Wonderful Song from Jason Gray

Gray has a wonderful way with words. This song talks about how wastes no hurt or pain . Is this not true . For even in our weakness, our suffering and even our struggles , He will make beauty out of darkness.

The Reformation Day Draws Near

With the end of Oct drawing close , on the 31st we mark the day that Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to a door , a public billboard and ended up starting a revolution within Christiandom and its the reason when I attend my Baptist church , I'm a protestant. So over the next couple of weeks on any given day , I will feature some info on the reformation and the men who shaped it and thanks to them the gospel of Jesus Christ was recovered .

So to kick it off , I will begin by posting over the next few days all of the 95 theses Dr.Luther famously posted and caused a tidal wave of change. Enjoy.


Martin Luther


Out of love for the truth and the desire to bring it to light, the following propositions will be discussed at Wittenberg, under the presidency of the Reverend Father Martin Luther, Master of Arts and of Sacred Theology, and Lecturer in Ordinary on the same at that place. Wherefore he requests that those who are unable to be present and debate orally with us, may do so by letter.
In the Name our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

1. Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, when He said Poenitentiam agite, willed that the whole life of believers should be repentance.
2. This word cannot be understood to mean sacramental penance, i.e., confession and satisfaction, which is administered by the priests.
3. Yet it means not inward repentance only; nay, there is no inward repentance which does not outwardly work divers mortifications of the flesh.
4. The penalty [of sin], therefore, continues so long as hatred of self continues; for this is the true inward repentance, and continues until our entrance into the kingdom of heaven.
5. The pope does not intend to remit, and cannot remit any penalties other than those which he has imposed either by his own authority or by that of the Canons.
6. The pope cannot remit any guilt, except by declaring that it has been remitted by God and by assenting to God's remission; though, to be sure, he may grant remission in cases reserved to his judgment. If his right to grant remission in such cases were despised, the guilt would remain entirely unforgiven.
7. God remits guilt to no one whom He does not, at the same time, humble in all things and bring into subjection to His vicar, the priest.
8. The penitential canons are imposed only on the living, and, according to them, nothing should be imposed on the dying.
9. Therefore the Holy Spirit in the pope is kind to us, because in his decrees he always makes exception of the article of death and of necessity.
10. Ignorant and wicked are the doings of those priests who, in the case of the dying, reserve canonical penances for purgatory.

Sometimes We Can't See

 I always find it striking when you read through the gospels how the disciples really only saw and listened to what they wanted. Even though the intimate time spent with Jesus and His clear warning that He would have to die , they preferred to see the miracles and embraced the message of the power Messiah . For Jesus was going to restore the glory of Israel and became the greatest King , even over David. Of course that was shattered when Jesus was arrested , tried and crucified.

His closest followers ran scared , lied about knowing Him and wept in shame over what had happened. I can only think some of the tears where as well for thinking , I have given up all and now I will be marked as well. For what ? As well for the shattered hope of Jesus being triumphant over the enemies of Israel .

Sometimes as I have read through the gospels and tried to place myself there , I ask would I have not done the same. For I know my heart and often see how I can easily slip into the same error these men did. I want Jesus on my terms. The one the blesses me and gives me what I want. But when He calls me to enter to Hos sufferings and take up my cross daily , not so much. I want the Jesus that gives me rest but not the one who calls who tells me the world will hate me if I follow Him because it hated Him first.

So even though we have the whole of Scripture and know the rest of the story that the disciples did not , we really are worse in some ways. The disciples of course were transformed . After the resurrection of Jesus and the coming of the Holy Spirit in His fullness , they turned the world upside down. They fully grasped and understood the whole story. A light bublb moment if you will .

We must always do the same. Its so easy and tempting to only hear and see what we want. Cheery picking Christians make very shallow ones. For they fail to see the majesty,wonder and splendor of the whole truth of following Jesus . So may we read the whole story and look to God in all His amazing love and truth . That will help us not get blinders on that makes us see only what we want to see or hear with our ears.

Open Hands

Christians are called to bare fruit in our lives as a clear sign we are truly born again. But when it comes to money , how many are truly free from the allure of the world . To live in this world with open hands means that we will not hold on to money like the world. That the treasure we want to store up is found in heaven . They are good works done in Christ and for God by serving our fellow believers and neighbours .

Yes we need to pay our bills, feed our families etc... but to hoard and to act like the world shows that we have a root in our lives that needs to be pruned. Money is a great tool and gift from God . If we have been blessed with much or little , we all need to look in the mirror to see  if we are clutching on to money like Scrooge prior to his visits from those three faithful ghost.

As James says , what good is our faith if we see a need and just pray and say go your way but we have resources to help in a real tangible way. That is no faith and we deceive ourselves if you can look around at your life and see no compassionate giving , no mercy and no open hands in some real way that impacts another person. It could be family,stranger,friend,charity or a little girl/boy sponsored in some poor country but you should be able to have a check-list of giving . A giving that exults God and honours Jesus.

The question is how can we not when we ponder what God has given to us , His son , Jesus who is our treasure . The more He becomes our treasure then our hands will be open to others freely .

This Movie Never Gets Old

This film was a one that I did not really think I would like. But after viewing years ago , it was instantly one of my all time favourite films. This movie has a little of everything . Its action packed , a love story , a family movie that can be enjoyed with the whole family. So if you haven't seen it , get some popcorn , find a rental place or netflix and get your whole family and enjoy.Pure film magic.

Preaching The Gospel To Yourself

This amazing song by Jason Gray reflects the truth that we are new creations in Christ. That we are hidden in Christ . That our sins are forgiven . May we preach the gospel to ourselves each day. We are being made new. Amen.

To Live is Christ , To Die is Gain

Death is the great equalizer between the poorest of the poor living in the third world and the richest of the rich in the west. No one escapes it, no matter how much one has or possesses , it claims the rich as well as the poor. It comes with no bias .

So as the world awakes tomorrow and commentators speak of the impact Steve Jobs has had on this world , I will leave that to them . I'm not a computer geek kinda of guy , so my knowledge about Jobs is limited but do know that through Apple and I-Tunes , I have been touched by Steve Jobs company and inventions. No question he has had a impact on the world . Some have said a modern day Thomas Edison. Perhaps, but there can be no denying the Apple logo and brand is known the world over.

But death has come to Jobs and my prayers and thoughts go out to his family and friends.

I do not presume to know his relationship with Christ . From all accounts he followed a hybrid type of Buddhism and new age thought.

One thing I do know , that even though death will come to all , if your faith is in Jesus Christ , then death is a defeated enemy . It no longer has the sting , the power over you . Christ has made you His own and in the power of His resurrection , you , a sinner , deserving of the wrath of God eternally in hell , are now forgiven through the precious blood of Jesus.

May we say with Paul , " For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better."
(Philippians 1:21-23 ESV)