Wanna Get High?

http://fieldnotes.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/10/17/8370150-support-for-legalizing-pot-hits-all-time-high

Support for marijuana legalization is at an all time high (no pun intended).  However, so is depression.  What bothers me is that there is that Marijuana is still considered a schedule one drug, which means that it:

"(A) The drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse.

(B) The drug or other substance has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.

(C) There is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision."


In other words, this drug has ZERO positive effects.  Oh sure it might help you relax (until the paranoia sets in), and might make you laugh (at things that really aren't funny), but pretty much all of us also knew (or currently know) someone who has become so addicted to the drug that is has negatively affected their lives in numerous negative ways.  


I am convinced that deep down, people use this drug to escape reality and fight a sense of emptiness or depression (whether they know it, or accept it or not).  


People who abuse this drug want to feel good, they want to get high. All of us want to feel good, to get a "high" if you wiil...


But... 


To quote the Christian Rap Group Frontlynaz: "WHAT'S HIGHER THAN HEAVEN?!?!"


I can tell you as a person who was saved by Jesus Christ, there is no better feeling than knowing that no matter what happens, heaven and Christ is waiting for me.  I want to tell you about heaven and how to get there.  But before I can do that, I need to tell you about the harsh reality.


God has standards (laws) that he requires us to obey.  I'm sure you have heard of the ten commandments.  Let's take a look at just a few of them:


Have you ever stolen something?  Lied?  Used God's name as a cuss word?  Lusted after someone?  If you have, that means you are guilty of breaking God's laws.  So if you died right now and stood before God, that would make you guilty.  And since God is a good judge, he wont be bribed by our "good deeds" and must make sure that justice is served.  That means that if you are found guilty, He must send you to hell.


How does that make you feel?  Does that scare you? It should.  


...But there is good news....


2,000 years ago, God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the penalty for your sins.  He willingly sacrificed Himself, taking the punishment that you (and I) deserve so that we have the opportunity to be with Him in heaven forever.


Isn't that great news!?!  You are probably asking yourself, "What do I need to do to be saved from hell and to get into heaven?".  God knows that we will constantly struggle with sin and trying to do right rather than wrong.  So all he asks of us is that we repent (change our mind and attitude about our sin, desiring not to sin anymore) and believe in Jesus Christ and we can be CERTAIN that we will be saved.


I hope this makes sense to you.  Please feel free to drop me a line if you have any questions.  I also highly recommend watching the video in the upper right hand corner of this webpage for a video explanation of the good news of Jesus Christ.


God bless you!


Kneel

Racing to Eternity

Dan Wheldon died today in a MASSIVE crash at an Indy Car race in Las Vegas, Nevada (sin city).  The crash was horrific with a few cars going airborne for over 100 yards, bursting into flames and others being torn apart by the high speeds and concrete.  Dan Wheldon died later in the hospital.  My prayers go out to his friends and family.    

Every 16 minutes in the Unites States someone dies in a car crash.  We might be doing everything right not speeding, obeying traffic laws, hands at 10 and 2 and then bang: we get hit from behind by a drunk driver and that's it.  We are dead.  

Even if we don't die in a car crash, we all die one day.  All of us really are in one way or another racing toward eternity (our death).

So obviously the question is, what happens next?

The Bible tells us that we die and then comes judgement (Hebrews 9:27).  That means that God looks at our lives and has a record of every bad thing (sin) that we have thought, said or done throughout our lives.  

How would you do?  Let's take a look at just four of God's laws:

Have you ever stolen something?  Lied?  Looked lustfully at someone?  Used God's name as a cuss word (Blasphemy.  Like saying "Oh my G-d!")?  If you have, that makes you guilty of breaking God's laws.  And just like any good judge, God mush punish those evil deeds that you and I have done, even if you and I feel really sorry for them (otherwise he wouldn't be a good/fair judge).  

Does it concern you that being guilty of these things means that you will be going to hell?  I hope it concerns you, because there is a way out that I want to tell you about.

2,000 years ago God sent his only son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross and to take the punishment that you and I both deserve since we are guilty of sin.  Jesus told His father "I want to take the penalty for (insert your name here).  I love him/her and want to take their place on the cross."

Can you see how much Jesus Christ loves you?  He was willing to take nails through his feet and wrists, being humiliated and tortured willingly so that you and I could avoid hell and go to heaven.  He died and three days later rose from the dead, proving His power over death so that we can be saved from hell.  

