Thoughts from a Random Mind 

Is it possible that many Christians aren’t well grounded in the Word of God? Is that perhaps why people are now “DECONSTRUCTING” their faith? They pray and when they don’t receive an immediate answer it must be because there is no God. Too many new believers must feel entitled to all the riches in glory without having to make any alterations to their mindset or behavior. Are people looking for short cuts regarding their spiritual walk? 

A true believer in Christ will understand what it takes to cultivate their relationship with the Lord. It takes an earnest desire and unabashed determination to serve our God. We aren’t handed everything on a silver platter. There are times when we must pray thru and trust that the Lord knows exactly what He’s doing. If something doesn’t work out the way you thought it would that shouldn’t cause you to doubt God. 

Do you comprehend who God truly is? Do you read the scriptures? Do you FEED your spirit man daily? What are you waiting for. The road doesn’t get easier; it gets harder as in desperation the devil begins to pull out all the stops to throttle God’s plans. He is a defeated foe, and he knows it so there is nothing he won’t try to cause you to get tripped up. 

Buckle up and set your face as a flint, ready to do battle (figuratively speaking) with all who would try to minimize the impact God can make in a person’s life. Be the best representative for Christ that you can with the help of the Holy Spirit within you. We already have the victory; we simply must stand fast and endure the storm of hate that is infiltrating our land. May God have mercy on our land and give all Christians the wherewithal to stand up for that which is right and just according to scripture. In the end, may God’s perfect will be done. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Note: Our greatest weapons are prayer in Jesus’ name & the Word of God. 

Is being gay a sin? Part 2

 

The question, “Is it sinful to engage in homosexual activities because of same-sex attractions?” has a more straightforward answer. Being drawn toward a morally forbidden relationship is not an active sin; it is a temptation. Sin occurs when we dwell upon the wrong thoughts, the temptation spawns, or when we yield to the temptation. Feeling a same-sex attraction is not an active, willful sin, but yielding to that proclivity and engaging in homosexual relations is.

Our culture assures homosexuals that they were born gay, and that confused sexuality is to be celebrated, not overcome. It is now fashionable to call oneself “gay” or “bi” or any number of other faddish sexual labels without any real understanding of their meaning—or of the moral and eternal implications.

We are all sinners, born with a nature that wants only to please itself. The sinful desires within us vary from person to person, but the root is the same (Romans 3:11). When we realize how broken we are and that we cannot have fellowship with a holy God in such a deplorable condition, we gratefully accept the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for us (2 Corinthians 5:21). He paid the price that we owed to God for our treason against our Creator. He also paid the penalty for the sin of homosexuality, just as He did for pride, rape, adultery, and theft. Those sins, and a thousand more, are what keep us from God and sentence us to an eternity without Him. We cannot continue to define ourselves by the very sins that crucified Jesus, while also assuming that we are right with God. First Corinthians 6:9–10 lists many of the sins that the Corinthians once practiced (homosexuality is on the list). But verse 11 reminds them, “That is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” In other words, some of the Corinthians, before they were saved, lived gay lifestyles; but no sin is too great for the cleansing power of Jesus. Once cleansed, we are no longer defined by sin.

Homosexual behavior won’t damn a person any more quickly than pride or greed or adultery. Without Christ, we are lost, whether gay, or straight. But, when we surrender our lives to the lordship of Jesus, He gives us a new nature (2 Corinthians 5:17). He destroys the power that sin once held over us (Romans 6:1–7). The old nature that once dictated our actions has been conquered in a born-again child of God (John 3:3). Temptation still rages. Weaknesses still torment. But the power of the Holy Spirit helps us to resist Satan and overcome the sins that once held us captive (Colossians 2:14; James 4:7). We can choose new life in Jesus or the old life of sin. But we cannot have both (Matthew 6:24).

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

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: Taken from post on www.gotquestions.org

Is being gay a sin? Part 1

 

            Admittedly, this is a HOT BUTTON topic. There are various answers to this question, but what does Almighty God have to say about it?

In order to answer the question “Is being gay a sin?” we need to break this question down and deal with each piece separately. Instead of asking “Is being gay a sin?” we need to ask, “Is it sinful to have same-sex attractions?”,which leads to the follow-up question, “Is it sinful to engage in homosexual activities because of those attractions?”

Regarding the first question we should take the time to distinguish between sinning and being tempted. Being tempted is not a sin. Jesus was tempted, but He never sinned (Matthew 4:1; Hebrews 4:15). Eve was tempted in the garden, and the forbidden fruit definitely appealed to her, but it seems that she did not actually sin until she took the fruit and ate it (Genesis 3:6–7). A struggle with temptation may lead to sin, but the temptation itself is not a sin.

The problem with same-sex attraction is that it is an attraction to something God has forbidden, and any desire for something sinful ultimately has its roots in sin. Our natures have been so infected with sin that what is evil often looks good to us. Sin causes us to see the world and our own actions through a warped perspective. Our thoughts, desires, and dispositions are all affected. Scripture says we are sinners by nature (Romans 5:12). So, same-sex attraction, per se, is not always an active, willful sin, but it springs from the sinful nature. Same-sex attraction is always, on some level, an expression of the flesh, or the fallen nature.

Our world is filled with forbidden fruits, including the enticement to “be gay.” A happily married man can be suddenly smitten with attraction for his new associate and wrestle with those feelings every day. A sober alcoholic can struggle with the ongoing desire to drink, even years after he becomes clean. Those desires do not represent an active choice to sin, although they stem from the sinful nature. They are part of being a fallen creature living in a fallen world.

Some people may not always be able to control how or what they feel, but they CAN control what they do with those feelings (1 Peter 1:5–8). And we all have the responsibility to resist temptation (Ephesians 6:13). We must all be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2) and “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).

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

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: Taken from post on www.gotquestions.org

Where do you go when you die?

The Bible is absolutely clear that there are only two options for where you go when you die: heaven or hell. The Bible also teaches that you can determine where you go when you die. How? Read on.

First, the problem. We have all sinned (Romans 3:23). We have all done things that are evil, immoral, or unethical (Ecclesiastes 7:20). Our sin separates us from God, and if left unresolved, our sin will result in our being eternally separated from God (Matthew 25:46; Romans 6:23a). This eternal separation from God is hell, described in the Bible as an eternal lake of fire (Revelation 20:14–15).

Now, the solution. God became a human being in the person of Jesus Christ (John 1:1, 14; 8:58; 10:30). He lived a sinless life (1 Peter 2:22; 1 John 3:5) and willingly sacrificed His life on our behalf (1 Corinthians 15:3; 1 Peter 1:18–19). His death paid the penalty for our sins (2 Corinthians 5:21). God now offers us salvation and forgiveness as a gift (Romans 6:23b) that we must receive by faith (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8–9). “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). Trust in Jesus as your Savior, relying on His sacrifice alone as the payment for your sins, and the Word of God promises you eternal life in heaven.

Where do you go when you die? It is up to you. God offers you the choice. God invites you to come to Him. It’s your call.

If you feel God drawing you to faith in Christ (John 6:44), come to the Savior. If God is lifting the veil and removing your spiritual blindness (2 Corinthians 4:4), look to the Savior. If you are experiencing a spark of life in what has always been dead (Ephesians 2:1), come to life through the Savior.

Where do you go when you die? Heaven or hell. Through Jesus Christ, hell is avoidable. Receive Jesus Christ as your Savior, and heaven will be your eternal destination. Make any other decision, and eternal separation from God in hell will be the result (John 14:6; Acts 4:12).  Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: www.gotquestions.org

What is the Unforgiveable Sin?

 

According to the Bible, the only unforgivable sin is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. This refers to a persistent, willful rejection of the Holy Spirit's testimony about Jesus Christ, ultimately hardening one’s heart against repentance. It is not a single, mistaken word, but a sustained defiance. 

It should be pointed out that it was in the Gospels that the Pharisees accused Jesus of using satanic power to heal, directly attributing the work of the Holy Spirit to the devil. How does that translate to us today? It involves consistently rejecting the Spirit’s conviction of sin and refusing to repent. Okay, so why it is unforgivable? It’s not that God refuses to forgive, but that the person perpetually rejects the only mechanism (the Spirit) that draws them to repentance and faith, making forgiveness impossible. Please understand what the unforgiveable sin is NOT.  It is NOT a fleeting thought, a single sinful act, or a moment of doubt, but a state of hardened, unforgiven rebellion.

 

            Here is what two of the four Gospels say about this type of sin...

Matthew 12:31-32 - “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy [every evil, abusive, injurious speaking, or indignity against sacred things] will be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the [Holy] Spirit will not be forgiven.  Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit [by attributing the miracles done by Me to Satan] will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.”

 

Mark 3:28–30 - “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and all the abusive and blasphemous things they say; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit and His power [by attributing the miracles done by Me to Satan] never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an everlasting sin [a sin which is unforgivable in this present age as well as in the age to come]”—[Jesus said this] because the scribes and Pharisees were [attributing His miracles to Satan by] saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”

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

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: www.thenivbible.com

Is God in Hell?  

 

If God is Omnipresent, as in everywhere by His spirit, is He in hell?

 

The answer is that He is there spatially, but NOT relationally. His spirit is there; therefore He knows everything that takes place there. However, He has NO relationship with anyone in hell. No communication, no redemption, no pardon... those who have chosen NOT to have any affiliation with God are condemned to an eternity separated from Him with no way out.  

For the unsaved, that is not good news for there is nothing that they could ever think, say or do that Almighty God is not aware of. It’s incredible to think that He knows all of us so well that He knows what we will think, say, and do PRIOR to it taking place. What???  Knowing all that can be known will do that. Even as a believer, it is a daunting fact that we need to keep in mind (though I’m sure we don’t). THINK long and hard before you let your own thoughts become words that cannot be retrieved. Thinking something is one thing, saying what you’re thinking can be a big mistake, because once it’s said it can tend to take on a life of its’ own. And many times you cannot apologize your way out of the mess you’ve caused.

It is also a blessing that God knows us that well because He will know when trouble is brewing for us and will guide us, by His Holy Spirit, away from that trouble. That is if we desire to avoid the trouble in the first place. The Holy Spirit is our comforter and our guide. He is always available to assist. Take comfort in that fact. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

What is a CINO?

 

A “Christian in name only” (CINO) refers to someone who identifies as a Christian but does not adhere to core Christian beliefs or live according to biblical teachings.  This term is often used to describe individuals whose actions, values, or beliefs contradict the teachings of Jesus Christ, despite claiming the Christian label. 

Characteristics of a CINO include a lack of genuine commitment to Christ, superficial religious practices, and alignment with worldly values over scriptural principles.  They may attend church occasionally or identify culturally as Christian but do not exhibit a transformed life or spiritual fruit. As one source notes, they may claim the name of Christ but are "spiritually dead" ^{(Revelation 3:1)}. 

Biblical basis for the concept comes from Jesus’ warning in Matthew 7:21–23, where He says, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father.” This emphasizes that true discipleship requires more than profession—it demands obedience and a life reflecting Christ-like character. 

Cultural Christianity is a common form of being a CINO, where identity is based on heritage, tradition, or social norms rather than personal faith.  Examples include those who only attend church on Christmas and Easter, or who support political or social positions contrary to biblical teachings while claiming Christian affiliation. 

Various sources also link the term to hypocrisy, noting that such individuals can damage the witness of the Church by claiming Christ while living in contradiction to His teachings. The call across many religious perspectives is for self-examination: “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith” ^{(2 Corinthians 13:5).}

Until next time, walk with the King & treat others the way you’d like to be treated.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Thoughts from a Random Mind 

 

“Some people are impossible to please. As soon as they get what they thought they wanted they always want more.”

            THAT came off the side of a Monster Zero Ultra Energy Drink can. Interesting. It looks like they know people pretty well or at least their clientele. They are describing a large grouping of society. So many people seem to know exactly what they want only to be disappointed or quickly bored with it after they get it. Is it truly much different than a child who bores easily with a new toy they just HAD to have? Even a dog will walk away from a new toy after a few days or weeks, either because they got a new toy or that first toy doesn’t “do it” for them anymore. Have you ever thought of it that way? I have. Many people tend to be like spoiled brats. They accumulate “stuff” only to eventually have it collect dust in a back room out of the way in their home. Now don’t misunderstand me. There’s nothing intrinsically wrong with “stuff” unless getting and having it is more important than anything else in your life. You will NEVER find lasting contentment or satisfaction in the accumulation of “stuff”. It’s simply NOT going to happen. 

