How to Get to Heaven by Larry Refsland
"Don’t leave home without it!” I’m not talking about your American Express card; I’m talking about your map! If you’re going on a trip to a place you’ve never gone before, it’s a good idea to bring along a map. Or you’ll be stopping every so often to ask directions, and you know how embarrassing that can be! Speaking of asking for directions, do you know how to get to Heaven from your town? I’m serious! Some people think the road to heaven is found by doing good deeds. Others would say you take the highway of “trusting your church” to get you there. But, according to the Bible, there is only one road to heaven and that is the person of Jesus Christ. Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end of it is death.” Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes to the Father but by me” (John 14:6). The Bible makes clear the point that the way to Heaven is by accepting the free gift of God’s grace by faith. In Romans 10:9 it says if we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in our heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved. In order to say truthfully that Jesus is Lord, you must turn over to Him your life and ask him to lead you the rest of your life. He will lead you to Heaven. You’ll never make it there on your own ability or merit. You must become a follower of Jesus Christ. So go ahead, get out your roadmap to eternity, the Bible, and check the directions. You can get on the right road today by asking him to lead you. Have a safe and joyful journey. Parent Rules by Larry Refsland
“Don’t smoke, don’t chew, and don’t go with girls that do!” That’s the kind of advice I got as a teenager from my mom and other adults. It seemed like every time I turned around, I was breaking one of the many rules I grew up with. When I married and had kids of my own, we tried to give a more hopeful approach to parenting. My wife and I have tried to raise our kids with only two rules. In fact, these are the same rules we use for children in our church as well. Rule #1: Don’t do something that will hurt yourself. Rule #2: Don’t do something that will hurt someone else. When you boil the Ten Commandments down to its basic premise, you get these two rules. You know, Jesus also reduced the rules and laws of the Bible to two commands. In Mark 12:30-32, he says, first love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. Second, love your neighbor as yourself. That’s not too complicated, is it? See, God’s not into rules! He’s into a relationship. That relationship has been initiated by His love for you and me. His command is for us to respond to that love and let that love be reflected in our actions toward others. How difficult is that? About as difficult as diving into a big bowl of ice cream with your favorite topping! When we realize God’s plan is to help us and not to hurt us, we are more willing to accept and respond to His love. So remember, keep it simple—two rules for parenting, two rules for a relationship with God that lead to life! |
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May 2016
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