forever

I feel so privileged to be one of Gods children. Lately I have been thinking upon this thought. That out of all the people in the world God has chosen me to be one of His. He has put a desire in my heart to follow after him to seek His truth and to have a relationship with him. Not only is this so encouraging it is amazing. To think the God of the universe cares about the happenings in my life overwhelms me. His Grace abounds beyond all measure. I know that I can cling to His promises, rest in his peace and have joy in all that he has created. The small problems I face day in and out I do not face alone. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
Psalm 46:1-3. What ever that trouble is he is there. I know my hard times don't compare to others but how amazing that Gods truth of scripture speaks to each of us and his truth is the same yesterday today and forever! Hebrews 13:8
Praise the Lord!

May no one take you captive

I was told today that I need to write a blog.
As I sit here I think what could I possibly write about that people would actually be interested in reading and then it came to me (well actually I was encouraged by my boss Pastor Bobby Blakey) Write about truth! What is truth. It seems a common theme in the world is that truth is what you think it is whatever works for you is your truth. Now if this is the "worlds" view then I can't say much about that, but when the "church" begins to adapt this view I become concerned....I recently read a quote by Rob and Kristin Bell a couple who is very influential in the emerging church. It said "Church became so small.....it stopped working...they began discovering the bible as human product, rather than Divine Authority". Now I don't know about you but
Col 2:8 pops into my mind it says "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy which depends on human tradition and the basic principals of this world rather than on Christ."
Do you see a common word ....I do its human product or human tradition...Now scripture is telling us that we are to not let any one take us captive through philosophy based on human tradition. And yet the bells are saying that we need to see the bible through human tradition and then they add rather than Divine Authority...Im sorry, did I hear that correctly? You are telling me to embrace humanistic philosophy when it comes to scripture? And to not see the bible as the authoritative truth the foundation which we build our lives upon. The Compass to which God gives us to live This is scary my friends because these people are leading a revolution right now. This man was named as one of the most influential christian leaders. If we are more conerned with our human philosophy than whats the Bible says as being the authority on truth where do we go from there. I tell where we go complete apostasy. This seems more like a mind set bascially to allow ourselves to embrace the things of this world with out having any accoutability to it.
We need to be on gaurd and careful. We need to pray that we will not be taken captive by lies. Become aware of what is being taught know what you belive and why you belive it. Be able to give an answer to all with the authority of Gods word as your source.
2 Timothy 3:14-17

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of,
because you know those from whom you learned it,
15and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures,
which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting
and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped
for every good work.