The Freedom of Choices

      I’m almost positive that everyone above the age of 15 knows what a 4-way stop intersection is. 4-way stops illustrate freedom and responsibility working together. When drivers understand the point of a 4-way stop, that intersection can move a lot of traffic quickly and smoothly. But when drivers do not understand the point of 4-way stops, the same intersection becomes a disaster waiting to happen. You see, at a 4-way stop, you are free to drive any way you choose to drive. You are free to be totally selfish and inconsiderate. You are free to ignore the law. You are free to cause accidents. You are free to wreck your own car. You are also free to stop and wait your turn.

     If you use your freedom irresponsibly, a 4-way stop quickly becomes a nerve-racking, disaster area. 4-way stops will not work when drivers use their freedom irresponsibly. If drivers at 4-way stops are irresponsible, they soon create gridlock, and no one goes anywhere.

     However, if all four lanes of drivers at the intersection choose to use their freedom responsibly, it is amazing how smoothly and quickly lots of traffic flows through the intersection.  You see how we choose to use the freedom of choice that God has given us, is our choice. But what shows that we are the people of God, is our behavior. How we live and conduct our lives. Do we honor God with our choices or do we weigh down His heart with disobedience that leads to evil living.

A Walk Trough The Psalms

1 Psalms

"(1) Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful.(2)But his delight is in the law of the LORD: and in His law does he meditate day and night.(3)And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruits in its season; its leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.(4)The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind drives away.(5)Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.(6)For the LORD knows the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish."

   The first Psalm is believed to be written by David and though it is only six verses it conveys a great deal. It shows us two different types of people; the godly and the ungodly. If you think about it, these two types of people are the only two types of people in this world. The psalmist lets us know the blessings that follow a godly person, who follows, receives council from, and meditates or studies Gods word. The psalmist also lets us know, that the ungodly well not prosper in the end, because they cannot stand in the judgment or sit in Gods congregation of the righteous. So let’s think about where we stand in this psalm, do we fit with the godly or the ungodly? Do we live by godly or ungodly council? Do we stand or walk in the ways of sinners, with no thought for our sins or for the souls of the sinners around us. You see it is alright to spend time with sinners if we are concerned about their eternal well being, just as Jesus did. But just to walk in the way of the sinner, being content with our sin, puts us with the ungodly. Let us remember that the godly are blessed by God and the ungodly shall perish. So let us go to the entire world with an open Bible and the love of Christ. I hope you have a blessed day. And as always, thanks for reading and leave a comment.    –N.T. Christian-

The Real War

Have you ever wondered, what we would see if we could look through the eyes of God? I mean whats really out there in the world? What do we really battle against everyday? We do battle almost every second of everyday, against a very powerful, invisible and manipulative force. The apostle Paul tells us in the book of Ephesians 6:10-13,"Finally brethern, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Where for take to you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand." We mustn't be deceived, there is a real war and that means there is a real enemy. The devil is that enemy and even though we cant see him with our physical eyes, he is very much real. The apostle Peter tells us in 1Peter 5:8, " Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour."  Yes the devil is real and he uses this world and our very own inner desires against us. The devil also is a master at deception, but we must always remember what the Lord Jesus said in the book of John 8:44 referring to the devil," He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar and the father of it.", so we mustn't believe a word the devil says, because he is a liar and a distorter of Gods' Word. So, because there is no truth in the devil, only lies, then our best weapon is truth. The Lord Jesus said also in the book of John 8:32," And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Also in John 14:6, the Lord Jesus said," I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by Me." So there we have it, there is a real war and it is waged here on earth over our very souls, and there is a real enemy, who is called the devil. We know that he wants to destroy us and that he tries to accomplish his mission through lies and deception. But, we must fear not because if we live our lives worthy of the gospel, and that means we must know and study Gods' Word and live our lives to glorify the Lord Jesus, then the deceiver, that old devil, won't have a place in us to stand...... I hope this encouraged you all and may God bless you all. Be sure to leave a comment and thanks for reading..... -N.T. Christian-

The Restoration Plea

When one speaks of restoration many things come to mind. Some that comes to mind maybe: old cars, old furniture, old paintings and old sculptures to name a few. Basically, restoration means to restore something to its original state, function or purpose.  The restoration plea has been pleaded for over two centuries now.  But many people in today’s generation have never heard of it before. The restoration plea cries out for the Church to go back to the ways of the early church founded on the day of Pentecost found in the book of Acts. The plea simply is this: “Let us speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where the Bible is silent. Let us call Bible things by Bible names and do Bible things in Bible ways. Lets restore the Church as it was in the days of the apostles by the Word of God.”   

The restoration plea implies that God had a plan for the Church, expects us to continue in His plan by following His pattern and wants His people to restore the Church back to His original pattern. God has not changed His mind. Men have taken authority, which doesn’t belong to them, into their own hands and have changed the Church into something God never intended it to be. Long ago, God’s prophet urged as we should today, “Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.”(Jeremiah 6:16).

Let’s go out among our neighbors and friends with an open Bible and call them back to the old paths. I hope this opens up minds and hearts to seek after the Truth about the Church found only in the pages of God's Holy Word, the Bible. Thanks for reading and leave a comment. Have a blessed day and a Merry Christmas.-N.T. Christian-

Watch Your Speech

 

“In Estill County, Kentucky, at the little village of Irvine, this incident occurred: A doctor remarked concerning two young men– roommates home from college who had just left his office– ‘The Taylor boy is a brighter boy than the Williams boy.’ A lady in the office heard it and went and told Mrs. Williams before going home. She also told other people that the doctor said the Taylor boy was a brighter boy than the Williams boy. These two families had been friends in years gone by. Their sons were roommates at college but this little remark on the part of the doctor was magnified until the two families had a falling out. The boys returned to college. One became a lawyer, the other a doctor. They settled in the village of Irvine. One August when the election had grown quite hot, these two young men met on the street and engaged in an argument. One drew his pistol and shot the other. That one as he fell, drew his pistol and shot the other, killing him. Both boys were dead. One of them, just before he died, said, ‘How foolish, how foolish, how foolish’ three times. “These two mothers, broken hearted, continued to live in the little village of Irvine. A short time later one of the mothers said she was going over to see the other lady. Her husband said, ‘She’ll spit in your face if you go over there.’ She prepared some rose cuttings, went over to see that lady and said, ‘I’m going to plant some rose cuttings, one on your boy’s grave. I’d like for you to plant one on my son’s grave.’ The two mothers wept. They forgave each other and embraced. Together they went to the cemetery and planted their roses. But how late they had waited. How great was the trouble caused by a wagging tongue and an unforgiving spirit.” 

I thought this story was a prime example of why we should be very careful of our words. I hope you enjoy the article and leave a comment. Have a blessed day and check out the link below. -N.T. Christian-  

http://www.broadstreetchurchofchrist.com/fwis/2011/20110126.pdf

James 3:5-8 ( KJV ) 5Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 6And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. 7For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: 8But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

In Pursuit of Faith

(When I read this article, I thought to myself,"everyone could benefit from reading this." So here it is..... I hope everyone enjoys and be sure to check out the link below..... Have a blessed day.  -N.T. Christian-)

Faith is the foundation upon which all the virtues are laid. It is the center from which the diameter of the Christian life is measured. It is the buoy from which the depths of life are plumbed. It is the starting block from which the Christian race is launched. It is the dock from which we sail to eternity.

Faith’s Definition

Faith is the confidence that someone or something is reliable. The Bible word (pistis) refers to “assurance, persuasion, conviction” (Strong). By inspired definition, faith is “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Faith is the foundation of our hopes (substance, hupostasis, “a setting under”) and the evidence (elegchos, “proof ”) of things we cannot see.

A preacher’s small son was told by his mother that he should wash his hands because there were germs living in “all that dirt.” He complained: “Germs and Jesus! Germs and Jesus! That’s all I ever hear around this house, and I’ve never seen either one.” To him, “seeing is believing,” but not to a Christian. Jesus promised a blessing on those who believed without visual confirmation (John 20:29; cf. 1 Peter 1:8). At the same time, just because the eye has nothing to see does not mean that the mind has nothing to examine. Faith’s trust is neither optical nor blind (1 Thessalonians 5:21). Though we do not walk by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7), we do not walk in darkness (John 8:12).
Faith’s Source
“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). Faith rests in God’s communication to man.
Faith’s Necessity
Our whole life is based on faith. Without it banks and post offices would not be possible. Paper money and credit cards (the very word credit is from the Latin verb “to believe”) would never be accepted. Until we attain faith, God will not accept us. It is the “Simon says” of Christianity—until we have it nothing we do counts. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe . . . ” (Hebrews 11:6). By faith we are freed from condemnation (John 3:18); enlightened (John 12:36–37), sanctified (Acts 15:9), and justified (Romans 5:1). By faith we live (Romans 1:17), walk (Romans 4:12), have access to God (Ephesians 3:12), resist evil (Ephesians 6:16), and overcome the world (1 John 5:4–5). It preserves us in death (Hebrews 11:13).
Faith’s Object
The writer continues in Hebrews 11:6: “must believe that he is . . .” The Bible does not begin with an apologetic preface defending God’s existence (Genesis 1:1). He is the grand “Given” of the cosmos.
Moses simply tells us He is the Creator of all that we see in the physical world. This world had to start with something. Is it more reasonable to commence with a tiny, lifeless speck or a powerful, self-existent God? The very sky above us screams, “There is a God up here” (Psalm 19:1).
A young skeptic said to an elderly lady, “I once believed in God, but since studying science I am convinced that God is an empty word.”
The lady replied, “Well, I have not studied science, but since you have, maybe you can tell me from whence came this egg.”
“Why, of course, from the hen,” was the reply.
“And where did the hen come from?”
“Why, the egg.”
“And perhaps,” she said, “you can tell me which existed first.”
“The hen, of course,” rejoined the young man.
“You mean that a hen existed without having come from an egg?”
“Oh, no,” he said, “I should have said the egg was first.”
“Then you mean that an egg existed without having come from a hen?”
He exclaimed, “You’ve got me all mixed up.”

She drove home her point: “Young man, since you cannot explain the existence of even a hen or an egg without God, you cannot expect me to believe that you can explain the existence of the whole world without Him.”

We must believe that God is:

Eternal. He is “from everlasting to everlasting” (Psalm 90:2). There has never been a time when God was not, nor will there ever be a time when He is not.

Omnipresent. Jonah tried to flee from God’s presence (cf. Jonah 1:3), which is a laughable thought to one who understands God, for He is everywhere at the same time (Psalm 139:7–11).

Omnipotent. Every power there is to possess, God has. God once asked the question, “Is any thing too hard for the Lord?” (Genesis 18:14). Jeremiah answered, “Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee” (Jeremiah 32:17). He is the Almighty God.

Omniscient. There is nothing that God does not know. He is never caught off guard or unprepared. No problem ever presented itself that caused God to scratch His head and say, “Umm, now what are we going to do?” No angel ever phrased a question and received a reply, “Let me get back to you on that.” God on a bad day (if He ever had one) is better than man on his best day. Paul explained, “The foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1 Corinthians 1:25).

Omnibenevolent. God is a four-letter word spelled l-o-v-e (1 John 4:8). He is an overflowing fountain of love. It pours on us from its ocean reservoir in constant torrents. God’s love has never been diluted, although it now spreads to cover seven billion people at the same time. He loves each of us as much as He did Adam and Eve when they were the only earthly recipients.

Pick up your Bible and begin the grand journey of faith (Romans 10:17). It leads to the grandest Being in the most marvelous place for the longest period.

http://www.housetohouse.com/HTHPubPage.aspx?pub=2&issue=564

When Godly Influence Dies

  (This is an  article that I found to be very interesting and would like to share it with everyone. I hope you enjoy...............and be sure to check out the link below. -N.T.Christian-) 

There are numerous frightening statements in scripture.  Included among them should be Judges 2:10:

All that generation also were gathered to their fathers; and there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord, nor yet the work which He had done for Israel.

In my personal opinion, the generation in Israel that began the conquest of Canaan was perhaps the most devout and devoted generation of Israelites in the Old Testament.   Their leader, Joshua, knew God’s actions (a) just before Israel left Egypt and (b) in the period of their wilderness wandering.  Israel was blessed with a leader who trusted (a) God’s ability to keep His promises and (b) God’s ability to care for Israel.  How fortunate they were to be blessed by leadership with confidence in God!  Not only did Joshua lead Israel with confidence in God, but he also influenced those who served with him to keep and grow in their confidence in God.

However, the time came when Joshua died.  After his death, the time came when the men who were influenced by Joshua’s faith in God also died.  The generation who were not influenced by Joshua’s faith became everything Joshua was not.  That generation (a) did not know God, and (b) were unaware of how God blessed Israel.  Whereas Joshua represented a generation of understanding, that generation represented a generation of ignorance.

In their ignorance, they lived and acted like people who did not know God.  They did two things uncharacteristic of Israel under Joshua (Judges 2:11).  (a) They did evil, and (b) they turned to the idolatry of the Canaanites by worshipping Baal and his family.  As a result, they made God angry.  As a consequence, God allowed them to serve their enemies.  Their enemies plundered them.  Rather than God being helpful to them, God opposed Israel.  The end result was severe distress (Judges 2:15).

There are three powerful lessons we should learn from these hard times in Israel.  First, as important as our actions are in distressful times (like Israel’s wilderness wanderings), equally important is our actions in times of prosperity.  Do we only need and depend on God when times are difficult?

 Second, we should never underestimate the effectiveness of godly influence.  When our faith in God is obviously our source of strength, our effectiveness in our influence may reach far beyond our awareness.  The most effective value of godliness in our lives may be seen in God’s influence on the way we live rather than words.

Third, we are rarely more than a generation away from people forgetting God.  Israel went from Joshua’s godly influence to a generation who did not know God in a few years.  Israel went from exceptionally effective expressions of trust and godliness to a dismal failure to know God in just one generation. 

If you are genuinely concerned about the next generation being a generation of faith in God, have faith in God yourself in your life now.  The finest way to produce a believing generation is to be a believing generation. 

http://davidchadwell.com/Snippets/061027.htm