YOU SHALL KNOW THEM BY THEIR FRUIT

             Let’s face it, at times actions sometimes contradict one’s profession of faith. Although Christians are not to judge others, they can be “fruit inspectors”. 

            Matthew 7:16, 20 state, “You can identify (false believers/teachers) by their fruit, that is, by the way they act.” “...just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.”

            False believers/teachers were prevalent in Jesus’ day, as they are today. If they are humble and do not seek any sort of glorification, chances are they are legit. Only God can truly know the heart of an individual, however, as we become closer to the Lord we too will see thru the thin veil that covers a persons motives. We are not to chastise them, but rather pray for them and if the opportunity arises, speak with them in an instructive and encouraging way realizing that no man is perfect. Just as God has forgiven us, He will forgive them if forgiveness is sought. We must walk in a spirit of humility, understanding all too well that “there but for the grace of God go I”. ^[1]

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

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

^[1] John Bradford, English church Reformer and martyr (1510–1555).

Rash Decisions

            We think the grass is always greener on the other side; however, we never take into consideration the cost it took to get the grass to look so lush and green. COUNT THE COST before you make a decision, so it doesn’t end up being a RASH decision in the end.

What on earth is a RASH DECISION?  “A rash decision is a choice made quickly and without thinking about the future results. It is an impulsive action driven by sudden feelings rather than careful planning. These choices often lead to mistakes, regret, or bad outcomes.” ^[1]

When you make a “rash” decision there typically is no pre-planning involved. It involves acting before looking at the facts or options. These kind of decisions are many times emotion-driven; often caused by anger, panic, or excitement. Learning how to be patient will help defuse rash decisions.

Some examples of rash decisions could be quitting your job in anger without having a new one lined up; buying an expensive item online late at night without checking your checking account; or yelling something hurtful in an argument before listening to the other person. 

            Making rash decisions could easily be classified as “impulsive” and needs to be removed from your behavior like you would pull a weed from your garden. Those type of decisions breed trouble for the decision-maker. As followers of Christ we need to learn how to develop better self-control. It can be done; however, it, like many other Christian attributes, take time and perseverance. It won’t happen overnight. Until next time, work at being kind to others in any and all situations.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

^[1] This detailed definition came from Collins Advanced Learner’s Dictionary; copyright © HarperCollins Publishers.

Is God good?

             In a world filled with evil & its associated pain and suffering, how can we say that Almighty God is “good”? Who provides the definition for what is good? Could it be mortal man? I would say that was not possible because it is a definition that is universal and needs to be so. Why? How many people do you know who agree on the meaning of certain things. Face it, pretty much everyone would have a different definition for any given word. How could you possibly find a topic that EVERYONE in existence would agree on. I would have to say that would be impossible.

            An antitheist by the name of Christopher Hitchens, well known for his anti-God writings and statements, has gone so far as to write a book titled “God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything”. My contention with that sentiment is that I do not consider true Christianity a religion at all, but rather an intimate association with a loving God. I cannot speak for or against religion, because I don’t consider myself to be part of one. I believe I have a personal relationship with the One who created me in my mother’s womb. I have chosen to believe that, and I have the right to do so.

When God revealed Himself to Moses and the nation of Israel, it was in these terms: “And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, ‘The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth’” (Exodus 34:6, emphasis added throughout).

The Bible says this about the eternal, Creator God: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (James 1:17). If a gift is “good,” it ultimately comes from God—the unchanging God. “You are good, and do good” (Psalm 119:68).

“Good” is the consistent scriptural description of the nature and actions of God. In the Bible’s earliest revelation about God and His creative acts, the word “good” is used repeatedly. God described as “good” the things He made on the various days of creation, and the overall work of creation was summarized as “very good” (Genesis 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25).

According to the Bible, God is good. To not believe that He is good is to negate His Word. While that is certainly your prerogative, it is too convenient a way to debunk its’ validity. To understand God and His Word, you must ask Him to reveal His truth to you, then be watching and listening for His “still small voice”. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Dealing with Grief

"Grief changes you, but it doesn't have to define you. You don't get over the loss of loved ones; you learn to live with the void, and in doing so, you discover how sacred life really is. You owe it to them—and to yourself—to keep loving, keep creating, and cherish every single morning you wake up to." — Pierce Brosnan, actor

 

            I thought this was tremendous advice. We all eventually experience the death of a loved one at some point in our lives. I lost my mom to pancreatic cancer when she was just 53. I was 24, and not a Christian yet so it was very difficult to deal with. I was away at college (north Jersey), and I knew my mom had gone to the hospital for an operation. No mention of cancer. Story goes that the surgeon opened her up, saw that she was riddled with cancer, closed her back up and when she awoke, told her she didn’t have long to live. Within a couple weeks she had passed on. Finding that out when you’re there with your dad to see her and that she had just passed on was a very bitter pill to swallow. 

                  We always miss our loved ones, but Pierce is right. We must learn to live with the void. We need to come to grips with how quickly time passes and how fragile life truly is. We must learn to embrace the life that we have left and make the most out of every single moment. We will never know when our ticket will be punched. Knowing Christ helps immeasurably in dealing with all this. Why? Because he knows you and the one who passed on. He knows how you feel and His Word can act as a salve to begin the healing process. 

                  Nothing and no one can replace a parent, sibling, spouse, grandparent, or child, but God knows all about it and can ease the pain. When you have a precious memory or see an old picture of the one who has passed on, isn’t it possible that God had something to do with that? I just think He might.

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

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Cravings

“Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.” – 1 John 2:15-17

 

Have you ever gotten exactly what you wanted yet still felt empty and unsatisfied? How many times have you seen something someone else you know has and wanted it? 1 John 2:15-17 speaks to this. We’ll call those things “cravings”. Something you want but do not need. 

The apostle John cautions believers to avoid loving the world. The world is a “Me First” place where the flesh becomes your master, caring only about RIGHT NOW. Short lived satisfaction. When you feed your flesh reason goes out the window. Any means to gain some sort of pleasant seems justified to the worldly mind. The Lord knows the outcome of dabbling in such things, hence the warning. 

As followers of Christ we shouldn’t allow what we see to dictate what we feel we need.

Comparison can lead to a downward spiral. Craving what others have can lead you to being dissatisfied with what YOU have. Everything this world has to offer has an expiration date. The things of God are eternal.

            Don’t allow your identity to be built on what impresses others. Humility is important from God’s perspective. Personal achievements can be very rewarding; however, what level of importance you place on them can make all the difference in the world. We need to remember that our calling as followers of Christ has never been to impress others, but rather to follow God. He is to be our focal point. 

            Material possessions are fine for what they are, but again I say it all depends on how much importance you place on owning them. They tend to take up space you really don’t have and before you know it you’re tired of looking at it and stick it in a spare room. Just another dust collector. Use your time and money wisely. You are shortchanging yourself unless you are placing your focus on Godly things that will matter much more than any material thing. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Christianity and Sin

Christianity is not the only “religion” that deals with sin. The concept of sin is present in various religious traditions, including Judaism and Islam, among others. In Judaism, sin is understood as a violation of divine commandments, and there are different categories of sins, such as deliberate sin, accidental sin, and sins committed by those raised in non-Jewish environments. In Islam, sin is viewed as opposition to Allah, rooted in human pride. Additionally, other religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism address similar concepts through ideas like karma and moral transgressions. Each religion has its own framework for understanding, addressing, and atoning for sin.

Christianity IS the only “religion” where the remedy for sin is linked directly to Jesus of Nazareth, or more importantly, to His gruesome death on a cross. Islam doesn’t believe Jesus actually died on a cross at all: “mainstream Islam does not believe that Jesus died on the cross.  According to the Quran, specifically verses 4:157-158, Jesus was not killed or crucified; rather, God saved him and raised him bodily to heaven.” ^[1]

“Judaism does not believe Jesus died on the cross in any theological or doctrinal sense, as his life and death hold no religious significance in the Jewish faith. While some Jews may accept the crucifixion as a historical possibility executed by the Roman Empire, they explicitly reject the theological interpretations central to Christianity, such as atonement, resurrection, or Jesus being the Messiah.” ^[2]

No other set of religious beliefs allows for the complete eradication of all a person’s sins. None. Only Christianity, which offers complete and total forgiveness of all sin once for all time. What an incredible exchange. One man’s life in exchange for the removal of all sin from each person who professes faith in Christ. Amazing! Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

^[1] https://aboutislam.net/counseling/ask-the-scholar/muslim-creed/was-jesus-crucified/

^[2]  https://jewsforjesus.org/learn/jewish-views-of-the-resurrection-of-jesus

I Have a Question

What is Discipleship?

 

            Discipleship or being a disciple, involves a spiritual excursion learning from a master teacher. The disciple imitates the master’s life and lives according to his instructions. A Christian disciple is an ardent follower of Jesus Christ. It is a process that the believer goes thru during the course of his or her life as a redeemed follower.

            I see a painful lack of discipling going on in the churches I’ve attended in Southern & Central New Jersey.  That’s not to say it isn’t done in churches throughout the country, and even the world, but I’ve attended many churches in the 48 years that I’ve been walking with the Lord and at least in those churches there wasn’t a whole lot of discipling going on. And that is what Pastors are called to do, are they not? 

That is why it is incredibly important for believers to NOT wait to be spoon fed, but learn how to feed themselves.  As I’ve said in other writings, we must learn to FEED our Spirit-man & STARVE our “Old Man”. Our old sinful nature would never be allowed in heaven, but we’ve been BORN AGAIN of the Spirit of God. We are a NEW CREATION. The OLD is past, behold all things have become new.

Don’t wait for someone to disciple you. If your churches has a discipleship program, then hallelujah and praise the Lord. But if they don’t, learn to FEED YOURSELF. It takes discipline and a heartfelt desire to live a life that is pleasing to the Lord and a positive, Godly example to those around you. 

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

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

I Have a Question

What are the Roles in the Trinity?

 

The Father

The Father is the source of all things, the creator of the universe, and the sustainer of life. He is described in Scripture as a loving and just God, who desires a relationship with His creation.  The sustenance provided by the Father is not merely physical but also spiritual, as He continually upholds the moral order of the universe. The Father is seen as a loving provider who meets the needs of His creation, ensuring that the world He crafted continues to flourish and reflect His glory.

 

The Son

The Son is the physical form that God took in the person of Jesus Christ. Through the incarnation, Jesus experienced the full range of human emotions, joys, and sufferings, making Him relatable to us. This act of taking on flesh demonstrates God's deep love and commitment to humanity, bridging the gap that sin had created. The Son's role as the Savior is most clearly seen in His redemptive work on the cross. Jesus' death and resurrection are the cornerstone of Christian belief, offering forgiveness and reconciliation to God.

 

The Holy Spirit

Often described as the "Counselor" or "Advocate," the Holy Spirit provides wisdom, direction, and understanding to those who seek to follow God's will. This guidance is not limited to moral decisions but encompasses all aspects of life, including relationships, career choices, and personal growth. The Holy Spirit works within the hearts of believers, illuminating the Scriptures and making the presence of God real and tangible in their daily lives.

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

In His Name, for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of life Ministries

*https://www.christianity.com/wiki/god/god-in-three-persons-a-doctrine-we-barely-understand-11634405.html#google_vignette

I Have a Question

What is Spiritual Atrophy?

             Spiritual atrophy is the gradual loss of faith, strength, and inner peace caused by the neglect of spiritual habits like prayer, worship, and helping others. Just like a body muscle gets weak when you do not use it, your inner spirit grows weak when you stop practicing your beliefs. ^[1]            

Spiritual atrophy is a real thing that many Christians suffer from. Praying & reading scripture begin to feel like boring chores. Refusing to change or grow which will stunt your maturation process. We must never lose our sense of wonder for the Godly things that surround us or the need to draw close to Him each day. 

            If you find yourself in this downward spiral, try changing a few habits that are designed to jumpstart your spiritual walk again. Try starting with brief prayers for yourself or others. Nothing long and drawn out for starters. Make it a point of reading a single verse of scripture each day. Make it a point to be kind to those you encounter each day. That will elevate in you your sense of caring for others. Spend your time around positive people. Conversely, avoid negative people for that will kill your self-confidence. Taken seriously, your recovery can be fairly swift. It depends on how seriously you take your relationship with God.

            Until next time, treat others the way you’d like to be treated.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

^[1] https://www.citychurchau.com/blog/spiritual-atrophy

I Have a Question

Does God Rule Over the Entire Universe?

 

According to Judeo-Christian theology & biblical texts, God DOES INDEED rule over our entire Universe. God created all things, from the biggest things to the tiniest particle. It is thru him that all things both work & hold together. 

He is Sovereign, which means he has TOTAL authority & control. His sovereignty is different than a worldly Sovereign, for Almighty God is in complete control of all eternity. Worldly Sovereigns get old & die eventually. God was & is & is to come. The Lord is timeless; he adheres to no actual system of time. In other words God exists outside of time & space. This why he’s Omnipresent or everywhere at the same time.

            Yet if God is in absolute control than why was Jesus captured, tortured & killed when there could have been a thousand angels waiting on his call to come down and stop the crucifixion? Nothing prevented Christ’s death because it was God’s deliberate plan & foreknowledge. All that Jesus went thru had to take place per God’s plan to save us from our sinful selves.

            “Your name, O Lord, endures forever, Your fame, O Lord, throughout all generations.”

Psalm 137:13 NKJV

 

“The LORD has established His throne in the heavens, And His sovereignty rules over all [the universe].” – Psalm 103:19 AMP

 

            God sustains and rules the universe primarily through the immutable physical laws He has established, which govern all natural phenomena* and human behavior. In addition to this, the Lord retains the power to intervene via miracles. All authority, whether human or spiritual, is subject to God’s will. He is described as having complete control over history, nations, and individual lives, ensuring that nothing occurs outside His permissive or direct will. That would mean that all earthly and heavenly authorities are subject to God’s will. Jesus Christ is the unrivaled sovereign who upholds all things by His power, possessing the keys of death and Hades, and ruling over both the physical and spiritual realms. Almighty God is the ultimate ruler of everything in existence. He created it and He rules over it. The universe may seem extremely large in comparison to the earth itself, but to God, the universe is simply something else He has created and has control over. Until next time, serve the Lord by imitating Christ.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

*An occurrence, circumstance, or fact that is perceptible by human senses.

I Have a Question

How are we to act as followers of Christ?

 

Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. It is not rude; it is not self-seeking; it is not provoked, nor overly sensitive or easily angered; it does not take into account a wrong endured.  It does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. Love bears all things regardless of what comes their way, believes all things looking for the best in each one, hopes all things remaining steadfast during difficult times, endures all things without weakening^{. [1 Corinthians 13:4-7 The Amplified Bible]}

                  If you want to know how God defines “love” then look no further than the passage shown above; 1 Corinthians 13... the Love Chapter. The world has it all wrong. Generally speaking, they’ve mixed up love with lust. Just because you go to bed with someone doesn’t necessarily mean you love them. That approach can cause a large amount of consternation on the part of both parties involved. The woman who wanted kids but NOT NOW!! The man who didn’t want the commitment that comes with raising a child... so he vanishes adding another number to the already growing single parent ranks. THAT is not love. That is the height of selfishness. Having “fun” without dealing with the inevitable consequences.

