The Choices We Make

            Our life is filled with choices. Some are easy, some difficult, but they must be made, nonetheless. Whatever our core beliefs are; the things we’ve come to accept and believe become a foundation for us. It becomes a launching point for things that we think, say and do each day. 

            If you’re miserable, at some point you chose to be miserable based on something that happened, or something that was said or done to you. It doesn’t have to be that way. What IS your foundation based on, your own thoughts and ideas or that of a higher power who cares for and loves you. 

            Almighty God is there for us to lean on and incorporate into our daily lives. He came in the human form of Jesus to provide a way to escape from our sinful lives. He knew we would be courted by Satan and if unchecked live out events that would be contrary the standard He set up for us in scripture. 

            The enemy of our soul works overtime, along with his demons, to destroy anything God has set up. Satan knows his future, for it is already set. He will spend eternity in a burning lake of fire with no way of escape. He lies to mortal man, just as he did in the Garden of Eden, telling him that God isn’t what He says He is and cannot do for you what He says He can. That fact was established in the Garden when he uttered the words, “Surely God didn’t say...”. Scripture calls Satan a liar and the father of all lies. That is one of many reasons NOT to trust him. Our main weapons against our enemy is listed in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians when he speaks of the Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18).

            So choices made are very critical to our wellbeing and our future. If you decide that God isn’t real and the Bible (God’s Word) is nothing more than a collection of fairy tales that are interesting, but not to be taken seriously, you are unknowingly choosing to align yourself with the enemy. You are either for God or against Him. There is no middle ground. 

            Every choice you make in this life will have repercussions or consequences that effect your life either in a positive or negative way. You must make wise choices based on what God already knows will be best for you. Your future depends on it. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

“Attitude is a choice.

Happiness is a choice.

Optimism is a choice.

Kindness is a choice.

Giving is a choice.

Respect is a choice.

Whatever choice you make makes you.

Choose wisely.”

·       Rev. T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart

Deconstructing One’s Faith

                It’s a really fancy word for examining your faith and figuring out which parts are helpful and loving and worth keeping, and which are not. As if anyone would actually know that. For me this is the enemy’s latest ploy to stick a dagger into the heart of Christianity.

                  “The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, ‘Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?’ ‘Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,’ the woman replied. ‘It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat.’ God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’ ‘You won’t die!’ the serpent replied to the woman. ‘God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.’” – Genesis 3:1-4 NLT

                  Now why did I bring this portion of scripture up? Satan lies. He compromises God’s word by questioning it, though he doesn’t have the authority to challenge God. If Satan, who is more powerful than mortal man, doesn’t have the authority to challenge anything about God; His word, His power, His position, etc., then what on earth gives mortal man the idea that He can challenge the meaning of anything in scripture? 

                  To challenge anything in scripture is certainly permissible without question, but to do that without facts to back you up is a fools errand. To challenge based on the fact that you simply don’t agree with something written in the Bible is unfortunate because we are picking apart your own faith based on your likes and dislikes. That which makes you uncomfortable isn’t a reason to toss it out as illegitimate. Christianity IS NOT all about us. It never has been. It is about God and His plan to save His own creation from themselves. 

                  Deconstruct your faith at your own peril. The fact that you would even entertain doing that shines a spotlight on the fact that you DO NOT trust God. You want to place your faith in something that makes sense to you, not something you have to work at understanding with the chance that understanding it may not be possible depending on your level of faith. Open up to the Word with an open mind and a trusting heart, rather than looking at the Bible with a non-committal, distrust that can only lead to weakening or even losing your faith altogether. 

                  Just because you think it isn’t fair that people go to hell, doesn’t make it so. God provides two options regarding eternity. You can willingly receive Christ, and all that association provides or you can choose not to do that. The latter decision isn’t God sending you to hell, it’s you, by virtue of your rejection of Christ or your noncommittal response that sends you to hell. God honestly had nothing to do with your decision. Just because you don’t believe all that doesn’t make it go away, like closing your eyes so as not to see that which is bothersome to you. Scripture tells us that God doesn’t wish that ANYONE would go to hell. 

^“Nevertheless, do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like one day. The Lord does not delay [as though He were unable to act] and is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is [extraordinarily] patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”^{[2 Peter 3:8-10 Amplified Bible]}

Readjust your focus so that you can see Christ and not some made up controversy to place doubts in your mind about your personal beliefs. Trust God and commit to knowing Him more. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Why is the Cross Offensive Today?

                 The cross remains offensive today because it confronts humanity with the reality of sin and the necessity of repentance, challenging the world’s self-perception and moral standards. It serves as a condemnation of human pride, immorality, greed, and self-indulgence, exposing the darkness in human hearts that people often prefer to keep hidden. The cross declares that all are sinners in need of salvation, a message that contradicts the world’s desire to see itself as good or deserving. This confrontation is why the cross is described as a "stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles",and why it provokes offense even in modern times.

The offense stems from the cross’s central claim: that salvation is not earned through human effort, good works, or moral striving, but is a free gift of grace through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. This undermines the idea of human self-sufficiency and the belief that people can achieve righteousness on their own, which is why the cross is seen as repugnant to those who rely on their own merit. In fact, the cross is offensive because it demands a complete surrender of personal autonomy and a willingness to deny oneself and take up one’s cross daily, a call that many find uncomfortable or unacceptable.

Furthermore, the cross has been sanitized and commercialized in contemporary culture, often worn as a fashion accessory or decorative symbol without acknowledging its original meaning as a brutal and humiliating form of execution. This trivialization removes its power and transforms it into something comfortable and non-offensive, which contradicts its true nature as a symbol of suffering, sacrifice, and divine judgment. The cross was historically reserved for the worst criminals and was considered so disgraceful that even Roman citizens were not supposed to speak of it. Today, its offensive power is diminished when it is reduced to a sentimental or aesthetic object rather than a call to discipleship and repentance.

The cross also continues to provoke offense because it exposes hypocrisy and unrepentant sin in individuals and systems, just as it did in the time of Jesus. It condemns not only overt sins but also the hidden pride, fear, and moral compromise that characterize many lives. As Billy Graham noted, the cross brings a "search light" on evil deeds, which people often avoid because they do not want to face their own guilt before God. Ultimately, the cross remains offensive because it stands as a perpetual challenge to human pride and a declaration of God’s justice and love, demanding a response of faith and surrender that many are unwilling to make.

Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: http://www.thecrossunveiled.com/the-offense-of-the-cross.html

Thoughts From a Random Mind

This is for those who are Christians in Name Only.

         A Christian isn’t someone who goes to church whenever the doors are open. A Christian isn’t someone who gives money to the church. A Christian isn’t someone to volunteers for every class and committee. Those are things a Christian DOES, but it isn’t what a Christian IS. For those who say they are a Christian yet don’t feed themselves spiritually by reading the Bible, praying for others, seek to be more like Christ (for starters), you’re missing out on the adventure of a lifetime. God knows the vast potential you hold inside, yet many have shuddered the windows and doors keeping His spirit out of your life.   

Without Christ all our efforts will burn and only ashes will remain. Those things that seem to mean the most to us are temporal attempts to find happiness and satisfaction. They never last and even if they did they would have no intrinsic value. Not believing in the existence of a god is just a convenient way for mortal man to sidestep the inevitable conclusion that comes to us all eventually. We make our choices, for life is full of essential choices that must be made. Does God mean anything to you? Does Christ’s death mean anything to you? Are you avoiding that which our Lord has asked us to do? Do we realize the inevitable result of a life lived without God? Do we also realize the inevitable result of a life lived on Christ’s behalf? Did the Christmas holiday mean anything to you besides receiving gifts, or is your focus on the birth of God’s Son and all that stands for? Shift your focus OFF yourself and your endeavors for one moment and dedicate a little time to reminding yourself that God loves you and has a plan for your life. Don’t forget about your Creator as you would an old worn shoe; have a heartfelt conversation with the God who sees all yet is unseen. Our lives hang in the balance between life and death, good and evil, salvation and damnation. Don’t waste your life deconstructing your faith. Bolster your faith thru trust in Almighty God.

Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

We Get a Do Over

Do you understand that God’s plans for us many times do not jive with our own plans? We strain to comprehend the Lord’s reasoning to no avail. We come to the place where we will either trust God or not trust Him. Followers of Christ should by this time realize that God’s plans for us are always for our betterment. No harm will come to us if we adhere to His plan. We do not need to understand the “why” of His plans, we simply need to trust Him. Does that mean we are to do nothing? Not at all. We are to work at being tuned in to His Spirit so we can be led down the path He desires us to go down. Don’t try to figure out the “why” or “what” of any of God’s plans, because you’ll be wasting your time. God only reveals to us what we need to know when we need to know it.

Trusting God is like walking into a pitch dark room without knowing where the light switch is. The unknown is daunting because you don’t know what’s coming next. That’s why some folks are terrified of dying because death is the ultimate unknown. You can avoid going into a pitch black room if you so desire, but no one escapes death. Scripture tells us in Hebrews 9:27, “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (KJV) Even the thought of being judged is daunting. Without Christ that too can be terrifying. We all like to know what is coming next, don’t we? I know I do.

You should consider this new year a fresh start in a way. Sure, things pick up right where they left off the day before, but I prefer to look at it as a clean slate to alter how I respond to the daily challenges of life. With Christ it will be a successful year, one day at a time because of who is in control, and thankfully it’s not me. Reassess your life in Christ. Are you living in such a way that you are pleasing to the Lord?  Have you been selfish or selfless? I am a firm believer in taking the time regularly to take an inventory of your behavior as it lines up with the behavior of Jesus. HE is the template we are to copy. Make this new year something special and may all of God’s blessings be yours in 2026 and beyond. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Do You Use Your Time Effectively?

            There is a saying that TIME is a commodity you can only spend ONCE. My question is for the follower of Christ: Are you burning time indiscriminately or utilizing your time responsibly as a representative of Christ? 

            Do you realize that by being an ambassador for Christ you represent Him with your words and actions each day of your post redemptive life? This is why the once popular 1990’s catch phrase “What Would Jesus Do?” (aka, WWJD) was and is a valid question for any believer to ask themselves any time of the day or night, 24/7, 365 days out of any given year.

            We have a New Year bearing down on us and now is as good a time as any to look at the way we use our time. Are we productive with our use of time or are we unabashed time wasters? Take a hard look at yourself in the mirror and answer that question honestly. I know I need work regarding the wasting of time. Although I don’t think I waste a lot of time, it happens. Plus I have a tendency to procrastinate, thinking the task is much more difficult than it really is. 

            Going into 2026, try to be more conscious of your use of time. You can only use each minute once and it is gone forever. Take stock of your life for the Lord. Are you allowing the Lord to mold you into the absolute best version of yourself in Christ? If not, what’s holding you back. Let go and let God transform you into all HE knows you can be for the Kingdom.

Until next year, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

What Have We Become?

            We’ve become as a society of very self-indulgent people.  It’s all about me... me... me. Whatever strikes our fancy. Whatever whim we can think of; whatever we want we can have at a price. And we should have it; we deserve it. 

            Now I’m not saying you can’t or shouldn’t buy material things. It seems to be what makes the world go ‘round. But being obsessive-compulsive about it isn’t cool. Especially during the Holiday Season. Whatever happened to the hospitable concept of “it’s better to give than to receive”. The apostle Paul attributed that phrase to Jesus Christ. 

There is a certain level of joy, peace, and satisfaction in blessing someone else instead of yourself. As Christians we are to come to the realization that God is our provider, not the government, or our parents. It’s the Lord. This is why the Jewish people refer to God as Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides. 

It seems to me that in a culture that is increasingly anti-God, the true meaning of the Christmas holiday has been lost under a huge pile of material wants. Is it nice to receive a gift? Of course it is. I’m no Grinch, that’s for sure, but celebrating the true meaning of the holiday brings joy, especially when you shift your focus from what you want and do not have to being grateful for what you do have. Giving joy, peace, and hope to others should be paramount in our minds every day, not just at certain times out of the year. Keep that in mind as you start each day. Enjoy this most wonderful time of the year. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries