1125AFC062411
Someone is trying to get in touch with you. Read about it here.
Aloha Beloved. I have felt numerous pushes to use this passage, particularly verse 18, for quite some time. Every phrase in this passage is pure dynamite and an entire book could be (and probably has been) written on each and every one.
John 12-21
[… and Jesus said to Nicodemus,]
I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No-one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven— the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. 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.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.
Many – most – of you who receive this profess, acknowledge, and/or proclaim that you are Christian. But some do not. Today’s message is not exclusively for those who do not claim Crist as a personal savior. Some of us go to a Christian church, but are still not Christians. Some of us who never go to church of any kind are closer to being Christian than we’d admit publicly. And some of us know beyond any doubt we are accurately described in the words of John 3:18.
Let me start off by saying that I am not going to tell you people who don’t go to church are going to hell. That’s not my call. I’m coming at this from the position, “What possible alternative could be better that this?” I have great concerns for “Spiritual America.” And even graver concerns for anti-spiritual America – and anywhere else in the world where earthlings have expressed indifference or hostility about God and his one and only begotten son.
“I don’t need a religion, a building, a hierarchy, or any human organization telling me what to do, what not to do, or how to think about my relationship with God!” You know, you’re probably right. You just need to do what Jesus commanded: Love the LORD GOD with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your mind. Love one another as I have loved you. Be perfect as your Father in Heaven is perfect. Ask and receive so that your joy may be full. Maybe you can pull that off all by your little self, but – since all of that only works when done as part of a community (a community of believers at that) – well, it’s just not likely to happen. You’re going to be off the mark a wee tad. You could still be in the ballpark, but maybe as a spectator instead of as a team-member. As the old adage goes, “sitting in a church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than sitting in an garage makes you a car.”
So, here’s the deal – in a nutshell. If you are not an active, believing, believable, committed, assured-of-your-salvation Christian, I am asking you to give it a try – and I’ll do everything I can to make your effort a success. If you don’t have a “church home,” I want you to know how important it is to have one and what you should be getting out of going there. If you are an active, believing, believable, committed, assured-of-your-salvation Christian, I am asking you to pray for the earthlings who are not committed like that – from Muammar Gaddafi to your own family members – and pray especially for the children whose families are without understanding about the importance of this ONE thing in life. Send someone the link at the top of this letter and tell them, “Someone is trying to get in touch with you. Read about it here.”
I’m telling you this – whichever group you’re in … believer or not – because I love you just as much as I love Jesus. For reals. Really-really. I want YOUR JOY to be complete.
Share-A-Prayer
• Thank you to those of you who have prayed for Bryce, the 10-year-old with stomach cancer. He has passed this past week. Please pray for his family. This has been a hard time for them emotionally and financially. We may look for a way to help them out financially in the near future. Please visit this location to learn more: http://www.currentobituary.com/Memory.aspx?Memory_ObitdID=96720
• Pray for SP – dealing with prostate cancer (and remember our other members with cancer as well)
• Pray for EP and associates to experience the joy of born-again new faith in Christ
• Pray for DN – escalating family problems are really wearing. Pray especially for son CN going to a very difficult transition.
• Pray for JL and her parents. J is deep into the drug scene and parents are brokenhearted.
• Continue in prayer for all those suffering nature’s rampages, financial ruin, war, terror, famine, and disease.
Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever, forever — at your service, Beloved. As I look at your E-Mail addresses and remember each of you I am convinced I want your joy to be complete because that is how much I love you.
Age Quod Agis
chick
1125AFC062411
Someone is trying to get in touch with you. Read about it here.
Aloha Beloved. I have felt numerous pushes to use this passage, particularly verse 18, for quite some time. Every phrase in this passage is pure dynamite and an entire book could be (and probably has been) written on each and every one.
John 12-21
[… and Jesus said to Nicodemus,]
I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No-one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven— the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. 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.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.
Many – most – of you who receive this profess, acknowledge, and/or proclaim that you are Christian. But some do not. Today’s message is not exclusively for those who do not claim Crist as a personal savior. Some of us go to a Christian church, but are still not Christians. Some of us who never go to church of any kind are closer to being Christian than we’d admit publicly. And some of us know beyond any doubt we are accurately described in the words of John 3:18.
Let me start off by saying that I am not going to tell you people who don’t go to church are going to hell. That’s not my call. I’m coming at this from the position, “What possible alternative could be better that this?” I have great concerns for “Spiritual America.” And even graver concerns for anti-spiritual America – and anywhere else in the world where earthlings have expressed indifference or hostility about God and his one and only begotten son.
“I don’t need a religion, a building, a hierarchy, or any human organization telling me what to do, what not to do, or how to think about my relationship with God!” You know, you’re probably right. You just need to do what Jesus commanded: Love the LORD GOD with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your mind. Love one another as I have loved you. Be perfect as your Father in Heaven is perfect. Ask and receive so that your joy may be full. Maybe you can pull that off all by your little self, but – since all of that only works when done as part of a community (a community of believers at that) – well, it’s just not likely to happen. You’re going to be off the mark a wee tad. You could still be in the ballpark, but maybe as a spectator instead of as a team-member. As the old adage goes, “sitting in a church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than sitting in an garage makes you a car.”
So, here’s the deal – in a nutshell. If you are not an active, believing, believable, committed, assured-of-your-salvation Christian, I am asking you to give it a try – and I’ll do everything I can to make your effort a success. If you don’t have a “church home,” I want you to know how important it is to have one and what you should be getting out of going there. If you are an active, believing, believable, committed, assured-of-your-salvation Christian, I am asking you to pray for the earthlings who are not committed like that – from Muammar Gaddafi to your own family members – and pray especially for the children whose families are without understanding about the importance of this ONE thing in life. Send someone the link at the top of this letter and tell them, “Someone is trying to get in touch with you. Read about it here.”
I’m telling you this – whichever group you’re in … believer or not – because I love you just as much as I love Jesus. For reals. Really-really. I want YOUR JOY to be complete.
Share-A-Prayer
• Thank you to those of you who have prayed for Bryce, the 10-year-old with stomach cancer. He has passed this past week. Please pray for his family. This has been a hard time for them emotionally and financially. We may look for a way to help them out financially in the near future. Please visit this location to learn more: http://www.currentobituary.com/Memory.aspx?Memory_ObitdID=96720
• Pray for SP – dealing with prostate cancer (and remember our other members with cancer as well)
• Pray for EP and associates to experience the joy of born-again new faith in Christ
• Pray for DN – escalating family problems are really wearing. Pray especially for son CN going to a very difficult transition.
• Pray for JL and her parents. J is deep into the drug scene and parents are brokenhearted.
• Continue in prayer for all those suffering nature’s rampages, financial ruin, war, terror, famine, and disease.
Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever, forever — at your service, Beloved. As I look at your E-Mail addresses and remember each of you I am convinced I want your joy to be complete because that is how much I love you.
Age Quod Agis
chick
About Chick Todd
American Roman Catholic reared as a "Baptiterian" in Denver Colorado. Now living on Kauaʻi. USAF Vet. Married for over 50 years. Scripture study has been my passion ever since my first "Bible talk" at age 6 in VBS.
