Books For Faith

It seems that believers and proselytes to the Christian "faith" want something different, new, and exciting in their worship and it appears that the Mega-Church is a wonderful fantasy, a spiritual dream-come-true to some. It is an ever-growing and popular alternative to the traditional hellfire and brimstone services of the past which pronounce damnation to the sinners who don't accept the salvation offered only in the name of Jesus; amid the tears of repentance, public confessionals, and feelings of guilt and shame.

Today, this atmosphere of political-correctness has brought about a fundamental change in the faith practices and behavior of many Bible-believing Christians, serving up a smorgasbord of options for worship; including participation in "virtual churches," and cyber-congregations thanks to the Internet. The appeal of these emerging and larger-than-life edifices dedicated to the Lord's glory (??) has to be reexamined in the light of Scripture, to determine if this is the best way to convert the lost and edify the body of Jesus Christ.

Jesus says in John 15: 18-20, "If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it has hated you. "If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. "Remember the word that I said to you, 'A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me they will also persecute you. . .

I John 2: 15-16
Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.

Romans 12: 2
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is; that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Romans 16: 17-18
Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you have learned, and turn away from them. For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Jesus Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.

II Timothy 4: 3-4
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths.

Titus 2: 1, 7, 11-12
But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine. In all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified. For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age.

Philippians 3: 18-19
For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, and whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.

II Corinthians 11: 3-4
But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received [from us], or a different gospel which you have not accepted; you may well put up with it!

Filed under: Bible Verses, Worship | No Comments »

Have you ever heard of "Amen Crackers"? I hadn't either until my granddaughter, Amanda, came for a visit. Amanda is not quite two but ever since her parents taught her to pray she always prays for each individual thing on her plate.

One evening at suppertime Amanda was in the high chair and I went over to the kitchen counter to fill her plate. Her Mother had put three small crackers on her high chair tray to give her something to eat while I fixed her plate. I watched as she bowed her head and touched the first cracker with her index finger and said, "Amen cracker". She touched the next cracker and said, "Amen cracker", and then she went to the last cracker, touching it, and again saying, "Amen Cracker." She thought the tiny crackers were her supper so she was saying her prayers.

Amanda has figured out that prayers have an "amen" in them but sometimes she gets the "amen" at the beginning instead of at the end of her prayers.

I got to thinking about the word, "amen" and I found that in Hebrew the word "amen" means to confirm and it is spoken to state, "so be it". When we end our prayers with "amen" we are reaffirming our dedication to God. Sometimes church members or congregations say, "Amen", to show confirmation or agreement when something powerful is spoken from the Word of God.

Amanda's prayer might seem very simple but maybe she wasn't so far off in what she was doing because she would have been confirming her dedication to God first of all instead of at the end. At any rate, we can gain wisdom from "the mouths of babes". I learned several things from Amanda and her "Amen Crackers".

I learned that prayer should be a priority.

I learned that whatever is on my "plate" I should be thankful for it.

I learned I should keep it simple and be specific.

I learned to have faith and trust God even when all I have is three crackers.

I learned it is best to tend to my own crackers that have been provided for me and allow God to fill my plate.

I learned to be patient. Even if I'm sitting in a high chair, I can't see what is going on in God's kitchen from where I sit.

I learned to thank God for the small things, and not complain, even if all I have is crackers.

I learned it doesn't matter if you get the prayer backwards, God hears our hearts.

Have you thanked God for the crackers in your life?

Filed under: Children, Prayer | No Comments »

"Time for school", called Mum.
"Not going!", said Charlie.
"What do you mean you're not going?" said Mum.
"My Teddy's sick and he needs me, so I have decided I had better stay at home today."
"Well, said Mum, I can look after Teddy for you. I will take really good care of him and you can go to school."
"But Mum, Teddy doesn't want you to take care of him. He needs his Mummy and that's me. You always say to me when I am sick, I need my Mummy to look after me and put me to bed and give me some medicine.
So I shall do all that Mummy stuff for Teddy."
"Charlie sweetheart, little girls need to go to school to learn lots of interesting and important things and I am sure Teddy wouldn't want you to miss school. What if we make a deal?".
"Not again, Mummy, you always want to make DEALS with me".
"Well, Charlie, Mummy's are particularly good at making deals with their little girls. So here goes. Today's deal is - we take Teddy to school with us in your school bag and that way you can say goodbye and hand him back to me to take home and look after him for you.
Then, when it is home time, I will bring him with me and you can carry him home again. How about that then for a deal?"
"Don't like it!" said Charlie in a very cross voice.
"What do you mean you don't like it?", said Mum feeling like she wasn't going to win this deal this time.
`I WANT TO STAY AT HOME AND LOOK AFTER TEDDY, I DO, I DO!" shouted Charlie at the top of her voice.
Mummy didn't want to get cross with Charlie and the time was getting on, so much so, that if they didn't get ready soon, they would be late for school. So Mummy decided to make another deal with Charlie.

"Well Charlie, I really don't think it is nice to shout and get all angry about this. School is school and every little boy and little girl has to go to school. So I am going to make another deal with you, Charlie. This is how it goes. I will promise to take Teddy to see the doctor whilst you are at school. Then when you come home,
Teddy will be tucked up in your bed keeping warm and waiting for you to take over from me. Because by then I will be really tired and I will need your help. What do you think about that then, Charlie?".
"OK Mum, what are you waiting for. I'm going to be late for school! Come on you, silly billy!!."So Charlie took Mummy by the hand and raced to the door with her hat and coat on and her school bag. And What do you think happened to Teddy?.
Teddy, got chucked on the floor! Poor old Teddy!.

Filed under: Poems | No Comments »

Diane, a young Christian university student, was home for the summer. She had gone to visit some friends one evening and the time passed quickly as each shared their various experiences of the past year. She ended up staying longer than she had planned and had to walk home alone. But she wasn't afraid because it was a small town and she lived only a few blocks away. As she walked along under the tall elm trees, Diane asked God to keep her safe from harm and danger.

When she reached the alley, which was a shortcut to her house, she decided to take it. However, halfway down the alley she noticed a man standing at the end as though he was waiting for her. She became uneasy and began to pray, asking for God's protection. Instantly, a comforting feeling of quietness and security wrapped around her, she felt as though someone was walking with her. When she reached the end of the alley, she walked right past the man and arrived home safely.

The following day she read in the paper that a young girl had been raped in the same alley, just twenty minutes or so after she had been there. Feeling overwhelmed by this tragedy, and the fact that it could have been her, she began to weep, thanking God for her safety.

To try to help this young woman, she decided to go to the police station. She felt she could recognize the man. She told her story. The policeman asked her if she would be willing to look at a lineup to see if she could identify him. She agreed and immediately pointed out the man she had seen in the alley.

When the man was told he had been identified, he immediately broke down and confessed. The officers thanked Diane for her help and asked if there was anything they could do for her. She asked if they would ask the man one question. She was curious as to why he had not attacked her.

When the policeman asked him, he answered, "Because she wasn't alone. She had two tall men walking on either side of her."

[ Author Unknown -- ]

Filed under: Angel, Inspirational | No Comments »

There once was a little boy who wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with Twinkies and a six-pack of root beer and started on his journey.

When he had gone about three blocks, he met an old woman. She was sitting in the park just staring at some pigeons. The boy sat down next to her and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed that the old lady looked hungry, so he offered her a Twinkie. She gratefully accepted it and smiled at him. Her smile was so pretty that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered her a root beer. Once again she smiled at him. The boy was delighted!

They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word. As it began to grow dark, the boy realized how tired he was and he got up to leave. He turned around, ran back to the old woman and gave her a hug. She gave him her biggest smile ever.

When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face.

She asked him, "What did you do today that made you so happy?"

He replied, "I had lunch with God. You know what? She's got the most beautiful smile I've ever seen!"

Meanwhile, the old woman, also radiant with joy, returned to her home.

Her son was stunned by the look of peace on her face and he asked, "Mother, what did you do today that made you so happy?"

She replied, "I ate Twinkies in the park with God. You know, He's much younger than I expected."

Filed under: Fellowship, Inspirational | No Comments »