This isn't something that we can earn (Ephesians 2:8-10, Titus 3:5).  It is a GIFT of God.  All we need to do is to repent (change our mind about sin, doing our best not to do them anymore) and believe in Jesus Christ and will can be given the free gift of eternal paradise.

I pray that would would choose to repent and believe in Jesus Christ RIGHT NOW, before it is too late!

God bless you!

Kneel 

Occupy Heaven

There has been a lot of coverage about the "Occupy Wall Street" (and locally, "Occupy Portland") movement recently. But I am much more concerned about another movement that started thousands of years ago, that I would like to call "Occupy Heaven".

All of us want to "Occupy Heaven" one day. Who wouldn't? Gone is the hardship and sin of the world. Instead of a 9-5, bills, bosses, disease, pain and the curse of pride, we get to spend forever in an infinitely rewarding relationship with our creator and all of the other people in heaven in a city so beautiful it is beyond words.

Most people think they are good enough to get to heaven just the way they are.  The fact is NO ONE is good enough just the way they are to enter heaven (Romans 3:23).  Anyone who says different is a liar (1 John 1:8).  Since no one who has sinned can get into heaven (Romans 6:23) that means that ALL of us (myself included) are marching toward hell (Revelations 21:8).

Does that concern you?  How does that make you feel to know that as of right now (if you do not believe in Jesus Christ) that you are headed for hell?  I hope that concerns you greatly, because I do not want to see you go there!

But there is good news; If you repent of your sins (change your mind about sin) and believe in Jesus Christ (Mark 1:15) you will be saved!  There is no "catch".  No amount of "good deeds" that can get you into heaven.  Only trusting in Jesus Christ as your lord and savior can get you there (John 14:6, Acts 4:12).

I pray that I see you "Occupying Heaven" one day with me.

God bless you!

Kneel

Waterfront Outreach: 10/15/11

...Yes He is...

Today we had quite a turn out downtown (at least on the evangelists side of things).  There were nearly a dozen people there with the intention of sharing the gospel in one way, shape or form.  I finally got back up on the box for the first time since July and, though it was scary, it felt really good.  

Carlen got up to preach first this morning and I couldn't help but totally dig his sweatshirt.  He preached a very biblical message and it struck me how kind he was in the middle of his sermon to help a lady get a leaf out of her hair.  I know it seems like a small thing, but I think him doing that really shows his heart for how he cares about people, weather it is helping them with a small aspect of their physical appearance, or giving them the life saving message of the gospel.

After Carlen, I got up to preach.

I hadn't preached since late July and in another state, so to say that I was rusty was an understatement.  I tried tying in the "Occupy Portland" movement with my own spin by using "Occupy Heaven" as a tie in.  Foolishly, I tried to depend on my own cleverness instead of simply preaching the gospel, and my preaching suffered because of it.  I should have a video of it posted here soon.  Kind criticism and advice is welcomed. 

Justin  got up and preached after that.  Jared was confronted by someone asking where Cain got his wife (a common objection that is easily answered).  I only caught part of it because I was talking with my friend Jared, who came out for the first time to witness (praise God for his willingness and spirit!) and ended up talking to a man named Todd for quite a while.  Todd's father is having some major health concerns at the moment, so please keep him in your prayers.  Also keep Todd in your prayers as he is wrestling with his faith at the moment.

It was a great day to be down there and I can't wait to try out the prayer stand next week.  My mother (bless her) has the flu and was unable to finish the sign.  

If you would like to join us one day, let me know.

God bless you!

Kneel

Rest In Peace Al Davis

Al Davis passed away this weekend.  I must confess, I CAN'T STAND THE RAIDERS!  But I do have Al Davis to thank for the NFL as I know it today.  He was THE reason why the NFL and AFL merged 41 years ago.  Without him, my beloved Seahawks might not have ever come into existence.     

When I think about the Raiders, two phrases come to mind: "Commitment to Excellence" and "Just win, baby!".  I can't help but think that these phrases are somewhat contradictory.  "Commitment to Excellence" has a very noble sound to it.  Excellence.  Commitment.  These are two things that are now rare in a society today that emphasizes "Do whatever feels good" or "That might be true (excellent?) for you, but it's not for me.".  It emphasizes the fact that there is something objectively excellent and that we should be committed to it.  I couldn't agree more.  