            Love is SELFLESS. Love views the other person are more important than you are. Love is a 100-100 proposition; not 50-50 as the experts say. Love is either ALL IN or NOT ALL IN. It MUST be 100% ALL IN for both parties. God IS LOVE and therefore is 100% invested in His relationship with those He created. No regrets. No hesitancy. Just full bore, unselfish, unconditional love for all. 

Does the Lord get frustrated with His creation? Because His purposes are set from the foundations of the earth, nothing man can say or do even begin to thwart God’s plans. He’s knows we are frail and fault ridden. We say and do dumb things; however, it’s not as if God doesn’t know us so well that these mistakes take Him by surprise. 

We are asked to emulate Christ in our daily life. We can never use the excuse that we don’t know how God wants us to act, for the blueprint is clearly revealed in 1 Corinthians. Don’t fight knowing the Lord; embrace that relationship and allow your faith and trust in God to thrive amidst the chaos that rages all around us. Until next time, live your life following God’s statutes, with no regrets, and thrive in Jesus name.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries                                                                                                                                                                    

I Have a Question

Is God Just?

            In today’s world, too many people are lax when it comes to punishment for crimes committed or evil deeds done. For that reason God seems harsh and unjust for his unwavering disciplinary actions against sin. Man has a million and one reasons why leniency is the way to go. One is that the individual is a good person who reacted poorly to a given situation. Another happens to be pressure from community action groups who bring up the perpetrator as being the one who is harassed or provoked into retaliatory actions.

            God is pretty plain regarding iniquity. No sin shall go unpunished. Now He also is merciful, so knowing the heart and the motivation of a person, can cause God to be merciful or conciliatory under certain circumstances. This wouldn’t show weakness in God but rather an innate strength of character to be fair and just. 

            Modern man wishes to do away with law enforcement & prisons altogether, as a means of doing away with all types of punishment. They seem to think this will change society for the better by taking that negative aspect out. Wrong behavior must be dealt with for society to function as a whole, rather than be fragmented into small cells of differing ideologies and opinions. 

            Since Almighty God knows all that can be known and therefore knows the hearts of men (women & children as well), then we ought to follow His lead and not our own. Now we must obey the law and so I am certainly not saying we should obey God’s Word to the exclusion of all else. We must obey local laws, whether we agree with them or not. But we should be led by the statutes of God to achieve a peaceful, loving way of life where good triumphs over evil. God’s way is the way we are to follow because His statutes are not influenced by opinion or prejudice or pre-conceived ideas. God is not susceptible to any outside influence for He is the grand designer of both mankind and the world he lives in. 

            God is just because His fairness works for everyone if they truly seek fairness and honesty. There is no sin or corruption in the Lord. That cannot be said of man. Submit to the wisdom and power of Almighty God and live in peaceful harmony with your fellow man.

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

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Thoughts from a Random Mind

“In every trial and affliction, we must always trust that Jesus knows what He is doing, and that all He does is done in infinite wisdom and love for us, and so it is the best for us.” - - Charles Spurgeon

 

            The key word in this statement from Rev. Spurgeon is “trust”.  The way the word is used has everything to do with the context in which it is used. The way it’s used above reveals that Spurgeon is speaking of trust in Jesus and by association, Almighty God. 

            Whenever we go thru a trial or some sort of affliction we must rely on and have confidence in the fact that the Lord knows exactly what He’s doing. We must learn to cast all fear and apprehension off like a winter parka on a 100 degree day. Our acceptance of God’s ability to be relied upon will cause you to sleep better at night.  

