Life Lesson 2

            Here’s a life lesson for you. It is my contention that Christians are partially responsible for some people to turn away from God. Here’s a real life example that just took place at my job the other day. 

            Guy #1, who does not know the Lord, was told by a “religious” person, we’ll call him guy #2, that guy #1 shouldn’t be cursing, especially on that day, because it was Good Friday. Then guy #2 proceeded to drop an F bomb himself less than 5 minutes later. That would make guy #2 a hypocrite and that’s exactly how guy #1 saw it. 

            Point #1 – Chances are guy #1 may know very little to nothing about that holiday season. Point #2 – His cussing is not going to send him to hell, his rejection of Christ will. Point #3 – Guy #1 doesn’t know any better. Point #4 - Guy #2 DOES know better. Point #5 – Guy #2 was judging Guy #1 for doing something that he does as well.

             There are too many people like Guy #2 who pass judgment with their words of indictment, and they need to stop that. Once a person receives Christ the Holy Spirit will deal with the profanity issue. Sometimes we clean up our language only to have it reemerge sometime down the road. Let me repeat was I said in Point #3 above … people who don’t have a relationship with God don’t think anything of cussing and that is understandable. It doesn’t make it all right, but it is not our place to instruct him regarding what may be perceived as our regimented list of Do’s & Don’ts. Some of us need to get off our high horse before we make a fool of ourselves in front of others. We must humble ourselves. We are better than no one. We aren’t to compare ourselves to others, but rather to God. This will put us in the place where we belong, beneath the Lord and equal with everyone else. Salvation doesn’t elevate you in status; it forgives you of your sins. That makes you different in that one respect; otherwise, we are really no different than those who are unsaved. No matter how hard you try, even your best efforts will fall short in your quest to be just like Christ. In spite of that, continue striving to be a living example of our Lord, because as the saying goes, actions speak louder than words. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Life Lessons 1

          Life is like a book with many chapters. The story begins and at an undetermined time the first chapter ends, and the second chapter begins. During one of the chapters you are introduced to the Lord, and he becomes a regular part of the story. There’s a chapter for childhood, one for the teenage years and a special chapter focusing on schooling, one chapter has a fixed climax when graduation occurs. There’s a chapter for college, chapter for courtship, chapter for marriage and a chapter for having babies. Some chapters are light; some are dark depending on the subject. People come into your life either in the midst of a chapter or at the start or conclusion of another. 

            Having said all that, I tend to believe that some people are only in our lives for a brief time. When they move, switch jobs, or churches or simply pass away, a chapter ends and another one begins. We mourn the loss and move on. There is a chapter regarding the re-emergence of a person from your past where you discuss how much each of you had changed. Depending on how the chapters play out will determine whether you end up single, married, divorced, remarried or alone. All the while we try to figure out the meaning of this life and why it seems to be so complicated. For a large part of our life I believe we think way too hard about a lot of things and the more we think the more we become confused. Worry begets stress, which is kin to tension, which can do very bad things to your physical body. We take prescription drugs to regulate our heart, our head, our blood flow, and our nerves. 

            Some books, like their corresponding lives, are long and drawn out, others are short and definitively to the point.  Some make a big splash based on the character of the subject. Some just exist without much to say or do. Those with Christ in their lives will nearly always be more interesting. 

            It is said that our lives will be the only Bible others will ever read. I believe that is true, therefore, we should let our lives be true to what the author intended. Let your life be a worshipful symphony of truth and faith and hope and peace. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing! 

In His Name & for His Glory.

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Taking a Look at our 5 Senses

Hearing

  

            The complex labyrinth that is the human ear enables sound waves to funnel thru a canal to the ear drum which sends vibrations that in turn cause 3 tiny bones (the hammer, anvil & stirrup) to vibrate. Tiny hairs in the inner ear translate these vibrations into electrical impulses which travel to the brain thru sensory nerves. That’s how we hear.

            God gave us the ability to hear. It’s a critical part of our development as humans. Those either born deaf or lose their hearing after birth can certainly learn to communicate and modern medicine and science together have provided such techno advances as cochlear implants. In addition to hearing, the inner workings of your ears enable you to have stable equilibrium. In other words, it keeps you from losing your balance and falling. 

            In Mark 7:31-37, Jesus heals a deaf man who could barely speak. James 1:22 tells us to not just be hearers of the word but doers. Hearing is a gift from our creator God. We listen to various media outlets for instruction and/or entertainment, but what do we do with what we hear. We hear the spoken word on Sunday’s, but have we allowed it to transform our lives? Do we take our ability to hear for granted? What would we do if we suddenly lost that ability? 

            God loves us and wishes us to enjoy all the blessings he has in store for us, but we must be willing to hear his voice and act on what we have heard. If we don’t, we’re no different than those without Christ. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

Up next we’ll take a look at series of LIFE LESSONS. I hope they encourage you. I love you all with the love of Christ. rlk

Taking a Look at our 5 Senses

Sight

 

Sight, or perceiving things through your eyes, is a complex process that we will not go into here but suffice it to say that believing that the human body with all its intricacies just happened is much harder for me to believe that the existence of a God who created us in our entirety. People seem to only want to believe that which they can understand, but with God that’s not how it works. Even if man could see Almighty God with their own two eyes in all His glory, they would still find a million and one reasons to not believe. With God, we aren’t asked to understand, just believe, and trust without seeing. That’s faith.  

Scripture not only speaks of those with sight being touched by Christ, but those without sight being touched as well. While on this earth, the Lord came across a blind beggar named Bartimaeus who was crying out for Jesus to have mercy on him. The interesting thing about this is how he referred to Jesus by his Messianic title, “Son of David”. Bartimaeus knew who he was even without seeing him. It was because of his faith that he was healed.    

There of course was doubting Thomas, who said that he had to see Jesus risen, see his scars and touch the holes in his hands and side before he would believe he was still not dead. It wasn’t until 8 days had passed that Thomas got his wish. Jesus appeared among the disciples, though the door was locked and told Thomas to touch his holes with his finger and place his hand on his pierced side. How did Jesus know Thomas felt that way? Who told him? It is one example of God’s being omniscient or being the knower of all things. The poignant statement Jesus then makes is this: “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.” (John 20:24-31) Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries