If you were arrested for being a Christian would they have enough evidence to convict you?

Today I want to share a newspaper article from one of our local newspapers. I asked the writer and  pastor if I could share the article on my blog. He agreed, so here it is.

Our church’s purpose statement reads like this: “Real People, Real Life, Real Faith”. We are trying to do a better job of being the Real Deal. I am challenging believers to be ‘real Christians for a real world’. In our culture being a Closet Christian (one nobody knows about) is profoundly easy. We mostly act like, talk like, and look like everyone else around us. That is not entirely bad… unless they have no idea that we are believers. If they can’t tell, and at best just see us as really nice people (or worse yet as nasty people), then we are not being real Christians for a real world. We have a message that our world desperately needs. When we live like closet Christians we deny our neighbor a chance to hear the great truth that set us free and can do the same for them.

Someone once asked me this question: If you were arrested for being a Christian would they have enough evidence to convict you? Being a Christian in many other parts of the world means taking your life in your hands every day. Muslims that convert to Christianity are often disowned by their friends and families. Sometimes they are threatened or even murdered for it. In fact, there are more people martyred for their faith today than any time in 2000 years of Christianity. Those who decide to follow Christ in those places make a decision that their faith is more important than life itself.

In North America being a Christian often means something completely different. For many it just means we are not Muslim or Buddhist. We get married and will be buried in a church building and we might drop by on Christmas or Easter if we are not too busy. ”Hey, it was good enough for Grandpa.”

Here’s an observation to think about. The Gay community has come out of the closet… and the Christians have gone in. Oh sure, they threw a few stones at each other as they switched locations but even that conflict has pretty much blown over. My point has really nothing to do with the battle for gay rights and everything to do with the fact that you often can barely recognize believers in our culture.

The night that Jesus was betrayed, Peter boasted that he would never forsake his Lord. Jesus told Peter he would deny Him three times before the rooster crowed twice. The next morning Peter was confronted by a mere servant girl and yet denied Jesus three times. What happened next is the most important part of the story and yet most people miss it. When the rooster crowed twice, Peter remembered what Jesus said and wept bitterly. This was a defining moment for Peter. He was overcome by his own shame and disappointment. Though nothing more is said about it in the narrative, it is clear that Peter made a decision that morning that he would never again hide the “life giving” faith he had discovered. It was Peter who on the day of Pentecost stood out in the street and told a skeptical crowd of thousands that they needed to repent and be converted that their sins could be blotted out by the blood of Jesus. Peter lived the rest of his life as a radical follower of Jesus. 

No, our world doesn’t need more church goers that are in the bar Saturday night and in the pew Sunday morning (unless they were there inviting people to church the next day). We need more real Christians for a real world, people that are not ashamed of the fact that Jesus has done an incredible work in their lives. Around the world, Christians face the raising of weapons at the name of Jesus. Here, because we have freedom of religion, the worst response we get is someone raising an eyebrow at us. Why we have such trouble living our faith out loud is a bit of a mystery. Maybe we all need a disappointing rooster crowing experience to get us out of the closet. What do you think?

Glenn Driedger is the lead pastor of Chilliwack Evangelical Missionary Church.

Chicken or Eagle

A man had an eagle which had grown up among the barnyard hens. For a time the bird seemed content to be only a chicken. But one day it looked up into the sky, and something within the eagle, sleeping until now, awoke. Flapping its wings, it soared away toward the sun and never returned.
Just so, too many Christians, meant for the eagle-life, content themselves with a barnyard existence. Now and then they feel something stirring within them, but they are too indolent to make the effort necessary to take their place in the upper air and among the mountain crags. So they spend all their days down in the dust, among earthly things, never waking up to their God given potentials.

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ--set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things!" Colossians 3:1-2

J.R.Miller (1840 - 1912)

That my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever! Psalm 30:12

God has given us many things in life that we should be thankful for. Therefore, we should be counting our blessings. We don’t often reflect on what we have instead we dwell on what we lack. We cannot have enough of anything, and always want more. We never get tired of asking for more. It is our human nature.

There is nothing wrong with asking God for good things, as long as we are appreciative of them when He gives us what we want, and submit to His will if He chooses not to give. Perhaps He will give them to us later. God knows what is best for us. Also we might be asking for something that may not be good for us.

