I think we can first start by considering the sterness of God to help us understand what's going on in our world today. It's important to understand what that is all about, and to understand that it's going to only get worse.
God created Adam and Eve and placed them in the Garden of Eden with only one command: to not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They made the choice to disobey God and as a result they died spiritually (they were seperated from the Spirit and life of God) and became by nature objects of God's wrath and judgement. All of their descendants inherited this nature that is an object of God's wrath and judgement. The creation was also subjected to frustration. God cursed the ground as a result of their disobedience.
We read throughout Scripture about the wrath and judgement of God, which should make us aware that God is just and will judge and does judge. Jesus, in Luke 12:49 says, "I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!" And Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit says in Romans 1:18, "The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness," and in Romans 8:22, "We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time."
We don't live in a perfect and pleasant world. Mankind is at emnity with God and is facing judgement. God is reminding us of that. We see it everyday in our own lives, and in local, national and world news.
So where does the kindness of God fit into all of this? At the cross. We first find reference to that in Genesis 3:15 where God will put emnity between the serpent (Satan) and the woman, and between Satan's offspring and the woman's offspring. Satan would strike the heel of the womans's offspring, but the woman's offspring would crush Satan's head. We find the fulfillment of this at the cross. Isaiah 53:5 says, "But he was pierced for our transgression, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed." and Isaiah 53:11 says, "After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied." Jesus suffered to pay the penalty for your sins and for mine. And then He rose from the dead by the Spirit of Holiness. Being without sin, death could not keep Him down. And John 1:12 says, "Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God." And Romans 10:13 says, "Everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved."
So mankind is at emnity with God and is by nature an object of wrath. Creation is in an upheaval. Tragedy is happening to us and all around us. God's wrath is being revealed. His kindness is shown to us at the cross, where the God of justice made the way for people to escape the coming wrath. What will be your choice: Will you continue on your path to destruction, or will you receive Jesus as your Savior and ask Him to save you from Judgement?
Monday, June 3, 2013
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Itching Ears 2 Timothy 4:3-4
"For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." (2 Timothy 4:3-4)
In the first few chapters of Daniel we can see that King Nebuchadnezzar had the habit of surrounding himself with people who would say what his itching ears wanted to hear. He had magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, astrologers and diviners. We can understand this because when he had his first vision in chapter two, he was not willing to tell them what the dream was. He wanted them to tell him the dream and then interpret the dream. The dream was troubling to him and he was in no mood for flattery. He wanted truthful answers. As it was they couldn't tell the king the dream or interpret the dream. What God finally revealed to King Nebuchadnezzar through the prophet Daniel was, among other things, that his kingdom would fall. This was not good news for the king.
Again in chapter four King Nebuchadnezzar has another troubling dream. Perhaps because of the bad news from the previous dream, he calls his magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners to him again. It looks as if the king was not willing to receive any bad news this time so he brought those who would say good things to him. What his itching ears wanted to hear. This time he told them the dream, perhaps to give them something to go on. Not only could they not interpret the dream, apparently they couldn't even fake it. But God again reveals the meaning through his prophet Daniel. It was worse news this time. This time it was going to be personal. God was going to judge King Nebuchadnezzar for his pride.
We see in the accounts of King Nebuchadnezzar that after the first dream he looked for the truth and found it. After the second dream he turned his ears away from the truth but the truth still found him. He could not escape it.
What thoughts that run through your mind trouble you? What questions do you have? And where do you go for answers? To those who will say what you want to hear, or to those who will tell you the truth?
Who are you listening to today? Are you listening to people that tell you everything is okay? Your good with the man upstairs? God will save everyone? It will all work out in the end? There are many ways to heaven? There is no judgement? There is no hell? Are astrologers leading your life? Tarot cards? Those who have sidelined the Scriptures? There are plenty of people out there who are willing to say what your itching ears want to hear. How long will you put up with their flattery? How long will you allow them to blind you?
A few months ago I went into a Christian bookstore in Colorado Springs to buy a pocket NIV New Testament. I like to have one with me. A few days later as I was looking through it I realized wording had been changed. I went to the same Christian bookstore in Midland, Texas to find another pocket NIV New Testament. The wording in those had also been changed. Asking more questions, I found that the version I was used to was being removed from the shelves and being replaced with these new ones. I also found out that they were putting NIV gender neutral Bibles on the shelves. Sales must be down. Putting gender neutral Bibles on the shelves will increase sales, won't they? If the general population doesn't want to hear the truth, then put on the shelves what their itching ears want to hear. But changing God's Word will not change God. Malachi 3:6a, "I the LORD do not change."
