Tag: Future

Write It On My Heart

The Future of Religion

JUST SAYIN’ – There are a few articles addressing the topic, “THE FUTURE OF RELIGION.” If I am allowed to inject my insightful opinion – 😄😄😇 – (hold your seat): taking the position that religion will [of course I don’t agree] decline and ultimately disappear from the human stage 4 million years from now, the reasons, in my humble opinion,  would be:

1. Narcissism – worship of an objective deity will disappear because people will be too consumed asking,

“Whataboutme?!”

Whataboutme!?!”

2. Gradually, religion as it is now constituted will become more and more a shadow without substance.

3. Religion will morph into a quasi political philosophy. In Jesus’ day, His disciples were so busy following Jesus they didn’t have time to put their energy into clamoring for more political influence.

4. Then there will be “wars, wars, and rumors of wars.”

THERE ARE THOSE OF YOU WHO WITH KEEN ANTICIPATION DUTIFULLY READ MY MISSIVES, therefore, you know that I am of the opinion that Christianity is not a religion. It is a relationship. Those who know Him are believers, “born anew,” followers of Christ, The Way.

HOWEVER …

5. The more Christian preaching, teaching and music turn into a “whataboutme” entertainment venue, the more Christianity, church-goers, and followers will seek out Christian-oriented programs and services that tickle our fancy with a positive twist like our vodka martinis. 😳

“You’re going to find that there will be times when people will have no stomach for solid teaching, but will fill up on spiritual junk food—catchy opinions that tickle their fancy. They’ll turn their backs on truth and chase mirages. But you —keep your eye on what you’re doing; accept the hard times along with the good; keep the Message alive; do a thorough job as God’s servant.”

2 Timothy 4:3-5  đŸŽŒđŸŽ¶

“Oh! to be like Thee, blessed Redeemer,
This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,
Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.

Oh! to be like Thee.

Oh! to be like Thee,

Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;

Come in Thy sweetness, Come in Thy fullness;

Stamp Thine own image       deep on my heart.”

(Thomas O. Chisholm)

Write It On My Heart

HOPE FOR THE FUTURE

THE KINGSTON TRIO SANG IT AND FRANK SINATRA MADE IT POPULAR, “It Was A Very Good Year.” Ervin Drake wrote it.  It was a mournful song, a melancholy melody looking back at his life. As I race toward the ripe old age of 80, I remember …; yes, I remember.  Some of the words are (you may remember):
“When I was seventeen …
When I was twenty-one …
Then I was thirty-five …
But now the days are short, I’m in the autumn of the year
And now I think of my life as vintage wine from fine old kegs
From the brim to the dregs, and it poured sweet and clear
It was a very good year.”

OH, BUT WAIT, he also wrote (or co-wrote) “I BELIEVE.” [the intricacies of theology notwithstanding] –
“I believe for every drop of rain that falls
A flower grows
I believe that somewhere in the darkest night
A candle glows
I believe for everyone who goes astray
Someone will come to show the way
I believe, I believe
“I believe above the storm a smallest prayer
Will still be heard
I believe that someone in the great somewhere
Hears every word
Every time I hear a newborn baby cry
Or touch a leaf, or see the sky
Then I know why
I believe.”

ON THE OTHER HAND, THE LORD says: “I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future. Then you will call my name. You will come to me and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will search for me. And when you search for me with all your heart, you will find me!”
Jeremiah 29:11-13

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 15:13

IF YOU HUNGER FOR HOPE, get alone somewhere, talk to the ONE who said, “I will never leave you,” and He will open the highway of hope for you.  Find someone who really knows what this means or contact me on FB and I will point you to THE ONE!

Write It On My Heart

THE NEAR FUTURE

DO YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN? Actually, it is beginning now!

Matthew 24 has it all laid out!  Just be sure that no one deceives you!

  1. Many “preachers” will say they are The One – the Christ – many people will be fooled.
  2. Wars and war stories will be on the news – DON’T BE AFRAID.
  3. Nations and kingdoms all over the world will be in fights.
  4. There will be famines, fires and earthquakes.
  5. If you are a follower of Christ, you will be persecuted and put to death.
  6. You will be hated by all nations because of Jesus.
  7. You’ll notice that many who once claimed Christ will turn their backs on the faith.
  8. They will turn on each other and hate each other.
  9. Many false preachers will appear on the scene and “buffalo” people – they’ll probably tell you that they can do anything but raise the dead, and maybe that, too.  Pay your $$$ to them and they’ll make you healthy, wealthy and wise. Don’t believe them.
  10. Wickedness will be so rampant that the love of many will grow cold, but if you – yes, you – stand firm to the end, you will be saved. [You may need to change your lifestyle and your friends.]
  11. The gospel will be preached all over the world (probably by TV and internet), and then THE END WILL COME!
  12. Listen, “If those days had not be cut short, no one would survive.”

“‘If anyone tries to flag you down, calling out, ‘Here’s the Messiah!’ or points, ‘There he is!’ don’t fall for it. Fake Messiahs and lying “preachers/promoters are going to pop up everywhere. Their impressive credentials and dazzling performances will pull the wool over the eyes of even those who ought to know better. But I’ve given you fair warning.

So if they say, ‘Run to the country and see him arrive!’ or, ‘Quick, get downtown, see him come!’ don’t give them the time of day. THE ARRIVAL OF THE SON OF MAN ISN’T SOMETHING YOU GO SEE!  He comes like swift lightning to you! Whenever you see crowds gathering, think of carrion vultures circling, moving in, hovering over a rotting carcass. You can be quite sure that it’s not the living Son of Man pulling in those crowds.

Following those hard times, the sun will fade out, the moon will cloud over, stars will fall out of the sky, cosmic powers tremble. “Then, the Arrival of the Son of Man! It will fill the skies—no one will miss it. Unready people all over the world, outsiders to the splendor and power, will raise a huge lament as they watch the Son of Man blazing out of heaven. At that same moment, he’ll dispatch his ANGELS with a trumpet-blast summons, pulling in God’s chosen from the four winds, from pole to pole.”
Matthew 24:23-31 (msg)