 Often we realize and appreciate what we have after we lose it temporarily or after seeing someone who does not have it. For example, it is unfortunate that we don’t thank God enough for our health until we get sick. Then we constantly implore God to heal us. As soon as we feel better, we tend to forget God and may turn unappreciative again. It hardly ever occurs to us that our eyes, hands, feet, and everything we have, are blessings from God until we have problems. Being thankful and appreciative is for our own good. If we choose to ignore the blessings God has given us, and do not recognize God’s hand in our lives, we are the ones who lose.

On a more personal note I often fall short for words of thanks, not only to God but all those that surround me and those that pray for me. I often feel deeply indebted to God who gives me life each day again. To you who read my blog, to you whom I meet in the store, to you whom encourage me time and again and cheer me on, to those who express their feelings in writing, telephone calls and cards. To those churches who pray from me in Cuba, The Netherlands, Australia, Canada and the USA and other places. I am indebted to total strangers who God puts on my path and with whom I can share His Amazing Grace. How long can I make this list? I could go on with much more.

Finally I want to end with the boundless love of my children and grand children whom stand at my side each day again. A hug will never say it all, the words “I love you” fall short of what you do for me. When I hear my grandchildren pray aloud, Lord make Papa better again, it brings tears to my eyes and a smile to my face because I know that God hears the needy when they cry. Thank you for your prayers and every day support, words fall short.

Then lastly and most important next to God is Henrietta my wife, the love of my life whom stands and walks with me through this life and journey with cancer. Through the valleys, over the mountain tops, in sorrow, in joy, in times when you pray for me when I can’t because I feel ill or so tired that I can’t go on anymore, it is then that you are there. How can I ever say the right words to thank you. It is you and all those who are named here and those whom I forgot to name. Thank you, and I pray that God will keep us together yet for more time. I pray for healing, knowing that my God is Almighty and can do it, no doubt at all. To God be the Glory.

Finally just a short update on myself. I am doing ok, although I am often very tired due to the chemo treatments and lately I can feel that the chemo treatments are taking its toll on my body, feeling more nauseated and less appetite. I have no pain and so far my weight remains stable.

We are going into a couple of busy weeks because we have sold our home and are downsizing to a new and smaller home in the area. We talked and prayed about this matter together and so far God has made all things well. Our home sold in 2 ½ weeks and our new home should just be ready to move into on August 6. Although we have many fond memories in this home we look forward to making this move.
Thank you for your prayers.
Be blessed and be a blessing to many.
John

Do you have true peace with God ?

There is no peace with God except through Christ! Peace is His peculiar gift. Peace is that legacy which He alone had power to leave behind Him when He left the world. All other peace beside this, is a mockery and a delusion. When hunger can be relieved without food, and thirst quenched without drink, and weariness removed without rest—then, and not until then, will people find peace without Christ. Now, is this peace your own? Bought by Christ with His own blood, offered by Christ freely to all who are willing to receive it—is this peace your own? Oh, rest not—rest not until you can give a satisfactory answer to my question, have you true peace with God?

J.C. Ryle

"Encouragement is the oxygen of the soul"

It was John Maxwell who spoke these wise words. Recently during a worship service a pastor spoke on life’s journey and the race that is set before us as you can read in Hebrews 12. He used the beautiful example of an actual race or marathon where there are many spectators sitting in the stands cheering on the runners. So it is with us who are running the race of life, we are being cheered on by many during difficult and trying times.

I encountered several of these “spectators” this week that “cheered” me on as I run my race. Last week unexpectedly I ended up in the hospital due to a possible blood clot in my leg. Cancer patients are known to get blood clots quickly and they can be life threatening. As I went through the procedures I ended up with an Ultra Sound technician who told me to “hang in there” in regards to my cancer. I replied I will try; however, it is God who holds the keys to life and death. When he heard this he dropped his work and we ended up in a very nice and Spiritual conversation. This technician was a Christian too or “spectator” to cheer me on in my race.

We all need to be “cheering spectators” and “runners” at the same time in the race for that great prize Jesus Christ. How is your marathon going? Do you have a goal in this world, and if so what is it?

The test showed that I did not have a blood clot but an inflamation in a vein. We are praying that it will soon clear. As for the Chemo treatments, it is going very well. I am now into my 4th week and able to handle the treatments quite well. I do have some side effects like being very tired some days. However it is nothing compared to past Chemo treatments that made me very sick. This is surely another answer to prayer. On August 7, I hope to receive another Bone and CT scan to see if any progress is being made. I feel good with no pain or discomfort from the cancer itself. I am so thankful for this, especially when I see those at the cancer clinic with much pain and discomfort, in light of that I feel blessed each day again. God is good, all the time.

Thank you for “cheering”. God be with you all. Be blessed and be a blessing.

 John

Be of good cheer

God is good and is giving me much peace in my heart. This morning’s devotion reading was from John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. It is these and other verses that give me much peace because Jesus has overcome the world. If we indeed are born again in Christ Jesus, we too, have overcome the world and that can give reason for much cheer and happiness. If by Faith we can leave our burdens at the feet of Jesus we have much less of a load to carry.

This week more sad news came our way when a dear lady friend whom we have known for a long time through the street and Mission outreach of Ruth and Naomi passed away. After only a very short illness with cancer she left this world leaving a mourning husband and family behind, however, Joanne had spoken of her desire to be with her Saviour Jesus Christ. These moments are sad and difficult for those that she left behind, yet there is joy in Heaven.

I truly feel blessed, blessed for how good I feel and blessed because today is a new day that God has given for us to enjoy. With God’s help, I am going to make to best of it. I also felt blessed this week when again I needed to visit the Vancouver Cancer Centre for more tests. Each patient that walks through the door has a story of its own and is afflicted with some kind of cancer. Some patients carry a load they can barely carry, loads of pain, discomfort and sadness and it makes me wonder if they too bring there needs to Christ, our burden bearer.

I am 16 days into my Chemo Therapy treatments. The first 12 days made me very tired, less appetite and breaking out in an itchy rash. However things have changed, the rash is gone and I am less tired and eat well. Most certainly God is hearing prayer.

On August 7, I will be receiving a CT and Bone Scan to see if the Chemo treatments are helping. The last scan showed lesions in areas like the ribs and others which are suspicious of bone metastases. Please join us as we continue to pray for complete healing because by God all things are possible.

Thank you again for your loving care, messages, cards and love. 
John

Top Five Regrets of the Dying

I want to share a paper with you that laid in my Bible for maybe a year or longer. This article was written by Bonnie Ware, you can find it on her blog.

For many years I worked in palliative care. My patients were those who had gone home to die. Some incredibly special times were shared. I was with them for the last three to twelve weeks of their lives.

People grow a lot when they are faced with their own mortality. I learnt never to underestimate someone's capacity for growth. Some changes were phenomenal. Each experienced a variety of emotions, as expected, denial, fear, anger, remorse, more denial and eventually acceptance. Every single patient found their peace before they departed though, every one of them.

When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently, common themes surfaced again and again. Here are the most common five:

1. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
This was the most common regret of all. When people realise that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made.

It is very important to try and honour at least some of your dreams along the way. From the moment that you lose your health, it is too late. Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer have it.

2. I wish I didn't work so hard.
This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children's youth and their partner's companionship. Women also spoke of this regret. But as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.

By simplifying your lifestyle and making conscious choices along the way, it is possible to not need the income that you think you do. And by creating more space in your life, you become happier and more open to new opportunities, ones more suited to your new lifestyle.

3. I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings.
Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result.

We cannot control the reactions of others. However, although people may initially react when you change the way you are by speaking honestly, in the end it raises the relationship to a whole new and healthier level. Either that or it releases the unhealthy relationship from your life. Either way, you win.

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
Often they would not truly realise the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.

It is common for anyone in a busy lifestyle to let friendships slip. But when you are faced with your approaching death, the physical details of life fall away. People do want to get their financial affairs in order if possible. But it is not money or status that holds the true importance for them. They want to get things in order more for the benefit of those they love. Usually though, they are too ill and weary to ever manage this task. It is all comes down to love and relationships in the end. That is all that remains in the final weeks, love and relationships.

5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.
This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realise until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called 'comfort' of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content. When deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again.

When you are on your deathbed, what others think of you is a long way from your mind. How wonderful to be able to let go and smile again, long before you are dying.

Life is a choice. It is YOUR life. Choose consciously, choose wisely, choose honestly. Choose happiness.

* Note from John. I would like to add this as number 6
For those who do not know Christ.  Will you regret that you do not have Jesus Christ as your Saviour ?