            Some folks like to collect things. My thing was collecting comix & ball cards. I had a little over 1400 comix. They were in plastic with cardboard backing. They were stored in eight long boxes designed to hold comic books. I had plastic separators in between titles. And yes, it was all alphabetized. My ball card collection was quite expansive. Baseball, football, basketball, hockey. Special sets. Factory sets. Rookie cards in special Lucite holders. I went all out. There was nothing I enjoyed better than to buy a box of cards, open each pack and collate the cards. I suppose it was kind of a racket in that you had to buy scads of boxes and maybe NEVER get a truly special card that was worth something. But I just liked collecting for the fun of it. When I was asked to leave my Texas home by my then wife, I didn’t have time or the room to take my collections. So they were left behind. Now I look back and while I don’t regret the money or time spent on collecting those things, I also don’t miss any of it at all. I happen to have the following philosophy regarding my life: it’s full of chapters. One chapter ends and another begins. That chapter in Texas closed rather abruptly, but a new chapter was just beginning. That which was left behind becomes part of my history, nothing more. Perhaps a clinical way to look at life, but it seems to work for me.

            So why did I tell you all that. For one simple reason. God supersedes everything else in your life or at least He should. Collecting is fun, but it could fall into the category of “here today, gone tomorrow” and that’s okay. Try not to mourn over your losses. Reflect on what you’ve experienced in your life perhaps, but never mourn the loss of it. It’s stuff and stuff can’t be taken with you when you go. Do something that is much more rewarding. Reflect on the goodness of God. If you want to start a collection, have at it, but try not to let it consume you. Make God your main reason for living. Only GOD can save a man’s soul. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries 

Taking a Different Look at Love

 

Scripture tells us more than once that God is LOVE.  His character is reflected in the below words from Paul’s first letter to the church in Corinth. So that means that His name could be plugged in where the word “Love” is in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.

With this in mind a way you could look at that portion of scripture could be:

 

“God is patient. God is kind. He does not envy or boast. He is not at all proud. God doesn’t dishonor others. He is not self-seeking or easily angered. The Lord doesn’t keep any record of wrongs. God doesn’t delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. He always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Almighty God NEVER FAILS.”

 

If this is who God is and I am supposed to imitate the Lord then wouldn’t it seem logical to assimilate these characteristics into our lives so that we can become closer to Christ. We are to BE Christ to those we interact with on a daily basis. They should see something different in us that creates the potential for a spiritual encounter. Make those type of encounters a part of your daily prayer life. Ask for opportunities to share your faith. It doesn’t come naturally for some folks, but with prayer and God’s subsequent help there is no telling what influence you can have on peoples lives. 

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

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

God is in Total Control

 

            Have you ever considered whether or not Almighty God is in control of all things within His creation? Events that happen, while appearing random, are not surprising to God.  He is sovereign, as in “One that exercises supreme, permanent authority”. Therefore, God holds divine authority over mankind’s destiny. 

Whether we realize it or not, the events that have taken place, are currently taking place, and will take place in the future did not and will not take place by mere chance. There is a divine orchestration to everything that takes place. Everything is part of a flawless grand design. We don’t have to understand or believe everything that takes place, because frankly some things are just not all that easy to accept or understand. Our acceptance comes in the belief that God IS in control and knows exactly what He is doing, why it needs to be done, and knows the exact perfect time for Him to do it. He doesn’t need to seek anyone’s permission or understanding for His plan is perfect, established from the foundations of the world. Knowing all that can be known, God knows exactly how all this ends.

Those who do not accept God in any form are missing the point or are afraid of the truthfulness of the Gospel message, thinking if they avoid dealing with it it will just fade away. If it’s true then they will need to make a decision which they don’t wish to make. However, not making a decision is in and of itself making a decision. You are deciding to abstain from making a choice and that is a decision. The fact that the decision is ours alone to make negates the statement that God sends people to hell. He does not send anyone anywhere. It is a personal choice to either accept and serve God or reject Him. Autonomy shall be the ultimate downfall of the unrighteous. They cannot be good enough to erase all their sins and they cannot save themselves. That’s because it has nothing to do with anything WE do with the exception of our decision to follow and surrender to the Lord who can revolutionize our life. Give control of your life fully over to Christ. You’ll never regret that decision.

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

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries        

 

 

What does the six-hour timeline reveal about Jewish timekeeping?

The six-hour timeline of Jesus' crucifixion reveals that the Gospels used Jewish timekeeping, which began counting hours at sunrise (approximately 6:00 A.M.). This system is key to understanding the biblical accounts:

 

The "third hour" (Mark 15:25) corresponds to 9:00 A.M., the time Jesus was crucified. 

The "sixth hour" (Matthew 27:45) marks noon, when darkness fell over the land. 

The "ninth hour" (Matthew 27:46) is 3:00 P.M., the moment of his death. 

