I believe in Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, my elder brother, my lord and master.

Jesus is the reason for all seasons.  Not just for holidays like Easter, Christmas, etc.  He’s the reason for all joyful occasions, as well as times of hurt, depression or even anger.  He came to show us how to live, love and die.

He is the perfect son of God.  He is just like his Father — faultless and full of love.  While I struggle with many things in the Bible, I am more ready to accept the teachings of Jesus as recorded in the gospels.  I guess it’s because my heart tells me that they are true.  And they make sense.

I don’t think of Jesus as “another god,” as some Christians would protest to, claiming that Jesus and God are the same person.  The only reason that Jesus directed others to follow him is because he knew that, in so doing, we would be following God.  This was especially important to the Jews of his day, who had a very different image of the Almighty.

Jesus was continually focusing discussions on what his Father wanted from his children.  He taught us how to react and respond to each circumstance.  He gave us parables to show us the truth in earthly examples.  He also showed us how to give proper responses to questions, as well as to accusations.

He constantly reminded his followers that he only did and said what his Father gave him to do and say. He repeatedly established the Father-Son relationship for their (and our) benefit.  He tells me that I am God’s son.  That makes Jesus my brother — my older brother.

What a blessing it is to have a perfect older brother, since I am an only child.  What a privilege for anyone to have an older brother who doesn’t pick on you or put you down as the bratty little brother.

And yet I feel worshipful towards him, and that is at it should be.  He’s my connection to God, even though he has told me that I can talk to my Father directly.  Jesus is master of all that is good, and that makes him my master.  I feel secure with him.  I thank God for him.

It is Jesus’ hand that I look forward to taking, as he leads me to the loving arms of his Father and mine.

I saw it on a bumper sticker.  Just a few words, but very thought-provoking. Good advice, good advice, fact.  Some people maintain good health habits in order to improve their quality of life; others try to stay healthy in order to extend life.  Still others focus on both objectives.

But rich people, poor people, fat people, skinny people, healthy people and sickly people share one thing in common.  We are all going to die.

God created us to enjoy food.  Unfortunately, we also can have the tendency to enjoy eating too much, as well as eating the wrong things.  He also gave us amazing bodies that are designed to self-heal.  I read somewhere that medicines don’t actually heal, but rather stabilize certain areas or relieve discomforting symptoms, while the body does the repairing.

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On July 4, 2011 the United Church of Christ (over 1 million members) declared their independence from “God the Father.”  In an overwhelming majority they voted to render God gender-less.  In their constitution and bylaws they want references to God as “heavenly Father” changed to “the triune God,” which doesn’t make much sense because triune means God in three persons:  Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

While the UCC is one of the fastest-shrinking Protestant denominations, it joins a growing trend among modern churches and Bible translators to take the heavy off of the guy references in the Godhead.  Who is behind this movement?  Women.  But why?  I’m not sure, but I think it has something to do with the fear (or weariness) of male dominance.

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And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. Mark 13:10

I often forget this important command of Jesus.  I used to believe that preaching the gospel meant telling everyone I came into contact with (who wasn’t already a Christian) that Jesus came to die for their sins and that they must accept him as their Savior or risk an eternity in Hell.

Gospel means “good news,” and nothing about burning in Hell can be good. So what else could good news mean?  What did it mean to the people that Jesus brought it to?

It would be good news to people who thought that their God had forgotten them, to find out that he loves them — always has and always will.  It’s good news for them to know that their religious leaders are not necessarily God’s pristine examples of how one should behave who claims God. And it’s good news to know that, even though we fail (sin), God is not going to give up on us. He will use discipline, just as any loving parent would do to teach their children well.

Hey, that good news (gospel) still fits for me today!

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Jesus did come to deliver us from the painful consequences of our sins, but it is by God’s Perfect will that the consequences even exist.  Disobedience brings the consequence of pain, which prepares the soul for healing.  The cure is in the cause.  You cannot be delivered from the consequences of sin while that sin still exists.

But we seem determined to hold onto the teaching that Christ came to save us from the punishment of our sins.  This concept has corrupted the true teaching of the gospel.

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