Thoughts from a Random Mind

It’s Not a Contest

 

“So why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For the Scriptures say, “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will declare allegiance to God.’”- Romans 14:11 NLT

                  Christianity isn’t a contest to see who can save the most unregenerate souls, like notches on our belt. We don’t do the saving in the first place. Our approach is lacking on many fronts due in large part to our general lack of understanding of what God’s will for each of us is. It should be obvious to us that being uplifting and encouraging to the general populace is paramount, but LIVING our faith is more important, in my opinion, then talking about it. We all know talk is cheap unless it’s followed up by action. We’d be much better off leading with action. There’s no room for selfish, condescending behavior. 

                  There are enough people in the world today who have no time for Christians. Some of us are responsible for this rejection due to our bullyboy approach regarding the way we share the gospel. Scripture here in Romans is very clear; we will ALL stand before the judgment seat of God. Believers in Christ will be there for what we’ve done with Christ. It is not to determine our eternal destination. Those who stand before God without Christ as their advocate will answer for their sins all on their own. Those who stand condemned due to their rejection of Christ will find that they will be compelled to bend their knee and declare that which they had never believed. Christ’s Lordship will be evident and impossible to deny.

                  Many are convinced that, because of cataclysmic world events, we are in the last days, but the fact of the matter is that ‘the last days’ began right after Christ’s ascension told in Acts. From that viewpoint we can see that man has been waiting for Christ’s Return for a very, very long time. Too many of us are heavily reliant on social media and the Internet for our news with the notion that if it’s on the Internet it must be true. That is a fallacy. Reports of microchip installation under ones skin that is being done (I believe) in Sweden has some calling it the ‘Mark of the Beast’ as prophesied in the Book of Revelation. They do not realize that the Beast must first be introduced into the timeline of history before there can be a Mark of the Beast. Don’t believe everything you read. Test your sources. Believe scripture. Don’t waste your time on frivolous endeavors. You can count on the fact that one day time WILL be no more and there WILL be a new heaven and a new earth. Hold fast to that which is true and let the rest go. If you do that you will have nothing to be concerned about when you stand before Almighty God. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing. 

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Thoughts from a Random Mind 

                If someone you didn’t know offered you a gift, would you take it? That is essentially what Almighty God has done. Millions of people say they believe in God, but do they KNOW Him? When you say you know God, is it the way you know Cousin Tim that lives across the country or the Uncle you only see at family weddings and funerals? Or is it a close, intimate relationship? You know, you can know God in a close, intimate way by drawing close to Him thru the written & spoken Word of God. This is what a genuine Christian is. Someone who accepts Christ in their heart and life and then, begins to emulate Jesus in thought, word, and deed. To say you believe in something or someone and not allow that experience to change the course of your life is like slapping God in the face. You have not seen or understood the importance of embracing your newfound faith and allow it to grow thru future life experiences.

                Do you HAVE to seek a close, intimate relationship with this unseen deity? Absolutely not, but every decision in life involves consequences from our resulting actions. It’s really quite simple. You accept Christ, He accepts you. You reject Christ, He will reject you on the day of reckoning. You DO NOT have to follow Jesus, but there is a major difference from HAVING & NEEDING. You NEED Jesus. He is the only One who paid off man’s sin debt. YOU can’t do it. No one else can do it. Only Jesus willingly gave up His life in exchange for yours. I know you didn’t ask Him to, but He did it because He loves you. You may not know Him, but He knows everything about you. In spite of that He still and always will love you UNCONDITIONALLY. 

                It grieves the Lord when folks reject Him. Too many have the devastating combination of ignorance and stubbornness. In other words, you don’t know, but you will fight to the death to NOT KNOW. Open your heart to His words. Embrace the forgiveness and subsequent peace and hope that comes with it. Christ is holding the door open for you, waiting for you to walk thru into His presence. Don’t miss out on accepting the greatest gift known to man. Complete forgiveness for all sin.

                  Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

Thoughts from a Random Mind

The Relationship

                  Jack & Olivia had just begun dating. There was a spark; a connection that they couldn’t deny. Jack sought to see her often, Olivia was agreeable to that. They spent their time getting to know one another, figuring the more they knew about each other the sooner they would know if they were right for each other for the long haul. Jack was somewhat obsessed with knowing her and Olivia complied readily. Once they had reached their 2^nd anniversary of knowing each other, Jack decided to ask her to marry him. She said ‘yes’ and a whole new chapter in their relationship had begun. Once married they took the covenant they made before God seriously and spent each day continuing to grow in their relationship. Jack knew that if he ever stopped trying to know Olivia better his feelings could easily wane and he could seek other companionship. So, he did his level best to continue to keep things fresh and new. Daily conversations were helpful and spending time alone with each other was too. They spent the remainder of their lives together until they passed on to glory.

                  This is what can happen when you begin a relationship with the opposite sex. My question is: Why isn’t our relationship with God like that? Because we cannot SEE Him? Perhaps … that makes it harder for sure. If only we could treat our relationship with Almighty God like we treat our relationships with our significant others. If we spent as much time with God as we do with our girl or boyfriends or our spouses, we’d know Him much better than we do. We need to dedicate ourselves to God the way we dedicate those eternally meaningless things in our lives. 

                  The Lord is the One who bled & died on a wooden cross to pay our sin debt. No one else can do that for us. The creature cannot do what the creator can do, it can only act or react to that which has been done. 

                  I decided to write this because of an article I read this morning about the lead singer from a Christian rock/pop group who renounced his faith in God. Based on the article I read, it seems to me that the singer didn’t try hard enough to find answers to his questions about God. Unless I misunderstood what he was saying, it seemed as though he collected a series of questions that he didn’t have answers to and left it at that. 

                  A relationship with God needs to be cultivated like a garden. God is always there for us and will lead us down paths of righteousness if we are paying attention. Any relationship is a two-way street. Asking questions or having doubts about God’s existence is fine as long as you dig deep to try to find satisfactory answers. We must remember, everything in this life isn’t going to make sense. Also, we are not always going to understand what’s happening either TO you or all AROUND you. It isn’t necessary to understand, we just need to trust that God will do that which is in our best interest every time. Without trust, our faith will end up being weak and may even go AWOL. 

                  Devote significant time to KNOWING God … it’s good for your soul. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Thoughts from a Random Mind

ABSOLUTE TRUTH

                  Is there such a thing as an absolute truth? Let’s look at this. To say there is NO GOD is an absolute statement, but there is no way of proving that statement. Therefore, it is not an absolutely true statement. The statement is based on various factors that may or may not happen to come into play. The same is true of the converse statement; there IS A GOD. That also cannot be proved. The whole nature of faith never demands proof. 

                  I cannot actually SEE GOD, but I can see the evidence that a Supreme Being exists simply by looking at nature, and other aspects of creation. Don’t believe in CREATION? You believe in EVOLUTION? The THEORY of Evolution is NOT FACTUAL. It is scientific theory and conjecture that cannot be proven without a shadow of a doubt. Is it possible that the BIG BANG was in actuality the exact moment when God said, “Let there be light”? That is what some creationists are saying. No one was there when it happened, so you are back to the notion that coincides with the statement, “If a tree falls in the woods and no one is there to hear & see it, does it make a sound?” How would you know? You wouldn’t. So therein lies the conundrum we are faced with.

                  We believe much of what we know by faith. We take it for granted that our history is true, but what if it was a pack of lies? How would we know? We wouldn’t. Even eyewitnesses would have their own version of past events, which may or may not correspond with another person’s version. Proof. It can be somewhat sketchy at times. It’s based on interpretation.  

                  You can’t always believe what you SEE. Unless you personally experience something, you might look at that THING with a jaundiced eye. To think like this can make someone CYNICAL. So, what do you believe? I would guess you would believe and subsequently trust that which you find reasonably plausible. We choose to believe that which makes the most sense to us.  Consider placing your faith and trust in Almighty God. Do an investigation. While you will not find proof, you may just begin to understand what this whole ‘God thing’ is all about. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Thoughts from a Random Mind

TIME

            Time is a relevant topic. Some think time goes fast, some slow. It depends on what you’re doing. Time at work goes slow. Time on vacation goes lightning fast. I just turned the BIG 7-0 and it boggles my mind … I find myself asking the all too familiar question: “Where did the time go?”

                  How we spend our time is equal to what we get accomplished in this life. Lazy folks get little accomplished. Energetic folks get more than their fair share accomplished. What you do with your time tells what is on your heart; what is most important to you. What do you spend quality time doing? Who do you spend it with? Family? Friends? Work? Play? What is it? Are you an under or over achiever? Why? Is it to please yourself or to please others? Do you follow the Golden Rule by treating others the way you’d like to be treated? 

                  What’s your take on God? Does He exist? Doesn’t He? Why? If you believe He exists how much time do you spend with Him? Does He feel distant to you? If so, who moved? Does He feel close? Time is an interesting commodity. You can only spend it once. Here today and gone tomorrow. Time keeps on rolling, no matter what the situation. Some think time stops when you die. Is that literally true? Those who don’t buy in to the whole Christian scene may think that is the case. Is there a heaven? Is there a hell? 

                  With all the “religions” in the world, why would you think Christianity is the only valid one? How can you prove it? Can You? Proof negates faith and it is faith, combined with belief, that is needed to believe in an unseen God. How can you trust in someone you cannot see? It’s a choice. A free will choice. Believe or don’t believe; it is at your own discretion. 