 

This timeline, detailed in the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), contrasts with the Gospel of John, which uses Roman time (counting from midnight).  John's mention of the "sixth hour" during Jesus' trial (John 19:14) refers to 6:00 A.M., resolving the apparent discrepancy and confirming the crucifixion began around 9:00 A.M. Jewish time.

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

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: www.gotquestions.org

 

 

What caused the darkness during Jesus' crucifixion?

The cause of the darkness during Jesus' crucifixion, which lasted from noon to 3 P.M., is not definitively explained in the Bible, but it is widely interpreted as a supernatural event signifying divine judgment and mourning. 

The Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) record that darkness covered the land for three hours. While Luke 23:45 mentions the sun being "darkened" (with some early manuscripts using a term that could imply an eclipse), a natural solar eclipse is impossible at Passover, which occurs during a full moon. 

Early Christian scholars like Julius Africanus and Origen rejected a natural eclipse, noting the Passover timing and the duration (three hours, far longer than any eclipse). The darkness is instead seen as a miraculous sign, symbolizing 3 things: 1) God's judgment on sin, as darkness often represents divine wrath in Scripture (e.g., Amos 8:9); 2) Cosmic mourning, as the "Light of the World" (John 8:12) was being extinguished; and 3) The spiritual weight of Jesus bearing humanity's sins, resulting in his cry of abandonment (Matthew 27:46). Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: www.rootedinchristjournal.com

Why did Jesus die at 3:00 pm?

Jesus died at 3 P.M. (the "ninth hour") because it was the exact time of the daily evening sacrifice in the Jewish Temple.  This timing is deeply symbolic, as Jesus is understood to be the ultimate fulfillment of that sacrifice. 

The ninth hour was when the second lamb of the Tamid offering was sacrificed each day. By dying at this precise moment, Jesus is presented in the Gospels as the true "Lamb of God" (John 1:29), whose death serves as the perfect, final sacrifice for the sins of humanity, replacing the need for all future temple sacrifices. 

This moment was also a traditional hour of prayer and confession for the Jewish people, underscoring the themes of atonement and reconciliation with God. The darkness that covered the land from noon until 3 P.M. further signifies the profound spiritual weight and divine judgment being borne by Christ in those final hours.

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

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: www.gotquestions.org

 

The Scientific Death of Jesus, the Christ

 

At the age of 33, Jesus was condemned to death. At the time crucifixion was the "worst" death. Only the worst criminals were condemned to be crucified. Yet it was even more dreadful for Jesus, for unlike other criminals condemned to death by crucifixion Jesus was held to the cross by His hands and feet with spikes, rather than tied ... each spike was 6 to 8 inches long.

The spikes were driven into His wrists, not into His palms as is commonly portrayed. There's a tendon in the wrist that extends to the shoulder. The Roman guards knew that when the spikes were being hammered into the wrist, that tendon would tear and break, forcing Jesus to use His back muscles to support himself, so that He could breathe.

Both of His feet were spiked together. Thus He was forced to support Himself on the single spike that impaled His feet to the cross. Jesus could not support himself with His legs for long because of the pain, so He was forced to alternate between arching His back and using his legs just to continue to breath. Imagine the struggle, the pain, the suffering.

From common images we see wounds to His hands and feet and even the spear wound to His side... but do we remember the many wounds made to his body. A hammer driving large spikes through the wrists, the feet overlapped, and a spike hammered through His arches, then a Roman guard piercing His side with a spear. 

Before the spikes and the spear, Jesus was whipped and beaten. The whipping was so severe that it tore the flesh from His body. The beating so horrific that His face was torn and pieces of his beard were ripped from His face. The crown of thorns (two to three inch Judean thorns) cut deeply into His scalp. Most men would not have survived this torture.

Jesus endured this reality for over 3 hours. Yes, over 3 hours! Can you imagine this kind of suffering? A few minutes before He died, Jesus stopped bleeding. He was simply pouring water from his wounds.

Jesus was made to endure all this for 3 hours. He had no more blood to bleed. The human adult body contains about 5 liters (just over a gallon) of blood.  Jesus poured out all 5 liters of his blood; He had three spikes hammered into His body; a crown of thorns was beaten down upon His head and, beyond that, a Roman soldier stabbed a spear into His side ... all these without mentioning the humiliation He suffered after carrying His own cross for nearly 1-1/4 miles, while the crowd spat in his face and threw stones (the cross beam was somewhere between 75 & 125 lbs). Jesus had to endure this experience, so that you may have free access to God.  So that your sins can be "washed" away. All of them, with no exception!   JESUS CHRIST DIED FOR YOU!

