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On July 4th 1776, representatives from the 13 colonies on the North American continent, signed the Declaration of Independence, thereby declaring freedom from England. These 13 colonies would soon form a new country, The United States of America.
Every year, Americans celebrate this event and their freedom on July 4th with family gatherings, parades, cookouts, and fireworks. As you are celebrating this holiday, remember the sacrifices that were made to obtain the freedom to allow us to exist as a sovereign nation. To obtain freedom, there is a cost that must be paid.
As Christians living in The United States of America, we have citizenship in both America and in Heaven. Jesus paid the price to free all of us from our sins. Jesus was the atoning sacrifice for all, by suffering death on the cross. When each of us accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, and are baptized, along with the forgiveness of our sins, we receive the indwelling gift of the Holy Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:17 tells us: “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” We have our freedom through Christ Jesus.
But we must remember that along with freedom and liberty we have responsibility. In the book of Galatians 5:13, the Apostle Paul writes: “You, my brothers were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge in the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.” Additionally, the Apostle Peter in 1 Peter 2:16 writes: “Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.” Our freedom and liberty is not a license for us to do as we please. Our freedom is the freedom to serve God, and each other, in love.
In closing, I encourage you to study, and be knowledgeable in God’s Word, so that you will know the truth, and more appreciate your freedom. |
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Last Updated on Sunday, 10 July 2011 13:48 |
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Monday, 15 November 2010 18:48 |
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Greetings!
It’s November and we all know what that means…Thanksgiving, then Christmas, then New Year’s Day, then….then…. yes, winter snows and cold and wind and….. I actually like winter…for the most part. Being a tractor/trailer rig driver getting out of bed in the morning to challenge ice and snow on the road can be a rather daunting endeavor. But, I am thankful I have a job. Thankfulness. Isn’t it one of the fruits of the spirit laid out in Galatians? Nope, I just looked it up. Maybe it’s one of those characteristics that is a should-be in a Christian’s life. In Kenton, OH where I make my last mail delivery every morning there is a church that has for its sign slogan, “Thanksgiving is good; thanksLIVING is better.” Thanksliving. Hmmmm. Just what is thanksliving? I pondered on this thought driving back to Columbus one morning. Saying thank you to God for all of our “whatevers” in our prayers is a should-be each day. But thanksgiving without thanksliving is empty. I said I was thankful for my job. I need to be thanksliving in my job by doing the best job I can for my company. Being on time, being pleasant to my customers, maybe going the extra mile with no expectation of reward should be part of my job’s thanksgiving-thanksliving. I am thankful for my wife and kids. My thanksliving should be to provide the best life I can for them by being faithful in my husbandly and fatherly responsibilities. I am thankful for my home. My thanksgiving-thanksliving should be to take care of my home. Make sure it’s clean, maintained, and warm in the winter and cool in the summer. I am thankful for the food I make each night for my family. My thanksgiving-thanksliving should be to provide them with the tastiest but also most nutritious meals my skills allow. You see where this is all going. Each one of us has to define his/her own thanksgiving-thanksliving life. But remember, while thanksgiving is a should-be in our prayers; thanksliving is a should-be in our Christian walk.
Peace
Paul |
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 17 November 2010 19:49 |
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Bill's Blotter - The Beautitudes |
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Our text for this week’s study is Matthew 5:1-12:
1 Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him,
2 and he began to teach them, saying:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
This section of Scripture, the opening segment of the Sermon on the Mount, is called “The Beatitudes”. The word beatitude does not appear in the text: it is a designation given to the list found here. The word means “supreme happiness”.
That’s amazing when you think about it. Read the passage again. You will notice a couple of very obvious things:
1) Happiness as Jesus defines it is VERY different from the way the world defines it.
2) The happiness Jesus promised will not, for the most part, be realized in this lifetime.
Preachers are sometimes accused of putting their listeners to sleep with their sermons. Not Jesus. And not with this sermon. This sermon is radical. This sermon challenges the accepted way of doing things. This sermon…taken seriously…will change your life.
That’s why we are going to take it in small doses.
That’s enough for this week; but before you move on with the rest of your day read the passage again and ask yourself: “Am I willing to see if Jesus is right about what brings happiness?”
See you next time!
Bill
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Family & friends and Thanksgiving |
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Monday, 15 November 2010 18:51 |
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This week the news carried the story of a fire on a cruise ship carrying 3000 guests. No one was hurt, but since the fire was in the engine room the ship was "dead in the water" and without electrical power. The vacation of a lifetime became quite the ordeal: no lights, no elevators, no air-conditioning, no refrigeration, no flush toilets and no hot water. Instead of the highly-touted midnight buffet the guests were reduced to eating Spam and canned crab meat. The ship was eventually towed into San Diego. When asked what they wanted to do now that they were back on land, most guests said, "Take a shower!", "Find some air-conditioning!", "Eat a hamburger!"
We are just days away from Thanksgiving and once again it is time to stop and ponder how truly blessed we are. If we talked about material blessings alone our list would be a large one. But let's be honest: we have blessings that far exceed mere physical treasures.
We have our families, our friends and...most importantly...our Savior! God truly is good: all the time!
Make sure you tell Him how much you appreciate it.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Bill |
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Last Updated on Thursday, 18 November 2010 18:59 |
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