            Our confidence in God means we trust that He is reliable, honest, and has a high level of integrity. Not being in control of our own life’s trajectory can tend to be daunting, but in a relationship such as the one we have begun with God, that trust is a foundational piece that triggers mutual respect and personal security. Regardless of whatever happens to us in this life as a child of God, we can know that the Lord is with us wherever we go and when we make a foolish misstep, which we may do, the Lord is always watching and able to come to our aid in whatever form He feels is necessary.

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

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Thoughts from a Random Mind

         Something important to remember: God forgives, man does not. They resent and tend to hold grudges. They take things out of context and take things very personal. Now having said that I realize that is a “broad sweeping generalization” as I like to call them. Yes, there are gracious folks who do actually forgive, but forgetting it much harder. I get that. If you have a contrite heart you will be forgiven by God. That would be a heart that says “I messed up. I’m truly sorry and with Your help Lord I will not do it again.” Regret translates into contrition. God will forgive that every time. But people are not wired like God. They have feelings and emotions that get burned and hurt and sometimes they have difficulty in seeing past the infraction.

              I have a personal situation where my two girls don’t have anything to do with me. They were lied to and believed those lies and now want nothing to do with me. It would appear that there is no forgiveness in their heart toward me. It’s unfortunate, but that’s how life goes sometimes. Attempting to reestablish some sort of relationship over a ten year period came to nothing. Not wanting to get hurt again I have at least for the time being abandoned my attempts to reconcile. I pray for them, and myself, and a possible future reconciliation. I have left it in God’s hand.

             So if you have folks who have not forgiven you, pray over the entire situation in the hope that forgiveness will manifest itself in the form of a reconciliation between both parties.  It can happen, but patience is required. God moves in hidden and mysterious ways His wonders to perform. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.” – Isaiah 55:8-9. Like me, leave it in God’s more than capable hands and hope for a resolution in His time.

            Until next time, treat others as you’d like to be treated.

In His Name & for His glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Thoughts from a Random Mind

Our “old man”, aka, our old sinful nature, CAN be snuffed out like a cheap cigar if that is your desire. Stop feeding him. Feed your spirit man instead. Once saved your desires should start to realign themselves with the Lords desires FOR YOU. Because of the free will that God offers us all, one doesn’t HAVE to stop feeding the old nature, because there’s a good chance your past life has some pleasurable moments that you’d like to replicate. But does that help you grow spiritually AND is it pleasing to the Lord. We can do as we choose. We don’t HAVE to conform to God’s will for us, but if we choose not to we are shortchanging ourselves in a very big way with regards to that which will benefit us the most. 

            To do our own thing means we think we know better than our Creator what benefits us the most. With the influence of the “prince of the power of the air” ^[1] (Satan) we’ll have a difficult time adhering to God’s statutes. That’s why our focus cannot be on the past events that have brought us pleasure. We must readjust our way of thinking and make our main goal to emulate Christ and follow the directives of the Lord. 

            The problem many have regarding the “old man” is that he just doesn’t have the good grace to stay buried. He’s constantly trying to claw his way back into our lives. It takes a “stick to it” attitude and determination to thwart the enemies attacks. Put on your spiritual armor 

(Ephesians 6), call on the name of the Lord, rebuke the enemy in Jesus’ name. This approach works if you’re locked into a steady, rock solid relationship with God. You are His child and as a good Father, God provides for and protects us. He strengthens us and guides us by His Holy Spirit who resides within us once saved. Feed your spirit man and starve the old man. He no longer has to have any hold on you. Believe that and you shall be free of him.

            Until next time, serve God & praise His name.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

^[1] Ephesians 2:2 NIV

Thoughts from a Random Mind

            Do you understand that there is nothing you can do to gain God’s favor? Do you know that you are totally unworthy of His grace and mercy? Scripture says ALL fall short of the mark for ALL are overrun by sin. Once redeemed there is still nothing you can do to gain God’s favor. God doesn’t love you because you are worthy of His love, you are worthy of His love because He is gracious. 

