There are a lot of folks who believe that living a good life, believing in the Ten Commandments, not sinning, treating people well, giving (maybe even tithing) to charities, etc. are the keys to God’s Kingdom. While these are all good things they in themselves are not the keys to God’s Kingdom. The key is Jesus. Jesus plus nothing equals everything. Jesus is the way. The only way into God’s Kingdom. I know that people don’t want to hear this but it is the Truth. We don’t make the rules……Jesus is everything. He is the King. He loves us unconditionally. He extends endless grace. He is the absolute truth. If one wants to live a life full of purpose and meaning then Jesus and his teachings are the answer. Jesus is everything and nothing at the same time. He will give us what we need and not what we want. So if you are asking Jesus for money and fame then you will probably get nothing. If you are asking for his will to be done in your life then you will get it. Welcome into the mystery!

John 14:6 – Jesus answered, “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

The following are words from author James Bryan Smith concerning Christ’s commitment to us. “For most of my Christian life I related to Jesus on the basis of what I did for Him. If I prayed well, studied hard, served much and sinned little, then I felt reasonably sure Jesus was pleased with me. I was paralyzing my ability to love Jesus, love myself, and ultimately love others. I was afraid that Jesus would look at my faults and withdraw his love. I was afraid my weaknesses and sinfulness would separate me from the love of Jesus. I see now how foolish it was to think that my feeble attempts at righteousness had anything to do with how Jesus feels about me. For too long I was impressed with my commitment to Jesus, now I am impressed only with Jesus ‘s commitment to me.”

Romans 8: 38-39 – I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

In sports we talk a lot about events that are “game changers”. In history we also look at events that have changed history. The greatest of these in all of time was the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ that we celebrate as Easter. Many, many, people still don’t get the significance of this event. From a faith and spiritual standpoint the death and resurrection of Jesus was the biggest “game changer” in his and our stories. It ushered in forgiveness, grace and unconditional love for all that call upon the name of the Lord. The song Amazing Grace says it all with these words…” Amazing Grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found t’was blind but now I see”.

John 11: 25-26……I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he dies, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.

HE HAS RISEN!

“There is a gap between where I am and where I need to get and God has to fill that gap”…..Ronnie Baker, US Olympian

In life I believe all of us are trying to “get” somewhere. Kind of like we are running a lifetime race. In the Bible, the scripture Hebrews 12:1 says, “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us….” Our lives last for 70-80 years on the average and our hope is that we find meaning and purpose in our lives. If someone asked me what is my greatest achievement in life I would say my faith in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Jesus continues to fill the gap for me everyday. My entire family has answered Jesus’s invitation to trust him with their lives and believe that He is the Truth and the Way. Jesus is Word and the Word is God. I pray that Jesus continues to fill that same gap that Ronnie Baker talks about every day because I am broken and need a Lord and Savior everyday and Jesus is the one! The Great I Am!

1Corinthians 9:24 – Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

If one does not have a faith in Jesus, who does he turn to in tough times, times of uncertainty and grief. When the world just flat out sucks…….who does one turn to. If one does not believe in Jesus and His Truth, where does he go for answers….In her song “Hold on to me”, Laura Daigle sings “when doors are closing, when one is sure they have reached the end, when one is tired of pretending, when the weight of expectation is ready to break one and when one doesn’t feel like they are worth defending, she turns to Jesus to “hold on to her'” Think about it. Life is a rocky road. We all struggle in this world. At some point the weight of this world seems unbearable. So who does one turn to. The Truth of Jesus or some temporary “fix” to our problems. We all have to figure this out. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord Jesus. No one loves us better than Jesus. God Bless and stay safe.

Joshua 24:15 – As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.

God forgives us of our sin, but still has concern for us. Why? Because He knows our behavior has consequences. Thus, our sin has consequences. The Bible is full of wisdom on how we can better live our lives to avoid the pitfalls of sin. Some have called the Bible the greatest psychology book ever written. Others have called the Bible the Greatest instruction manual on how to live our lives ever written. Sin will always be there, like a lion roaring at our door. Therefore, the wise choice is to use the resources our faith and the Bible give us to live the most purposeful and meaningful life we can. I think we can all agree that we would like to do that.

God Bless and all Glory and Praise be given to Jesus.

As I live in this imperfect world and watch as people fail constantly, I have come to realize that there is two ways of doing things….my way and God’s way. God is perfect so obviously his way of doing things is perfect. I am imperfect, so you guessed it! Yes, my way is imperfect. No matter how hard I try I can never do things as well a God. So, it seems to reason I should tap into that perfection of God and have him help me do things better. Guess what, it works. When I pray and read the Bible and try to live out my day and my doings according to the word (Jesus) of God things are better. I am not saying that if I follow the word of God that everything will always work out. But what I am saying is when I don’t follow the word of God things seldom workout…. I fail! I really believe that if I follow the Word of God, His way and His truth, that my life will prosper and have meaning, and my plans will succeed. God is perfect, no question about it.

Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Many people ask, “Is there a God and Who is He?” “What’s his purpose?” My answer is simple. Yes…There is a God who created everything, and He wants to rescue us through His Son Jesus. There is a lot to God and Jesus for sure. But too many people and institutions (like the churches) have confused the masses of people with way too much information. The big take away and what each person needs to focus on is that Jesus came to earth to rescue us from the world and its sin. Many thousands of books have been written about Jesus (who is God by the way) and his plan for our lives and what we must do to execute this plan. Much of that information is false and some it is flat out lies. Jesus came first and foremost to rescue us…..period. He loves us unconditionally with a grace that exceed our understanding. He did not come to condemn or shame us into believing we are unworthy. Nothing can buy or earn his love and forgiveness. His whole story is a rescue mission and you and I are His mission if we just believe it to be true.

Luke 19:10 – “For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost”.

James Bryan Smith writes, “In Jesus’s death we see God’s desire to forgive us. His offer of forgiveness is extended to all people for all of time. There is not a person, living or dead. for whom Jesus did not die for.” This statement has been polarizing for people for thousands of years. So, did Jesus say everyone is redeemed regardless of their actions? Are atheists forgiven and on their way to heaven even though they don’t believe in God let alone believe in Jesus and his death on the cross for our sins. Who is in and who is out one might ask? Personally, I believe that Jesus did die for everyone. I believe there is redemption for every one of every race, color, religion, etc. HOWEVER, there is one more important part to salvation. It has to do with another important aspect of this subject. It is called free will. Smith further writes, “There is nothing left for to do other than open our hands and receive God’s gift”. This is the key, open our hands. It is an act of acceptance. In summary, God rejects no one – but many, many people reject God. That is what needs to be impressed on people. The problem isn’t God, it is us. I pray that you will “open your hands”.

Revelation 3:20 – Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.