The following is a repost originally written by myself on 3.26.09. I wanted to share it once again because, right along through here, I feel it can help someone. Hope it touches and helps you. God Bless!

I am dying. 

No, I don't have a fatal disease or terminal illness, but it's true. 

I AM dying. 

I'm one step closer to death than I was yesterday. 

And if we stopped and thought for a moment, we all are. 

Life is soooo short, man. Death has no respect for age. It used to be at one time, all the older people would die off, but lately it seems as if the young ones are filling up those vacancies in those graveyards. 

One minute you're here, and the next you're gone..just like that. 

Some people don't like to think about it, or talk about it, but hey, that's reality. 

You're not here to stay. 

When you die, that's just the beginning of it all. 

I know some of us are in that mode "I'm young and i'm gonna do what I wanna do while I can do it" but that's not the mindset we should have. 

The devil wants us to think that we have all the time in the world...but in reality we don't. 

Don't you know if you die in your sins, your soul goes to him to be tortured for all eternity?

Since young people are dying as quickly as the older generation, don't you think we should be in good standing with God? 

When we die and judgment comes, we have to stand before Him and give an account of everything we did on earth. 

Some of us say "I'm a good person" or "I love God" but it takes more than just that. You can't live your life any old way and expect God to be pleased with you. You have to live according to His teachings. 

Sure, it might be hard and you'll have to give up a LOT. 

But look at the BIG PICTURE..if you live as He would have you to live and follow His word, you spend eternity with Him? 

Isn't that a wonderful thought? 

To know after all the hurt and pain and drama down here you had to deal with, you can rest in Heaven with him forever? 

Why would you wanna live a life full of hell here on earth and spend eternity in hell 'cause of how you were living? 

We need to take self examinations and change up the way we live if it's not measuring up to God's standards. 

Tomorrow is not promised...neither is the next second. 

We should stop saying "I'll worship God when I get older", who's to say you have that long left? 

You should do it NOW while there's still breath in your body and blood running warm in your veins. 

Sure you may lose some friends along the way, your family may even turn against you, but when you face God you have to answer for YOU and what you did or didn't do during your life. 

It's funny how we can talk about any and everything, but when God is brought up, there's cause for debate. 

Why can we talk hours and hours about the latest music, gossip about this and that person, but when something comes up about our soul and eternity we get defensive? 

God loves ALL OF US and doesn't want any of us to perish. 

But he destroyed the world once before and only eight survived, He has the right to do it again. 

Why take that chance? 

Don't you want to hear Him say "Well done" on that last and final day? 

Don't you want to see His face in peace instead of fear?

Some may think i'm crazy, or a "religious nut" but hey...
you think what you want. It used to bug me that people would
think I was weird for standing up and doing what was right
by telling others about God, but it doesn't bother me anymore.
I know i'm doing what God would have me to do;
and as long as He's pleased, that's all that matters to me.

Don't you want to be on someone's side who...
..will love you unconditionally?
..will be there for you all the time when others turn their backs?
..will forgive you when you do wrong instead of hanging it over your head?

Do what's right:
Live for Him♥

I'm Not Sorry!

by Tom Smith, Wooddale Church of Christ

The title of this article sounds like something a naughty child might say after being commanded to apologize. 

Can you feature it coming from the lips of the apostle Paul? 

Actually it came from his pen, but the effect is the same. 

Why would he say such a thing?

"For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it" (2 Cor. 7:8a). 

In Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians he took them to task for a number of errors and abuses. I like the way my friend and fellow-preacher David Harlow (Sylvia, KS) put it, that Paul wasn’t very "warm and fuzzy" in that letter. He hurt their feelings with such words as "you are still carnal" (3:3), and "I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren?" (6:5). For a time Paul wondered if he might have come on too strongly. In the final analysis, however, Paul had done what the Corinthians needed. His letter produced within them a godly sorrow for their sins, which led to their repentance (2 Cor. 7:9).

Have your children ever cried after you scolded them? 

Maybe it broke your heart; you wondered if you had been too severe. 

Later, though, their changed behavior and attitude demonstrated that you were right to scold them.

Confronting people with their sins has never been pleasant. 

Our feelings-oriented culture multiplies the difficulty. Hurting someone’s feelings gets you labeled "mean-spirited" and "extreme." (Such labels hurt people’s feelings, but then who ever said political correctness was consistent?) Piercing a sinner’s heart by convicting him of sin contradicts the world’s warm, fuzzy mis-definition of love. 

Indeed, the theme song of the old movie "Love Story" says, "Love means you never have to say you’re sorry." 

But that certainly isn’t what God said! 

"Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance . . . For godly sorrow produces repentance to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death" (2 Cor. 7:9, 10).

Until and unless people understand the gravity of their sins and feel godly sorrow, they have no motive to repent; and unless they repent, they cannot be saved. 

May we, like Paul, be bold in confronting sin forcefully in hope that godly sorrow will produce repentance unto salvation. 

Biblical love will not stand by and let a soul be lost because we were afraid that confronting him might hurt his feelings.

Bob Prichard

Topic(s): Evangelism, Nature of Man, Salvation

Gods loves all people. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance<. He desires that none should perish, But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up (2 Peter 3:9-10).

Even in our day of sophisticated communications, many live and die without hearing the saving gospel of Christ. Some reason that a loving God will save those who have no chance to receive or reject the gospel. Christ said, however, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned (Mark 16:15-16). He made no distinction between those who openly reject His gospel, and those who have not heard.

Paul warned that Jesus and His angels shall be revealed, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9). Vengeance is on them that know not God and that obey not the gospel.

Paul asserted that because of the evidence of creation men should know God and are thus without excuse. However, Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator. Because the heathen world rejected God and worshipped the creature rather than the Creator, God gave them up unto vile affections (Romans 1:20-26). If God will save the heathen in their sins, rather than from their sins, then Jesus died in vain. God would save ALL in their sins. Peter said, however, there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12). If the heathen are not really lost, why did Christ command, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15)?

Since all must obey the gospel, each who hears and understands should obey the gospel immediately, and work to share the gospel with the world. Paul warned, the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead (Acts 17:30-31). David warned, The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God (Psalm 9:17). Our lost world needs the gospel of Christ.

[ SOURCE ] 

Todd Clippard

Topic(s): Christian Life, Salvation, Forgiveness, Prayer

As a Christian, one need not be baptized again to receive forgiveness. You must be willing to repent of your sin, confess it to God, and ask for forgiveness.

Simon the Sorcerer was a Christians who tried to buy the gift of the Holy Spirit. Peter told him to repent and pray for forgiveness (Acts 8:9-22).

John said if we (Christians) confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness - 1 John 1:9.

When Christians walk in the light, they enjoy fellowship with God and fellow Christians, and Jesus' blood cleanses them from all sin - 1 John 1:7. This means we will sin even though we are doing our best. What is important is to recognize that we do sin and be ready to repent whenever necessary.

You need to trust in God and His promise to forgive. God can and will forgive any penitent Christian.

[ SOURCE ] 

Salvation Has Been Brought Down
Jesus gave His life a ransom yonder on Calvary.
On Mount Calvary, cruel Calvary.
Paved the way by blood
That we might win a bright shining crown.
Praise the Lord! Salvation has been brought down.

Chorus:
Praise (the Lord) the Lord (blessed Lord),
Salvation has been brought down.
Go (and shout) and shout (go and shout),
And tell it to the world around.
Tell it today (to people in sorrow).
Tell it today (and tell it tomorrow).
Preach the word of God
That we might win a shining crown.
Tell (the lost) the lost (all the lost) salvation is full and free.
Spread (the news) the news (blessed news)
All over the land and sea.
Tell it afar (in every nation).
Tell it afar (all over creation).
Praise (the Lord) the Lord (blessed Lord),
Salvation has been brought down.

All alone without a friend, He suffered to pay it all.
Yes, He paid it all, Jesus paid it all.
In His blessed promises sweet victory can be found.
Praise the Lord!  Salvation has been brought down.
Chorus:
Praise (the Lord) the Lord (blessed Lord),
Salvation has been brought down.
Go (and shout) and shout (go and shout),
And tell it to the world around.
Tell it today (to people in sorrow).
Tell it today (and tell it tomorrow).
Preach the word of God
That we might win a shining crown.
Tell (the lost) the lost (all the lost) salvation is full and free.
Spread (the news) the news (blessed news)
All over the land and sea.
Tell it afar (in every nation).
Tell it afar (all over creation).
Praise (the Lord) the Lord (blessed Lord),
Salvation has been brought down.

There's a blessed home prepared way over in Gloryland
In bright Gloryland, blessed Gloryland.
I have trusted in His love and now I am Heaven bound
Praise the Lord!  Salvation has been brought down.

Chorus:
Praise (the Lord) the Lord (blessed Lord),
Salvation has been brought down.
Go (and shout) and shout (go and shout),
And tell it to the world around.
Tell it today (to people in sorrow).
Tell it today (and tell it tomorrow).
Preach the word of God
That we might win a shining crown.
Tell (the lost) the lost (all the lost) salvation is full and free.
Spread (the news) the news (blessed news)
All over the land and sea.
Tell it afar (in every nation).
Tell it afar (all over creation).
Praise (the Lord) the Lord (blessed Lord),
Salvation has been brought down.

Bob Prichard

Topic(s): Baptism, Salvation

The second chapter of Acts describes the beginning of the Lord's church almost two thousand years ago on the day of Pentecost. 

Hearing Peter's words, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38), they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls (Acts 2:41). According to Acts 2:47, the Lord added to the church daily such as should be [or, those who were being] saved. Thus the Lord added three thousand people to His church as they obeyed the teachings of the apostles by being baptized.

While the administrator of baptism is unimportant, the purpose in baptism is of the utmost importance. Anyone properly baptized, as those three thousand were on the day of Pentecost, is added unto the Lord's church. A person baptized for the wrong purpose, however, has no assurance that the Lord will add him to His church. For example, if a man was baptized simply because his wife wanted him to be baptized, and he made no real commitment to the Lord, then the Lord certainly would not add that man to His church, because pleasing or obeying a wife is not the Lord's purpose in baptism. We see, then, that it is important to know and understand the Lord's purposes in baptism.

Jesus commissioned his disciples, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned (Mark 16:15-16). The purpose of baptism, then, as stated by Christ, is to save the believer. Scriptural baptism then, is preceded by belief in Christ. Peter told those gathered on Pentecost, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). So Peter said that the purpose of baptism of the penitent believer is for the remission (forgiveness) of sins.

Ananias commanded Saul of Tarsus, And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord (Acts 22:16). Here again the purpose of baptism is stated, to wash away sins. Paul declared to the Galatians, as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ (Galatians 3:27). Thus baptism puts the obedient believer into Christ, where there is salvation. Peter compared baptism to Noah's ark, saying, The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 3:21). Peter clearly said, baptism doth also now save us. The scriptures show that baptism is an immersion in water for the forgiveness of sins, upon which the Lord adds that penitent and obedient believer to His church. A baptism administered merely as a denominational ordinance to those who have already been saved, or to a child that is unaware of the significance of baptism, does not fit the New Testament pattern for baptism.

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