What is a Christian?

My earliest memories are of living in southern Ontario on the border, I was very aware that we were "Yankee's" and tolerated, though not unwelcome.  Not with everyone however, kids didn't care.  We attended and were members of a Roman Catholic church in Port Lampton.  I remember being fascinated with the paintings on the roof as a young child (the building is apparently long gone according to google earth, I haven't been back in PL since 1968).  One of my earliest memories of 'going to church' is of breaking ice in the puddles with my new shoes on and being chastised.  A few years on we lived in Kirkland Lake and I was an alter boy (no issues with priests personally for me of them stepping out of their role or among any I remember talking with) full disclosure: I was quite shocked when the parish priest knocked back a couple of beers in KL with my dad in our home a few years later (he eventually went on to marry my teacher who was a nun, all good I guess).  One of the fellows I was on alter service with was electrocuted at a closed mine site (Ricky Belek), I don't remember all the details, grade 4 or early grade 5.  We also lived on an old mine site so it struck close to home, I remember my folks laying the law down with us wandering kids...  I remember bits of the funeral, mostly that I was looking around wondering what was true, was he in the box or? You could say I was a faithful Catholic, at least until I was around 14-15 years old.  My rebellious nature started to take over and it seemed I was living a lie.  Telling my folks I was a faithful Catholic while knowing in my heart that i didn't care for any of it became the rule for quite sometime, not proud of that.  God doesn't honour lying.  Later after we moved to FF I joined the military.   js

Witness

The last little while, since the shut down started, I have noticed I get more responses to my Facebook posts.  A few years ago I got off of FB because I thought social media was pointless.  After my adventure in 2015 I rethought it all and decided that it could be for two purposes.
1. to allow me to be in contact with soldiers I worked with, professionals and others, and of course (most importantly) family, and
2. to use the social media avenue as a platform to get the Gospel of Jesus Christ out to my contacts and the world.
Over time point two has become the overwhelming cause I strive to follow.
Why?
Well, staying touch is a good thing.  Yet there is so much posted that I really do not want to see, I have to to make an effort to shield myself from things I do not want in my life.  It would be so easy to just 'block' those who not only don't agree, but who want to 'beat me down' or 'argue' or 'correct me' as they are 'offended' by being told (or even just seeing) the Word of God.  I was once where they are, so I do understand.
Now I know that due to Jesus Christ entering my heart just over twenty years back, that I am in this world, but not of this world.  But it is still quite a challenge for this old soldier to not 'strike back' when attacked.  Sometimes I just need to step away.  My encouragement is turning to the 15th Proverb verse 1: A soft answer turneth away wrath, but greivous words stir up strife.  I remind myself that there are:  ...six things doth the LORD hate.. A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord.. (Proverbs 6:16-19).
So: what is the reason I stay on social media, Facebook.  I'll try to explain as follows:

Jesus Christ commands me as his last act this earth;
Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.  
The Great Commission.  I am to 'preach' the Gospel.  To be a witness as to what He has done in my life.  To 'teach all nations'.  No where does it tell me to 'compel', to 'win arguments' to 'debate' or to 'come out on top'.  I am to be a witness.  Not my job to get folks to heaven, there is the Holy Ghost (Spirit) for that.
I have been thinking about this, I will try, over the next while, to post how I got to where I am.  A born-again Christian from a blaspheming anti-Christ person. I revelled in my sin.  Hopefully it will make sense, not show any disrespect.  Please know, what ever I write, it is not about me.  It is about Him and what He has accomplished to and through me.
God bless.  Have a great day, On Purpose!  js  

Two Posts in One Day

A friend of a friend on Facebook shared this.  I thought I would share it here as it is good. 

"Gracefully Broken!

I was in a supermarket last night and there was a lady and two kids behind me in the LONG line. One was a big kid, one was a toddler. The bigger one had a pack of glow sticks and the baby was screaming for them so the Mom opened the pack and gave him one, which stopped his tears. He walked around with it smiling, but then the bigger boy took it and the baby started screaming again. Just as the Mom was about to fuss at the older child, he bent the glow sticks and handed it back to the baby. As we walked outside at the same time, the baby noticed that the stick was now glowing and his brother said "I had to break it so you could get the full effect from it." I almost ran because l could hear God saying to me, "I had to break you to show you why I created you. You had to go through it so you could fulfill your purpose." That little baby was happy just swinging that "unbroken" glow stick around in the air because he didn't understand what it was created to do...which was "glow". There are some people who will be content just "being", but some of us that God has chosen, we have to be "broken". We have to get sick. We have to lose a job. We have to bury our spouse, parents, best friend, or our child because, in those moments of desperation, God is breaking us but when the breaking is done, then we will be able to see the reason for which we were created."
Vincent L. Stewart

It All Continues On As If Nothing Has Changed...

Seventh of July and we are still in the midst of the COVID 19 (Wuhan Flu, China Flu, whatever name it will actually be remembered by).  Of course we have been told that we will 'die' if we don't stay in our homes, now wear masks (unless your rioting...).  So: good old common sense to wash your hands avoid the sick, avoid those at risk if you are sick and respect peoples personal space didn't work...  Or maybe they have.
I listened to the BBC this morning and the drug that the US President touted a couple of months back, that the media screamed bloody murder would never work, actually works.  Well maybe not, except when it does...   Of course there are better drugs that the US bought up so there's none left for the rest of the world.  I got the impression from the theme of the report that if the US populace would just vote the right way come November that all of this will just disappear...
It is like living for real in the middle of a Second City TV skit or Monty Python.  And of course you are a "denier" if you don't buy into it all.
Oh well.  Not much I can do.  The Holy Bible predicts these kind of times, at least the possibility of a world government, so it is wise for me (and us all) to not get overly drawn into this latest storm-kettle.
Barb and I read Acts 5 this morning (we are reading a chapter a day of The Word).  Peter gives us a clear representation of our responsibilities during times when those in rightful authority give us orders that contradict Gods clear leading (Peter was standing to answer his nations High-Priest whom even Paul later in the Scriptures apologies for not speaking correctly to).  We are to obey, yet we are to obey God first.  Acts 5:29 'Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.'
I believe in most cases it will be abundantly clear, of course in our current state you will be stepping out of the main-stream.  You will be unpopular.  There will be cases where it may not be as clear.  You (and I) will need to be 'prayed up' and 'filled up' with The Word so that we easily recognize error.
So... July 7th.   Have a great day, On Purpose!   js