Find God-Here's how!

Knowing God Personally

Find God - What does it take to know God? This will explain how you can personally begin a relationship with God, right now.

What does it take to begin a relationship with God? Wait for lightning to strike? Devote yourself to unselfish religious deeds? Become a better person so that God will accept you? NONE of these. God has made it very clear in the Bible how we can know Him. This will explain how you can personally begin a relationship with God, right now...

Principle One: God loves you and offers a wonderful plan for your life. God created you. Not only that, he loves you so much that he wants you to know him now and spend eternity with him. Jesus said, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life."1 Jesus came so that each of us could know and understand God in a personal way. Jesus alone can bring meaning and purpose to life. What keeps us from knowing God? ...

Principle Two: All of us sin and our sin has separated us from God. We sense that separation, that distance from God because of our sin. The Bible tells us that "All of us like sheep have gone astray; each of us has turned to his own way."2 Deep down, our attitude may be one of active rebellion or passive indifference toward God and his ways, but it's all evidence of what the Bible calls sin. The result of sin in our lives is death -- spiritual separation from God.3 Although we may try to get close to God through our own effort, we inevitably fail. This diagram shows the great gap that exists between us and God. The arrows illustrate how we might try to reach God through our own efforts. We may try to do good things in life, or earn God's acceptance through a good life or a moral philosophy. But our good efforts are insufficient to cover up our sin. How can we bridge this gulf?...

Principle Three: Jesus Christ is God's only provision for our sin. Through him we can know and experience God's love and plan for our life. We deserve to pay for our own sin. The problem is, the payment is death. So that we would not have to die separated from God, out of his love for us, Jesus Christ died in our place. The Bible states that Jesus is "the image of the invisible God...by him all things were created...."4 Jesus was crucified for blasphemy -- for clearly identifying himself as equal to God -- which he was. On the cross, Jesus took all of our sin on himself and completely, fully paid for it. "For Christ also died for sins...the just for the unjust, so that he might bring us to God."5 "...he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy."6 Because of Jesus' death on the cross, our sin doesn't have to separate us from God any longer. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life."7 Jesus not only died for our sin, he rose from the dead.8 When he did, he proved beyond doubt that he can rightfully promise eternal life -- that he is the Son of God and the only means by which we can know God. That is why Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life; no one can come to the Father except through me."9 Instead of trying harder to reach God, he tells us how we can begin a relationship with him right now. Jesus says, "Come to me." "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me... out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."10 It was Jesus' love for us that caused him to endure the cross. And he now invites us to come to him, that we might begin a personal relationship with God. Just knowing what Jesus has done for us and what he is offering us is not enough. To have a relationship with God, we need to welcome him into our life...

Principle Four: We must individually accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. The Bible says, "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."11 We accept Jesus by faith. The Bible says, "God saved you by his special favour when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it."12 Accepting Jesus means believing that Jesus is the Son of God, who he claimed to be, then inviting him to guide and direct our lives.13 Jesus said, "I came that you might have life, and have it more abundantly."14 And here is Jesus' invitation. He said, "I'm standing at the door and I'm knocking. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in."15 How will you respond to God's invitation? Consider these two circles: Self-Directed Life Self is on the throne Jesus is outside the life Decisions and actions are solely directed by self, often resulting in frustration Christ-Directed Life Jesus is in the life and on the throne Self is yielding to Jesus The person sees Jesus' influence and direction in their life Which circle best represents your life? Which circle would you like to have represent your life? Begin a relationship with Jesus...

You can receive Christ right now. Remember that Jesus says, "I'm standing at the door and I'm knocking. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in."¹⁶ Would you like to respond to his invitation? Here's how.
The precise words you use to commit yourself to God are not important. He knows the intentions of your heart. If you are unsure of what to pray, this might help you put it into words:

"Jesus, I want to know you. I want you to come into my life. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sin so that I could be fully accepted by you. Only you can give me the power to change and become the person you created me to be. Thank you for forgiving me and giving me eternal life with God. I give my life to you. Please do with it as you wish. Amen."

If you sincerely asked Jesus into your life just now, then he has come into your life as he promised. You have begun a personal relationship with God.
What follows is a lifelong journey of change and growth as you get to know God better through Bible reading, prayer and interaction with other Christians.

