If you Actually Believe Something It Should Show in How you Act

If a Belief Doesn’t Affect your Life – Do you Actually Believe It?

Can you make a list of the things in which you believe?

God?
Obedience to the Commandments?
Love one another?
Tell the truth.
No cussing.
No cheating – not on your spouse, your employer, or your taxes.
No lying – not even if you are selling your car.
No manipulation, even if you REALLY want something to work out to your advantage.
No gossiping, even if it is absolutely probably true.
No hoarding of your own wealth if a family member or brother in Christ is in actual need.
No bragging about yourself, even if you really really deserve it.

 It is fairly easy to make a list, even a long list of the things in which one believes at least in thought.  Perhaps it would be more accurate to make of list of the things we do each day and then see what our actual beliefs are.

 Let’s take a look at Sorbet.  Sorbet was named after fruity ice cream because her mother ate so much of it while she was pregnant.  A more appropriate name would have been Skittles. Sorbet’s motto and the Skittles candy company both have ‘taste the rainbow’ as their motto.  Sorbet likes color.  It shows in her hair which she keeps colored like a rainbow.  Her clothes reflect all the colors of the rainbow, usually all at the same time.  Her food is as close to the rainbow as she can make it.  Her mashed potatoes and rice are always dyed a color appropriate for an Easter egg. I think you are starting to get a mental picture of Sorbet.

 Anyway, Sorbet is a fine lady of forty.  She looks forty, and she is forty.  That worked out very well, except that Sorbet wants to look younger than she is.  She solved that problem by simply telling people she is 47.  She has made a practice of telling people she is seven years older than she really is because then they always say, ‘No!  You look so much younger!’  That makes Sorbet very happy.  She will be getting the senior discount at the IHOP before you know it!

 Sorbet attends church regularly because she knows that is the right thing to do.  She volunteers to take food to the sick and visit those in the hospital.  She always takes at least a token gift when she goes.  It may be flowers from her own yard, or from the neighbor’s yard, or a cheap bouquet from the market.  Regardless of the exact origin of the flowers, Sorbet always puts them in a nice jar left over from the mayonnaise.  She ties a bit of ribbon around the jar to make it look more store bought, while the jar still makes it clear that it is not from a professional florist.  Most people assume the flowers must have come from Sorbet’s own flower beds.  She never tells them any different.  Her cooking works about the same way.  She says you would be surprised what you can pop in the microwave and then onto your own plate to make people think you cooked it yourself. (She always takes the time to put a little rainbow color in the mashed potatoes or rice she distributes.)  She buys nice plates and bowls at garage sales so she can tell people to keep the plate when she delivers some of her semi-homemade food to them.

 Sorbet has learned that you can find out a lot about people when they are sick, or homebound and wanting someone with whom they can chat.  She has also learned to ask leading questions to get them to tell a little more about themselves, or their neighbor, or a church member than is really a good idea.  And, Sorbet is not above telling them a little more than she should of the very finest bits of information she has picked up while visiting someone else.  She calls it ‘give a little – get a little.’

 Sorbet is what might have been called an ‘old maid’ in another era.  Today she is called a career woman.  Her career spans about three jobs per year minimum.  She loves to manage her jobs the same way she manages everything else.  Taking credit for everything while spreading a little (or a lot) of gossip and rumors about everyone else is Sorbet’s idea of proper work place behavior.  Most of Sorbet’s employers want to fire her after less than a week on the job, however they usually hang on a while in case Sorbet is the sort who loves to sue employers for wrongful termination.  Sorbet is willing to sue anyone if she is given the slightest reason.  However, to the good of most of her employers, Sorbet usually finds a reason to quit before she has to be fired.  In her mind she runs the company while she is there, and someone else with brains enough to run the company shows up right after she leaves.  Sorbet gives providence all the credit for that.  If not for providence, more than half the companies and businesses in town would be out of business!  At least that is what Sorbet thinks.

 Sorbet lives alone.  In theory she doesn’t believe in using any bad language or watching smutty movies.  She also believes in dressing modestly, even though her body is her best feature.  She has a very nice shape, at least when she wears that bikini she thinks she has a nice shape.  She also isn’t above using nasty language when someone really makes her angry.  She is careful not to speak improperly around children, unless of course they are very bad noisy children.  In that case she is willing to tell them what NOT to do in language they won’t forget.  And as for the television, it’s just what’s on.  Sorbet thinks that no one ever actually turns their TV off just because of filth.  Good grief, if everyone turned their television off because of smut – no one would even be able to watch a commercial. 

