Get Real

Earth Days and Birth Days

I am a recycler by nature. When I was old enough to realize that my birthday had two significant meanings, I was ecstatic! You see I was born on Easter Sunday and eight years later in 1970, April 22 officially became Earth Day. Now I have to recycle because my birthday is on Earth Day.

This is nonsensical rhetoric isn’t it? Especially since this blog deals with things that really matter. My physical birthday and Earth day do not really matter. What does matter is my spiritual birthday.

On June 20, 1980, I realized my life was a mess and everything I did to try to fix it only made it worse. There was no amount of “self-awareness, finding the goodness in me, or being conscious of consciousness” that would help me. These self-centered disciplines are what Eckhart Tolle and Oprah claim help you find true purpose in life.

Tolle, Oprah, Marianne Williamson, Depak Chopra and countless other spiritual teachers are singing an enchanting tune, but it is a lie. The words provide a type of hope and sense of empowerment that provide temporary balm to the things that hurt. But, it is a counterfeit solution, not the long-term permanent relief that hurting people need.

We are miserable because of sin. Plain and simple. This life isn’t all about you, it’s about you and your relationship to the Creator of the Earth. He is not Mother Earth. He is Father God and he desires a personal relationship with each one of us. He is the light of the world who desires to light up your life with eternal peace and hope.

Yes, it may be Earth Day and my recycling sits at the curb as we speak. It may be the day I enjoy dessert because it’s my birthday, but my real purpose today is to encourage you to consider having a second birthday too.

If would like to be born again so that you will know true peace, joy and hope, pray this prayer right now:

Lord Jesus Christ, I believe that you took the pain of the cross to give me new life. I ask you to come into my life and to give me your peace and joy. I confess that I am a sinner -- that I have gone my own way and have done wrong. Please forgive me for my sins. I receive you now as my Lord and Savior. Please fill me with your Holy Spirit. Help me to follow you and to serve you all my life. Thank you, Lord Jesus. Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, one of your birthdays is also on Earth Day. You are now a child of God. The things of your old life have passed away and He has made all things new. Please send me a note so I can wish you happy birthday.

Decisions Determine Destiny

Monday night a college basketball player named Mario Chalmers made a decision that determined the destiny of his team. With milliseconds left on the clock, he decided to take a shot that tied the game. Five minutes of playtime later, the Kansas Jayhawks won the national championship title.

Each of us is free to choose to “take the shot” at knowing God or decide it is too risky and dribble our life away. Our decision to trust God with our life will ultimately determine our destiny. We will spend the afterlife either with God or away from him in a place of eternal conscious punishment. For some these are harsh words. I agree.

The other choice we are free to make, is to yield our life to God through Jesus Christ. This decision results in a life of hope, peace and joy. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

As you consider your eternal destiny today, refer to the FAQ in the sidebar. I pray you will consider making a decision that will determine a favorable destiny. If you have questions, let me know.

Accountability and Accounting

In less than two weeks, we (US Citizens) will have to give an accounting to one “relative,” interestingly nick-named Uncle Sam, otherwise known as the IRS. Of course, plenty of checks and balances and high-tech computers ensure that we are accountable to that accounting come April 15. But, what about our daily lives? To whom do you answer?

We all have various levels of accountability to society, but different societies have different standards for legality and morality, and an individual can sometimes violate standards and escape accountability. Of course, other units of accountability include family, employment, etc. But, what about our accountability to God—regardless of what we believe about Him?

I have mentioned before, that just because we do not believe something does not mean it is not true. The simplest example is that of law of gravity. If I jump off my roof, no matter how hard I believe I can fly or soar upward, I will crash to the ground. The same holds true to the accounting every human who ever lived will give to God.

There is a promised judgment by the righteous Judge. All will give an accounting for their belief and/or acceptance of denial to the living God.

There is also a promised time of blessing for all of eternity for those who settle their account with Jesus Christ while here on earth.

Consider these things today.

Awakening (Part 1)

“This pain that I experience after each break up inspires me to come to terms with life and its ever changing nature. I'm not a religious person, only because I haven't had experience, but I have read on awakening. I was wondering if anyone can offer resources for furthering my awakening so that one day I may be able to realize that life is change and I can love it for what it is, not what it has to offer me (i.e. a feeling of belonging and love). Thanks for any help.”

The previous paragraph is from a person reaching out through cyberspace via an online forum called “Personal Development for Smart People.” The “smart people” on the forum offered a book title and these words, “All is full of love. You’ll be taken care of.” I cried at my laptop screen on behalf of the despondent seeker, “How!?” “When!?” “What do I have to do!?”

The person in the quote above has come to some truths about life. First, life is a cycle of highs and lows and comes complete with emotional hurts and sorrows.