However, the flip side is the "Just Win Baby" slogan.  "Just Win Baby" speaks to doing whatever it takes to win (even if it means cheating or playing dirty).  This seems to be the antithesis to "Commitment to Excellence".  Is that not inconsistent, maybe even hypocritical? 

I don't bring this up to take shots at a dead man.  Anything but.  I bring this up to exemplify the fallenness of human nature.  Even a man who, I would think, would agree that there is objective right and wrong would admit that in his life, did things that were wrong.  I am guilty of this as well.

I pray that Al Davis had a saving relationship with Jesus Christ and that I will get to meet him in person one day in heaven.  But we must all face the reality that some day, we will stand before God and have to make an account for the times that we weren't "Committed to Excellence" in our lives and fell into sin.  

What will you say on that day when you stand before God?  Will you try and depend on some "good" things you have done so that God will overlook the bad?  The bible tells us that our good deeds are "filthy menstrual rags" to God.  We can never do enough good things to undo the bad things we are guilty of.  If a serial killer tried to get out of murdering 10 people by telling the judge that he saved 15 people from a house fire, does that make him innocent of murder?  No.  Justice must still be served.

Our only hope lies in faith in Jesus Christ (John 14:6, Acts 4:12).  I urge you, please turn from your sin and trust in Jesus Christ to save you from your sins.

Steve Jobs: An Amazing Life...but what now?

I heard about Steve Jobs passing yesterday and had some thoughts.

As much as I dislike Apple, Jobs' ability as a visionary and leader cannot be denied. He truly changed the world and his contributions will be recognized and impact our world for generations. He was extremely wealthy, respected and influential.

...but, for him, that is all gone now...

Now he has come to know the reality of Jesus Christ. His 56 years making an impact on earth are now just a puff of smoke and now comes judgement. Now he must answer to God for his sins. His only hope is that Christ will vouch for him to avoid eternity away from the presence of God.

I do not claim to know the man personally, nor can I make an authoritative judgement as to where the man is now.  But in doing a little research, I have to to find out the man was Buddhist.  That mean's that if he died a Buddhist, without saving faith in Christ, his empire and legacy are no comfort to him where he is now.  Now he has the eternal regret of not knowing Christ to bare on his soul.  I say this with sadness as I desire that no one be without God for eternity.  I take no joy in my estimation (that is a guess not a statement of fact) that Steve Jobs died without saving faith in Christ

But, regardless of the sadness I feel, I can not deny scripture and what it teaches:

1) ALL of us have sinned. NONE of us (myself included) are "Good people".  Don't believe me?

2) We ALL will be judged by God one day regardless of what we believed or if we believed in God. (Hebrews 9:27)

3) Faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is the ONLY way we will escape God's wrath.  (John 14:6, Acts 4:12, John 8:24)

4) We are called to repent and believe, and my prayer is that if you have not already, that you will one day.

May lives be changed for the glory of God and the salvation of souls be achieved from Mr. Jobs' passing.

Kneel

Courageous the Movie

Today, my wife and I went to go see the movie "Courageous" with the Christian club at the school I teach at.  The movie was great: Heartwarming, convicting, though provoking, funny (the "Snake King" part had me in stitches) and biblical.  I was really impressed with the quality of the film given the small budget and I really hope that the team behind this movie continues to make more.  Movies like these are SO needed in our culture today.

There were men (MORE than one) in the audience that were visibly touched and convicted by this film's powerful call for biblical fatherhood in our society today.  The gospel was pretty well presented (could have been a bit more clear) and the dependence upon God was a reoccurring theme throughout.

I URGE you not to just wait to see this movie on DVD.  PLEASE make the effort to go see and support this movie in the theaters so that it sends a message that Americans want more Christ-centered movies!

God bless,

Kneel

My very first time open air preaching: Luke 23

My very first time open air preaching.  It is NOT easy to do.  But it is even harder for me to suppress the urge to share the gospel.

Something I have learned about open air preaching since this time is how important it is to pray and to have others pray for you.  When I went to the Ambassador's Academy, I tried open airing a few times, and every time I did so with no prayer or very shallow prayer, my preaching was awful.  I would forget things, you know important things, like the Resurrection (duh?).  But when I really prayed, had others praying for me, and relied on God and not myself, the message was much better.

I really encourage you to get out there an try it, at least once.  It is scary but also incredibly satisfying to literally shout the gospel to a dying world.  Radically obeying God IS radically satisfying!