Grace is UNDESERVED FAVOR. GRACE stands for “God’s Riches at Christ’s Expense”. All of mankind is worthy of hell fire, but by God’s unfailing mercy and love for His creation we are all given the opportunity to shed our sin skin and rise up as a NEW CREATION in Christ. If you’ve already made the choice to follow and serve Christ than nothing can take that salvation away from you. Your soul has been bought and paid for by Christ’s blood.  If you haven’t decided to follow Christ yet what on earth are you waiting for? This world of sin and sorrow offers NOTHING of any lasting value. The trinkets this world offers us are worthless in God’s eyes. You can’t be good enough to get into heaven. Jesus said there’s NO ONE who is good except the Father. Salvation isn’t something you EARN. No. It is a free gift bought with blood. Eternity hangs in the balance. Prior to redemption we walk a tightrope between heaven and hell. Once redeemed that tightrope becomes a bridge made from the wooden cross on which Christ was crucified. That bridge will take you all the way to where God is in heaven. Live for Christ and have no regrets.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Thoughts from a Random Mind

Life sure can be frustrating, what with all the lies and corruption in the world. Immoral and unethical behavior have permeated our world. It can drive a well-grounded follower of Christ to distraction. I’ve begun to hate watching the news. NO GOOD NEWS. But that raises an important question… why am I looking for good news in an ungodly world? The enemy likes things just the way they are and revels in it. However, once the dust settles amid the chaos we see that God is STILL ON HIS THRONE and in control of ALL THINGS that transpire. He causes or allows all things for his own purposes. If we walk closely with him then we truly have NOTHING TO FEAR.

Having said that I know that fear is purely a mental thing. I know because I’ve struggled with anxiety since the 1980’s. I make it thru life with two different medications. I also deal with claustrophobia. It keeps me from doing certain things. I used to be embarrassed being a Christian and dealing with these problems, but I’m not embarrassed any longer. I’m a human being, just like everybody else. I’m not superman because I’m saved. I’ve had little victories dealing with anxious moments as I prayed my way thru them. The mental part can be difficult to combat. It’s a war for the psyche of men. Our ability to reason is under attack by the one who will literally do anything to screw with us. 

Because I have these issues come up from time to time does that make me a poor Christian? Absolutely not. I used to think so until I realized it had no bearing on my relationship with the Lord whatsoever. The Lord knows all the intricacies regarding our lives. As a matter of fact there is NOTHING the Lord doesn’t know about you. I know for a fact that God DOES NOT ever say, “You have problems with anxiety? Get that fixed then come back to see me.” NEVER - NEVER - NEVER... God never turns us away. He loves and accepts us JUST the way we are. He made us, he knows how we’re fearfully & wonderfully made. When you’re afraid, give it over to the Lord. It works. Trust God. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Thoughts from a Random Mind

            It seems to me that simple common courtesies are becoming extinct. Hold a door for someone. Greeting a person with a cheery disposition. Paying for the coffee of the person behind you in line whether you know them or not. Giving others the right of way on the road. You just don’t see that sort of thing much anymore. At least not in New Jersey.

            Now I realize that is what I refer to as a broad sweeping generalization. Just because I don’t happen to see it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist, but as far as I’m concerned you really have to look for it to find it. Shouldn’t it be commonplace or is that asking too much?

            As a believer in Christ I believe it’s something Jesus would do. My father taught me to treat all people with respect, especially women. Common courtesy was nestled in those lessons. So perhaps it’s lacking because parents just don’t take the time to impart it to their kids. Or maybe they took the time, but the kids blew it off as unimportant. I don’t really know, but I DO know that when you perform a common courtesy for someone, they appreciate it, almost as if they thought it had died out as well. But an old dinosaur like me still looks to bless others every chance I get. It costs nothing to be kind, but the dividends can be enormous. It could start a revolution of sorts just like it the movie “Paying It Forward”. * Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

*The movie Pay It Forward, with Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt & Haley Joel Osment, came out in the fall of 2000. It was a Warner Bros. film. Great movie ... if you haven’t seen it check it out. You won’t be sorry.

