The story of my Bible

I was finally taking my Christianity seriously, that’s what I told myself. I was looking for a NIV Bible but hadn’t taken the time to actually go out and get one. What I did take time to do was go to Rita’s for the free Italian Ice day. Myself and my fiance (now wife) got our a treat and while eating we noticed a little thrift store right next to it. We decided to go inside, they had all different kinds of things, we walked around and then I noticed there was a trunk full of Bibles, NIV in fact. I asked how much one cost and the man told me he just keeps them here to give out to people. I thanked the man and quickly grabbed one after my fiance and I paid for our items we picked out.

It felt special, even though it was a basic bible, not the fancy kind you see on amazon with pictures and gold pages but it felt special because it was exactly what I needed, even though I hadn’t taken the time to go out and seek it. I also remember thinking about how great it was that the man was giving away Bibles in his store, spreading the Word of God without trying to make any money off of it.

I took the Bible home, I decided I was going to read it cover to cover. Shortly into my reading I became overwhelmed, I remembered Solomon asking for wisdom from God, so I prayed and after I did the Bible started to flow into my mind everything made sense. After reading the whole Bible, I got an idea of God’s FULL story, it answered so many questions. I understood how God has never changed, he always showed us love and compassion. His people continued to reject him but God always forgave. The Father sent his Son to bring the World back to the way he intended it to be, filled with the same love, compassion and forgiveness he shows to us.

However that does not mean I was being a good child of God. Years past and things slowly became harder and harder in life. It seemed life was worse as a Christian rather than better. There was many struggles my fiance and I faced, financially, both our Dad’s health declined and eventually died. We didn’t know where we were going next in our life. I lashed out at God and wanted to know where he was? Why was all these things happening without a real answer as to what to do? I wanted to know why Jesus couldn’t come back sooner? How bad is the World going to get before enough is enough?

I ended up throwing my Bible onto the floor, the outside of the spine was broken. The Bible I had through my journey for the past few years was damaged. I felt extreme guilt, I felt my Bible was ruined. But then I opened it.

God’s words were not damaged, they never could be damaged. 

I kept that Bible and will always have that Bible as a reminder of personal struggle, a reminder to keep faith strong and that even though we or our things in our life may be broken God’s covenant with us will never be.

I realized God came into my life at the perfect time, struggles were coming and I don’t know how I would have got past them without God. He was right there with me the whole time, the answers were there I just needed to listen. Jesus will return at the right time but in the meantime God wants as many people saved as possible, so when it looks like the World is so dark that’s when the light of the World needs to shine. That is when us Christians need to do everything we can to make the World a better place. Like God wants.

 

Scare Tactics: Forcing people to Christianity and it’s dangers

One of the most common ideas people get about Christians is that they’re obsessed with Hell. People discuss this idea in social circles, in the media, how many times have we seen the stereotypical Hell, Fire and Brimstone Christian in a movie or TV show? But then again how times have you seen a guy on the street corner screaming about damnation? I grew up scared to death of Hell, I was constantly being reminded of Hell by the people from Church, any slip up, Hell was brought up. Many have had similar experiences from their own Church, or from neighbors or even parents.

Often Christians feel like they can use scare tactics to convert other’s to Christianity, this is a very dangerous thing to do. They say here is the consequences for not believing. But that is all they say. Jesus said we are the light of the World. We have to show the positive influence he had on our lives and how we now do God’s work on Earth.

Becoming a Christian out of fear is not what God wants.

God is so merciful and loving. If you read the Old Testament the Israelite’s consistently rebelled against God and all he asked was for them to turn back to him. Much later Jesus sacrificed himself for the whole World to be saved. Jesus talked about Hell but it was rare compared to talking about love, kindness, forgiveness and helping others. So why do we talk about Hell so much? Also why are we holding on to things? Why are we passing by the homeless in the streets? Why do we shut the doors of our churches on people we disagree with? God says we must forgive to be forgiven, maybe it is time to remove the plank from our eyes instead of worrying about the neighbors speak of dust in someone else’s eye?

Be Blessed

-Chris

Verses to read

Matthew 6:14-15

“14For if you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither willyour Father forgive yours. “

Matthew 7:4-5

“4How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while there is still a beam in your own eye? 5You hypocrite! First takethe beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.“