All You Have to Do Is Call

I was talking with my oldest daughter Kristen recently, who is attending the University of Central Florida in Orlando. She was having some difficulties with her cell phone and was afraid the issue would not be resolved before coming to Tampa. She told me she had no intention of traveling without it. “Too many things can happen,” she said. I could not disagree. We are living in a world where anything can happen at any time. You need to be prepared and always have a way to call for help.

I think the same holds true in our spiritual lives as well. Whenever difficulties or obstacles come our way, threatening our journey through life, there is Someone we can call. And that someone is Jesus. He is available 24/7 and never puts us on hold. He will give us exactly what we need at the time we need it. All you have to do is call.

In today’s world, we wouldn’t think of traveling without our mobile phones. What a tragic mistake it would be to travel through life without Jesus.

True Wisdom

Human beings are creative. We have been given the ability to think, to dream, to imagine. Humanity has made many discoveries over the years that have made living more comfortable and enjoyable. But despite all the strides that have been made, we do not know where to go for wisdom. We try to create it or we try to find it through education, science and nature. The reality is wisdom comes from only one source: Almighty God. We will never know true wisdom outside of a relationship with Him. Quit trying to figure out life on your own and hang with the One who created you. True wisdom is turning to God through Jesus and establishing a life-changing relationship that will last throughout all eternity.

The choice is Yours

People today say they’re bothered by Jesus’ claim that He is the only way to God. After all, there are so many religions to choose from. How dare Jesus say He is the only way. And yet this all makes perfect sense. Humans have the need and the urge to worship something. God places that need within us. If there is only one true God and He wants us to know who He is and what He’s like, doesn’t it make sense that He would come forward and reveal Himself to us? This is exactly what God has done through Jesus. This is not being exclusive -it’s being all inclusive. God wants the world to know who He is and how much He loves them. No other religion makes this claim. No other religion offers a love relationship between God and humanity. They say you must pay homage to their god or gods through duty and obligation. You must serve the deity without any assurance of your future destiny. You are required to strive to reach god – all on your own.

Christianity stands out in stark contrast to the other religions. Here is the God who says, “I created you, I love you, and all I want in return is a relationship with you. I want you to love and trust me. I have revealed myself to you – to know Jesus is to know me -but you are the one who must choose.”

To me, the choice is clear. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. Everyday I choose to follow Jesus because I know He loves me, and I am willing to place my faith and trust solely in Him. Choose Jesus and your life will never be the same.

Give Peace a Chance

There is a word that was frequently repeated during the hippie days of the late 60’s and early 70’s, and that word is “peace.” We talked about “inner peace” and “world peace.” We heard John Lennon singing: “All we are saying is give peace a chance.” We were talking about the absence of war, strife and conflict. Years later, we are again a nation at war. The fact of the matter is the peace we desire to have is and will always be transient and temporary. It will not last because human beings will always have jealously, anger, bitterness, and resentment in their hearts.

There is only one everlasting peace and that is the “Prince of Peace” Himself. The peace that Jesus gives comes from above to the heart within. This is the peace that will change the world one heart at a time.

Religion Kills!

The more I read about events happening in our world today, the more convinced I am that religion kills – boh physically and spiritually. Religion tells you who’s right and who’s wrong. Religion tells you who’s in and who’s out. Religion lets you know whose side God is on. No wonder Jesus was so upset with the religious leaders and Pharisees of his day. God is not about religion, rules and regulations, duties and obligations. God is about love and relationships. Religion is an act.

Following Jesus is an ongoing dynamic relationship where we are invited to be our authentic God-created selves. We live and serve out of love, we don’t dictate, mandate, and condemn out of hate. When we follow Jesus, people are attracted to us because they are being encouraged to love and be loved. Anything less is nothing more than religion – and religion kills!