Monday, 24 September 2012

Why I hate religion, but LOVE Jesus - Jefferson Bethke

I came across this strong poem written by Jeffrey Bethke through my little cousin (God bless her for making me listen to it).
This poem speaks about the difference between Jesus and religion. I do believe there is a huge difference between the two...in fact Jesus is greater than religion.
I personally do not experience Christianity as a Religion but as a personal RELATIONSHIP with God. I believe Jesus came to take away and brake any things standing in between Him and us, thus allowing us to personally encounter and experience Him without having to go through some sort of protocol to get to Him.
God is love and just a prayer away...

Why I hate Religion, but Love Jesus
"A poem I wrote to highlight the difference between Jesus and false religion. In the scriptures Jesus received the most opposition from the most religious people of his day. At it's core Jesus' gospel and the good news of the Cross is in pure opposition to self-righteousness/self-justification. Religion is man centered, Jesus is God-centered. This poem highlights my journey to discover this truth. Religion either ends in pride or despair. Pride because you make a list and can do it and act better than everyone, or despair because you can't do your own list of rules and feel "not good enough" for God. With Jesus though you have humble confident joy because He represents you, you don't represent yourself and His sacrifice is perfect putting us in perfect standing with God the Father"- Jefferson Bethke
 

What if I told you, Jesus came to abolish religion?
What if I told you getting you to vote republican, really wasn’t his mission?
Because republican doesn’t automatically mean Christian,
And just because you call some people blind, doesn’t automatically give you vision.
If religion is so great, why has it started so many wars?
Why does it build huge churches, but fails to feed the poor?
Tells single moms God doesn’t love them if they’ve ever been divorced
Yet God in the Old Testament actually calls the religious people whores
Religion preaches grace, but another thing they practice,
Tend to ridicule Gods people, they did it to John the Baptist,
Cant fix their problems, so they try to mask it,
Not realizing that’s just like sprayin perfume on a casket
Because the problem with religion is that it never gets to the core,
It’s just behavior modification, like a long list of chores.
Let’s dress up the outside, make things look nice and neat,
Its funny that’s what they do to mummies, while the corpse rots underneath,
Now I ain’t judging I’m just saying be careful of putting on a fake look,
Because there’s a problem if people only know that you’re a Christian by that little section on your facebook
In every other aspect of life you know that logics unworthy
Its like saying you play for the lakers just because you bought a jersey
But see I played this game too; no one seemed to be on to me,
I was acting like church kid, while addicted to pornography.
I’d go to church on Sunday, but on saturday getting faded,
Acting as if I was simply created to have sex and get wasted.
Spend my whole life putting on this façade of neatness,
But now that I know Jesus, I boast in my weakness.
If grace is water, then the church should be an ocean,
Cuz its not a museum for good people, it’s a hospital for the broken
I no longer have to hide my failures I don’t have to hide my sin,
Because my salvation doesn’t depend on me, it depends on him.
because when I was Gods enemy and certainly not a fan,
God looked down on me and said, “I want that man!”
Which is so different from religious people, and why Jesus called em fools
Don’t you see hes so much better than just following some rules?
Now let me clarify, I love the church, I love the bible, and I believe in sin
But my question, is if Jesus were here today, would your church let Him in?
Remember He was called a drunkard and a glutton by “religious men”
The Son of God not supported self-righteousness, not now, not then.
Now back to the topic, one thing I think is vital to mention,
How Jesus and religion are on opposite spectrums,
One is the work of God one is a man made invention,
One is the cure and one is the infection.
Because Religion says do, Jesus says done.
Religion says slave, Jesus says son,
Religion puts you in shackles but Jesus sets you free.
Religion makes you blind, but Jesus lets you see.
This is what makes religion and Jesus two different clans,
Religion is man searching for God, but Christianity is God searching for man.
Which is why salvation is freely mine, forgiveness is my own,
Not based on my efforts, but Christ’s obedience alone.
Because he took the crown of thorns, and blood that dripped down his face
He took what we all deserved, that’s why we call it grace.
While being murdered he yelled “father forgive them, they know not what they do”,
Because when he was dangling on that cross, he was thinking of you
He paid for all your sin, and then buried it in the tomb,
Which is why im kneeling at the cross now saying come on there’s room
So know I hate religion, in fact I literally resent it,
Because when Jesus cried It is finished, I believe He meant it.

Saturday, 22 September 2012

NLT Bible Promise Book PART 3 (the "F" series)

Failure, Fear, Faith, Faithfulness, Forgiveness, Freedom, Fruitfulness, Future...
We're on with the "F" series!
Go and FLOURISH!!! ;-)

FAILURE
 
When you've messed up...
 
The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.
Psalm 37: 23-24
 
When you're feeling inadequate...
 
Not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hair on your heads are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows. (oh Yes! can I hear an AMEN???)
Matthew 10: 29-31
 
God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and sel-discipline.
2 Timothy 1:7
 
When you're ready to try again...
 
I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
Philippians 3: 13-14
 
FAITH
 
When you're wondering why faith is important...
 
Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
Hebrews 11:1
 
FAITHFULNESS
 
When you question God's faithfulness...
 
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?
Numbers 23:19
 
When you've been unfaithful to God...
 
If we are unfaithful, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny who He is.
2 Tomothy 2:13
 
Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning.
Lamentations 3:23
 
 
FEAR
 
When your worst fears come true...
 
When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.
Isaiah 4: 3-2
 
When you're in danger...
 
The Lord is my light and my salvation- so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?... Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if I am attavked, I will remain confident.
Psalm 27: 1-3
 
When you're feeling alone and vulnerable...
 
Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
Isaiah 41:10
 
When you must confront your fears...
 
See, God has come to save me. I will trust in Him and not be afraid. The Lord God is my strength and my song; He has given me victory.
Isaiah 12:2
 
 
FORGIVENESS
 
When you feel your sins are too horrible and too many to forgive...
 
The Lord is slow to anger and filled with unfailing love , forgiving every kind of sin and rebellion.
Numbers 14:18
 
I-yes, I alone- will blot out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again.
Isaiah 43:25
 
When you need to forgive someone else...
 
When you're praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins too.
Mark 11:25
 
Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
Colossians 3:13
 
 
FREEDOM
 
When you're feeling trapped in a sinful way of life...
 
Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God's grace.
Romans 6:14
 
 
FRUITFULNESS
 
When you want to be used by God to accomplish His work...
 
The godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon. For they are transplanted to the Lord's own house. They flourish in the courts of our God. Even in old age thehy will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green.
Psalm 92: 12-14
 
 
FUTURE
 
When you're worried about the future...
 
"I know the plans I have for you", says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."
Jeremiah 29:11
 
Don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today.
Matthew 6:34
 
When you're planning for the future...
 
The Lord says " I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you".
Psalm 32:8
 
You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny.
Psalm 73:24
 
 
 
 






NLT Bible Promise Book (PART 2)

So, here we go with PART 2 of our NLT (New Living Translation) Bible series...
In PART 1 we've started from A to C, now let's get going with D!
I pray that in each of these verse you somehow find answers, sentences, words that will cheer you up, strengthen you, provide you with everything you need to keep going on!
Be blessed, go and FLOURISH!


DEPRESSION

When your circumstances seem hopeless...

Even though the fig tree have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vine; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks lie in the fields, and the catle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in The Lord! I will be joyful in The God of my salvation.
Habakkuk 3: 17-18

When you feel you can't fight the sadness...

Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again- my Savior and my God!
Psalm 42: 5-6

The Lord is closed to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed.
Psalm 34:18

He lifted me out of the pit of despair.
Psalm 40:2

DESIRES

When you're seeking the things that God wants for you...

Take delight in the Lord and He will give you your heart's desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust Him, and He will help you.
Psalm 37: 4-5

When you find yourself chasing after the wrong desires...

When you follow the desires of your sinful  nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
Galatians 5: 19-21

I will give you a new heart, and I will put  a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.
Ezekiel 36:26

DOUBT
 
When you're feeling uncertain about God...
 
We are always confident...for we live by believing and not by seeing.
2 Corinthians 5: 6-7
 
Blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.
Jeremiah 17:7
 
 
ENCOURAGEMENT
 
When you're feeling discouraged...

 
Let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up.
Galatians 6:9
 
When you just need to lift your spirits...
 
The joy of the Lord is your strength!
Nehemiah 8:10
 
The Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we patiently wait for God's promises to be fulfilled.
Romans 15:4