                  Regarding God and the whole of Christianity, no proof is coming. The existence of God cannot be proven, though Christians believe that evidence is all around us in His creation. That is all well and good unless you happen to be an Evolutionist. 

                  It all comes down to faith – believing something unseen as if it CAN be seen. The clock keeps ticking and time shall one day be no more. The eternity question will be answered either by action, one way or another, or by ignoring those thoughts that have been presented to you. Someone has to pay the piper. Christ paid for those who believe. For those who do NOT believe, the offer is there. It’s an individual choice that HAS to be made or it will be made for you. God sends NO ONE to hell. Their silence on the issue of God speaks volumes and brings about a self-determination that will lead to regret because that person never considered the seriousness of the issue at hand. Once the final trump sounds it will be too late. Use your time wisely; choose wisely as well for your future destination after death is at stake. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Thought from a Random Mind

“For the love of money [that is, the greedy desire for it and the willingness to gain it unethically] is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves [through and through] with many sorrows.”- 1 Timothy 6:10 Amplified Bible

 

                  First, this verse is misquoted quite often. People say, “Money is the root of all evil”, which is NOT true. Money or wealth is immaterial. It is non-emotional. It is also not immoral or unethical. Money is simply the vehicle that can be used to sustain oneself or to commit sin. Now let me clarify. Money is NOT the problem. How one accumulates it and what they do with it can become the problem. Is a person’s financial status achieved thru ill-gotten gain or thru legitimate means? Does that person accumulate money for themselves alone for the sake of having what they would consider to be financial security, hoarding it unto themselves, or are they open to spreading it where it may be needed very badly. If the shoe were on the other foot how would they feel? 

                  Some folks will do ANYTHING to achieve wealth. They will lie, cheat, steal ... be generally deceitful, backstabbing friends to achieve something they want. Don’t believe me? Watch a season of The Summit, Survivor, Big Brother, The Challenge, Deal or No Deal Island. People will vote off their closest, most trusted ally to achieve what they seek, which could be anywhere from $250,000 or $1,000,000. What many of the participants consider to be “life changing” money. I get it. The temptation is great to do what you feel is necessary to get what you feel you so desperately need. But is it worth trashing your reputation or your personal integrity? 

                  There will no doubt be some folks who think I’m making something out of nothing here. Am I really? If you achieved the big prize winnings but had everyone hating you for the way you played the game, would that be alright with you? Would you care? What are your morals? How ethical are you? Money makes you do and say things you wouldn’t normally say or do. EVERYTHING in this earthly life is temporal. NOTHING will last forever. If things lasted forever companies would eventually go out of business, because folks would buy their product and never need another one. 

                  Where is God in all this? Do you think He’s okay with doing whatever you want to gain riches? If that is true then why does Jesus say in Matthew 6:24 ^{Amplified Bible} “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [money, possessions, fame, status, or whatever is valued more than the Lord].” Your integrity matters. Living a moral, ethical life matters. It matters to the Lord, and it SHOULD matter to you. 

                  There is a saying, “You can’t take it with you when you go” and that happens to be true. Millions, if not more, play the lottery every day in the hopes of hitting it big. Elderly people play their life savings at casinos or again, on lottery tickets in the hope of having their golden years truly be golden. The reality is that only one person wins each day, and it probably won’t be you. The odds are stacked against you. Look at YouTube for the video about the lottery winners who won mega bucks only to have it destroy their lives. And to say, “that would never happen to me” is ignorant thinking. 

                  If you’re a Christian, God has promised to meet every single one of your NEEDS. Not your wants, your NEEDS. Having desires are fine, as long as they don’t consume you. Pray, then do what you believe would be pleasing to the Lord.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Thoughts from a Random Mind

 

                  There seem to be two things that have become fashionable nowadays: 1) announcing that your gay or trans and 2) announcing that you are an atheist.  It all comes down to what I have said all along, man wants his autonomy. They don’t want what my chiropractor stated rather emphatically in a recent visit, “I don’t want anyone telling me what to do!”  He wasn’t speaking of God at the time, but he might as well have been.  The basic hedonistic premise of “as long as it hurts no one, do it” seems to be in play in society today. Even Christians are falling into this trap.  The scriptures I read don’t tell me homosexuality is okay now, that being prohibitive was for another time.  Where is that in the Bible?  People are exercising their right to choose and that is a good thing.  Man has been given a free will and that cannot be breached.  If they end up being wrong it will have been their own choice.  God doesn’t send people to hell; they elect to go there based on the decisions they make in life.  Ignore God’s gift of forgiveness for all your sins?  No problem, that is your right as a created being.  But don’t complain if things turn out exactly as scripture depicts it, because that was your warning, and you chose to ignore it and go your own way.  Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

An addendum to my thoughts: I want to make it crystal clear; Christians are NOT TO JUDGE anyone. Not gays, trans, atheists, agnostics, or anyone else that doesn’t share our beliefs. We are to be loving and kind to all peoples, not just the ones who believe as we do. We must be genuine, never fake. We should be seen as a threat to NO ONE, because truly we are not. We are to be an ambassador for Christ wherever we are and in whatever situation we find ourselves. rlk

Thoughts from a Random Mind

The name of Jesus is often used as a cuss word, which is unusual because no other religious leader's name is used in this way. This phenomenon is noted across various cultures and religions, not just within Christianity. The use of religious figures' names as expletives can be seen as a form of blasphemy, which is particularly significant given Jesus' central role in Christianity as the Son of God and Savior. Some suggest that this usage is driven by Satan's desire to defame the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and it is considered a violation of the commandment against taking the Lord's name in vain.

The use of Jesus' name as an expletive likely stems from its historical and cultural context. In many societies, religious language has a strong emotional impact, and using religious terms as expletives can evoke powerful reactions. This practice may also be a result of the cultural and linguistic evolution where certain words become associated with strong emotions or reactions, leading them to be used as swear words.

For those who use such expressions, the religious significance of the words is often lost, and they are used simply because they are part of the common vernacular. This usage can be seen as a reflection of the broader cultural and societal attitudes towards religion and language. Depending on who Jesus is to you, and Almighty God as well, we should treat the name with respect for who He is and what He has done. Without Christ, man has no meaningful future. The only thing that awaits them is death. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Thoughts from a Random Mind

 

In God’s economy everyone MATTERS. We should be KIND to all others in our sphere of influence because Christ is kind. We should be MERCIFUL because Christ is merciful. We should be FORGIVING because Christ is forgiving. We should be HUMBLE because Christ is humble. We should be LOVING because Christ is loving. We are to emulate Jesus Christ in our thoughts, words, and actions. That is how we can live a satisfying life as we walk with our God.

We don’t have to agree with everyone’s ideology. We simply must treat them the way we know from scripture Jesus would have treated them. Our notoriety is completely unimportant. In this self-absorbed world, no one cares who you are or what you think. We need to be and should be the direct opposite to the world. 

God thru His Holy Spirit can enable us to act in appropriate ways so as to make the world see what God is truly like. As the statement goes, your life may be the only Bible some folks ever read. They may watch you, even study your behavior, especially if they think you don’t know you are being watched. You will be scrutinized and judged by THEIR understanding of what a Christian is or at least should be. Sadly, most non-believers have a very weak, shallow understanding of scripture and they fail to realize that as followers of Christ, we are still just as human as they are and prone to missteps and mistakes in judgment.

We’re will never be perfect, but if we allow the Spirit of God to work in us, He will use us for His glory. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Thoughts from a Random Mind

Easter vs. Resurrection Day

 

Facts about “Easter”

The holiday commonly known as “Easter” is one of the most widespread traditions in professing Christendom. Yet both its pagan and Roman Catholic roots are indisputable—and its observance finds no warrant in the Word of God. When measured by the standard of Scripture, Easter stands condemned as a man-made invention, borrowed from idolatry, and unfit for Christian worship.

Pagan Roots of “Easter” 

 

1. Origin of the Name “Easter”

The name “Easter” comes from Eostre (or Ostara), a pagan fertility goddess worshiped in early Anglo-Saxon and Germanic tribes. Her spring festival celebrated fertility, renewal, and new life. The rabbit and egg were her symbols—representing fertility and reproduction.

 

Note: The Greek word Pascha in the New Testament refers to Passover, not “Easter.” The one appearance of the word “Easter” in Acts 12:4 (KJV) is a mistranslation.

 

2. Spring Fertility Rites

Pagan spring rites honored nature’s rebirth after winter and often included: Eggs (symbols of new life), Rabbits (fertility), Sunrise services (honoring the rising sun, not the risen Son). These customs were not only non-Christian, but directly tied to idolatrous worship and nature-based deities.

 

ROMAN CATHOLIC ROOTS

 

1. Council of Nicaea (325 A.D.)

Rome formally established “Easter Sunday” as a feast to celebrate the resurrection of Christ, separating it from the Jewish Passover. The date was fixed according to pagan lunar calculations: the first Sunday after the full moon following the spring equinox.

 

2. Blending Paganism with Christianity

The Church of Rome attempted to “Christianize” pagan spring rituals to attract converts. The result was a religious festival cloaked in Christian terminology, but pagan in spirit and practice.

 

3. Lent and the Easter Season

The 40-day observance of Lent, leading up to Easter, has no biblical basis. It mirrors pagan fasting and mourning rituals (see Ezekiel 8:14—mourning for Tammuz). Events such as Lent, Holy Week, and Good Friday are all Roman Catholic inventions—not apostolic practices.

 

                  To poo-poo this assessment of the holiday and say it’s just innocent fun is to make a mockery of the truth regarding the day. God is not mocked and while celebrating the holiday as the secular world does won’t cause you to lose your salvation and send you to hell, it’s roots in paganism should make you uncomfortable and cause you to change your way of thinking. If you doubt any of this, research the holiday for yourself. On Monday, I will conclude this brief study. The information for this study was provided by a dear sister in Christ whom I’ve known for many years and whose name shall be withheld for privacy reasons. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Thoughts from a Random Mind

God is always there when you think no one else is.

         You could be alone on a deserted island and not truly be alone, because God is ubiquitous in nature. His spirit is everywhere; Jeremiah 23:23-24 says, "I am a God who is everywhere and not in one place only. No one can hide where I cannot see them. Do you not know that I am everywhere in heaven and on earth?” David asks a question, followed by a conclusive statement in Psalm 139:7-8, “Where can I go to escape Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol *, You are there.” So David, who was among other things, “the apple of God’s eye”, and “a man after God’s own heart”.

                  Just because you don’t feel His PRESENCE doesn’t mean He’s not there. He resides within you in the person of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, He goes where you go. If you feel alone, ask Him to reveal Himself to you in some sort of way. That could be pretty much anything. Could be a sudden gust of wind out of nowhere, it could be a call from a brother or sister in Christ who told you they felt the nudge of the spirit to call you. It truly could be anything, so ask, then pay attention.

                  If you are a true, Bible believing Christian, then you should have made that all important choice to accept that God is real and His word, the Bible, is the written love letter from the Creator to His creation. Infallible at its core, and believable to those who choose to believe it. An atheist made fun of us because we believe the bible is the word of God, just because we say it is. His claim was that just because a person says something is true or real doesn’t mean it is. Where is the proof? Christianity provides no proof. You believe because you have chosen to believe. If sin is a real thing, then what will the atheist do about that? With all the inherent evil in the world today, it would be rather foolish to deny the existence of sin. Otherwise, where did evil come from? There’s much more that could be said on that topic, but for now, since you ARE a bible believing Christian, accept the fact that your omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent Creator knows everything about you and if allowed, can and will guide you into all truth by His spirit. God is real and He is with you right now. Not believing that doesn’t negate the fact that it happens to be true. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

* Sheol, in the Hebrew Bible, is a term that generally refers to the underworld or the realm of the dead. It is mentioned 66 times throughout the text and is often associated with the state of death and a sense of eternal finality. 

 

Thoughts from a Random Mind

Judgment is a funny thing, not funny ‘ha-ha’, but funny as in strange. Man insists on passing judgment on his fellow man based on externals; their physical appearance, their economic status, their education or lack there of, whether they are adorned with body art (tattoos) or not, how they speak, how they think, and so on. Some of us seem to think that if someone doesn’t believe exactly like us then they can’t possibly be a Christian. We seem to think we have cornered the market on what’s right and what’s wrong based on our acquired knowledge thru sermons, bible studies and personal study. We can accept the fact that we are flawed but still manage to place labels on others. The incredible thing about God is that he does none of that. He hones in on a person’s heart. He knows the depth of their commitment. He created them and is willing to forgive them just like he did us. Who are we to pass judgment on anyone? That isn’t what we have been called to do. God alone judges, we simply trust God and obey his commands. We’re such a mess. When will we ever learn that the outward flesh tent that our spirits live in doesn’t tell the whole story? There is no sin too great that God cannot forgive, no obstacle too high that he cannot help us get past. Forgiveness awaits those who need to be forgiven, even those who judge others without really knowing them. “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.” – Matthew 7:1-2 NLT. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Thoughts from a Random Mind

“It is not always God’s will to heal a person physically. A person may sincerely pray and truly have faith that God can heal, but if it is not God’s will to provide the healing at that time, then no healing will come (see 1 John 5:14). Sometimes God’s blessings come in other ways besides physical healing.

If it were always God’s will for people to be healed, then everyone would be healed every time he or she became ill. If good health were always God’s will, then Christians would never die. We can’t blame someone’s malady on a lack of faith, for we know, biblically, that God sometimes uses illness to accomplish His will. Also, it’s not just wayward believers who get sick. Paul “left Trophimus sick in Miletus” (2 Timothy 4:20), and Paul himself had a physical ailment that the Lord declined to heal (2 Corinthians 12:7–9).

Often, Christians have an over-simplified idea of healing. They think that, if they are sick, they have only to ask God to heal them and, because God loves them, He will heal them straightaway. Healing is seen as proof of a person’s faith and of God’s love. This idea persists in some circles in spite of the truth that every mother knows: a parent does not give her child everything they ask for every time, no matter how much she loves them.”

Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource:  https://www.gotquestions.org/God-heal-everyone.html

Thoughts from a Random Mind

                  Now more than ever I believe that Christianity is the right path to take. Why do I say that? Because I know of no other system of belief that is and has been since its inception, under attack. God and Jesus are regularly used as a curse word, and people all over the world are being killed for believing in Jesus Christ. In what other religion does that happen? I’m not aware of any. Believing in God and His Son Jesus is a dangerous business. It always has been down thru the ages.

                  Why is Christianity such a threat to the common man? Simple. It calls out sin and seeks allegiance. Those are two things that fly in the face of man’s autonomy.  Anti-Theists insist it is a dangerous threat to civilization, but how? It isn’t like man HAS to believe in God or he will be struck dead. Again, I ask, why is Christianity such a threat to man? Is it for the reasons I mention above? I think so. That and the fact (according to Christian doctrine) that to NOT accept Jesus as Lord and Savior of your life you will go to hell for all eternity. People don’t want to acknowledge God, but the alternative according to the Lord, is distasteful to them. 

                  Life is full of choices, but this choice is different than all the others. It has both a good or bad result depending on which way you choose. Jesus didn’t endure a severe beating and allow Himself to be NAILED to a cross for no good reason. He did it for YOU and ME. Because of the strong opposition to the belief system I agree with and try to live out, I believe now more than ever that I am on the right path to eternal freedom. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Thoughts from a Random Mind

The Name of Jesus in Christian Music

                  I read a piece the other day that said there are believers out there who will not listen to Christian singers who do not incorporate the name of Jesus in their lyrics. They don’t consider it Christian music. Really? Geez, they refuse to take the entire message for what it is and allow themselves to be inspired or ministered to by it. Wow! In my humble opinion that is shortsighted. Because of that restriction that they themselves have placed a personal ban on what they listen to and are missing multiple blessings. Oh well, it’s their choice and they are allowed to it. I guess I just see that as being rigid and intolerant of an individual’s right to express their faith in a way that is different than theirs. Too bad. Oh well, it is what it is. 

                  Believers in Christ are redeemed, but they still must live out their lives in a world that is contrary to that which God requires. We struggle to hear from God daily. We deal with all sorts of issues that are the same as those living in the world. We are in the world but not of the world once we give our lives over to the Lord. To take a narrow view of anything in this world aside from Christ himself and his work on the cross is not a good thing. No one person is any better or worse than anyone else. The only reason we have anything over those in the world is because of what Christ has done for us and nothing we have done on our own. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Thoughts from a Random Mind

It’s hard to know what level of spiritual maturity people are at. Even after you’ve talked to the person you may not have a clue. There’s a lady security guard who said to me she had a lot going on in her mind. It was a difficult time for her. I asked her what she is going to do. “Organize and pray” was her response. I said, “GOOD! Good for you. God loves you very much you know.” She said she knew that and smiled. The interesting part of that brief encounter was that she was born and raised in Egypt. I have no idea what the level of faith she has.  My aim is not to have people replicate my faith and belief, but rather to encourage and uplift the spirits of the people I encounter whether they know Christ or not. Perhaps this lady prayed only when she needed help, maybe she prays all the time. It’s irrelevant really because I’m not her judge anyway.  I try to treat people as equals spiritually speaking. I find that most of the South Americans are mostly Catholic. Whether they are practicing, or non-practicing Catholics is not known to me. For the most part Cubans appear to be atheists, in that churches under Fidel Castro regime were not allowed to exist. 

The Gospel message is one for the ages. It works in all situations and for all peoples. No matter how much or how little you have, the message is the same and the God of the message never changes. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Thoughts from a Random Mind

I recently had someone tell me they were “hanging up their faith” for a while. That it was too difficult to live up to the lofty standards that God has set up for us to follow. The final statement, in my humble opinion, borders on the irrational. He said that “if God was going to cast people out of his presence just because of the life they have lived or the decisions they’ve made than he would be a tyrant and must be stopped.” We aren’t talking about a universal despot who can actually be defeated with the right collection of calculated moves. We’re talking about the Creator of the Universe and man’s first breath. He cannot and should not be stopped. The writer of the email doesn’t get it. You can’t go into a relationship with Christ halfway. It’s all or nothing. You do it willingly, not forcibly.  

A person who isn’t all in on their Christianity is asking for outside forces to compete for his or her attention, which has the potential to turn out very bad for them. It is then that confusion begins. They begin to question their beliefs and entertain a softer approach to heaven. There is no other way to heaven but thru the blood of Christ. How do you think all the cults started. With one person claiming to have a new revelation from God. There is no new revelation from God. There is the Bible, which Christians believe to be the inerrant Word of God. Instead of looking for problems in the text, perhaps it would be better to ask the Lord to show you the truth in His Word. 

All this is your choice. God provides for us a free will to make decisions on our future. With regards to God, we should make an informed decision, not one based on what others say, but what our research shows us. Christianity is NOT just “I believe”and go on as if nothing has happened to you. Your belief should trigger a willingness to follow Christ, just as His disciples did. We are to become like Jesus in our thoughts, words, & deeds. Be honest with yourself and recognize that discipleship takes discipline. We must train ourselves to follow the Holy Spirit’s leading, for this leading will undoubtedly produce over time moral & spiritual improvement. 

Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

 

 

Thoughts from a Random Mind

 

“by his stripes (wounds) we are healed”

 

Does God still heal today? Yes. Is this phrase found in Isaiah 53:5 a promise of God to heal us? It doesn’t appear so if you look at this verse in the context in which it is found. The general tenor of the chapter is about the suffering of Jesus and his subsequent death on a cross. It speaks of what he suffered in detail. It has been referred to by some scholars as the 1^st Gospel. 

Is there truly such a thing as a modern day “faith healer”? We find in the gospels that every one that came to Jesus with a handicap, sickness or disease was touched by him and healed. In the book of Acts who see the same thing happening when the Apostles laid hands on those in need of a healing. Not one person failed to get healed. Not a single one. The same cannot be said of “faith healers”. If someone isn’t healed after they pray for and lay hands on them then it is the one being prayed for...it’s their fault. Not enough faith. Too much unbelief. But nowhere in the gospels or Acts does it say anything about having not enough faith. In Luke 17:19 1 of 10 lepers, when they had been healed, came back to see Jesus and praise God for his healing. This man happened to be a Samaritan, despised by Jews. The faith he showed was that he followed Jesus instructions to show himself to the priests. On the way all 10 were healed but only the Samaritan returned. He did as he was told and came back to give glory to God. On that day that man was healed of his leprosy and of his sins ... a physical and spiritual healing. He put feet to his faith. The question of not having enough faith should be moot because of Jesus own illustration that the disciples only needed faith the size of a mustard seed, no bigger than the head of a pin. So not being healed because the person didn’t have enough faith makes no sense. Our faith is found in the asking ... in the seeking. If we had no faith we wouldn’t even bother seeking anything from God. 

While I had thought of this some time ago, I have finally come to the conclusion that while God does indeed heal people today, the wounds suffered by Jesus healed us spiritually by cleansing us of our sins.  Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Thoughts from a Random Mind

What is fear? “A feeling of disquiet or uneasy anticipation of the future...a reason for dread or apprehension.”

Fear can be crippling. I figure just about everybody is afraid of something. Even the people that insist they aren't afraid of anything are saying that to hide their underlying fear of something. What am I afraid of? Hmmm, at first, I thought, "I’m afraid of displeasing the Lord." Hmmm, no, there had to be something deeper ... "fear of witnessing" ... there ya go. That must be it. But still I pondered. It was something deeper, something derived from personal experiences throughout my life that had put thin layers of fear around my heart. Let's see ... I am afraid of flying, but that can be avoided. I am afraid of being unable to move due to a disease or accident ... which plays into my anxiety issues (that's another story in and of itself). All these things were definitely offshoots, but what was the root of my fear. My mind was whirling like a minicomputer ... I've got it. I know what I’m afraid of. Why hadn't I thought of this before. Of course. My fear lies in being REJECTED. Tied to that is a fear of failure and also a fear of succeeding (which on the surface doesn't seem to make any sense but I think it’s real in my life). I fear rejection on many levels. I fear failure, which isn't so strange. 

I suppose a lot of people have a fear of failing. But I also have a fear of succeeding ... I don't think I deserve to succeed for some reason. So NOW I have to seek God and work towards removing the shackles that have bound me in so many areas of my life. It’s difficult to come face to face with your fears and even more difficult to remove them. But can WE really remove them. Perhaps through some sort of therapy, but that may take time. What about praying about it? Yes, that’s the key. I need to shift my focus off my circumstances and place it squarely on Jesus. I have a Heavenly Father who will no doubt show me the way to further spiritual freedom in spite of myself. It’s a fact that we tend to cause our own problems. Reflect on your own life and see what, if anything, you may be afraid of. Then go to the Father and see to be unshackled. Then praise the Lord. Regardless of how you feel you should always take the time to worship the Lord because he is forever worthy of our praise. Amen?

Psalm 150:1-2 ... “Praise the LORD.  Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens.        Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness.”  Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

Thoughts from a Random Mind

Is He the one and only absolute truth or is He just a fairy tale believed by weak-willed people seeking a crutch? Is there such a thing as ABSOLUTE TRUTH? Truth always seems to shake out as that which makes sense to an individual, therefore they see it as the truth. But is it true for EVERYONE. You see, doesn’t something have to be true for everyone to be absolutely true? I would venture to say that most, if not all people have differing views on what is true. Just like we all have a different definition of what is NORMAL. Doesn’t there need to be one solitary truth that trumps all others? And where would that truth come from? If you have chosen NOT to believe in the existence of God, then where would your truth come from? Doesn’t there need to be a universal truth; one that is true for all mankind?

It is my assertion that the answer to that is a hardy YES. It MUST be fair and just to everyone. 

Who represents that type of truth? I contend that only an eternal deity could possibly put forth such amazing truth that it would confound the human mind. The simplicity of it is astounding. Man’s autonomy trips them up and doesn’t allow them to see the simple truth that God represents. Reading God’s Word with an open mind can begin the revealing of the truth. Preconceived ideas must be left at the door, but that’s not an easy thing to do. It depends on what your preconceived idea happens to be. 

Can something be true without the evidence to back it up? If we don’t understand something does that mean it can’t be true? There can’t be multiple truths regarding a given subject, only one. Spiritually speaking, based on your upbringing and what you’ve learned thru your life, you either believe an almighty deity exists or that He doesn’t exist. If you assume that God doesn’t exist because you see no evidence of His existence, then shouldn’t you want to do an unbiased, independent investigation to find out for sure? 

Now I cannot prove that God exists; however, I have chosen to believe it as a fact that He exists, came to earth in human form, lived for 33 years and died on a wooden cross to cleanse mankind of their accumulated sins. If I’m wrong, I die and have no other conscience thought; so I will never know whether God exists or not, but it won’t matter because I no longer exist. However, if God does exist, and sin is a real thing, and there is a standard that you should be following to have the best possible life, and you don’t choose to believe then what would happen? You wouldn’t stop having conscience thoughts once we die. What happens to you right when you die is debatable, but your final destination will either end up being God’s heaven or hell, forever separated from the God you didn’t believe in. It would be like have a life sentence with no chance of reprieve. Seeking forgiveness, which had been in play until time is no more, is no longer an option. You gambled and lost. If all that happens to be true, then whether you believe or not will not change that particular truth. Don’t fall into the trap of believing what seems right to you, because you chose the easiest path. Solomon states rather emphatically in Proverbs 14:12, “There is a way which seems right to a man and appears straight before him, But its end is the way of death.” It’s a choice we all must make. Choose wisely.

Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

Thoughts from a Random Mind

                  I have a question for you. Is God your first choice or your last resort? When and only when circumstances become dire do you then cry out to God, or do you keep in regular communication with Him? What do YOU think is the correct answer. For me, the only correct answer here is to honor the privilege we have in knowing our Creator intimately and that only happens thru visiting with Him regularly, not once in a blue moon. He WANTS to hear from you. He desires your fellowship. Even though He knows all we are thinking He still wants to communicate with you.

                  Communication isn’t the direct one-on-one variety; it’s more like sensing His presence. Feeling His love pouring over you. You have to be able to sit still for that type of relationship and sitting still doesn’t seem to jibe with the society of today. Could be meditating on the goodness of the Lord or simply praising His name quietly to yourself or out loud. Communication can be thru the reading of His Word, for if you allow it to, scripture will speak to you on the deepest level of your soul and spirit. Your focus needs to be on the Lord and not your life situations. Your problems can chew up your time and cause undue stress, and tension. It doesn’t have to be that way. 

I find that if I occupy my mind with writing or reading, I divert my thoughts from that which is bothering me to the Lord. I deal with anxiety at times. Am on medication for it. Have been for years. I was told by a Christian counselor many years ago the practice of altering your focus onto peaceful, uplifting thoughts. So if I have anxiety rising up within me, I gravitate to the Psalms or Proverbs to calm myself. That plus the work of the Holy Spirit helps me remain calm. God cares and is there with you in each of life’s situations. Sure, you’ll become overwhelmed at times. After all, we ARE still humans, but God provides ways for us to conquer that which we are battling with. 

So make God your FIRST choice and NOT your last resort. Seek Him while He may be found and stay in close contacts with Him. Life can be difficult for sure, but it doesn’t always have to be as difficult as we make it out to be. Focus on your relationship with God and work at making it strong. 

Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries