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Posts Tagged ‘Frank King religion blog’

FROM SLAVES TO DIVINE PARTNERS

Posted in Me & The World, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on February 8, 2025| 3 Comments »

Oh, boy. There is a lot to unpack in this atheist meme, so if you’re wondering if the viewpoint expressed here has any accuracy, stick around. It’ll be worth your while.

  • Followers of Jesus of Nazareth — who many people believe is the Son of God — have come to understand who He is and who they are. In response to that, people like me have made conscious decisions to make Jesus our Lord, our Saviour and our best friend.
    Nowhere is slavery involved in any way, shape or form.
    My pastor friend, Ross Carkner, explains it so well: “A slave is someone who is forced to obey another … Christians are people who of their own volition surrender their will in favour of following … specifically following Jesus.”
        • As followers of Jesus, God works in and through us to bring physical and spiritual aid to a world that even the most optimistic person must admit isn’t doing very well.
          Are we doing a good job as junior partners in God’s work? Quite often, NO. And that certainly applies to me. Jesus followers often misrepresent God. We often let our selfish and petty insecurities get in the way of what He’s doing . But in the end, that doesn’t matter.
          “God’s plan for us [and the world] never changes, so there is no plan B,” writes pastor Chris Norland. In fact, God can and often does use our failures to further His work.
            • So what does this mean for the charge that God wishing evil or harm to others and being malicious? If point number two isn’t convincing, let’s go back to Ross: “There is no one in all of history who has, with any real and lasting credibility, ever made a case for the historical Jesus being malevolent.”
              Ah, but wait, you say: the meme doesn’t even mention Jesus! Ross’s response: “Since the existence of Jesus was expressly understood as God in the flesh …. to refer to God as malevolent is not only a misreading of the Bible, it is reflecting our own brokenness as we deal with the enormous challenges of living in this hurting world.”
              In other words, the meme’s creator is blaming his/her own failures, and the failures of this struggling world, on God. Where’s the credible evidence to support this claim? There simply isn’t any. NONE.

            As you digest all this, consider these truths: no matter who you are or what you’ve done or not done, God LOVES YOU. God offers YOU the gift of His Son. If you accept that gift — Jesus’s life, sacrificial death and resurrection — then Jesus comes into your world and starts the life-long process of making you the person God created you to be.

            Just as important, ALL the bad things you’ve done and the good things you’ve failed to do will be wiped out. God will see only His Son’s perfection. And when this life ends, you’ll spend eternity in the presence of your maker. Sound good? Yes or no, post your thoughts below and let’s have a conversation.



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            WHO IS YOUR AUDIENCE?

            Posted in Me & The World, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on January 11, 2025| 3 Comments »

            The title of this album, recorded almost 50 years ago by actor/singer David Soul (famous for co-starring in TV’s Starsky & Hutch) has always stuck with me. At the time, I recall a particularly unpleasant reviewer declaring that after being forced to hear the album, it now had an audience of none. 😦

            From my perspective as a retired 60-something, almost all of us spend our lives playing to audiences. During my working life, I played for an audience of co-workers and supervisors. These days, I play for an audience of my wife, stepkids and grandchildren.

            Audiences watch, listen and ultimately (whether they know it or not) judge the “performer”. And for performers, the key to success is knowing their audience and providing what they want. In my life, that includes dealing with the garbage/recycling/compost for my wife and picking up our grandchildren from school.

            In the spiritual realm — and I assume you’re open to spirituality — there’s much, much more to this idea. In that world, all of us play to an audience of exactly one. (And no nasty music reviewer can change that).

            That audience is the master of time, space and the universe. And the creator of you & me. Unlike our human audiences, we can’t hide anything from God.

            “Because His knowledge is infinite and perfect, He never has to figure anything out,” says Canadian pastor Henry Shore. “He’s never surprised, confused or shocked. God knows everything there is to know about you and me.”

            Kinda unnerving, isn’t it?

            This isn’t just Henry’s opinion. An ancient writer and prophet noted “I’m an open book to You [God]; even from a distance, You know what I’m thinking. You know everything I’m going to say before I start the first sentence.”

            So how do we deal with this audience? To start with, understand that your creator loves YOU. No matter what you’ve done or not done, no matter what kind of success or failure you’ve experienced, no matter what anyone thinks of you (including mean-spirited music reviewers). NOTHING changes God’s love for YOU.

            This explains why that same ancient writer/prophet could state, “This is too much, too wonderful — I can’t take it all in!”

            All this is wonderful, but it’s important to understand this: the wrong things we do and right things we fail to do put a barrier between us and our loving creator. Consider these words that Jesus of Nazareth (who many people believe is God’s Son) said to anyone willing to listen: “you must be perfect, just as your Father in Heaven is perfect.”

            Oh boy. This makes the barrier I mentioned seem impossible to breach. And it is, on our own. But Jesus–His extraordinary life and teachings, His death and resurrection–is God’s gift to ANYONE willing to accept it. If you accept it, if you declare Jesus Lord, Saviour and your best friend, God no longer sees your “sins”. He only sees His Son’s perfection. So when this life ends, you’ll be welcomed to spend eternity in His presence.

            Sound like a good deal? Yes or no, post your thoughts below and let’s have a conversation.

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            MONEY? NO. PARTNERSHIP? YES!

            Posted in Movies & TV, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on December 18, 2024| 2 Comments »

            Ah, Homer Simpson. That great thinker, philosopher, speaker of eloquent brilliance and general renaissance man has come up with another morsel of life-changing gold. Okay, maybe not. 😉

            But this quote, from the long-running animated TV show, does open the door to exploring one of the contentious points often brought up by people opposed to God (and Jesus of Nazareth, who many people believe is God’s Son).

            The creator and master of time, space and the universe is a money-grubbing ogre, these folks claim with mocking derision. So why would any thoughtful person bother with Him?

            The answer is simple: God does NOT need money or anything else from His creation. He needs NOTHING. Zero. Squat. A cookie with a hole in the middle (i.e. 0).

            For people like me, who regularly contribute to the ministries of my church and other Jesus-following charitable organizations, the idea of giving money is to partner with God.

            God works through through these institutions – and, by extension, through ME – to reach out with physical and spiritual aid to suffering people. That’s exactly what my church does and what organizations like Samaritan’s Purse, LifeWater, World Renew and many more do every day.

            Couldn’t God do all this on His own, without bothering with us quarrelsome, petty, self-centred human beings? Absolutely. But consider the parent who allows his/her three-year-old to help bake cookies. The parent could easily do it easier and faster without the “assistance”, but that’s not what it’s about. It’s about a love relationship that extends to almost every area of life. That’s why God partners with very imperfect people like ME.

            This relationship also follows up on something Jesus told anyone willing to listen: “Whenever you saw a brother or sister hungry or cold, whatever you did to the least of these, so you did to Me.”

            So, as Jesus followers act on His example of helping others, we show people who God is, what His Son is doing in this hurting world right now, and why it’s worth investigating what it means to follow Jesus.

            You can get in on this action and partner with God anytime you like. Just decide, and then declare, that Jesus is your Lord, Saviour and best friend. Tell Him you’re sorry for the bad things you’ve done and the good things you’ve failed to do. Invite Him into your heart, mind and life, then get connected with other Jesus followers.

            When you do that, God embarks on a life-long project to make you more like the person He created you to be. Even better, God sees you like He sees His Son: perfect in every way. And when this life ends, you’ll spend eternity with Him in Heaven.

            Interested? Yes or no, post your thoughts below and let’s have a conversation.

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            APOLOGIES, CONFESSIONS AND NEW LIFE

            Posted in Me & The World, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on November 9, 2024| 3 Comments »

            Ever hear of The Apology Line, a fascinating social experiment from the 1980s?

            Created by American conceptual artist Allan Bridge (1945-95), The Apology Line was a confessional phone system which used new technology of the time, an answering machine, to record confessions from anonymous callers.

            The concept was a stunning success. Over the 15 years the line was in operation, Wikipedia says more than 1,000 hours of apologies were recorded, with callers confessing everything from infidelity, shop lifting and drug dealing to ritualistic murder.

            It’s a safe bet that while the Wikipedia article focuses on the sensational confessions, there were plenty of apologies for everyday events — treating your spouse poorly, getting angry at the kids, holding a grudge against a relative or colleague and, maybe, even failing to act in a situation that needed a calm, caring intervention.

            This struck me as amazing because it makes a very strong case that humans need to confess the wrong things we’ve done and the right things we’ve failed to do. Despite Bridge’s contention that no apologies are needed to the creator of humanity, it still ties directly into the beliefs of people who follow Jesus of Nazareth (who many believe is the Son of God).

            Jesus followers like me note that one of His brothers wrote this to anyone willing to read it: Always tell each other the wrong things you have done. Then pray for each other. Do this so that God can heal you.

            Another of Jesus’s earliest followers said: If we confess our sins, God will forgive us. We can trust God to do this. He always does what is right. He will make us clean from all the wrong things we have done.

            When we make confessions to God and to our brothers & sisters, the result is relief and, in some ways, new life. In fact, people who sincerely apologize to God often open their hearts and minds to placing their trust in Jesus’s life, sacrificial death and stunning resurrection.

            YOU can do this too. When you honestly, humbly make Jesus your Lord, Saviour and best friend, He comes into your heart and mind and starts the lifelong project of making you more like the person you were created to be.

            At the same time, God no longer sees the wrong things you’ve done and the right things you’ve failed to do. He only sees His Son’s perfection. And so, when this life ends, you will spend an incredible eternity with your creator and His Son. It’s the best news in the world. 🙂

            Interested? Yes or no, post your thoughts below and let’s have a conversation.

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            FIXING THE WAYS OF MAN

            Posted in Me & The World, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on October 5, 2024| 3 Comments »

            This provocative quote, from the renowned member of the Monty Python comedy troupe, caused my brain to spin as I digested how Palin’s words connect with reality. Stay with me as I unpack this.

            Are atheists deaf to the word of God? Palin is probably referring to the Christian Bible, which many people believe is inspired by the creator and master of time, space and the universe. I’ll venture to write that a whole of of people beyond atheists are ignoring what God wants for this broken world. And sometimes, those people include ME and other people who follow Jesus of Nazareth (who many folks believe is the Son of God).

            Consider this: the Bible is often hard to understand and hard to find relevant in the world today. It requires thought and checking in with people who have made it their life’s work to shine a light on what God is all about. Even that won’t do it for some folks and I understand why.

            From a Jesus-following perspective, if God hasn’t given you a supernatural insight into the Bible, then you’ll probably struggle to comprehend it and give it credibility. That’s just how it is.

            Are “theists” (people who believe there is a Creator) blind to the ways of humanity? Not even a little. Those who follow Jesus are very aware that this world is struggling. We know that, on our own, humanity can’t get it right now matter how hard we try. Just consider the wars, terrorism, rampant greed and superficial narcissism that we see around us and hear about daily in the news.

            All of humanity’s self-improvement hasn’t made a bit of difference. We’re still self-centred, still racked with jealousy and insecurity, still believing (even it if’s just on a subconscious level) that the person with the most toys wins.

            Jesus followers know there is a solution to this. A better way that leads to what so many people are lacking: peace. That peace comes from our convictions, which state:

            • There is more to life than 70+ years of working, eating, sleeping and, finally, dying.
            • Following Jesus gives us new, life-changing insight on how to live a life of real fulfillment, love of all humanity (which echoes the love God has for ALL His creations) and peace.
            • This life is just the opening sentence in the book of all eternity. Jesus said so when He told anyone willing to listen that “whoever believes in [Me] will have eternal life.”

            Do you understand how knowing this life is NOT all there is can change everything? It’s the way to peace!

            So how do you get in on this? Jesus explained it in the quote above. You need to follow Jesus – declare Him your Lord, Saviour, best friend. When you do that with humble sincerity, He comes into your life and begins to make you the person God created you to be.

            That’s a life-long process that won’t end until this life is finished and you’re in His presence forever. Sound interesting? Yes or no, post your thoughts below and let’s have a conversation.

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            CON MAN? SAVIOUR? LUNATIC?

            Posted in It's Not About 'Religion', tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 14, 2024| 2 Comments »

            Oh boy. Where to start?

            If you’re reading this, I assume you’re open to spirituality and have probably not considered Jesus of Nazareth – who many people believe is the Son of God – to be any sort of con man. Apparently, the creator of this atheist meme believes these American megachurch pastors to be less than honourable.

            Just for fun, I asked Google if Jesus is a con man. The responses are all over the place, but I particularly like this one from American entrepreneur Robert Kimmons:

            If Jesus was a con man, he was a pretty terrible one.
            He lived a life of poverty, didn’t get much sex (and maybe didn’t get any at all), and died an ignominious death.
            Sure, his teaching created a belief system that has dominated the world for over a millennium, but what con man would be willing to give his life to accomplish that?
            As a con man, Jesus was an unmitigated failure.

            This has the ring of truth to me. Consider just a few challenging things that Jesus told anyone willing to listen:

            • If a man looks at a woman and wants to sin sexually with her, he has already committed that sin with her in his mind.
            • Don’t fight back against someone who wants to do harm to you. If they hit you on the right cheek, let them hit the other cheek too.
            • You have heard people say, “Love the people who are your friends. But hate those who want to hurt you.” What I tell you is this: love the people who want to hurt you. If people want to cause you pain, pray for them.

            Would a con man ever make these (and many more) difficult statements? Unless he wanted to drive away his potential victims, then certainly not.

            At times, Jesus makes it hard to follow Him. That’s because He’s not interested in “fans”. He’s interested in committed disciples who will be His ambassadors in a world that even the most optimistic of us will admit isn’t doing very well.

            Jesus ambassadors have opened hospitals and universities, risked their lives by treating African ebola patients and Syrian war victims, and started vital charities like Samaritan’s Purse, World Vision and LifeWater.

            While I’m a long, LONG way from being a poster child for Jesus ambassadors, He has empowered me to write more than 200 blogs like this one to tell YOU about Him and how your life can be enriched – starting right now – by declaring Jesus to be your lord, saviour and best friend.

            When you do that, God no longer sees all the wrong things you’ve done and the right things you’ve failed to do. He only sees His Son’s perfection. As a result, when this life ends, you’ll spend eternity with Jesus in Heaven – a place with no suffering, no loss and no death.

            Sound interesting? Yes or no, post your thoughts below and let’s have a conversation.

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            WHERE HE KNOWS YOUR NAME

            Posted in Me & The World, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 3, 2024| 3 Comments »

            “There’s something missing from my life. Sure, I have a nice wife, a career and a house; I guess I’m talking about that spiritual something to give it all meaning and enable me to be at peace with myself and the world.”

            This was a monologue from Norm, the barfly played so expertly by actor George Wendt on the dearly loved American comedy Cheers. I happened to see it while skimming videos on Facebook and it stopped me in my tracks.

            While the “speech” ended with a silly joke that was typical of the show, I saved the video because I believe if many of us gave it any consideration, what Norm said would accurately describe our lives.

            It was certainly the case for me. In 2004, I had:

            • A career in print journalism that was going nicely
            • Experience with several satisfying romantic relationships
            • A home in surburbia

            To any outsider, I had all that things that would make me a success. But something was missing.

            So, at a certain point, I came to recognize that my life accomplishments didn’t mean much and they would disappear the moment my soul left my body. Maybe the fact that you’re reading this means you’re at, or near, this point in your life.

            So here’s what I did: Because of attending church services as a child, I had a vague idea about Jesus of Nazareth, who many people believe is the Son of God. So, with an open mind, I started connecting with Jesus followers who were capable of having spiritual discussions with non-believers.

            Over time, I came to understand two vital things: who Jesus is and who I am. Some folks think Jesus was just a cool guy with some great ideas worth following. Others believe He was nothing more than a made-up character.

            If you give any credibility to the primary-source accounts of His physical life on earth, then you’ll know that Jesus didn’t allow us the option of figuring He was just a great thinker and good person. You either have to believe He is who He said He is (the Son of God who came to came to live, die and return to life for our benefit) or a lunatic with a god complex.

            As for being a fictional character, who would do this and carry it through? And why? To get money, sex and power? Really?

            As for us, most people in the world today figure they’re good and, if there’s any kind of creator and any kind of Heaven, then we’re good enough to get in on our own merits.

            But that’s opposite to what Jesus said. He told anyone willing to listen that “you must be perfect, just as your Father in Heaven is perfect.” Once I understood that, I realized that being “good” was absolutely NOT good enough. I had to trust and follow Jesus, who claimed to be “the way, the truth and the life.”

            Once I finally did that, my career changed (to telling others about Jesus), the women I dated changed (I married a Jesus follower) and I came to understand that the things this world values are meaningless in the grand scheme of things. My meaning and JOY comes from following Jesus and telling people like you about Him.

            Are you missing something in your life? Then look into Jesus. I think He’s what you need. Agree? Disagree? Post your thoughts below and let’s have a conversation.

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            FROM CHILDREN TO FAMILY MEMBERS

            Posted in Me & The World, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on May 18, 2024| 1 Comment »

            British comedian and atheist Jimmy Carr asks a good question and, since you might be asking the same thing, I appreciate the opportunity to answer, .

            First of all, as a follower of Jesus of Nazareth (who many people believe is the Son of God), I believe God created every person who ever was, is and will be. So yes, we are His children.

            But there’s a difference between being His children and being in His family. And we are definitely NOT all in His family. You might ask, quite, rightly, why not?? Because it’s not an automatic thing. We’ve all separated ourselves from God’s family because of the wrong things we’ve done and the right things we’ve failed to do.

            In other words, we’ve put ourselves ahead of our creator. We’ve either declared He doesn’t exist, or we’ve forgotten about Him or we’ve made the shallow, ultimately meaningless priorities of this world our main focus.

            The results of this error are sadly obvious: broken families, addictions, crime, human trafficking and so much more. Jesus followers like me are not immune to this error; sometimes, I forget about God and mess up quite spectacularly. Just ask my very forgiving wife.

            So what’s the solution? How can we be adopted into God’s family? The answer is simple: follow Jesus. Read the four original-source biographies of His physical life on Earth (they’re simply called the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, named after their reputed authors). Investigate the claims Jesus makes about Himself and His Father.

            Once you do that, my hope and prayer is you’ll come to understand who God is, who you are and who Jesus is. Then, as you apologize for all the wrong things you’ve done and the right things you’ve failed to do, and pledge to make Jesus your priority, God will welcome you into His family. And that will change your life NOW and for all eternity.

            One of Jesus’s earliest and most influential followers, a missionary named Paul, put it this way: “You’re no longer wandering exiles. This kingdom of faith is now your home country. You belong here, with as much right to the name Christian as anyone.”

            Got questions? Things you don’t understand? Then keep searching. Or, email me (frankdmking@gmail.com) and I’ll do my imperfect best to help.

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            GOD, BONE CANCER AND BEAUTY

            Posted in Me & The World, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 9, 2024| 4 Comments »

            As you read the meme above, are you nodding your head in agreement? It wouldn’t surprise me in the least. We all know that this world is awash in beauty and pain, love and grief, anger and joy.

            The question that occurs to me is: why does British actor/writer/narrator/director/atheist Stephen Fry somehow conclude that this world’s enormous contrasts deny the existence of a creator? And does it lead you in the same direction?

            My pastor friend Ross Carkner, who I showed the meme to, agrees that “beauty alone is not a testament to God’s existence.” But then he points out something that I believe is equally true: “God exists in the midst of the beauty and the ugliness.”

            Here’s the thing: Jesus of Nazareth, who many people believe is the Son of God, never promised us a life free of bone cancer or acne or leukemia or bunions or even rap music (sorry; this old guy’s gotta have a moment of fun).

            In fact, He told anyone willing to listen that “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows; but cheer up, for I have overcome the world.”

            I’m sure you’re asking, just as I did when I first read this quote — from one of the four original-source biographies of Jesus’ physical life on Earth — what ‘overcoming the world’ means.

            The website GotQuestions.org notes it’s multifaceted:

            • Jesus gives His followers peace to overcome our troubled hearts.
            • He gives His followers strength to turn away from the wrong things we’ve done and right things we’ve failed to do.
            • Jesus gives His followers ultimate victory over the evil spiritual forces that haunt this world and inspire wars, pandemics, pedophilia and so many other ills that plague humanity
            • He gives His followers a share in His victory over death, because after being crucified on false charges, He rose from the dead several days later (Please check out the ‘links to other sites’ tab to read all the evidence supporting Jesus’ resurrection).

            All this gives me, and other Jesus followers, tremendous relief and endurance as we deal with life on this planet. In fact, I’ll go so far as to claim this God-fueled relief and endurance gives Jesus followers a source of power that the rest of the world doesn’t have.

            If you’re not following Jesus, then do you have any hope to overcome the challenges of life? And if you’re not following Jesus, do you have any hope of life beyond 70+ years of eating, breathing, working and finally expiring?

            I have that hope. I’ll go further and tell you I have supreme confidence, that Jesus gives to all His followers, for a good and joyous life beyond this existence — a life that leaves behind all the pain and exhaustion of what we so often experience now.

            Do you want in on this blessing? Yes or no, post your thoughts below and let’s have a conversation.

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            CONSIDERING A PURE HEART & GOOD INTENTIONS

            Posted in Me & The World, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on February 10, 2024| 7 Comments »

            Ah, peace. We all want it and most of us think we don’t have nearly enough of it.

            When I discovered this internet meme, three things immediately set my “spidey sense” tingling.

            1. The creator of this meme believes the way to peace is good intentions and a pure heart. While lots of us have similar ideas about what makes up “good intentions”, I’m sure there are many points of divergence.

            The ancient saying “the road to hell is paved with good intentions” is still around today because it’s true. Here’s just one sad, unfortunate example:

            Dr. Spock, the author of a famous handbook on child rearing, recognized that babies throw up a lot and therefore recommended newborns be laid on their stomachs to sleep. Unknowingly, this would result in thousands of accidental smothering deaths. We now know that newborns should sleep on their backs until they can roll over for themselves.

            An internet search will provide many more examples of good intentions gone horribly wrong. So I need to ask: Who defines what is good? And how good is good enough?

            Let me offer a very radical, very out-of-the-box answer: the creator of time, space the universe and YOU defines what is good AND how good is good enough.

            ChristianWeek.com suggests achieving goodness means being kind and decent, compassionate and generous, resourceful and studious, curious and concerned with addressing injustice.

            As a follower of Jesus of Nazareth (who many people believe is the Son of God), I’m delighted that these characteristics can be agreed on by pretty much everyone.

            Here’s the controversial part: Jesus followers like me believe being good is absolutely NOT good enough. In one of the original-source biographies of His physical time on Earth, Jesus said “you must be perfect, just as your Father in Heaven is perfect.” Oh boy. This isn’t looking good for me, you or anyone else on this planet.

            2. What is a pure heart? Ideapod.com has this definition: It doesn’t mean having any faults, but rather without any hidden intentions. It’s not about always being right or perfect, but rather doing your best to do the right thing.

            This is all very, very laudable. I’m just not ready to say that me, you or anyone else has achieved it.

            No matter how hard I work at it, there are times when I do NOT try my best to do the right thing. Despite my best efforts, there are occasions when I absolutely DO have hidden intentions. This means I fall short of Jesus’s standard for this life and the life to come. Can you, with complete honesty, claim you are pure-hearted?

            3. What is the “end of the day”? The tone of the meme suggests it’s the end of life. If you believe there’s something beyond 70+ years on this planet, then the meme is ignoring that. Given the words of Jesus about Heaven and what’s required to get there, is that a good idea?

            There’s a lot to ponder here. I suggest the best way to start is to investigate the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus. If He’s right and your eternal life is at stake, then nothing is more important than checking Him out.

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