 Sorbet is also always a bit miffed if someone does not thank her properly for her good deed.  In fact, she is prone to not do another good deed for that person until she gets a proper thank you, or until she forgives the unthankful attitude.

 Sorbet has a baby brother named Neapolitan.  That right, their mother was eating Neapolitan ice cream before Neo was born.  Neapolitan was just too long a name for Sorbet to say, so she shortened it to Neo.  Nea sounded like a girl.

Anyway, Neo has a lot of the traits that Sorbet has.  He is neater and his hair is never colored like the rainbow.  He does like to do good deeds that get recognition.  Unlike Sorbet Neo is quite handsome and looks younger than he is.  Because of his looks and polite manners Neo is often asked to do things at church like work with the youth or sing in the choir.  He does all this hoping to meet the right people, people who can help him with his career or social standing.  Neo is fairly satisfied with his life.  If you asked him what his core beliefs are, or what he really values, he would give the same list as Sorbet.  He is a bit hypocritical, too.  For instance Neo likes girls, but he doesn’t care to get married.  He says, ‘Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?’   (That is a polite way of saying girls are willing to…..  well  -  you know.)

 It is pretty easy to spot people like Sorbet and Neo.  Now, I am sure most people reading my articles are nothing like Neo and Sorbet.  I mean that.  But on the other hand, there is probably just a little bit of Sorbet and Neo in all of us.  It is probably time for a hypocrite check.

 Sorbet and Neo both have a set of beliefs.  They could list them for you if you asked them.  However, it doesn’t appear to really affect the way they live their lives.  That makes the question, ‘Do they really believe those things?’

 The question each Christian has to answer individually is, ‘Do I really believe the things I say I believe?  If the answer is ‘yes’, then shouldn’t it show in how I live my life?  Am I consistently trying to live a life pleasing to Christ?  If my beliefs are not showing up in my actions, then do I really take those beliefs seriously?  Do I even believe them at all?’

 ‘If a Belief Doesn’t Affect your Life – Do you Actually Believe It?’ is a question each one must answer for his or her self.

 Are you ready to actually follow Jesus with your actions? 

Down in the Valley
http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/f/o/l/followon.htm

 Down in the valley with my Savior I would go,

 Where the flowers are blooming and the sweet waters flow;

 Everywhere He leads me I would follow, follow on,

 Walking in His footsteps till the crown be won.

 Refrain

 Follow! follow! I would follow Jesus!

 Anywhere, everywhere, I would follow on!
 Follow! follow! I would follow Jesus!
 Everywhere He leads me I would follow on!

Down in the valley with my Savior I would go,
 Where the storms are sweeping and the dark waters flow;
 With His hand to lead me I will never, never fear,
 Danger cannot fright me if my Lord is near.

Refrain

Down in the valley, or upon the mountain steep,

 Close beside my Savior would my soul ever keep;
 He will lead me safely in the path that He has trod,
 Up to where they gather on the hills of God.

Refrain

Quick Thoughts for the Christian.

Barbara Henderson

It is very common that Christians like to do things for others.  It is also common that everyone likes to receive a sincere thank you for good deeds. Something is not usually done just for a ‘thank you’, but a thank you is a kind acknowledgement of an act of kindness, or charity, or even daily duty.  When a thank you never comes people eventually begin to feel under appreciated.  This eventually leads to avoidance of the unthankful person if possible, or stress in the home if the unthankful person is a member of the immediate family.

Here’s a good way to handle that.  Every time you don’t get a thank you that you honestly deserve, it is time to consider how many times God hasn’t received the thank you He deserved from you.  That is also a good way to get over that ‘nobody appreciates me’ feeling.  

 As Christians begin to be personally more thankful, the more their personal attitude will improve.

Honestly, a thankful heart is the beginning of change for the better in anyone’s life. 

 Have a nice day.

Barbara

My Week

Thinking My Way Through the Week

 I had a little trouble getting an article going for this week.  I usually start on something early in the week and have it ready by the next Monday.  Nothing really came to mind, so I put down my thoughts through the week.  It turned into this article.

Real Christianity is to turn away from the path you are on or have chosen and choose to follow the teaching and example of Jesus Christ.  In a life that loves God and His ways more than the ways of self, there is help, hope, direction, peace that passes understanding, and more good than can be numbered.  It does not ward off evil, or guarantee that hard times will not come.  It does guarantee that Jesus will be with you.  He is the friend that sticks closer than a brother.  Actually what you get as a Christian is:

A guarantee of that perfect life in heaven.

A friend who will never leave you nor forsake you.

A guide book that will help you in making decisions and encourage you during stress.

Direct access to God the Father through Christ the Son when you pray.

 All these things are guaranteed by the Word of God.  And, within these things you will find help and answers whatever the need.  But you MUST enter in the way provided in order to partake of these blessings.  Christianity is not a worldly philosophy.  There are some who take the things of the Bible and mingle them with the philosophies of man.  Ultimately, it may appear that ‘it works’ for whatever the need may be at the time.  However, the long term eternal effects are without value unless it is done through Jesus Christ.

 Therapeutic Christianity – Christianity used as therapy to cope with a particular situation, trauma, or event.  This is seen often in people who don’t have much to do with God until they face a crisis of one sort or another.  Then they run to God for the help and comfort they need.  It is just a therapy used to get them through the tough times in their lives.  If the people are true Christians, they are certainly of the milk toast variety.  You cannot count on them to be of assistance to the church or you personally in times of crisis.  You can count on them to come around whining when they need help. 

 You could also call this ‘nest egg Christianity’ because people save it for a rainy day.  They don’t use it until they absolutely have to.  A major reason people are willing to treat the teachings of God so casually is they are often unwilling to do the things Christ says to do.  They may only cheat on the smaller things.  They just resent God telling them what to do and how to behave.  Whatever the reason, a rebellious heart is the root of therapeutic or nest egg Christianity.  Whatever you call it, it will lead those who live that way into deeper trouble, and they will be farther from help than those who make a closer walk with the Lord a way of life.

 For a true Christian, there is nothing more satisfying, beneficial, helpful, curative, or restorative than crying out to God during a time of trial.  But that is only part of the story.  God is more than a ‘therapy’ used during trouble.  It is a way of life than encompasses one’s world view, daily habits, moral character, and thoughts throughout the day.

 Fooled into thinking you are a Christian – There are quite few, possibly millions and millions of people who have been taken in by the ‘watered-down’ ‘seeker-friendly’ ‘costs-you-nothing’ gospel. Unlike the ‘Nest-egg’ Christians, these people have made Christianity a central part of t their lives.  They attend church regularly and pray often.  They have been ‘properly processed’ onto the church roles through some sort of salvation prayer and probably baptism.  But, they have never really understood that full surrender to Jesus Christ is the way into heaven. 

 Faith treated like a game – There seems to be an increasing number of people who having rejected Christianity in its entirety feel compelled to ‘choose’ another religion, or make one up entirely.  Again, internet comments on articles are where I am getting this information.  But the trend is definite, at least to me it is.  One woman posted that she has rejected Christianity but feels that the god’s of the Greeks seem to fit her lifestyle better.  Can you believe that?  God’s who hate you and love to make fun of you and torment you are better than the God of the Bible to this woman.  I realize they are rejecting God because they don’t want to bend to His authority.  They are instead choosing gods they can put in various cubby-holes.  But ultimately, are they taking any of it seriously?  Is it just a game?  Only the Spirit of God can cause them to see their choice as a life or death situation – as in ‘eternal’ life or death.  It makes me so sad. 

 Acting like the Christian you claim to be – What does God expect from those who have been saved from hell by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ?  He expects Christians to do the things He says to do.  Christians are supposed to love others and treat others the way they want to be treated.  Christians are supposed to be known by the fruit they bear.  This means the fruit they bear in their own lives in growing kinder, more patient, more helpful.

 Evangelism as a lifestyle – Christians are supposed to love God enough to follow His instructions in how they live their lives.  When the life a Christian is different people do notice.  They also notice when it is the same as the rest of the world.

 Evangelism as a life’s work – Christians do have a responsibility to speak to the lost when the opportunity arises.  It is likely the Christian who has consciously engaged in lifestyle evangelism will be more likely to have better results than a Christian who lives like the unsaved and the un-churched.

Prayer as work – Prayer seems to be something the Christian has to ‘go the extra mile’ to actually do.  People are always too tired or too busy.  We start in prayer, and we either go to sleep or our minds wander onto something else.  Try prayer as a cure for insomnia and see what happens.  You will probably be asleep within ten minutes.  Seriously, what’s a Christian to do?  Pray whenever a thought crosses your mind throughout the day.  Make giving thanks, asking forgiveness, and making a request part of your entire day.  This also helps specific time set aside for prayer as well.

 Sunday is a new beginning.  Actually, every day is a new beginning, but Sundays are the first day of a new week.  We have a chance to do a little better than we did last week. 

 Rest in the Lord so you don’t get too tired to go on.  It is definitely disappointing and even frightening to see what is happening all around us.  Families are suffering.  Churches are suffering.  The world is so filled with hatred that there is no place its effects are not seen or felt.  Thieves are more common than dirt.  And by the way, thieves are always with us.  They may be better able to excuse themselves when times are hard, but they don’t stop stealing when the economy is booming.  They always have an excuse to steal.  Liars are always with us.  Hatred is always in the world.  Everyone has to deal with it.

 The Bible gives us two scriptures with instructions to help those who are weary.

Galatians 6:9 says, ‘And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.’

 We are told not to let ourselves get weary because we will eventually reap if we keep on going.  Christians have to keep doing what is right.  They never have an excuse to do something the Bible calls sin.

 Hebrews chapter 4 gives us the ‘success factor’ that will allow a Christian to rest in the Lord.  It will prevent weariness that stops that believer dead in his tracks.  It is a very straightforward scripture passage.  Every Christian needs to read this passage daily until they have it memorized.  A very simple condensation of the passage is that the way to overcome weariness is through resting in the Lord.  The Bible tells us to rest one day a week.  That is a physical rest.  The Bible also tells us about a mental rest that is constant.  Do what you can do and leave the outcome to God.  Don’t beat yourself up worrying about things over which you have no control.  Rest in the Lord.

 Hebrews 4:1-1

1. Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

2. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

3. For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

4. For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.

5. And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.

6. Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:

7. Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

8. For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.

9. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

10. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

11. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

I love the hymn ‘Are Your Weary; Are You Hearted?’.  Follow the instructions in this hymn when you need help entering into God’s rest.  Tell it to Jesus.  And remember the verse that says, ‘My God will hear me.’  (Micah 7:7)

 Are You Weary; Are You Heavy Hearted?

http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/t/e/l/tellitto.htm

Are you weary, are you heavy hearted

 Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus.

 Are you grieving over joys departed?

 Tell it to Jesus alone.

Refrain 

Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus,

 He is a friend that’s well known.

 You’ve no other such a friend or brother,

 Tell it to Jesus alone.

Do the tears flow down your cheeks unbidden?

 Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus.

 Have you sins that to men’s eyes are hidden?

 Tell it to Jesus alone.

Refrain

Do you fear the gathering clouds of sorrow

 Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus.

 Are you anxious what shall be tomorrow?

 Tell it to Jesus alone 

Refrain

Are you troubled at the thought of dying?

Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus.
 For Christ’s coming kingdom are you sighing?
 Tell it to Jesus alone.

Refrain

How to Choose a Church

How to Choose the Right Church

Are you out of church and thinking of getting started going again?
Are you one of those people who ‘got saved’ watching a television show and want to find a church?

Were you brought up in church, stopped going, and now find yourself feeling a need to attend church again?

Was there a fight in your church that left you broken hearted and even a little bitter? 

Well, whoever you are and whatever the reason, here are a few hints on finding a church that will help you instead of hurt you. 

God tells us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together, so it is important to go to church. This article really isn’t about the reasons for going to church, it is to give a few guidelines in choosing a church you can stick with. 

First, it’s all about the preacher.  He won’t be a perfect human being.  He probably won’t be your new best friend.  He may honestly be very busy man doing necessary things.  He should live up to a moral standard that is acceptable according to the Bible.  AND – he should give a good preaching/teaching sermon every service.  You will be able to tell how much time he spent preparing the sermon by listening.  He can throw in a few jokes, a poem or two, and even burst out in a song every now and then.  He can shout sometimes, or talk in a normal voice.  What matters is the content.  The sermon has to be a prepared sermon based solidly on scripture.  If the sermons are ‘feel good’ ‘get along’ sermons then forget that church.  Sometimes a sermon will make you feel good.  Sometimes a sermon can bring reconciliation between estranged people, but that is a by-product of solid Bible teaching.  It really is all about the preacher. 

A church will have a Statement of Faith which will tell you what the church believes.  This is good.  However, it may have been written more than a generation ago and the current leaders and congregation of the church may not feel the same way.  You need to talk to the preacher in person and question him to see if you are at least on the same page when it comes to theology.  Remember the fundamentals of the faith:

Inerrancy of scripture

Pre-existence and Deity of Christ

Virgin Birth

Literal death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

If the preacher hum-haw’s around or tries to sidestep these issues, then hit the road.  He isn’t a real preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Second, if at all possible in your area, you want a preacher that uses the King James Version of the Bible.  I recommend the Thompson Chain Reference Bible.  I use it and I love it. 

Third, you want a song service that uses the hymnal.  The hymnal will keep the music in line to teach additional Bible truths and comforts.  There is nothing that compares to the hymnal EXCEPT the Bible itself.  Do not trivialize the song service by pretending that music doesn’t matter or by accepting worldly music to help get people in the mood to worship.  Don’t get caught up in the forced emotionalism of the 7-11 style of music.  That is a song that has 7 words sung 11 times.  Sometimes it is ‘sung softly as a prayer’, or ‘sung loudly to a rock band’, but it is still a human attempt to force an emotional response.  Any emotion produced by such so-called worship music will probably not last past the church parking lot, much less through the next day.

The song service matters. 

Fourth, fifth, sixth, and so on…. 

People are often looking for a church where they ‘feel at home’, where there are a lot of activities, and where friends can be made.  All these are nice, but they are not reasons for choosing a church. They are sort of like by-products.  A Bible teaching preacher and a song service that worships God instead of emotion produces the good soil in which a tenderhearted sincere group of Christians may grow.  In that atmosphere you may come to feel at home and make eternal friends.

I have seen many Christians who are the ‘walking wounded’.  They went to church faithfully and somehow wound up in what seemed like the middle of a war zone.  People who were supposed to be Christians, and may even actually be Christians, acted like the devil’s own agents, and the church split right down the middle.  So called friends took one path.  Other friends wouldn’t choose a side.  The church almost fell apart.  They stopped going to church.  The needed time to ‘heal’. Years went by and they were still ‘healing’.  A wounded heart became the devil’s tool to lead them away from the Lord.  

I would also be careful in joining a church where they want to ‘put you to work’ immediately.  IF you have been out of church a while, or just going through the trauma of a move, you are not ready to minister to others right at that moment. The church needs to take time to get to know you and you need time to get to know the church.  If they give people positions of power such as teaching a Sunday School class or working with the youth without knowing them well, they are not cautious regarding error creeping into a church.  I currently know of a large church that is going through a rough time because of lack of oversight regarding ‘ministries’ of the church.  Gross error was being taught as truth, and many new Christians have been led astray.  A word of caution here to parents – be very careful the church classes and activities in which you allow your children to participate.  Be even more careful who is allowed to teach them.  Often a ‘role model’ is considered a youthful person who looks nice and is willing to take on a challenge like teaching or leading a group of children or youths.  In reality – this so called role model may be so Bible ignorant they don’t even know the fundamentals of the faith.  They are really just a social director, not a Bible teacher.  They may be sincere, but it is just this sort of person the devil uses to bring in doctrinal errors that can even lead some all the way to hell.  When in doubt, keep you kid in ‘big church’ and cut out questionable activities.  Your goal is to raise your child to love God and keep the commandments.  It isn’t to raise someone who is only a social or cultural Christian. 

All these are things to be considered when choosing a church, but the fundamentals are the same.

It’s the preacher.

It’s the fundamentals of the faith.

It’s the song service.

If you can get these things in a church then you have a good place to grow as a Christian.

You have a good place to raise up a family that loves the God of the Bible.

 Don’t let the devil cheat you out of your blessings because Christians are still sinners.  I know churches are full of hypocrits, but then so is the grocery store.  You won't escape hypocrits this side of heaven.

Find a church home. 

Attend faithfully.   

Your job as church member is to attend as faithfully as your health allows, to be continually learning and growing in understanding of Bible theology and doctrine, and to watch for error creeping in.  Eventually the Lord may lead you to take a more active role in the church.  When God asks you to do something, be ready to do it.  In the meantime, don’t be brow beaten into taking a position in the church that you do not feel qualified or called to do. 

If you are a Christian who has been out of church, a Christian whose church fell apart, or a Christian moving to a new area, the time to find a new church is right now.  Don’t forsake personal Bible study and prayer, but also remember Hebrews 10:23-25

23.  Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

24.  And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

25.  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 

Here’s a wonderful song from the hymnal to get you going.

I Am Resolved

http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/i/a/m/iamresol.htm

I am resolved no longer to linger,

 Charmed by the world’s delight,

 Things that are higher, things that are nobler,

 These have allured my sight.

Refrain

I will hasten to Him, hasten so glad and free;

 Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee.

 I will hasten, hasten to Him, hasten so glad and free;

 Jesus, Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee.

I am resolved to go to the Savior,

 Leaving my sin and strife;

 He is the true One, He is the just One,

 He hath the words of life.

Refrain

I am resolved to follow the Savior,

 Faithful and true each day;

 Heed what He sayeth, do what He willeth,

 He is the living Way.

Refrain

I am resolved to enter the kingdom

 Leaving the paths of sin;

 Friends may oppose me, foes may beset me,

 Still will I enter in.

Refrain

I am resolved, and who will go with me?

 Come, friends, without delay,

 Taught by the Bible, led by the Spirit,

 We’ll walk the heav’nly way.

Refrain