Taking a Look at Scripture

“Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.” - Psalm 37:3-5 NLT

            Let’s first look that the definition for the word “trust”.  Trust is the “firm belief in the integrity, ability, or character of a person or thing; confidence or reliance in that person or thing.” In this particular case the “person”happens to be Almighty God. Here we see advice to those whose hearts are towards God.  

We are seeing another “if-then” clause, even though the word “if” isn’t being used here. For all intents and purposes you could really slide it in the beginning of the verse so it reads – “IF you trust the Lord and do good, THEN you will live safely in the land and prosper.”

Prosperity isn’t always referring to financial gain. In God’s realm prosperity is tied directly to spiritual growth and maturity; growing in the things of the Lord. Money is temporal; here today and gone tomorrow. The accumulation of monetary wealth, while not intrinsically wrong, is NOT what is important in God’s kingdom. 

A lot of people misinterpret the next sentence. Delight in the Lord & he will give you whatever your heart desires. Our heart has the potential to deceive us. I believe it is implied that our heart’s desires should be linked to our intimate relationship with the Lord. In other words, I wouldn’t expect to receive a brand new Maserati or other sports car because you know the Lord and have a heartfelt desire to own one. It’s not going to happen. I mean you can MAKE it happen by going deep in debt by buying one, but the consequences of that decision could crush you in the long run financially. No, I believe it’s safe to say that God is hoping you’ve matured enough as a follower of Christ that your heart’s desire should have something to do with drawing closer to him in some way. Aside from spiritually growth and maturity, it seems to me that the Lord isn’t terribly interested in some of the crazy things we feel we have to have. Just sayin’...

Whatever you do in this life, commit it to God. Your schoolwork, your job performance, your responsibilities as a husband or wife, father or mother. These things are vital to your existence in this life as you serve Christ. Again the word “trust” comes into play. As you strive to commit every aspect of your life to the Lord, trust him and he WILL help you. It’s a promise.

As a matter of fact it’s 1 of 3 promises God makes to us in these verses. 

            We trust in a lot of crazy things in this life. Trust in God. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Dictionary used is the American Heritage Dictionary.

Note: Psalm 37 is a Psalm of David.

Taking a Look at Scripture

“It is better to be godly & have little than to be evil & rich. For the strength of the wicked will be shattered, but the Lord takes care of the godly.” – Psalm 37:16-17 NLT

                  Do not envy the wealth of the unsaved, for everything in this world is temporal. If it were not true than we’d only have to buy one of everything as it would last forever, but that isn’t the case is it? Companies wouldn’t be able to stay in business if people only bought one item and never had to replace it. 

            Do not be attracted to the shiny baubles or glittery jewels. The enemy does his best to lure you into striving after such things, but there is no future in it. True perpetual peace and satisfaction only comes from knowing the Lord. 

A question for nonbelievers - If you don’t know the Lord then realistically how can you speak against him. By regurgitating falsehoods you have bought into? Does your curiosity go no deeper than that? Is the concept of digging for nuggets of truth that foreign to you or are you just spiritually lazy? 

            There is a serious movement against Christianity. Not against ANY other religion, just the one true God and his Son Jesus. Some non-believers feel we’re out to conquer the world, forcing people to convert to our way of thinking. That is completely false. The free will God allows his creation gives us all the right to believe whatever way we choose. Then he shows all thru his word a better way to live. Accept it or reject it, that’s an individuals choice. 

            Justice WILL come for the evil ones of the earth. Retribution is coming for those who have blasphemed against the Most High God. A reckoning of sorts. In this sin-sick world evil has received NO consequences due to the corrupt evil that exists throughout the globe. But permanent and eternal consequences originating directly from God’s throne IS coming. NO evil shall escape the wrath of our Holy God.  Live a Godly life for He will take good care of us all. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries