Thursday: The Time is coming!

"I tell you, whoever acknowledge me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God."

Good Morning and welcome to family day, brothers and sisters. Again I ask for prayers for Vicki and her family. Please pray today for the many, many families that have kids coming out of school, that jobs can be found, and also that they stay safe. Seems after the graduation service, a lot of kids want to throttle up those cars, after drinking. It just does not mix. So pray please for families.

The Time is Coming: Luke 12: 8 - "I tell you, whoever acknowledge me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God." 9 "But he who disowns me before men will be disowned before the angels of God." (NIV)

Yes folks, I believe the time is coming. Yes, the Lord will be returning and I think soon, but that is not the subject of today. I think the time is coming when we who really love our Lord Jesus will be asked if we do by those who want to get rid of us. I am sure if you are watching the news from stations that report all sides you will see it. So I have a few questions to plant on your mind today ...

First, how strong is your bond between you and Jesus? Do you walk with Him and talk with Him, and are you really living a life that is pleasing to Him? Just last night on the news I heard them talking about our President and how he was raised by a Muslim father and a atheist mother and did not become a Christian until in his thirties. Now here is where I get into trouble but I must say it ... being a Christian is not just SAYING YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN, it has to do with following our Lord Jesus. Now if you are a true believer how long would you have sat in a church where the pastor preaches hate and curses the Lord? While we need to pray for him, this is not about our President, this is about you on the line, those God has given me as a flock. And if you don't think I think of you as a flock, you are wrong. I love you folks.

Next I ask you ... if someone were to ask you if you are a Christian, what would you tell them? And then what if they ask you what it means to be a Christian, what would your answer be? I read the death notices in the paper, and often you see that so and so was "of the Christian faith". While I am not judging anyone here, having great words in those obituaries will not do a thing to get you into heaven, not one thing, nothing, zip. While it is nice to see the good things a person has done in their life, and you need those good things to back up your relationship with Jesus, you just must have that relationship with Jesus to get into heaven.

So in closing today, and I really must and get moving, I ask you ... do you really love Jesus and would you tell someone you do if you are in a crowd of non-believers? What if someone had a gun to your head? Would your love of Jesus stand above all? You might think my question is not fair, and ask me what I would do. I pray that I would have the strength of mind to tell them just as I am telling you ... I LOVE JESUS ABOVE ALL ELSE ... above my wife, my children, above our flock at the Bridges, and above all of you. He is the head of our house, and while I feel this way, I still falter and slip in sin. But I am forgiven, and I am "Born Again". How is your faith today? Will you pray this with me?

Jesus, my dear, dear Jesus, I pray that I can always tell others of my love for You, help me stand tall to the world and share your love now and until the day you call me home. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Now go forth sharing those blessings, telling others of Jesus, loving on your neighbors ... Love ya, dan.