The fact is that when you wipe away all of the deception, God is still judge and is still going to judge. The only way to escape the coming wrath of God is to take refuge in Christ. He is our only answer. Jesus died to pay the penalty for our sin. He offers to forgive us and give us eternal life. Just ask Him. Romans 10:13, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." What is left for those who reject such a great salvation? Judgement. 1 John 5:12, "He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life."
Don't run from the truth.
In the first few chapters of Daniel we can see that King Nebuchadnezzar had the habit of surrounding himself with people who would say what his itching ears wanted to hear. He had magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, astrologers and diviners. We can understand this because when he had his first vision in chapter two, he was not willing to tell them what the dream was. He wanted them to tell him the dream and then interpret the dream. The dream was troubling to him and he was in no mood for flattery. He wanted truthful answers. As it was they couldn't tell the king the dream or interpret the dream. What God finally revealed to King Nebuchadnezzar through the prophet Daniel was, among other things, that his kingdom would fall. This was not good news for the king.
Again in chapter four King Nebuchadnezzar has another troubling dream. Perhaps because of the bad news from the previous dream, he calls his magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners to him again. It looks as if the king was not willing to receive any bad news this time so he brought those who would say good things to him. What his itching ears wanted to hear. This time he told them the dream, perhaps to give them something to go on. Not only could they not interpret the dream, apparently they couldn't even fake it. But God again reveals the meaning through his prophet Daniel. It was worse news this time. This time it was going to be personal. God was going to judge King Nebuchadnezzar for his pride.
We see in the accounts of King Nebuchadnezzar that after the first dream he looked for the truth and found it. After the second dream he turned his ears away from the truth but the truth still found him. He could not escape it.
What thoughts that run through your mind trouble you? What questions do you have? And where do you go for answers? To those who will say what you want to hear, or to those who will tell you the truth?
Who are you listening to today? Are you listening to people that tell you everything is okay? Your good with the man upstairs? God will save everyone? It will all work out in the end? There are many ways to heaven? There is no judgement? There is no hell? Are astrologers leading your life? Tarot cards? Those who have sidelined the Scriptures? There are plenty of people out there who are willing to say what your itching ears want to hear. How long will you put up with their flattery? How long will you allow them to blind you?
A few months ago I went into a Christian bookstore in Colorado Springs to buy a pocket NIV New Testament. I like to have one with me. A few days later as I was looking through it I realized wording had been changed. I went to the same Christian bookstore in Midland, Texas to find another pocket NIV New Testament. The wording in those had also been changed. Asking more questions, I found that the version I was used to was being removed from the shelves and being replaced with these new ones. I also found out that they were putting NIV gender neutral Bibles on the shelves. Sales must be down. Putting gender neutral Bibles on the shelves will increase sales, won't they? If the general population doesn't want to hear the truth, then put on the shelves what their itching ears want to hear. But changing God's Word will not change God. Malachi 3:6a, "I the LORD do not change."
The fact is that when you wipe away all of the deception, God is still judge and is still going to judge. The only way to escape the coming wrath of God is to take refuge in Christ. He is our only answer. Jesus died to pay the penalty for our sin. He offers to forgive us and give us eternal life. Just ask Him. Romans 10:13, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." What is left for those who reject such a great salvation? Judgement. 1 John 5:12, "He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life."
Don't run from the truth.
Thursday, April 11, 2013
The Harvest Field is Ripe
I was in a downtown park hoping for an opportunity to share the gospel...and I got one. I met a young couple, who I found out later had just been talking about the need to be reading the Bible together.
They, like a lot of others, were confused because of all of the religions out there. Each one claiming to be the way, and some saying all the ways lead to heaven. It is confusing. But a few days earlier I had been going over Romans chapter 4 where Paul is talking about the issue of works versus faith. And then Paul asks the question, "What does the Scripture say?"
So we went through Scripture and saw how Jesus was the only way, that our sin had to be dealt with and Jesus dealt with it, and would save anyone who comes to Him. This young couple made the decision to receive Jesus as their Savior and we prayed. They are now part of the family of God, with a sure hope and a future. It is a blessing to see how God works, and still saves.
Please pray for this couple. That God would open up His Word to them as they read. That they would find some great fellowship and grow with others who are in the family of God. That God would give them wisdom to make good decisions with their lives now that they belong to the family of God.
