Paul

I persecuted many people and put them under the knife,

The people who spoke of the Son of God that brought eternal life,

i didn't believed about who they spoke and laughed at what they said,

I knew for sure the man they call the Son was crucified and dead,

One day as I was traveling knowing every thing I've done was right,

I suddenly found my self on my knees, blinded by the light.

To my dismay the man they called the Son , and spoke wonderful things about

There he was in my face ready to call me out.

So, now here I am using whats left of my youth,

traveling from town to town teaching the truth.

So what is it that I denied that now I know is right?

OH, yes that's it, Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Light.

So as you go on through your week and live out you life as normal. Take the example that Paul set for us and show people the way, by speaking the truth, so that they can see the light.

The Ten Commandments

The ten commandments, most of us know them, we often refereto them. It is said that out laws were made based on them. People often say that you need to live by them. My question is do you? Should you live by the ten commandments, what are they good for, and are they the basis for what we decide if we are " good " or not? Are we living the right way if we follow them.

Here is what I have to say about the ten commandments. I have had many debates about them, I have also got into some arguments about whether or not they mean anything to us or if we should just forget that they were even written? I say no. I think they are important, but not for what most people do. They are important for learning, for knowing that we can't do life by ourselves. If you think your doing right by following the ten commandments your not. How can you live by only ten of the hundreds there were. The ten are a summery if you will of the hundreds of the laws of Moses. Number two is that the law of Moses was fulfilled in Christ Jesus. Without the New covenant in Jesus we would not be able to do it. That's the whole point. We as a race were failing. Now in the new covenant we are saved by the blood of Jesus. We no longer have to try to look at these laws and navigate our live according to them. God has given to all who believe and are reborn into a new life the gift of the Holy Spirit who works with us who are in fact spirit and lead us on the path to righteousness. You no longer stop and think about throwing something out of the car window because you see a sign that shows you the fine for littering and it is against the law, you stop because you know its wrong, you don't need the law to tell you, you just know. It is the spirit of God that tells me not to punch the guy at the restaurant for talking junk to me. Not the idea that if I do I'll go to jail. See I don't need the law because the law isn't what shows me how to live, I have the Spirit of God living in me telling me what to do and not to do.

Going back to the commandments , They hold no relevance as law, because of Jesus. they are nothing more that a tool for teaching us that we have not the power to live according to the law even if we know what it is. And even if you go all your life referring back to the ten commandments and don't "break" any of them you still sin. So going through all that to follow them isn't going to save you anyway, the only way to be saved is by the blood of Jesus. So if you live your life according to the law you deny the power of the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ. If you live life by the laws then the gift of salvation by the grace of God is not accurate. But you believe in the new testament which preaches salvation through Jesus by the Grace of God and are trying to earn your way to heaven by following the laws instead of just accepting the gift. Hebrews chapter 8 verse "13By calling this covenant "new," he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear." So utilize the gift God has given you and live life guided by the Holy Spirit and forget about the law. You will not break them is the spirit is leading you.

Christian Connectivity

I am a part of a men's group that meets every Thursday night, we do book studies and video studies, sometimes we pick a topic and take turns teaching on that topic(which is fun), but it is always an open forum, everyone has the opportunity to speak, ask, or put input. We do have rules, or more like guidelines if you will. Everything has to be scriptural, the common phrase used is that you have to be able to prove it by scripture.

Here is something that I have to say about that. I by no means think that the leader of the group feels otherwise, but as a general idea for people who take this phrase and literally go by it is a dangerous thing. Let me explain. The idea of using scripture to prove your point is something that shouldn't be practiced. What we need to do is get away from that and start speaking on the things that scripture already proved. It is very easy to take verses out of the bible and put them together to "prove" your worldly understanding of a spiritual meaning. Instead I say take what the scripture, God's living Word, has taught you and relay the message. This is where we get into these doctrinal differences, this denomination says this, this denomination says that. How can you take your views on something especially something Devinne and put your own little finite ideas in it and call it the Word of God? Not to mention what gives you the right and/or ability to tell someone else that they are wrong? I don't know about you, but I know that I'm not God, and if the Bible has all authority and is the living word of God then who else but Him has the right to do so?

The bottom line is that there is only one true, right, and sound doctrine. The doctrine of Jesus Christ the son of God, who died for our sins and gave us everlasting life. We need to go back to that, we need to go back to preaching Christ resurrected, and speaking only on the things that the Bible speaks. I know that there are people out there that do this, I wouldn't dare to say that someone is wrong unless they are obviously teaching what isn't written. I do know, and not by a lot of experience that it is easy to fall into the trap of using the Bible to prove your point. I just write this as a cation to any who might find themselves doing this. Just study, and pray. Speak only on what God tells you to speak on and nothing else. Teachers have been given an awesome gift, and responsibility in the Church so don't take it lightly, and remember when you teach to make prayer a big part of your preparation.

If your not a teacher and your ministry is different, take the time to pray over, with, and for your pastor. Let them know and see the love and support from their flock. Start a prayer ministry where every Sunday before the service gets started pull him aside and pray for him and the service. I know he will love it.