The Christian's Hate Life's

           The Christian's Hate Life's

by                                                Pastor Jack Hyles

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       General Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army, once said he feared the day when the Salvation Army would have a salvation without regeneration, faith without repentance, and Heaven without Hell.  He could have added "love without hate," for it is impossible to have true love without hate. One cannot love flowers without hating weeds. He cannot love health without hating disease. He cannot love God without hating Satan. He cannot love peace without hating war.
The truth is there is no quality without its opposite. There is no high without low, no hot without cold, no large without small, no tall without short, and no in without out. There is no merit in a plus without the potential of a minus. There is no true patience without the potential of impatience. There is no true good without the potential of bad. There is no courage without fear, no true gentleness without strength, no admirable kindness without the potential of temper, and certainly one cannot love if he does not hate its opposite and its enemy.
Patience without potential impatience is laziness. Courage without potential fear is recklessness. Gentleness without potential strength is pacifism. Kindness without potential temper is weakness.
A smile without a potential frown is unawareness. Love without hate is hypocrisy and is not love at all.
The truth is that one loves as much as he hates. The more a mother loves her child, the more she hates the cancer that would take that child's life. The more a gardener loves his flowers, the more he hates the weeds that surround them. The more a mechanic loves his cars the more he hates the rust that paralyzes them. The more a judge loves justice, the more he hates the crime. The more a doctor loves his patients, the more he hates the germs. The more a Christian loves God, the more he hates sin and the things that are anti-Christ.
Now what should the Christian hate? He should hate what God hates.
1. He should hate quitting. Psalm 101:3, "I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me."
2. He should hate every false way. Psalm 119:104, "Through Thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way." When someone says a person can go to Heaven by good works, the Christian should hate it. Now he should not hate the person who says it but he should hate the false way. When someone says that one can go to Heaven by taking of the sacraments, joining the church, or getting baptized, the Christian should find hatred swelling in his heart for the false way. There is no way to love God's way to Heaven without hating Satan's false ways to Heaven.
When I was in college, there was a fellow student who was married and had six children. He had not been saved for long and had been saved from a life of extreme wickedness. His vocabulary had been something less than Christian in his past life. Soon after he came to college, a small country church called him to be its pastor. One Sunday morning he was preaching on Calvary. He was describing what they did to Jesus on the cross. He blamed this on the Devil. He got so mad at the Devil that he began cursing him with the most profane language that one can imagine. He cursed and cursed and cursed as the people sat stunned in disbelief.
Suddenly, he realized what he was doing. He closed his Bible and walked quietly to the door, got in his car, and drove off. For several minutes the congregation sat silently until the chairman of the board of deacons who was sitting on the front row rose to his feet. He looked at the people, cleared his throat, and said something like this: "Folks, I heard what you heard. I have never in my life heard such a display of profanity. However, I have been sitting here for several minutes thinking about what our pastor said. I have come to the conclusion that he expressed perfectly my opinion of the Devil. Now we all know our pastor lived a wicked life before he was saved, and though he used words he should not have used, at least we do have a pastor who hates the Devil. Why don't we vote to give him a raise in pay and keep him as our pastor!"
The congregation enthusiastically endorsed this action. (Now I would not suggest that pastors who read this attempt to secure a raise of pay in this manner.)
I myself do not think the pastor should have used these words, but I do have more respect for a preacher who will curse the Devil than I do for one who will ask him to lead in prayer on the platform.
3. He should hate empty ritual. Amos 5:21, "I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies."
4. He should hate an evil heart against his neighbors. Zechariah 8:17, "And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the Lord."
5. He should hate lying. Psalm 119:163, "I hate and abhor lying: but Thy law do I love."
6. He should hate idolatry. Jeremiah 44:4,5, "Howbeit I sent unto you all my servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, saying, Oh, do not this abominable thing that I hate."
But they hearkened not, nor inclined their hearts to turn from their wickedness, to burn no incense to other gods.''
7. He should hate vain thoughts. Psalm 119:113, "I hate vain thoughts but thy law do I love."
8. He should hate a proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood. Proverbs 6:16-19, "These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto Him: a proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among the brethren."
One Sunday morning one of our fine ladies brought a visitor to the services. While I was preaching, the visitor looked over to the member and asked, "Who is he mad at?" Whereupon my member assured her that I was not mad; it just appeared that I was. After the service I heard about the conversation, and I announced that I was preaching the next Sunday on, "I Am Mad, Too." In the sermon I said that the Christian should hate. He should hate the narcotics which is ruining our young people. He should hate the liquor which destroys so many lives and homes.
He should hate communism which is dedicated to the destruction of our Christian society. He should hate the atheism and humanism that is pervading our college campuses. He should hate the nudity that is destroying our morals. He should hate the permissiveness which is ruining our youth. He should hate the adult bookstores, the sensitivity parlors, the dirty movie industry, and, for that matter, even the sin of his own life that causes him so much heartache.
Yes, the Christian does have a hate life. God does!

