RELIGION STINKS!

"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." John 3:20-21


My heart has been completely broken over some of my friends and family here lately. Why do I feel this way? Well, I feel this way because I can see in their eyes that they desire more out of life than what they are getting. I see them longing to be a great dad and husband, a respectable wife, a manager of money and not a slave to it!!

The question is: "How can I reach them in genuine and sincere love when they immediately believe my or anyone else's reaching out to them is some sort of "judgement"?

I am here to say that I judge no one...that job belongs to God the Father. There are some who tend to act as though they are 'better' than others. I am sorry that those needing forgiveness had to endure such scructny from Christians like that.

LET ME SAY THIS: If you don't hear anything else, please try and understand this: RELIGION HAS SO PERVERTED THE NAME OF JESUS THAT NO ONE CAN OR WANTS TO TRULY UNDERSTAND WHAT GOD REQUIRES!

Alright now your confused! Good! Because that is something you would have never thought to hear from a Christian, right? Well, that's because people who don't believe in Jesus seem to think that we need to change this and change that, do this and do that...in order to EARN our way to heaven.

Let me let you in on a little secret. There is NO reaching up to God. No WORK or GOOD DEEDS you do will get you to heaven. The Christian faith is all about God reaching down to us...TO YOU!!! He sent his son Jesus to take away the sins of the world, when we nailed him to the cross...all of us did that.

Here's what I see...There is hole in the hearts of each of these I love. Let me explain!!!

I can't just say to them you need Jesus!!! It would be like hysterically saying you need "chemo" when no one has even diagnoised you with cancer...that's silly!!

The deal is, and the fact remains...they DO NEED JESUS!!!

How should they be approached, then? They should be approached in love. If they can find out that a disease does exist within them called "SIN", they will be more likely to take the cure...JESUS!!

So, I ask you family and friends...have you ever lied? Stolen? Taken the Lord's name in vain? Lusted after someone; Jesus says if so, you have comitteed adultry in your heart. The same for murder...do you hate or have ever hated someone; He says that is murder of the heart. That is how God sees us, as liars, thieves, blasphemers, murders and adulterers at heart. That sounds harsh but every human on this earth bears those stains.

Hear that?-EVERY, me included!!! We have all broken those laws. The Bible says there is no one righteous, not one!! Jesus was the only PERFECT person. That is what we have to be to get to heaven-PERFECT? And we aren't...

So forget the alcohol, forget the drugs, forget the lifestyle...forget all of that for right now...if you have broken the commandments I mentioned, do you think you will be innocent or guilty when you pass from life to death?

The Bible says that all liars will find their place in the lake of fire...all blasphemers and adulterers.

"I don't believe in Hell" you might say..."I don't even believe in Jesus". I am here to say that just because you believe that doesn't change reality. "Destined is a man once to die and then face judgement."

I challenge you to look around...Step outside and look around. What do you see? The beautiful trees and sky. Look at your children, nieces and nephews...what miracles!! All of these are created things and part of creation itself. In the same way we see a painting of the "MONA LISA" but can't see the actual "painter"...the painting is the evidence that the painter did in fact exist. Our creation is the evidence that there is a creator!!!

It takes a lot more faith to disbelieve than to be believe. Ponder that for a second...

The scripture verse says that some will not come into the light in fear their sins will be exposed. That includes fellowshipping at a church, taking in a dialogue with a Christian, etc. What they don't understand is that the sin they are in makes them a slave to it. The only thing able to break the chains of bondage is to admit the sin they have...expose them! One doesn't need to necessarily expose them to others or in a church, but to the Lord.

Afraid you'll have to change things within your life?...well, yeah you will....but here's the thing...once you admit your sin to God and trust on Him in your life...YOU will want to change them...on your own...so it won't seem so difficult really!! Will it happen all at once, please...of course not!

When Jesus comes into our heart the Holy Spirit literally gives us a new heart with new desires. That is the truth. The scripture says that "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". All those things will happen because of Christ in you, through God.

You see my friends, it isn't by anything we do but what God has done (or will do) within us.

I encourage you to find a faithful friend or relative that you know, who loves you and truly cares about you, that you are aware has a RELATIONSHIP with Jesus and open up a dialogue with them. You may be surprised what they have to say...and also how much "religion" you don't hear them talk about.

I love you all...I want things to go well with you...is it all peachy and wonderful all the time, no!!! In those 'not so great times' however is where you will find the peace that you have heard so many people mention over and over again. Let's talk and please know I am praying for you all.

There is nothing more important than your eternal salvation.