However, what this person doesn’t seem to know is that God loves us and wants us to know Him—the One that does not change. This same God would not be the definition of love if he knew we would spend an eternity worse than the present, did nothing to warn us about it or offer us anything different. This is the foundation of hope, security and ability in the craziness of life.

All is “not full of love” but you can be taken care of when you trust in Christ.

To be continued…

You can find more intriguing writings like this at http://www.sharonhouk.com/faq.html

No Such Thing as Universal Love

Many believe that because “God is Love” he will ultimately save all people. This is not so. It cannot be so. It would contradict the very nature of God, which also includes holiness and justice. Therefore, love cannot overpower holiness and save those who reject Christ and die in their sins.

This is a hard truth for many. But, better to consider it now while alive and able to choose than after death when it’s too late.

God’s love is universal in that it can be known to all. It has nothing to do with affection and everything to do with perfection. That is: God is and man is not.

He loves sinful people because he is gracious. His mercy is universal in that it is available to all. This is the unmerited favor of God shown to man primarily through the work of Jesus Christ. All of these concepts are related and stem from the love of God who is love.

You can find more intriguing writings like this at http://www.sharonhouk.com/faq.html

You Can Know God

  If we are to know God at all, it is necessary that he reveal himself to us. Even when discussing the revelation of God that comes through nature, God shows himself to us. The natural creation reveals God because he chose to have himself revealed that way. However, nature is not God and God is not in nature (as some believe). We can know there is a God because nature reveals God to us.

Only Scripture can tell us how to interpret natural revelation of God correctly. To not consider the God of the Scriptures and only consider the God of nature is futile thinking. To think we can know God based on our own wisdom is foolish thinking. Ahh…but to believe that is the first step in knowing God.

Jesus Christ came to give us understanding “to know him that is true.” We can know God, when we believe what God reveals in the Bible. We commune with him in his presence, we sing his praise, and we are aware that he personally dwells among us and within us to bless us. Indeed, this personal relationship with God the Father, with God the Son, and with God the Holy Spirit may be said to be the greatest of all blessings of the Christian life.

If you’ve known God, but have turned your back on Him, will you reconsider the relationship with Him? Chances are he is not the one that caused you the pain that prompted you to flee. Instead, it was the sin of another.

What have you got to lose by looking heavenward and seeking reconciliation with the God who loves you so much? What?

I’d like to hear from you.

You can find more intriguing writings like this at http://www.sharonhouk.com/faq.html

What’s in a Name?

If someone used a term to describe me more than 2500 times in a document, I would probably conclude that person was onto something.

Speaking of God, the Hebrew term elohim occurs in the general sense of deity about 2,570 times in the Old Testament. About 2,310 times it is a name for the true God beginning with that ever popular text, “In the beginning, God…”

Sure, we could argue that the Bible is some ancient book full of errors and lacking proof of the claims made therein. But, that wouldn’t reveal intelligence in either of us.

The opposite is true—the Bible is without error and historical evidence abounds. Have you ever read it? The God it introduces is amazing. The story it tells is rich. The promises it reveals provide hope.

What’s in a name? In this case, life and death are in the name (that is, power and authority) of elohim through the person of Jesus Christ.

You can find more intriguing writings like this at http://www.keytofreedom.org/faq.html

Re-Think God

If the heavens proclaim the glory of God

     and the skies display his craftsmanship;

If day after day, they continue to speak

      and night after night they make him known;

if they speak without a sound or word

      then their voice is always heard.

Yes, their message has gone throughout the earth,

      and their words to all the world.

Who can question that God has made a home in the heavens for the sun?

It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding.

      It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the race.

The sun rises at one end of the heavens and follows its course to the other end.

      Nothing can hide from its warmth.

Rethink God. God proclaims his presence to all throughout the whole world, even those who cannot see, can witness his presence in the warmth of the sun.

Rethink God. He loves you and desires a relationship with you.

Rethink God. He sent His son Jesus Christ so that anyone who calls on him can know him.

You can find more intriguing writings like this at http://www.keytofreedom.org/faq.html

Patience at any Cost

I am impatient by nature. I know this about myself. Two ancient proverbs remind the reader:

Sensible people control their temper (are patient); they earn respect by overlooking wrongs.

Through patience, a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

What about when impatience leads to more than just an unkind word? What about when impatience leads to child abuse or dangerous fits of rage? There’s only so much “self talk” can do for some people. Sometimes no matter how patient we want to be, or how much self-control we want to display, a person still does not have enough strength or ability to overcome the situation. To that person I say, don’t feel bad, we’re all just like that—outta control and impatient.

The difference, however, is that when a person knows God through his Son, he or she does have enough to overcome the situation.

In return for surrendering your life to Jesus Christ, you receive His Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit living in you that strengthens you to overcome things like being outta control and impatient.

What have you got to lose? How much could real patience cost? I pray you’ll consider a life with the One who cares most about you.

You can find more intriguing writings like this at http://www.keytofreedom.org/faq.html