WateR BaptisM

I got Baptised on the 09th of September 2012, and thought i would do research and find an article to explain the Water Baptism in Full:

Water Baptism
By Andy Zoppelt

What it Means

"Primarily a frequentative form of bapto, 'to dip,' was used among the Greeks to signify the dyeing of a garment, or the drawing of water by dipping a vessel into another, etc. Plutarchus uses it of the drawing of wine by dipping the cup into the bowl." (Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words)

The Greek definition of Baptize, "Gk baptízein to immerse = bápt (ein) to bathe" (The Random House Webster's Dictionary)

The word baptize is actually a transliteration rather than a translation of the Greek word. So what you have is a word that has not been translated. The churches during time when many of our scriptures were being translated, were practicing the sprinkling of babies as the mode of baptism. Therefore the translators were prejudicially inclined to transliterate baptizo, hiding its real function and meaning. To translate baptizo into immersion would have been a direct challenge to the practice of sprinkling. The word given in the Greek dictionaries would be better translated immersion. In Luke 3:21, we read: "When all the people were being baptized…" In our scripture in Luke 3:21, it would have been better understood, if the word was translated rather than transliterated. Example: "the people were being immersed…" Translating would have ended the controversy as to mode.

Even today's modern translators continue with the transliteration of baptizo, probably for the same reasons they did in the past. Why do we therefore continue to transliterate baptizo? It must be that it would be offensive to the baby-sprinklers and therefore limiting the circulation.

Consider for a moment the great commission, as it is called, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, immersing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…." (Matt 28:19-20)

It would be the Great Offense to many churches that practice sprinkling, commanding them not only to "make disciples," but also to immerse repentant sinners.

Purpose Of Baptism  

Enough said about the mode of baptism, it is a point that I do not want to belabor. Let us now turn our attention to the "reason" for its practice, for this is at the very heart of the subject.

John the Baptist plainly stated the reason for his baptizing, "I baptize you with water for (Gr., eis, into or result of) repentance" (Mt 3:11).

This speaks of purpose, in other words, "I baptize you because or the result of repentance." Earlier in Matt 3:7,8, john was warning them "… to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance."

Baptism was more than a "symbol" of salvation, it was a stand, a commitment, a seal of their repentance to follow Christ and His teaching. Repentance implies a total "turn" from the world, friends and family if need be. "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters-yes, even his own life-he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:26-27)

When the first Jewish converts repented and were baptized, they were perceived and marked as being separated and living apart from their previous Jewish roots. Where in reality, they were reestablishing their roots. Baptism to the pharisaical Jews, was not perceived as a simple symbol, it was understood as a change in life and position that threatened and condemned the pharisaical Jewish way of living.

Today's baptisms are rarely followed by a radical change in life and position, so no real threat is imposed. We maintain much the same life and often have the same "besetting sins." If fact, because we are baptized without attending fruit, we are justly criticized for being hypocrites by the world. Our foundation of repentance and baptism is greatly flawed.

Salvation today is based on the sinner as to whether or not they will accept Jesus Christ. One would think that Jesus was on trial. This flaw is later evidenced when Jesus does not follow up on their selfish, self-centered demands, they get angry and leave. They kind of dis-receive Jesus, if you will. This only points to the problem of sending the wrong message to the sinner at the beginning.

The word "saints," means the "consecrated" or separate ones. It is similar in meaning to the word church, where church means the "called out" ones. Therefore repentance coupled with baptism is a stand that one is dead, separated from the world and called out to be a functioning part of the many-membered body of Christ. They are dead to their old lives and the world and called to an unselfish, loving and holy walk with the Lord. True repentance will produce the fruit of the Spirit that will be productive to the building up of the living body of Christ. Baptism is meant to represent our public confession and stand that we have come out of one life and resurrected into another. When we are baptized, we are making a statement of change, change of authority, change of friends and family if necessary, a turning away from sin and a clinging to Christ and His word. It should be like a wedding vow, "For better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do us part." Baptism implies that you will no longer permit sin to have "dominion" over you. In Heb 12:4, it says, "In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood." In other words, we have not kept our commitment to fight against sin at all cost. our baptism was therefore meaningless and without a real foundation in repentance. When we made a decision in baptism, we made the decision to forsake our old life with its sins and to rise up in a new life of obedience and commitment to Christ life.

our walk is the evidence of our fruit and not our talk.

