Decision Time

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As I wrote in a previous post, there has been a slight change in the focus of my blog.  I started my blog years ago as a Second Amendment support blog because I saw the government moving toward a disarming of We the People.  I still believe this to be the case but after intense evaluation of my own life and beliefs, I have come to realize that which has been in front of my face all along… The corruption of our government is not only just a side-effect of the lack of God’s influence in the world but it is also part of the plan that has been in place since before creation.

I believe that we are closing in on the last days.  The fact is that “No man knows the day or hour…” but there are MANY events and signals that we have been given and those events and signals have been…and continue to… come to realization every day.  I have been so laser-focused on the government and future of our country that I have failed to see the important issue happening in front of me.

Those of you who know me…know that I believe in God.  I was raised in church and have been involved in church on various levels for the majority of my life.  I got quite good at playing the game…BUT have I lived my life as an example?  What has my example been?

If you have been a part of my life and did not know where I stood when it comes to Christ, then I have failed.  If you have been a part of my life and are not a believer, It should have been clear to you that I was a Christian (Little Christ) and I should have made an effort to give you the knowledge to make your own decision also.  Again I failed.

As an analytical, I have always struggled with faith and as a sinner I have acted and spoke in ways that were not in keeping with the example that would lead a non believer to look for his or her own relationship with God.  Fail.

As a husband and father I have been weak and often absent in my responsibilities as a Christian example and leader.  Epic Fail.

To my Children:  I am sorry for not living up to my responsibilities as an example, leader and teacher.  Please forgive me.

To my Beautiful Bride:  I am sorry for not living up to my responsibilities as an example, leader and teacher and I am sorry that you have had to do what I have failed to do.  Our children all have great foundations because of you.  Please forgive me.

To my family: I am sorry for not living up to my responsibilities as a Christian.  Please forgive me.

To my friends:  (This list is short and you know who you are) I am sorry for either not being the example I should have been or for not helping you stay on the right path.  Please forgive me.

To my fellow-man and non-believers… If my life, attitude, word or deed was not an example of a person who was supposed to be a Christian… I am sorry. Please forgive me.

To my Savior:  We have already spoken… and we will continue to.  Thanks for being there when I got back.

I have never been preachy and was never really comfortable or frankly knowledgeable enough to speak intelligently about the Bible or the path to salvation.  Fortunately, it is not necessary to be a holy man or a Bible scholar to learn the information.  If ANY of you have questions, doubts or have been on the fence about your relationship with God…please call me and I will do my best… OR you can do it yourself.  Becoming a Christian is not some mystical, cultist, shadow ceremony.  It is a personal relationship between you and God and everyone has a different one.  Just get one.  The debt for sin has already been paid when Jesus died on the cross.  It’s that simple.  Forgiveness is right in front of us.  We just need to accept it.

Is it possible for a person to know where they will spend eternity?  How can a person be sure that they will spend eternity with God, in Heaven? Listed below are some Bible verses with a brief explanation. You can open your Bible to the sixth book of the New Testament, called Romans, and read these verses right out of the Bible, God’s own Word.

1. Every Person’s Condition  “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”  Romans 3:23

This explains that we are separated from God by sin. Notice the word sin is singular, it is not just the sins we have committed but the sinful heart, that causes us to commit these sinful acts, that keeps us from God.

2. Result Of Our Condition  “For the wages of sin is death…”  Romans 6:23a

This is not just the physical death that we know everyone will eventually experience, but it refers to spiritual death. This is to be separated from God forever. Wages are received  for work done. What we receive for the sin we have done is spiritual death, forever separated from God. The wages of our sin is like a DEBT that we owe for our sin.

We have all heard about the LOVE of God. God does love us and has done something to show us that LOVE.

3.  Christ Paid Our Sin Debt  “But God demonstrated His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  Romans 5:8

All people owe the debt for their sin but Jesus Christ, God’s Son, died on the cross of Calvary to pay our sin debt. He did this because He loves us.

4. God Offers Us Forgiveness Of Sin And Eternal Life As A Free Gift   “…But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Romans 6:23b

God will do this because Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay the debt of our sin. The person who gives a gift pays its price but the person receiving the gift gets it free. Jesus paid for our sin with His own blood shed on the cross so He can give you the free gift of eternal life.

Your choice is to receive God’s free gift of forgiveness of sin and eternal life or you can pay your own sin debt. Remember the debt is spiritual death, which means, you will be forever separated from God and heaven.

5. How To Accept God’s Free Gift  “That if thou shalt confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”  Romans 10:9,10

To believe in your heart means to trust God with your soul and life. To believe means more than to agree with your mind some facts of history about Jesus Christ.  Romans 10:13 says, “For whosoever (put your name here) shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”  There are two parts to this verse. God’s part is to save, our part is to call (ask) God to forgive our sin and save us.

How about you? Do you believe that what these Bible verses say is true about you?  If you do — will you put your faith, trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and His death on the cross and resurrection from the dead to pay for your sin debt?

If you want to be saved, pray. You can pray this prayer…You can personalize this prayer and make it yours or pray in your own words expressing these thoughts.

“Lord, I know that I am a sinner and need your forgiveness; I believe that Christ died in my place, paying the debt of my sin; I am willing to turn from my sin; I ask you to forgive all of my sin. I invite Jesus Christ to come into my heart and life as my personal Savior. I am willing, with God’s help to “Change my mind”… to change the way I think and act and to follow and obey Jesus Christ…Amen!”

THERE!  That wasn’t so bad was it?

CHANGE YOUR MIND.  (This is REPENTENCE) Anyone can pray the sinners prayer but we MUST be repentent in thought and deed or the prayer is just words.

Welcome!!!

Time is short – Don’t be afraid

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Last Sunday was the 10 year anniversary of September 11th, 2011.  Pastor Tom gave an amazing talk about the disasters of life and how as Christians we should respond to them.

The thing that stands out for me is that every disaster… every single event that brings us face to face with our human mortality, should remind us that we WILL all die at some point and we have no idea when.  ARE WE RIGHT WITH GOD?

There is so much happening in the world today that points to the fact that time is short and whether or not you believe in all of the prophecy that is playing out every day… it is happening.

There are wars and rumors of war between all of the Biblical players.  There are economic and environmental signals happening daily such as the earthquakes, fires, floods, droughts and famine. There are various theories out there that range from nuclear events to EMP’s to comets to magnetic pole reversals.  Any and all of which could destroy our planet or at least greatly modify life as we know it.  BUT does any of this really matter if we are not right with God.

I have chosen to change my mind… to change my thinking.  The “HOW” really does not matter…and as long as my family and I are secure in our salvation, the “WHEN” does not matter either.

The ONLY way to make sure my family and I are secure in our salvation is to focus on the correct question…and then understanding the correct and only answer. “WHO?”  Who is this man? (Luke 8:25) – He is Lord.

It is my prayer that everyone takes a good look at themselves and determines if, in fact, you are really right with God.  It will happen instantly and WILL BE TOO LATE!

Revelation

1 The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

There is a lot of negative attached to the end times and they are frightening but I cling to Psalm 91 which helps with the fear.

Psalm 91

1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress,  my God, in whom I trust.”

3 Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.

4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,

6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.

8 You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.

9 If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling,

10 no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.

11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;

12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

14 “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

15 He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.

16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”