They, like a lot of others, were confused because of all of the religions out there. Each one claiming to be the way, and some saying all the ways lead to heaven. It is confusing. But a few days earlier I had been going over Romans chapter 4 where Paul is talking about the issue of works versus faith. And then Paul asks the question, "What does the Scripture say?"
So we went through Scripture and saw how Jesus was the only way, that our sin had to be dealt with and Jesus dealt with it, and would save anyone who comes to Him. This young couple made the decision to receive Jesus as their Savior and we prayed. They are now part of the family of God, with a sure hope and a future. It is a blessing to see how God works, and still saves.
Please pray for this couple. That God would open up His Word to them as they read. That they would find some great fellowship and grow with others who are in the family of God. That God would give them wisdom to make good decisions with their lives now that they belong to the family of God.
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Critical Thinking
On the Bill O'reilly show on March 25, 2013 Juan Williams said that when the professor of a university class instructed students to write Jesus' name on a sheet of paper and then put it on the floor and stomp on it "inspired critical thinking."
I think that to inspire critical thinking you first have to have all the facts. If a person is contemplating jumping off of a 100 foot cliff to see what happens, shouldn't he first know about the law of gravity? If he doesn't, he will be found dashed against the rocks.
I would bet that the professor didn't first explain the following facts to the students before giving them their assignment.
Hebrews 10:29, "How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?"
And Isaiah 66:6, "Hear that uproar from the city, hear that noise from the temple! It is the sound of the LORD repaying his enemies all they deserve."
Now is the time for critical thinking. Jesus said in Mark 3:28, "I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them."
It's not too late for the professor and the students to repent of what they have done. Jesus will forgive. All they need to do is ask Jesus to forgive them of their sin and to give them eternal life, and He will do it. Romans 10:13, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of he Lord will be saved."
I think that to inspire critical thinking you first have to have all the facts. If a person is contemplating jumping off of a 100 foot cliff to see what happens, shouldn't he first know about the law of gravity? If he doesn't, he will be found dashed against the rocks.
I would bet that the professor didn't first explain the following facts to the students before giving them their assignment.
Hebrews 10:29, "How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?"
And Isaiah 66:6, "Hear that uproar from the city, hear that noise from the temple! It is the sound of the LORD repaying his enemies all they deserve."
Now is the time for critical thinking. Jesus said in Mark 3:28, "I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them."
It's not too late for the professor and the students to repent of what they have done. Jesus will forgive. All they need to do is ask Jesus to forgive them of their sin and to give them eternal life, and He will do it. Romans 10:13, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of he Lord will be saved."
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Warfield--An interesting story
Yesterday my wife and I had to go to Midland, Texas to take care of some business and while there, to get to know the city a little better. We first stopped at a diner off of Interstate 20 at the exit to the airport called Warfield.
We had seen the rooster on the way into the diner, so we asked the waitress about him. She said he had an interesting story. So I made up my mind that I would talk to him on the way out and get his story from him.
After breakfast, my wife lingered in the diner talking to the waitresses. I took a cup of coffee and a handful of birdseed and went outside. As I drank my coffee and Warfield ate his birdseed, we talked.
Several months ago he and most of his family had been told of a wonderful trip they would take. They would go to Miami where there were beaches, lots of sunshine, an abundance of birdseed, and more chicks than you could shake a stick at. Being from Kansas, all of this sounded very promising.
So all of them loaded up on a truck one day and headed out. The ride was rough, the road was hard, they didn't get any food or water on the way, but they kept hearing how great it would be once they reached their destination. Their came a point when Warfield started to doubt the promises. He started to think the driver of this truck had something else in mind, and it wasn't good.
He started to talk to his family about his doubts, but they said he was just trying to spoil the fun. There was no way they were going to miss out on what was ahead.
When the truck stopped in Midland, Texas, Warfield knew this was the time to escape. He knew no one would understand, but he knew he needed to gain his freedom. He knew these promises were no good. So when no one was looking, he opened the cage and jumped. No one noticed.
But now Warfield is free. He has shelter from the heat, and food when he needs it. The patrons who frequent Warfield Diner make sure of this. But Warfield, knowing he is now safe from the deception of the one who was leading him and his whole family to the slaughter, thinks and prays about his family. He prays they will be able to identify the one who is deceiving them and also identify the one who desires to set them free.
John 8:44, "He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies."
John 10:10a, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;"
Matthew 23:37, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing."
John 10:10b, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
What truck are you on? What promises have been made to you? Have you been told it will all work out in the end? Have you been told there are many roads to heaven? Have you been told that when you die, you'll go to one great big party? Have you been told that when things are weighed out on a scale, you'll probably come out okay? Remember that the devil has been a liar from the beginning. His only purpose is to lead you to the slaughter. Will you continue to follow him?
Jesus said He came to give you life, and to give you life more abundantly. He gave Himself as a sacrifice on the cross for you. He did it deliberately. He paid the price for your sins and will fill your account with His righteousness and make you acceptable to the Father right now if you will only ask Him to. For everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:13.
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Who will be Exalted?
"The Pope and God are the same, so he has all power in Heaven and earth."
Pope Pius V, quoted in Barclay, Chapter XXVII, p. 218, "Cities Petrus Bertanous"
Isaiah 42:8, "I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols."
"I have more to boast of than any man had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam. A large majority of the whole have stood by me. Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it. I boast that no man ever did such work as I." (History of the Church, Vol.6, pp. 408-09). (Joseph Smith)
Matthew 16:18, "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it."
namely, that no man or woman in this dispensation will ever enter into the celestial kingdom of God without the consent of Joseph Smith. From the day that the Priesthood was taken from the earth to the winding-up scene of all things, every man and woman must have the certificate of Joseph Smith, junior, as a to their entrance into the mansion where God and Christ are—(Journal of Discourses 7:289)
Acts 4:12, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
Hazrat Isa (Prophet Jesus) is an honored Prophet. After he comes down he would still be a Prophet and Messenger. An affirmation by a person of no account that he will be only a member of the Muslim community is not correct, inasmuch as he being one of the Muslims and his giving effect to the Islamic law is not inconsistent with his being a Prophet and a Messenger. (Alfatawa Alhadisiyyak, p.129)
I believe that our Holy Prophet, Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, is more exalted than all the Messengers and is the Khatamul Anbiya. (Hamamatul Bushra, p.8)
These are just a few who claim to be equal to God or greater than God. It would be too time consuming to investigate and list all the others and the claims made by them or about them. I'm not necessarily trying to single these out, but I use them because I'm more familiar with them.
This idea of wanting to be equal to or greater than God is not a new one. Satan was the first. We read in Isaiah 14:12-15:
How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, "I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High." But you are brought down to the grave, to the depths of the pit.
And what was the first temptation Satan brought to man? The same thing he tried to do and what led to his downfall. Genesis 3:5, "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
And this resulted in Adam and Eve being cast out of the Garden of Eden.
Not only is this attempt to be like God or greater than God not a new one, but God's response to this attempt is consistent. He will share His glory with no one.
Isaiah 2:17 & 18, "The arrogance of man will be brought low and the pride of men humbled; the Lord alone will be exalted in that day, and the idols will totally disappear."
Are you one of the many who are following those who make these claims? Are you believing what they are saying? Are you believing a gospel they are preaching that is no gospel at all? If they are not telling you the truth about God and about themselves, then they are not telling you the truth about how to be saved from judgement. If you're reading this post, you don't have an excuse. The Word of God, the Bible, is available everywhere, the standard by which you can grade everything you read and hear. You probably have a Bible in your home, or can buy one at your local bookstore, or ask for one at your local Christian church. Or you can read the Bible online. It's not like the Word of God is not available to you. You have access to it. Open it up and ask God for understanding. He says that He gives wisdom without finding fault.
It is imperative that you find out the truth. Your very life depends on it. God will not accept anything from you but that you belong to Jesus. If you want to belong to Jesus, scroll down to the bottom of my blog and you will see how.
Pope Pius V, quoted in Barclay, Chapter XXVII, p. 218, "Cities Petrus Bertanous"
Isaiah 42:8, "I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols."
------------------------------------------
"I have more to boast of than any man had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam. A large majority of the whole have stood by me. Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it. I boast that no man ever did such work as I." (History of the Church, Vol.6, pp. 408-09). (Joseph Smith)
Matthew 16:18, "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it."
namely, that no man or woman in this dispensation will ever enter into the celestial kingdom of God without the consent of Joseph Smith. From the day that the Priesthood was taken from the earth to the winding-up scene of all things, every man and woman must have the certificate of Joseph Smith, junior, as a to their entrance into the mansion where God and Christ are—(Journal of Discourses 7:289)
Acts 4:12, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
-----------------------------------------------------------
Hazrat Isa (Prophet Jesus) is an honored Prophet. After he comes down he would still be a Prophet and Messenger. An affirmation by a person of no account that he will be only a member of the Muslim community is not correct, inasmuch as he being one of the Muslims and his giving effect to the Islamic law is not inconsistent with his being a Prophet and a Messenger. (Alfatawa Alhadisiyyak, p.129)
I believe that our Holy Prophet, Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, is more exalted than all the Messengers and is the Khatamul Anbiya. (Hamamatul Bushra, p.8)
----------------------------------------------------------------
These are just a few who claim to be equal to God or greater than God. It would be too time consuming to investigate and list all the others and the claims made by them or about them. I'm not necessarily trying to single these out, but I use them because I'm more familiar with them.
This idea of wanting to be equal to or greater than God is not a new one. Satan was the first. We read in Isaiah 14:12-15:
How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, "I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High." But you are brought down to the grave, to the depths of the pit.
And what was the first temptation Satan brought to man? The same thing he tried to do and what led to his downfall. Genesis 3:5, "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
And this resulted in Adam and Eve being cast out of the Garden of Eden.
Not only is this attempt to be like God or greater than God not a new one, but God's response to this attempt is consistent. He will share His glory with no one.
Isaiah 2:17 & 18, "The arrogance of man will be brought low and the pride of men humbled; the Lord alone will be exalted in that day, and the idols will totally disappear."
Are you one of the many who are following those who make these claims? Are you believing what they are saying? Are you believing a gospel they are preaching that is no gospel at all? If they are not telling you the truth about God and about themselves, then they are not telling you the truth about how to be saved from judgement. If you're reading this post, you don't have an excuse. The Word of God, the Bible, is available everywhere, the standard by which you can grade everything you read and hear. You probably have a Bible in your home, or can buy one at your local bookstore, or ask for one at your local Christian church. Or you can read the Bible online. It's not like the Word of God is not available to you. You have access to it. Open it up and ask God for understanding. He says that He gives wisdom without finding fault.
It is imperative that you find out the truth. Your very life depends on it. God will not accept anything from you but that you belong to Jesus. If you want to belong to Jesus, scroll down to the bottom of my blog and you will see how.
Philippians 2:6-11
Who being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with
God something to be
grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a
servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a
man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death--
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the
highest place
and gave him the name that is
above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee
should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under
the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus
Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
The LORD alone will be exalted in that day.
Friday, March 15, 2013
Tim
My wife and I are currently in Ft. Stockton, Texas. On the way back to the hotel tonight after dinner, we saw a hitch hiker crossing the bridge over Interstate 10.
I took my wife back to the hotel and then went searching for the man to talk to him. I found him sitting on a bench outside of a gas and shop. I asked if I could talk to him about his life. He said yes.
I learned that his life had been very troubled. A divorce. Life on the streets that had started out as fun but grew very tiring. He was at the end. He was heading to a small town in New Mexico where he said he was just going to lay down and die.
After talking for awhile I found he had asked Jesus to be his Savior at age 17. At age 18 he found the good life, stopped reading his Bible, and stopped going to church. As far as he knew now, God was angry with him and had maybe walked away from him.
I talked to him for awhile and used Scripture to show him that God had never left him, and wasn't going to. We prayed together and I gave him a list of who he is in Christ and what that means (I get this list from Neal T. Anderson's book, "The Bondage Breaker."
In the end, he had a change of mind. That was good to hear. Please pray for him that he will meditate on the things that are true of him because he belongs to Christ. I told him I would post this and that people would pray for him. Pray also that God would give him direction. He's asking for your prayers.
I took my wife back to the hotel and then went searching for the man to talk to him. I found him sitting on a bench outside of a gas and shop. I asked if I could talk to him about his life. He said yes.
I learned that his life had been very troubled. A divorce. Life on the streets that had started out as fun but grew very tiring. He was at the end. He was heading to a small town in New Mexico where he said he was just going to lay down and die.
After talking for awhile I found he had asked Jesus to be his Savior at age 17. At age 18 he found the good life, stopped reading his Bible, and stopped going to church. As far as he knew now, God was angry with him and had maybe walked away from him.
I talked to him for awhile and used Scripture to show him that God had never left him, and wasn't going to. We prayed together and I gave him a list of who he is in Christ and what that means (I get this list from Neal T. Anderson's book, "The Bondage Breaker."
In the end, he had a change of mind. That was good to hear. Please pray for him that he will meditate on the things that are true of him because he belongs to Christ. I told him I would post this and that people would pray for him. Pray also that God would give him direction. He's asking for your prayers.
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