A Christian Viewpoint

Easter Sunday. An actor by the name of David Morris visited our church today. He did not, however, show up as himself. Dressed in traditional Jewish garb of the time of Christ he gave the testimony of John, the beloved disciple. The story weaved its way from when he first met Jesus until the restoration of Peter. He gave a very good portrayal. I tip my hat to his performance.

There are times when I am in church that the Spirit whispers to my conscious mind. The thought is just out of reach. I use to run through a list of “what can it be”. I have learned early in my walk to watch while praying softly in tongues. In time he would reveal to me what is hidden. Sometimes it may be days later before I understood. Other times I got the message within minutes.

If I am already in a watchful spirit then understanding what the Spirit whispers comes quick and easy. To always be attentive, to walk with God, to watch where the Spirit leads, then to go. Not a bad way to live. My hope is that I get better at it. I know I do well when I watch and pray, and badly when I don’t.

The eye of God observes all.
The field beneath his eye is black.
The people of God walk on top of the field.
Where they trod the blood of Christ is applied.
The blood cleanses.
And the field turns white.

recently given to me during an evening service

Jeffrey Dahmer? He made a full and complete confession of his crimes. Rev Ratcliff had a conversation with Dahmer and accepted the fact that he had repented. The goodnews came to Dahmer and he accepted its truth. It was only right for Ratcliff to then baptise Dahmer.

There was another guy as well; he specifically targeted Christians. He would abduct them. Keep them confined. Tortured many of them. Some he even put to death. He travelled to another location to grab other Christians and bring them back so he could torture and kill them. He was a very dispicable man. He was hated and feared by many.

His name? Saul of Tarsus. a.k.a. Paul. And what’s worse… some guy named Ananias baptised this guy. I guess there really is no real justice.

Thank God for that.

Grace and Mercy!

Now as a side note, when I was working at Mohawk Raceways as a security guard I had a lot of time on my hands. I read the story about Ted Bundy. I prayed for Ted, that he would find Jesus and accept forgiveness for his sins. Several months later James Dobson interviewed Bundy. I was glad to hear that Bundy accepted Jesus as his Lord and Saviour. Actually I shed a few tears of joy. A little more than three years later I read stories of Jeffrey Dahmer. I prayed for him as well. Fortunately he too accepted Jesus as Lord.

If Jesus can save them. If he could save Paul. Then he can save such a sinner as I. Therein lies the comfort of my soul.

When I am unloving because of self pity; when I am weak because I am carnal; when I am dysfunctional because I am depressed; it is during those times I am fearful that I am not making it. Then God brings this scripture to mind.

2 Tim 1.7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

I quote those words. I sing those words. I pray those words. God has given me those words as a reminder and a promise; power, love and a sound mind as I walk in his Spirit. It is my hope.

The relationship of unions/managements is adversarial. It is the nature of the beast.

Unions had there times in the past. Yet a union only benefits a limited number of people in society. Then, the small people not unionised fall behind in the general scheme of things. It creates the have worker class and the have not worker class.

Then there is the raising of the minimun wage. Those at the bottom get immediate relief while those a buck or two higher per hour lose what benefit they have when the prices of goods rise accordingly.

If we go back in history it is the church that is the great equalizer. It is the church where fairness first appears. It is within the church that true justice and freedom come forth. It is when Christian people see evil and pass laws to benefit all that true goodness comes to the lowly and to the exalted.

When a church has to have its pastors unionize to get fair treatment then the church has become a partner with the world and has lost its spiritual connection with their creator.

There are many churches where pastors are abused. Many churches where the flock is abused. The answer is not unionization but repentance and love for each other.

The only thing a union could do for the church is to open a pandora’s box in the midst of the church. It would be far more reaching than wages and benefits for some… it would become a festering sore on the body of Christ.

I have just downloaded and installed wordpress blog tool onto my server. All blogs everywhere will be moved here so that I may work from a central location. Have patience as I learn to use this system. Thank You.