Incidentally, "repent" is from the Greek word metanoia, which means a change in mental attitudes and conduct. It is a 180-degree change. In Romans 12:2, it says, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed (metamorphoo, we get our word metamorphosis from that word, a change in form) by the renewing of your mind (nous)."

Conclusion

Putting it all together, in repentance we make a complete change in the "direction" of our attitude and behavior, we are therefore changed personally as our minds and thinking are constantly renewed in its commitment to be committed to giving ourselves over to Christ. Old things are passing away as a result and all things are becoming new. Christ is in us and we are living by His life (not Satan's, excusing our sin through grace!). I live to please Him and obey Him. I keep His commandments, love the saints with a sacrificial love and function within the community of saints.

About: The Organ Donor Foundation

THE ORGAN DONOR FOUNDATION

 
HISTORY

The Organ Donor Foundation was established in 1988 with the aim of addressing the critical shortage of organ and tissue donors in South Africa through awareness and education campaigns, thus increasing the number of transplants. 

 We also administer an Emergency Flight Plan, which pays for the transportation of vital organs from outlying areas to transplant hospitals. 

WHAT WE DO

• We administer a toll free line providing information to the public about organ donation
• We maintain an informative and easy to use website where people are able to register as organ donors on-line
• We distribute organ donor identification cards and information brochures to the public
• We run awareness and educational campaigns to educate the public and the medical fraternity about organ donation
• We finance emergency flights around South Africa to obtain organs

 STATISTICS

 
To highlight the urgent need for support, here are some frightening statistics: 

• There are approximately 1,400 South Africans, adults & children who are awaiting organ transplants.  These include:  Heart, lungs, kidney, pancreas and liver transplants   
• There are about 3,000 patients awaiting cornea transplants in South Africa
• Over 35,000 people require tissue & bone in the country
• At least 10 people a week suffering from end stage renal failure are sent home to die because of a shortage of space on dialysis machines
• During 2009, only 376 adults and children received a life-saving organ transplant
• 299 adults, 33 adolescents & 16 children had their sight restored through a cornea transplant in 2009
• One donor can dramatically improve the life of 15 patients
• In South Africa only 3 donors per million population is procured

 The above figures are conservative.  There are hundreds more who have no access to hospitals and doctors. 

 HOW TO BECOME AN ORGAN DONOR?

• Phone the Organ Donor Foundation’s toll free line (0800 22 66 11) for information
• They will send you an organ donor card to carry in your wallet and organ donor stickers for your ID book and driver’s licence
• Most important is to talk to your family.  Inform them of your wish to become an organ donor, as your organs cannot be procured for transplantation without consent from your next of kin.
• Or visit the Organ Donor Foundation’s website:  www.odf.org.za
• THERE ARE NO COSTS INVOLVED IN BECOMING AN ORGAN DONOR

 INTERESTING FACTS: 

• The following organs can be transplanted:  Hearts, lungs, kidneys, livers and pancreas
• The following tissue is also used: Corneas, heart valves, skin and bone
• People can agree to donate some organs and not others
• Anyone under the age of 70 who is in good health can be an organ donor
• You can change your mind about being an organ donor – simply tear up your organ donor card and inform your family that you no longer wish to be an organ donor

HOW WE ACHIEVE OUR OBJECTIVES

 We receive no funding from Government and rely entirely on funds donated by individuals and companies.  We also coordinate a number of fundraising projects and events to accrue further funding.

 If you would like to make a donation to the Organ Donor Foundation, you can make a direct deposit:         

ABSA Bank, Heerengracht

Acc. No: 01273580600

Branch code: 506009

Reference:  Your name and a contact number

The greatest gift someone can pass on is the gift of life.

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Projects - The Organ Donor Foundation

Projects - The Organ Donor Foundation

FoR My DoGGiE

JUST MY DOG

He is my other eyes that can see above

the clouds; my other ears that hear above

the winds. He is the part of me that can

reach out into the sea.

He has told me a thousand times over that

I am his reason for being: by the way he

rests against my leg; by the way he thumps

his tail at my smallest smile; by the way he

shows his hurt when I leave without taking him.

(I think it makes him sick with worry when he

is not along to care for me.)

When I am wrong, he is delighted to forgive.

When I am angry, he clowns to make me smile.

When I am happy, he is joy unbounded.

When I am a fool, he ignores it.

When I succeed, he brags.

Without him, I am only another man. With him,

I am all-powerful.

He is loyalty itself.

He has taught me the meaning of devotion.

With him, I know a secret comfort and a 

private peace. He has brought me understanding

where before I was ignorant.

His head on my knee can heal my human hurts.

His presence by my side is protection against

my fears of dark and unknown things.

He has promised to wait for me...

whenever...wherever--in case I need him. 

And I expect I will--as I always have.

He is just my dog

FoR YoU

ByE for NoW!!!

Hey Beautiful People!!

I just want to let you know that i will not be posting 

anything within the next week, i am going on an 

outreach to Mozambique until the 2nd of July.

Blog you all after that ;)

Lots and Lots of Jesus love: Jay * * *

Symbol Guide to understand a few posts

 = Ponder/Wrestle/Seek.

 = Don't let your brain get in the way.

 = See with your spiritual eyes.

 = Jesus' love, compassion.

 = Shocking! Did God/Jesus or the author really mean/say 

that?

 = Be of good cheer. It's okay.

Mission Possible

Mission Possible

We're in a battle brothers and sisters and we need to fight the good fight.

The battle is not for our salvation. If you have a personal relationship with Christ you've already been given salvation. And the battle isn't for the completed work of our sanctification. Jesus has promised to complete the work He began in us. We don't do it - we're branches and He is the vine. Apart from Jesus we can do nothing. 

So then, if Jesus does it all - saving us and sanctifying us - what is the battle about? What are we fighting for? 

The battle is letting Christ mature us (surrender) sooner rather than later, for the sake of the Kingdom. It's a spiritual battle to allow Christ to reign in us; to submit to who Christ is uniquely in each us for such a time as this. Jesus already won the War, but He desires to passionately love others through us now. His motivation and urgency is love.

The Mission

Soldiers in the middle of a high-intensity battle don't spend their time and energy focusing on themselves, for if they do, their mission is compromised and a fellow soldier may be wounded or killed. They are trained to focus on the mission. Satan's objective is to keep our hearts and eyes on ourselves and worldly desires to compromise The Mission. 

So, what is The Mission? The Mission is to love one another. We're called to love one another and those who don't know Jesus with Christ-like love (selfless, graceful, merciful, humble) and to spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Each of us in the body of Christ have been given gifts and talents and many of you are clear as well about an assignment God has given you - much like each soldier in the armed forces has a specific assignment. Our  Mission is to love God and love one another. Assignments are secondary. We can be frustrated and allow anxiety into our lives by focusing on assignments while not being clear and mature about The Mission. Keep your eyes and hearts on The Mission.

The Church isn't fighting well as a unit. We too often focus on our assignments at the expense of The Mission. We're not fighting for one another to the best of our ability. We often leave our wounded comrades behind while we take care of our assignments. Sometimes we don't even notice our hurting comrades, or we're afraid to enter in to their pain or messy circumstances. There are times we even rub our spiritual salt into their wounds. Often, we spend energy guarding our assignments so we can make sure we get our due credit. This is not the way to fight the good fight. If we're struggling to love our spiritual brothers and sisters in an attitude of humility and selflessness, then how do we love those outside the Faith? Our Mission is to love one another and those who don't know Jesus with passion, grace and mercy SO THAT the world can see and experience Christ-like love.

A bumper sticker says "Christians aren't perfect, just forgiven". True enough; but we could have much more impact for the Kingdom of God (The Mission) if, in humility, we demonstrated Jesus rather than parading our Christian slogans. They will know we are Christians by our love. God's power is made perfect (manifested) in our weakness. The more surrendered we are to each other and to God, the more The Mission is accomplished.

This doesn't work unless our desires and passions are for The Mission. If our energy, time, and resources are more focused on what we can get from one another (marriage, employment, Christian service, etc.), or from the world (cars, houses, blessings, etc.) we end up being distracted from The Mission and that is what satan is up to. Keeping our eyes on The Mission helps us love each other with encouragement in the midst of the battle. Sports teams that suffer from individualism implode on themselves and rarely reach the pinnacle of their sport, even with great talent. Many a team have reached the greatest heights with few superstars simply by deferring to one another and playing as a team. As we  honestly surrender our lives to Jesus our hearts are changed and our desires are changed toward love and the Kingdom and less about ourselves.

If you're not experiencing that deep and passionate desire for the Kingdom, and you want it, be honest about it with yourself and with God. Then, ask God to give you His desires. Be persistent. He wants to know that you really want Him and his desires. Wait and be ready to receive. You'll begin to experience the abundant life Jesus promised - a life filled with Him and loving in Him.