Christian rejection

We have learned this Easter that Jesus was rejected by the people of Jerusalem because he offended them for preaching his fathers word. However christians in Britain today are being rejected by non christians. Andrea Minichiello Willliams founder and director of Christian Concern has written an article in regards to this matter in the Mail on Sunday (24/04/11). She states how christians are being discriminated in workplaces by not getting jobs if they state they are a christain , being asked not to wear crosses and mocked if they preach God's word. The sad reality is christians are beileving the truth and want others to believe the truth but just like the people of Jerusalem they dont want to hear it. Andrea states how christians have accepted and believe in the sacrifice , hope and new life underpinned by the Easter story and that people should embrace and welcome the message and hope in christian life. She also importantly states that christianity is part of Britain due to the fact its part of English law and marriage ceremony's. Eventhough its part of Britan many British people dont want to accept christianity which is sad to learn. Christians shouldnt let others affect what they belive in because they will reap there treasures in heaven and the lord their father will honour them.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1379970/Is-equality-As-lawyer-I-thought-I-d-defend-Christians-Christian-nation.html

Dont Forget the message !

Now that Easter has been remembered for another year its important as christians that we dont forget the amazing truth of the Easter Story. The truth being that Jesus Christ our saviour took it upon himself to sacrifice his life to cleanse us from our sins so that we could a ) be saved and b) have a relationship with him and God. Jesus Christ is now at the right hand side of his father God but he will return and those who follow him will not perish but have eternal life and those who do not belive in him and havent accepted him will go to hell. There is two choices : a) heaven and b) hell but there is one way to heaven : through Jesus Christ !. Accept him today as your saviour and your sins will be forgiven and you will have eternal life in heaven.

Easter Sunday

Part 3 of my Easter posts and this one is on Easter Sunday :the climax of the Easter story. Easter Sunday is three days after Good Friday ; the day Jesus sacrificed himself for our sins but more importantly the day Jesus rose again. The women from Galilee and Joseph went to the stone to find that the stone had been rolled away and the body of Jesus had gone. There were two guards at the stone who said to Joseph and the women : " if you are looking for the body of Jesus he has risen from the dead". The amazing power of Jesus was evident as he rose from the dead and did so to be reunited at the right hand of his Father and to be our saviour. The Easter story is pivotal to the christian life as if Jesus didnt surrender his life for us on a cross then a ) our sins wouldnt be forgiven and b) we couldnt have a relationship with God. This Easter and forever remember what the Lord Jesus did for you. If you want a relationship with him , bow before him and ask for forgiveness for our sins and ask him to come into your life and your name will be written in the lambs book of life.  To finish of my easter posts here are some Easter bible quotes :

"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers."
-- 1 John 3:16 NIV

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
-- John 3:16 NIV

Good Friday

I finished my previous post telling how the week after Psalm sunday Jesus had his last supper with his disciples - a special time to thank them and prepare for the following day. The following day was infact Good Friday , the actual day is when Jesus was in fact crucified. Now people ask  why is it called Good Friday when Jesus died the most painful death well its Good in the sense that Jesus triumphed  over evil to save us from our sins but its sad in the sense that Jesus took it upon himself to save us - he was the ultimate sacrifice. The sad fact is that Jesus was not found guilty before Pilate but the crowd that gathered to spectate , they cried for Pilate to order the crufication of Jesus because his preaching of his fathers word - the truth ! offended them. Jesus was then crucified in order for our horrible sins to be forgiven and to re-write our wrongs because he loves us soo much as God his father and our father loves us and wants a relationship with us. As Jesus drew his last breath the curtain in the temple was torn in two to symbolise that there is now no barrier to our coming to the Lord , he is waiting for you to come to him and he will welcome you with open arms as the father did the progical son and the sheperd with the lost sheep. John 10 v 11 : " I am the good sheperd : the good sheperd lay his life down for the sheep". This Easter take time out from eating easter eggs to remember what the Lord Jesus your saviour did for you , he made it possible for you to have a relationship with God and for your sins to be washed away. The minute you ask God for forgivness your name will be written in the lambs book of life and will never be taken out. " Amazing love how can it be , that God my King should die for me".

Palm Sunday

Easter is drawing near and Good Friday / Easter sunday is just around the corner . People (particularly non christians) just see Easter as a holiday from work/school and a time to eat easter eggs - another example of Marketing companies taking advantage.
This Sunday (17/4/04) is Palm sunday and is known as Palm sunday because of Jesus's triumphant entry into Jerusalem and  how the people of Jerusalem laid down and threw palm branches to celebrate Jesus coming to Jerusalem. However the week following Palm Sunday didnt mirror the celebrations of Palm Sunday as Jesus was questioned by the jealous authories who couldnt accept the fact that he was the Son of God. In the same week Peter denies Jesus (as preached in HBC Sunday night 10/4/04) and Jesus meets with his disciples for the last supper as he knew it could be the last time he saw them.

Keep reading to keep up to date with the Easter story as the Easter celebrations draw near.

Songs of Worship

For those of you who want to worship the Lord your saviour through music and cant wait till Sunday to sing in Church then give Christian band Hillsong a listen (youve probably heard of them). They sing a great range of christian songs that remind you how special it is to be a christian. Just type their name in You Tube and worship away !.

Here are some video's to encourage you :

   

                                                 

Discipleship

The theme for Hamilton Baptist Church's (HBC) evening service (10.04.11) was DISCIPLESHIP and the importance of disciples in Jesus our saviour. The sermon focused on the disciple Peter and his impact on christian discipleship , the bible passage 1 Peter 3 v 22 ..... gives Peter's account on being a disciple of God ( a follower of the Lord). Peter's main points on discipleship is that :

Evil can be overcome
Failures happen to help others miss the pitfalls
Christianity should not be egotistic as we need to give ourselves to Jesus and to others !.
Resist the devil and stand firm in your faith , he will make you strong.

HBC Pastor's notes on discipleship :

1. Is based in spiritual conflict
 - the devil prowls around like a lion looking for christians to devour (beware of the preditor).
- Put on spiritual armour

2.Belongs to a focused fraternity
- Be self-controlled and alert !.
- we belong to a global fraternity
- evil is brutual and upfront
- discipleship is about strenghting others
- disicpleship is living by faith as we have not seen Jesus but we believe he is there , he is helping us and others and is going to come back one day , we BEILEVE in the WITNESS of the DISCIPLES.

3. Disciples Behold their King

-  God supports us , is more than kind to us and empowers us.

Christanity is not a hobby , its a walk in life , its also a race ; a race towards the prize of heaven.

If your a disciple of God your invited to run the race of christianity with the help of your church and fellow christians and your saviour to help you over the hurdles.

Some of HBC'S disciples.at the 100th Anniversary Civic Reception :).

Lost Sheep

Sometimes we can be like lost sheep and be lost , alone and in need of shelter and comfort. John 10 tells us that Jesus offers us shelter and comfort : John 10 v 3 : " and the sheep hear his voice as he calls them by name and leads them out. John 10 v 11 : " I am a good sheperd , the good sheperd give his life for the sheep". John 10 is another example of imagery used in the bible : humans are the sheep who can become lost in life and Jesus is the Sheperd who looks after the sheep and finds them if they come to him. When John 10 says : " he gives his life for the sheep" , Jesus did give his life when he died for our sins and rose again to be our saviour. This Easter remember what your saviour did for you  he set you free from sin  thank him for his beautiful act of sacrifice and love.

"Called Home"

She walked into a quiet room
She treads down a dangerous path
She danced on the beach
The waves
crashing, crashing , crashing
She could hear them pound at night hard against the sea wall
She lay awake
The loud sounds of the sea removed all peace and quiet
Then there was nothing
She tossed in her sleep like waves when they break upon the shore
The sand so soft
She fears the tide at night
The power of the waves
Suddenly there is a knock at the door
She is hesitant to answer
Who could it be she asks herself
And there stands the Lord
Humble , faithful , rightouesness
He has come to take her home.

Poem by Lauren Sneddon.

Treasures on earth v treasures on heaven

The theme of sermons at my local church (HBC) just now is of the biblical message : Dont store up treasures on earth but store them in God and Heaven. Most of us are guilty of being materalistic ; we have to have the lastest phone , latest TV and have to keep up with the latest fashion to "fit in" in life. At the HBC junior church (where i help out) the story today was of the man who sold his house to buy a beautiful pearl because he had to have it . If only he was that eager to give up his life to go to heaven then it would be a better story but the truth is we forget to store up treasures on heaven when we are caught up in the world. My message to you is to come to the Lord and focus on your eternal life , and your new home in heaven as the Lord promises heaven will be a better place to live than earth !.