Jesus Christ

Recover The Wonder


The Sunday before Christmas 2013, let’s remember who it is we are celebrating the arrival of on Christmas day.

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TRAFFIC JAM


Pickering Market Place

GOING NOWHERE!

A regular occurrence in Pickering Market Place. Unfortunately!

This ancient Market Town wasn’t designed with motorists in mind, so when too many of them want to traverse its Market Place there is gridlock.

The number of older residents means there’s a higher than average number of disabled drivers for whom double yellow lines are a parking space. Add to them delivery vehicles and those who think the highway code is for other people, and scenes like this become a daily event.

For all our intelligence, ingenuity, and technology there are times when we get stuck.

At the end of the line!

Jesus’ Parable about the LOST sheep, coin and son in Luke’s Gospel chapter fifteen inform us that its our choices that get us in trouble, and that only when we are ready to admit we’ve come to an end of ourselves can our mess be untangled.

The sheep was lost because it was silly, the coin through someone’s negligence, but the boy is lost because he chooses to get far away from all who love and care for him.

Luke 15:14–16 But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.

He’s fallen out of the good life, into a world where pigs eat better than he does! He’s in a jam!!

Back in the Market Place, there was a lot of maneuvering going on, and some even had to go into reverse.

As drivers acknowledged their mistakes, one by one the mess was unraveled and order was restored.

We don’t know how long the boy in Jesus’ parables was stuck at the end of his line, but we do know that when ‘he came to his senses’ he could see the way out: –

Admit He Was Wrong, Go Back Home and Cast Himself  Upon His Father’s Mercy.

Jesus calls it ‘repentance’ – A change of heart that results in a change of mind and then of direction.

Matthew 4:17 (NKJV) From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Luke 5:32 (NKJV) I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

Luke 13:3 (NKJV) I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.

To repent is to change your mind. However, this only defines the word, not the concept, for you need to ask, Change your mind about what? …
If repentance is understood to mean changing your mind about your sin—being sorry for your sin—this will not necessarily save. There are plenty of criminals in and out of jails who are repentant in this sense. They are sorry for making certain mistakes, but this does not mean they give up a life of crime. People can be sorry for their sins without wanting to accept the forgiveness of a Saviour.
But if repentance means changing your mind about the particular sin of rejecting Christ, then that kind of repentance saves, and of course it is the same as faith in Christ. C. C. Ryrie
 
Repentance isn’t feeling. It is turning from sin to God. One of the best definitions was given by a soldier. Some one asked him how he was converted. He said:
“The Lord said to me, Halt! Attention! Right about face! March! and that was all there was in it.” D. L. Moody

The Way Out of His Jam was to turn from the tangled mess he’d made of his dead end life and go home!

Believing his father would receive him, he’s ready to consign himself to the most menial tasks necessary – To his great delight and benefit – When he reaches home there’s a welcome and he’s embraced as a long lost son.

This Is Jesus Message for All of Us – 

Left to ourselves we get get into such a jam that there’s no way forward, someone has to give way – and when you do you will find the relief and freedom of forgiveness and restoration to the family of the God and Father of all mankind.

Luke 15:21–24 (NKJV) And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.

Backs Turned to God.

ISN’T IT ABOUT TIME

YOU RETURNED HOME?

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Today’s Youth.


A DIFFERENCE 

BETWEEN GENERATIONS

The Older One Imagines They Know All There Is To Know About God.

This was certainly the case with the elderly man who thought he’d have the last word by asking about the old chestnut: ‘Where did Cain get his wife if Adam and Eve only had two sons?’

Apparently it had been enough to silence the priest during their preparations for his wedding. Shame on him!

But, then when I told him the answer to his conundrum, instead of admitting he was wrong and exploring the truth, he walked away, it was just an excuse!

Romans 1:20–21 (NKJV)  For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,  because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

You will find the answer to this question and thousands of others here:

http://www.gotquestions.org/Cains-wife.html

The Delusion of the 60+ generation is tragic!

War, Politics, Hardship, Family illness or tragedy, they all conspire to harden their unbelieving hearts. Add to this the utter confusion brought about by Liberal Christians, it’s no wonder the Established Churches are closing down!

