Hey guys. I'm a little behind this week and I do apologize.
I wanted to say something about prejudgment. I know a lot of times we will say things about someone like, "If they were a Christian, they wouldn't ______," or we will use the overused saying, "Hate the sin, not the sinner." Many times we won't even give someone a chance based on a prejudgment of ones clothes or body jewelry. Pants too baggy, stainless steel jewelry, backwards hat, whatever. It's not for us to worry about. If it's wrong, fine. Let it be wrong at the time. Maybe they are not a Christian, how do you plan on winning them over for Christ with the "hate the sin" motto. This person may feel it's just who they are, and if you hate the sin, then you must hate them too. Love the sinner, and try to guide them away from the sin with that same love. This approach may work better. I'm willing to bet if we could change our approach, the people would be at least more willing to listen. That's what I can say about that subject.
Now let's take dress codes, and tattoos, earrings and such. I, personally, feel that these can go too far. But not everyone can't wear a three piece suit daily. Who wants to, really? I enjoy my jeans and t-shirts just fine. Tattoos and piercings, much debate on this topic. I have both. I feel that, in a world of much worse, a young person may see me or someone else with the same and think "Maybe being a Christian is achievable." If we place them in a box due to small issues like that, they may never come to Christ. Some need to learn how to step down from their high horses and reach out to these people, WITH LOVE. Jesus loved the worst of people and led them with love, taught them with love, served them with love. We need to do the same.
Thank you and I hope everyone has a wonderful day. God bless you.
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Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Saturday, April 19, 2014
Good Friday and Easter
Good Friday marks the day that Jesus sacrificed Himself for us. When I sit back and think about this, it is truly overwhelming. He had followers that turned their back to Him. He had disciples that betrayed Him. He had people mocking Him. He had people spitting at Him. All of this, while He had a Father who commanded that He do this, DIE for us. At the time of His death, it was, I'm sure, pure chaos. To feel betrayed by the very people that only days before were His supporters and to know to fulfill the role He was sent here to portray, He must DIE. Not be beaten, not lose friends, but all things that we could not do for our brother. He was beaten a beating that would kill many men, and carried His cross up on that hill, and wept for mankind. People celebrated His death. The Pharisees felt that they were right all along. And those that followed Jesus felt lost. Good Friday doesn't sound so good from that aspect, but what He did for us on that day, that's what makes it good. I'm sure there was mourning on Saturday for those that were on His side. And I'm sure the celebrations continued for those that thought they had defeated Jesus. But here comes Sunday! The Sunday that Easter represents. This is the glorious day that Jesus cut those celebrations short, proved Himself to everyone that He was who He said He was, and still is today. That was the day He conquered death and conquered satan once again.
Easter isn't about the candy, or the bunnies, or the eggs. It's about the resurrection of the Man we call Jesus Christ. Take time tomorrow to put this into perspective. Sit down at some point and share this with the little ones, and the adults. I hope everyone has a wonderful day. And God bless you all.
http://m.youtube.com/user/MrAaronCline7
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Write-To-Christ/225525844176064?ref=hl
http://ciaahusbandsmission.blogspot.com/
Easter isn't about the candy, or the bunnies, or the eggs. It's about the resurrection of the Man we call Jesus Christ. Take time tomorrow to put this into perspective. Sit down at some point and share this with the little ones, and the adults. I hope everyone has a wonderful day. And God bless you all.
http://m.youtube.com/user/MrAaronCline7
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Write-To-Christ/225525844176064?ref=hl
http://ciaahusbandsmission.blogspot.com/
Monday, April 14, 2014
War....
As a prior service Marine, I am often asked where I served, and people want to know if I was in any conflicts. Medically discharged early and serving under a peaceful administration, my heart still feels pain when I hear of any service member being lost in training or conflict. Many people have been lost to war; Vietnam, Korea, Afghanistan. They all have one thing in common, they went, they fought, some came home, some didn't. I heard the statement in a sermon the other day about Christians being in a war, and I thought about how we really do not realize how true or how serious our war is. A lot like the people in the military to country, we have made a dedication to Jesus. In that moment, satan wages a war against us. We are the warriors for Christ's Kingdom. We must prepare ourselves daily with the armor of God. We must walk with our head on a swivel, prepared for whatever attack the enemy has in store. Being a Christian, no one said it was easy. Just like military, the more you make it through, the tougher you become. God will see us through our battles, and our faith will strengthen. Jesus, our Lord and Savior, went to the Cross and died for our filthy, no good souls. As Christians, we should be willing and prepare to die daily for the sake of our Lord. For Christ's sake, because without Him, our lives would be nothing.
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http://ciaahusbandsmission.blogspot.com/
http://m.youtube.com/user/MrAaronCline7
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Write-To-Christ/225525844176064?ref=hl
http://ciaahusbandsmission.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Relationships
Relationships are an important part of life. There are several different types; parent/child, friend/friend, husband/wife, to name a few. Each one is unique and has a designed purpose and particular way to go about. I just wanted to say something brief on each one. First is the friend relationship. This is the mutual respect relationship, or should be. Both parties should strive to lift the other up, hold the other accountable and try to steer them straight. Should, although it is rarely seen in today's society. A true friend is something valuable. Next is the parent/child. This one holds great responsibility. We have been given the gift of another human being to raise them according to God's Word. Direct them in the direction of the Kingdom. And hopefully, they will make all the right decisions, if not, love them, correct them, and continue to try to guide them to Jesus. It's hard to think about, but ultimately the final decision to follow Christ is theirs. Last I will mention is the marriage relationship. This is the most important relationship, I think. It is the model of Jesus and the Church. So it is to be nurtured the way Jesus nurtures the Church. I think if it was not the most important, it would have been at a wedding that Jesus would have chose to perform His first miracle (turning water into wine.) just a couple of things to think about.
Today, many people have their priorities all mixed up. I see people putting kids before spouses (don't take it wrong, not saying to neglect the child.) I see couples putting more time and effort into friends or work than their marriage. We all need to get our ducks in a row, get our priorities straight. 1) GOD, let's keep our eyes on Him as our number one and He will guide us without failure. 2) SPOUSE, Jesus intends for us to treat our spouse the way He does the Church, being the servant as well as the master. 3) CHILDREN, raise them and lead them in the direction of Christ. Discipline them out of pure love and remind them God has a purpose for their life. 4) FRIENDS, if you have them great, if not, that's fine too. I count mine on one hand, because I truly feel if you doing things according to God, only true friends will be left and they will understand that your time is being spent on 1-3. Thank you and God bless you all. Have a nice day!!
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Saturday, April 5, 2014
Salvation
Salvation is defined as 1) being saved or protected from harm 2) or being saved or delivered from some dire situation 3) In religion, salvation is stated as the saving of the soul from sin and its consequences. Salvation is a gift that we can receive from Jesus Christ. When we come to know Jesus and ask Him for forgiveness of our sins, it is done. At that moment, the Holy Spirit fills us and we desire to live accordingly with the commandments in the Bible. But I feel before any of this takes place, a person will have a change within the heart. Psalm 51:17, David speaks of his own broken and contrite heart. At the moment of salvation, our hearts will be broken. We will be humbled. Why? At that moment we will realize exactly how vile we are. We will see that we do not deserve the glory of God, but much worse. Not only that, but we will also realize the great price that Jesus paid for our sin. Sins that He did not commit. He suffered and died an unspeakable death to save a world that mostly hated Him. He was sent as a model for followers of God, sinless, humbled, PERFECT. He did what none of us can do, follow God's commandments without swaying, even to the point of death. That's why He did it!! To pay for all of our sins because He knew we could not follow the model that Jesus set. Today, I am so thankful He did. With salvation, we can live a life free of shame from our past. When we come to a point in our life where there has to be a change, maybe we hit rock bottom, or maybe just need better direction, we can call on Him. Jesus calls His children friends. I pray today for any lost souls that they would come to know Jesus, my friend, Lord, and personal Savior, and let them be saved. Have a nice day everyone. And God bless you all.
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Our wives, our helpmates.
I was not prepared tonight for a huge topic, so I will just share a story. Yesterday, I attempted to replace a ball joint on the vehicle. Being a typical male, I didn't want to pay someone for what I thought I could do. My wife, as loving as she could, asked me to just let the mechanic do it several times before yesterday. I am stubborn. I proceeded. I fought with over tightened bolts, smashed my finger, became highly frustrated. My wife had to leave and didn't get to experience this, thankfully. After many hours of tugging and pulling, I gave up, put it all back together, and cleaned up. She won. She also explained to me why she didn't want me doing it. A) Time, I fought with something all afternoon that I wasn't prepared to do in the first place. So, time wasted really. B) She was worried about me. After 3 back surgeries, a heart condition, and a brain injury, I didn't need to attempt it in the first place. She said she never doubted I could do it with the proper tools, she was just worried about me.
See, men are stubborn and we do not want to ever accept that our wives were right about anything. It's a guy thing. Men are actually quite dumb at times. We can be stubborn, absent minded, and dead on many occasions. Jesus knows this. That is why He created Eve. Our wives are the brains of the operation. Rationality, sensibility, and other things men don't typically acquire easily. I learned a lesson yesterday. Listen to the woman. She speaks with great wisdom. Thank you all and have a nice day. God bless you all.
http://m.youtube.com/user/MrAaronCline7
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Write-To-Christ/225525844176064?ref=hl
See, men are stubborn and we do not want to ever accept that our wives were right about anything. It's a guy thing. Men are actually quite dumb at times. We can be stubborn, absent minded, and dead on many occasions. Jesus knows this. That is why He created Eve. Our wives are the brains of the operation. Rationality, sensibility, and other things men don't typically acquire easily. I learned a lesson yesterday. Listen to the woman. She speaks with great wisdom. Thank you all and have a nice day. God bless you all.
http://m.youtube.com/user/MrAaronCline7
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Write-To-Christ/225525844176064?ref=hl
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