Life is Precious

I am sitting and pondering life, how precious a gift that it is.  Yet so often we see and hear about people throwing lives away in an instant.  Bombings, shootings, abortions, wars the horror of daily happenings in the world today and yet we can become de-sensitized.  

Every life should be treated with value and respect.  Not because of some law or humanistic perspective.  But we should seek to protect life because life is a gift from God.  Even when someone does such horrible things to destroy other lives we must weigh very carefully if we are to take their life away.  The destruction of a life is a very serious thing.

Yet I sometimes find myself feeling as though there are too many lives being taken without any justice being dished out.  Justice is not vengeance it is actually how we attempt to love the rest of the population by protecting them.  I believe that men especially were created with a purpose to protect those who are most vulnerable.  Part of that protection is the serving of justice.

I want to call on Christian men everywhere to be those who will not stand by and allow these horrors to continue.  WE need to get involved.  If you have been a witness to a crime, you need to report it.  If you see a life being endangered then you need to attempt to save it.  If you need to jump on a gunman or grab a bomb and run away from a crowd, then do it.  Christian men know where they will be for eternity, many others around them may not be ready to face God, we are ready to meet our Lord.

I do not advocate a politically motivated Church movement but a gospel oriented one instead.  Yet I do believe that each of us has a responsibility to be active in making a change.  However you need to do that as a an individual as long as it is within the laws we are under and not against the Bible, then please say your piece and make a difference.  If we are horrified by a bombing or a shooting, why are we so silent about the thousands of children slaughtered daily around the world by abortions of convenience.  Life is a gift from God and it is precious.  Taking a vulnerable and defenseless life in a pre-meditated way is considered murder.  

We need justice to be enacted  to protect those who cannot protect themselves.

Men let us be who we were created to be.  Men who love and follow God.  Men who love and care for their families.  Men who speak Truth and proclaim the Gospel.  Men who stand up for Justice and protect the oppressed and the vulnerable.  Men who are warriors at heart.  Men who refuse to live in fear of people or this world but do have a healthy fear of God.

Pastor Bruce

Politics politics politics

As I sit here drinking a coffee waiting to meet someone I find myself immersed whether I like it or not in a conversation regarding politics. Not that I took part but rather the coffee shop I was in had been overtaken with the volume of a few guys in suits trying to sort out the latest political issues, the kind of discussion that used to draw me in but now like most if the room I have a huge distaste for.

Guys in suits, the establishment, too often Christians have sought to solve societies issues through such people. Yet it is a waste of time. People need Jesus not political agendas. Politicians included, they need The Lord in their lives.

Now the suits have left and a relaxed atmosphere has once again appeared. Interesting how people in suits with politics on their brains can increase the stress level in a room an decrease the level of community at the same time.

I find myself being reminded that I am here on mission for the King of Kings and not to be overly concerned with the politics of man. Sure we all have a responsibility to vote and be familiar with the issues but it should not overtake my life or a room that I am in, at least because of me.

Stand for Truth, live your Faith, be on mission for The Lord.

Pastor Bruce

What about sin?

So what about sin?  "Sin is not problem for me because I was forgiven by Jesus"  ...  I have received this response from so many.  There is an element of truth in that response and yet there is so much missing.

Often I hear people talking about the sins of others, the sins of society and proclaiming a need fro a renewed righteousness. Yet we fail so often to talk enough about the reality of our own sin.  Our own weak and pride-filled nature that seeks its own way daily.  I know that I struggle daily with sin.  My humanity is still here. Sure Jesus has shown victory over sin, death and hell, but even though I am forgiven it does not mean I never sin.

I really believe that we need to embrace a deep sense of humility, repenting of our sin and embracing the Lordship of Jesus in our life.  This should not be a one time event.  Salvation is a one time event, Baptism is a one time event, but daily Christian living is to strive for humility and repent of our sinful attitudes and actions as we seek to live in obedience to our Lord Jesus.

Sin is around us everyday, the world is a messed up place and it is because humanity runs on a nature bent towarpridefilledds sin.  People cannot help themselves, sin is natural to us.  Jesus is our only answer for sin.  His forgiveness of our sin is once and for all.  Yet while we are still walking on this earth we will not live in perfection.  We need to repent of our own self.  When we live in sinful ways it is because we have taken the reigns, taken control.  When we are in control then sin is at the front of things.  When we live in submission to Jesus, then He is in control and He is operating in and through us by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Righteous living cannot happen because of me, but it can happen because of Jesus living in and through me.  

Deal with your sin, seek to live under the Lordship of Jesus, walk with humility in obedience to Him.  Do not hide your messes of life and pretend that life is perfect, this is pride and it is a sin.  Honesty is required, Integrity needs to be your decision, Transparency is to be a lifestyle.

Let us walk together

Pastor Bruce