Two wrongs don’t make a right, but they make a good excuse. —THOMAS SZASZ, TheSecond Sin

It is never too late if we want to pursue a goal. No one can plead old age as an excuse for not changing, not learning a new habit, or not becoming a Christian. We still eat in old age, and sleep, and think. Why can’t we change habits in our senior years? 
 

CONTRAST HIM WITH THESE LADS:

Listening to the Gospel.

They’d stopped to take a leaflet, and after a few minutes stood to listen to the Gospel.

Here they learned that all are equally sinners, that God holds each individual responsible for their sin, and that unresolved sin would mean eternal separation from God in hell.

Then they heard the great Good News of God’s resolving the sin of believers through the work of Jesus Christ, whereby He paid our penalty and now sets free from sin and judgment all those who will take Him at His word, repent and believe on Him as Saviour. So Simple, yet So Hard to Accept.

You can watch a presentation of this Gospel Message here:

These lads listened respectfully, said they’d never heard this before and went off home. I pray that we will hear from them again soon.

WHAT A CONTRAST – I WISH MORE WOULD AT LEAST LISTEN

We are not out to force people to conform to our opinion, but to ask them to honestly consider the Good News.

Romans 6:23 (NKJV) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

A Free Gift

Remember, salvation is a free gift, and it is a free gift for us. Can you buy it? It is a free gift, presented to “whosoever” will accept it.
Suppose I were to say, I will give this Bible to “whosoever” will take it; what have you got to do? Why, nothing but take it. But a man comes forward, and says:
“I’d like that Bible very much.”
“Well, didn’t I say ‘whosoever’ will can have it?”
“Yes; but I’d like to have you mention my name.”
“Well, here it is.”
Still he keeps eyeing the Bible, and saying, “I’d like to have that Bible; but I’d like to give you something for it. I don’t like to take it for nothing.”
“But I am not here to sell Bibles; take it, if you want it.”
“Well, I want it; but I’d like to give you something for it. Let me give you a cent for it; though, to be sure, it’s worth about five dollars.”
Suppose I accept the cent; the man takes up the Bible and marches away home with it.
His wife asks, “Where did you get that Bible?”
“Oh, I bought it.”
Mark the point; when he gave the penny, it ceased to be a gift. So with salvation. If you were to pay ever so little, it would not be a gift.

D. L. Moody

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Traction Engines


STEAM, SMOKE AND SOOT – Wonderful!

Pickering Market Place

Steam and smoke fill the Market Place

Great Fiery Monsters Create a Sense of Admiration.

Magnificent example of dedicated hard work.

Spewing out great clouds of carbon.

A Testimony To Human Genius and It’s Limitations.

Almost Every Vehicle in Town Today has had to be Saved from the Scrap Heap and Restored.

A Fine Example.

Going Where?

The People Come in Droves to Reminisce and Admire.

The Watching Crowds.

GOD, WHO GAVE MAN THE BRAINS AND SKILL, IS ALSO IN THE RESTORATION BUSINESS!

As ‘The Master Engineer’ He knows that you need a sound power unit before He manufactures a new chassis, body and wheels.

Ezekiel 36:26 (NKJV)  I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

1 Corinthians 15:51–52 (NKJV) Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Acts 4:12 (NKJV) Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

Acts 16:31 (NKJV)  So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

God has been in the business of restoration and maintenance from the beginning of life as we know it. You must be overhauled by Him or end up on the scrap heap of life. 

Pickering Market Place

Only fully functioning and approved Vehicles may enter.

HE’S OPEN FOR BUSINESS.

Are you just going to stand and watch or will you put yourself in His hands for a total overhaul?

If a tramp comes to us in dire need, down and out, in rags and tatters, and sick, even starving, it will be good to give him a bath and a change of clothing, but not enough. For he is ill and undernourished. So, in addition, he needs food and hospital treatment. Similarly, we come to Christ down and out, in the rags and tatters of our sin, spiritually sick and starving. In Christ, we are at once made welcome and accepted, and given a bath and a change of clothes. God sees us as righteous in Christ. This is our new status. But it is only the beginning. The Good Physician knows we are sick. So he puts His Spirit within us to give us new life and health, and He feeds us with His Word until we grow strong and vigorous. There are no half-measures with Him.