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

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Why is it called 'Good' Friday?

 

Good Friday, the Friday before Easter, is the Christian day to commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus and His death at Calvary. This Christian holiday is also known as Holy Friday, Great Friday, Great and Holy Friday, and Black Friday.

In the same way, Good Friday is “good” because as terrible as that day was, it had to happen for us to receive the joy of Easter. The wrath of God against sin had to be poured out on Jesus, the perfect sacrificial substitute, for forgiveness and salvation to be poured out to the nations. Without that awful day of suffering, sorrow, and blood at the cross, God could not be both “just and the justifier” of those who trust in Jesus (Romans 3:26). Paradoxically, the day that seemed to be the greatest triumph of evil was actually the death blow in God’s gloriously good plan to redeem the world from bondage.

Still, why call the day of Jesus’ death “Good Friday” instead of “Bad Friday” or something similar? Some Christian traditions take this approach: in German, for example, the day is called Karfreitag, or “Sorrowful Friday.” In English, the origin of the term “Good” is debated: some believe it developed from an older name, “God’s Friday.”Regardless of the origin, the name Good Friday is entirely appropriate because the suffering and death of Jesus, as terrible as it was, marked the dramatic culmination of God’s plan to save his people from their sins. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource:  www.gotquestions.com

 

Think On These Things

Is there a reason why some only call on the Lord when there’s no one else to call? Is there a reason that we only seek Him when things don’t go our way? Why do we declare that God has failed us; that He is no longer there? Don’t we realize that we are only sleeping in the bed we’ve made?

Is there a reason why we enjoy our own free will, yet cry and moan at the consequences? Is there a reason that we ignore all the warnings that the Lord has laid before us, then get angry when we reap what we’ve sown? 

So WE BLAME GOD because our world isn’t coming out the way we want it to! And all the while the devil is masquerading as an angel of light. Just imagine all the pride, arrogance and gall we exhibit when we ask where God has been, when in reality we haven’t involved Him in our lives at all. Think about that... Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Note: The ideas expressed in this post are inspired by the lyrics from a song by the Christian Rock Group Theocracy called “As the World Bleeds”.

5 Things God Cannot Do

 

1 - He Cannot Fail – Luke 1:37... "For no word from God will ever fail." ^(NIV)

The Word is God & God is the Word... John 1:1 ... “In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God and the Word was God.”

I mention this verse to show that God and His Word are one in the same; therefore, if His Word will never fail, then God also will never fail. They are interchangeable in scripture.

 

2 - He Has No Fear – 1 John 4:18 ... “Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear.”

1 John 4:16 ... “We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in His love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.”

            Here again we find that loves casts out our fear. We then see that “God is love”, so love conquers fear and love is equal to God than God must not have any fear.

 

3 - He Cannot forsake His Children – Deuteronomy 31:6 ... “So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

This statement is part of God’s covenant with man. He is always with you in the form of the Holy Spirit. He is strong enough to protect you. God is 

 

4 - He Cannot Lie – Numbers 23:19 ... “God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?”

            Now there’s an indictment if I ever heard one. “God is not a man, so He does not lie”; insinuating that those created by God LIE. It would seem that men lie when it benefits them. It’s my hope that true followers of Christ DO NOT LIE. I’d like to think that is the case. The father of lies, Satan, controls much of what the unsaved think, say, and do, although they no doubt are unaware of this.

 

5 - He Cannot Make Mistakes – Romans 8:28 ... “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”

            The Lord has a prescribed plan set forth at the beginning of time, so there are no mistakes or regrets. Since He is perfect the Lord knows in perfect chronology of events that are to take place throughout time. And since He is perfect in every way He cannot make mistakes. 

 

            I hope you enjoyed this brief look at the things our perfect and Almighty God simply cannot do. It isn’t an exhaustive list, but rather those things that appear to me to be most important. Knowing these truths can bring hope, peace, and contentment to one’s soul. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

A Spirit of Gratitude

 

“You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.” ^{[James 2:19]}

            Believing in Jesus but not obeying Him is exactly what Satan does. Consider what has been done for you to pay for your entire life’s worth of misdeeds and iniquities. Now expand that view to cover all the iniquities of the entire human race since the beginning of time. Now we’re only responsible for our sin but that’s still a considerable debt that we had no way of paying off. Not to mention the fact that our inability branches out to Christ and our being unable to REPAY Him for the kindness of His substitutional death. Why would a person NOT want to follow Christ and earnestly obey His statutes as revealed in scripture? That’s the point, out of extreme gratitude one should have a strong desire to do that which is biblically asked of us. 

Don’t be like 9 of the 10 lepers who were healed by Jesus ^{[Luke 17:11-19].} The 10 lepers were healed but only 1 went back to express their thanks to the Lord. While the distance the one had to travel to return to Jesus is not mentioned, the main thing is that he DID return. And on top of all that we find that the one who returned happened to be of all things a Samaritan. Jews HATED Samaritans mainly because as Jews they married Gentiles, so the Jews considered them half-breeds. So only the hated half-breed in need a healing took the time to give Jesus thanks. The magnitude of what had been done for him did not escape him. In like manner the magnitude of what has been done for us should be enough to drive us to our knees in pronounced appreciation. 

Don’t be a dupe for the devil. If you’re willing to have your sins cleansed you should be willing to follow Christ wherever He leads you. It isn’t and should not be all about you. And if you think it either is or should be then you are making a tragic mistake. Selfless living gets you the prize. Selfish living gets you NOTHING. Don’t be a couch potato Christian. Put feet to your faith and serve the Lord with a spirit of gratitude. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessed.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Jesus’ Ministry

3 Main Aspects: Teaching / Preaching / Healing

            His teaching showed His concern for peoples understanding. His preaching showed His concern for commitment. His healing showed His concern for wholeness. His miraculous healings validated His teaching & preaching. That was to prove that He was truly sent by God.

            The Lord gives us the ability to understand that which He wishes us to understand. There are many things we may never understand completely but if we are diligent in our pursuit of God we will understand that which we will need to understand. That may sound like double talk, but God’s ways are simply incomprehensible at times. That’s okay, because our salvation doesn’t hinge on our understanding, but rather our acceptance of Almighty God, and His Word. 

            Healing was an integral part of Jesus’ ministry. He isn’t a genie in a bottle granting wishes. He heals who He heals for His own purposes and reasons. I don’t understand that entirely, but I trust God to do that which is best for those who are seeking a touch from Him. Healing still takes place in this day and age, though there doesn’t seem to be any pattern to the healings. I don’t believe it has anything to do with the size of your faith and trust, because Jesus Himself said that all you need is a thimble full of faith to move a mountain. Now I think that was said metaphorically, because there is no historical record of a mountain being cast in the sea from just speaking a word in faith. God does that which is necessary to fulfill His own purposes. Just as He is the great and mighty “I AM THAT I AM”, God knows His own mind and that which needs to be done to bring His will to its prophesied conclusion. The world is much bigger than our, by comparison, infinitesimal problems. Looking back at our life retrospectively, we MAY see how God has orchestrated things to prevent wholesale pandemonium in our lives. *

            Remember, faith and trust is what make your faith machine run. Without it you would be floating aimlessly like a rudderless boat. Don’t discount God just because you don’t understand something (deconstruction). Worship Him with joy and peace in your heart. His ministry is still alive and well. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

*Check it out. In the middle of the word pandemonium is the word DEMON. How incredibly interesting.

Thoughts from a Random Mind 

 

A “Reckoning” is a biblical term that is significant for understanding the believer's righteous standing before God. To reckon is to acknowledge that something is true on the basis of established facts. God reckons people righteous on the basis of his grace and their faith.

A “Dead-Reckoning” to me is when someone trades in their old life for a new one thru salvation. It’s when a person learns to die to self daily so that the new life can shine thru. We have nothing at all to lose; however, it is incumbent upon us to choose to respond affirmatively when the Spirit calls. A “dead-reckoning” is all about DYING to the world and becoming ALIVE in God.

The world calls us many negative, derogatory things, but they can call us whatever they want, they cannot take our soul from us. Funny how as children we learn this little ditty: “Sticks & stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” But it happens to be true. Words in the form of profanity laced insults can no doubt sting, and even cut right to the quick, but the most important thing in all that is that words can truly do nothing to us. Dying to the world makes us its enemy and places somewhat of a target on our back. God may allow our enemies to do any number of things to us physically, but no matter what, they cannot make God stop loving us. They cannot rob our salvation from us. AND they cannot void out our ticket to our eternal home with the Lord. You see? What can they really do to us. Nothing. Even if they took our very life, we would be in heaven, which would be a fair exchange; this sin filled world in exchange for an eternity of peace, joy, hope, mercy, and love with our Heavenly Father. All because we had a “dead-reckoning”. 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 

            In a world that is rife with evil laced hatred, “love conquers all”. That is straight out of the “love chapter”, aka, 1 Corinthians 13. I have a sign in my sitting room that says it like this: “Love Always Wins!” Regardless of your current situation, no matter how much pain, bitterness, or resentment you might feel in your heart towards another or towards God Himself, that statement is a “stone-cold fact” *. There is nothing on this earth that can overpower love, especially when that love comes from Almighty God. As dedicated followers of Christ we can tap into the source of that love anytime we need it. It doesn’t matter whether we need it for ourselves or we need to show it to someone else who needs to be loved. God’s love has a special quality about it. It’s spiritual in nature. It’s essence is supernatural; even miraculous. When nothing can break thru a person’s stoney heart, God’s supernatural, miraculous, unconditional, never-ending love can. His love can pierce thru to the core of a person’s soul. It can create a euphoric feeling of love that cannot be reproduced by any mortal man. 

            While I’ve said a number of times that it costs nothing to be kind, the same goes for love. True abiding love can win over those who are stubborn, those who are haters, those who are broken, those who are tragically flawed, those who are deeply depressed, those who feel all hope is lost. When someone leads with love they win. 

            Life is hard. Each road we travel as individuals has their own ruts, rocks, potholes and the like, but if it’s the path the Lord has set you on, then He will give you all it will take to travel down that road all the way to it’s end. Remember, lead with love because love always wins!!

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

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

*Stone-cold fact means a complete, undeniable truth—something that is absolutely certain, without any doubt.

Thoughts from a Random Mind  

            Spiritually speaking, there is a currency that runs thru God’s economy. It’s main component is Salvation, which is yours for the asking & only requires your allegiance & fidelity. In other words, it seeks your loyalty & obligation to duty based on the Lord’s standards found in scripture. 

            There are also so many other things in God’s spiritual currency that are free. It costs nothing to be kind. It costs nothing to be merciful. It costs nothing to be loving. It costs nothing to be compassionate. I think you get my point. It costs NOTHING to replicate Jesus’ behavior among His peers & among the multitude of unsaved. He treated everyone the same; some more harshly than others, such as the religious leaders of His day. 

            So when you experience an injustice or some other sort of unpleasant situation, quickly reflect on how Jesus behaved before the Sanhedrin when He was being prosecuted.

Behave like Paul & Silas while they were in prison. We have no way of knowing the back story of each stranger we encounter each day, so show them the same grace God has shown you. Thru all your highs and lows God never chastised you, or threw it back in your face at a later date. His love is so strong for His creation that those who don’t yet know Him still have hope until the day they die, because God doesn’t wish that ANY would perish outside His presence. Show kindness to others always, just the way you would like someone else to treat you. ^{[Luke 6:31]} Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Luke 6:31 – “Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.”

Thoughts from a Random Mind 

            There is a lyrical message presented in a song by a Christian rock group by the name of Theocracy. The song’s title is “The Sixth Great Extinction” and it talks about the self-destructive path that mankind is on. It points out the spiritual and moral decline which the Bible refers to as “apostasy”; a willful turning away from God. It could be classified as a self-imposed spiritual death.

            A spiritual “extinction” could easily take place thru a loss of discernment and a loss of interest in following the standards the scriptures have revealed to us. The mental state of mankind is (generally speaking) one of self-centered, self-absorbed individualism. The catch phrase “Me, Myself, & I” seems to be somewhat of a reality. Trust is in our fellow man is waning. Looking out for No. 1 is making a resurgence. 

            Many scholars and theologians believe we are in what scripture refers to as “the last days”. Now we must understand that everything takes place on God’s timetable and not ours. 

Is Christ’s Return imminent? Perhaps. No one knows but God Himself. Our job as followers of Christ is to continue to pray, continue to read the scriptures, continue to share what we believe when the Lord presents the opportunity, and by all means, NOT be judgmental. 

            Put on your armor as described in Ephesians 6:10-18. Be prepared. We aren’t to sit idly by doing nothing. The least we can do is pray, for prayer is a formidable weapon against evil. Don’t allow your faith or trust in God to fade away. Rise up and declare the victory in the name of the Lord, for it is the Lord that goes before us. We are never alone in the fray. The spirit of God dwells in us if we are saved. Rely on the Lord God to see us thru any battle, whether physical, medical, emotional, or intellectual. We are children of the King and He is coming back for us one day. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries