How to become a Christian

Christian Testimony

2011-11-19T13:26:00.000-08:00

The Holiness of God

2011-01-20T14:43:00.001-08:00

The Kingdom of God

2011-01-20T14:26:00.000-08:00

The Trinity

2011-01-20T14:24:00.000-08:00

Does God exist?

2008-02-03T14:25:00.000-08:00

Did God create everything that exists? Does evil exist? Did God
create evil?

A University professor at a well known institution of higher learning challenged his students with this question; "Did God create everything that exists?"

A student bravely replied, "Yes he did!"

"God created everything?" The professor asked.

"Yes, he certainly did" the student replied.

The professor answered; "If God created everything, then God created evil. And, since evil exists, and according to the principal that our works define who we are, then we can assume God is evil."

The student became quiet and did not respond to the professor's hypothetical definition. The professor, quite pleased with himself, boasted to the students that he had proven once more that God was a myth.

Another student raised his hand and asked; "May I ask you a question professor?"

"Of course", replied the professor.

The student stood up and asked; "professor, does cold exist?"

What kind of question is this? Of course it exists. Have you never been cold?"

The other students snickered at the young man's question. The young man replied, "In fact sir, cold does not exist. According to the laws of physics, what we consider cold is in reality the absence of heat. Everybody or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmit energy and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy.
Absolute zero (-460 F) is the total absence of heat and all matter becomes inert and incapable of reaction at that temperature. Cold does not exist. We have created this word to describe how we feel if we have no heat."

The student continued; "Professor, does darkness exist?"

The professor responded; "Of course it does."

The student replied; "Once again you are wrong sir, darkness does not exist either. Darkness is in reality the absence of light. Light we can study, but not darkness. In fact, we can use Newton's prism to break white light into many colors and study the various wavelengths of each color. You cannot measure darkness. A simple ray of light can break into a world of darkness and illuminate it. How can you know how dark a certain space is? You measure the amount of light present. Isn't this correct? Darkness is a term used by man to describe what happens when there is no light present."

Finally the young man asked the professor; "Sir, does evil exist?"

Now uncertain, the professor responded; "Of course, as I have already said. We see it everyday. It is in the daily examples of man's inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil."

To this the student replied; "Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat, or the darkness that comes when there is no light."

The professor sat down...

The young man's name? ...Albert Einstein

2007-02-06T04:49:00.001-08:00

Steps to peace with God

2007-02-03T10:47:00.000-08:00

HERE are 4 Steps to peace with God.

Is there more to life then this?

2007-01-27T02:16:00.000-08:00

www.alpha.org
there is an Alpha course at my Church in Heidelberg, Germany.

2006-12-22T00:39:00.000-08:00

Know God's Purpose
True, Christianity is a religion, but people can be religious without being Christians. Christ condemned the religious Pharisees of his day because they hid their real selves behind a facade of religion and external morality.
It may sound odd, but God isn't into religion or external morality. He's into relationships, inspirational living, and reality. That is, he wants us not only to have a right relationship with him, but also with each other and with ourselves. And he wants us to be real—to see and admit what we truly are so he can help us.
Neither is it God's goal to make us good. It's to make us whole, for only to the degree that we are made whole will our actions, lifestyle, and relationships be wholesome!
Religion tends to want to fix us from the outside in. God wants to fix us from the inside out. The first can become an impossible burden. The latter is what brings freedom. Christianity is not a set of rules and regulations. It is experiencing divine love, divine acceptance and divine forgiveness.
It helps to realize that God isn't out to zap us for the wrongs we've done. In fact, no matter what we have ever done or have failed to do, he loves us with an everlasting love and has a wonderful purpose for our lives—for this life as well as the next! As Jesus said, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."1 And again, "My purpose is to give life in all its fullness."2

Man's Problem
On the outside we may look like we are doing very well, but on the inside everyone of us has a major issue. Seneca, the ancient Roman philosopher, put it bluntly when he said, "We have all sinned. Some more. Some less." God's Word, the Bible agrees. It reads, "We have all sinned and fallen short of God's standard."3 Sin, however, is not only doing harmful acts. It is anything that falls short of the standard of perfection that God envisioned for us. This includes nursing grudges and other negative emotions, pride, jealousy, mixed motives, etc. Most of us, too, are guilty of sins of omission; that is, not doing what we know we should and could do.4
Another misconception about God is that he is out to get us or to punish us for our sins. We bring sin's punishment on ourselves because sin has its own natural consequences. If we try to break the universal law of gravity, for instance, we can't. It will break us. Neither can we break God's universal moral law. When we do, it breaks us, and besides its painful effects in this life—suffering, sorrow, sickness and spiritual death—its ultimate and tragic consequence is eternal death or separation from God.5
We are like a burned out or "dead" electric light bulb that cannot respond to its power source. And because we are spiritually dead, we cannot respond to God's love and power either, without his first "fixing" us. Furthermore, because of our spiritual deadness, it is impossible for anyone to save him or herself. Only God can do this. This is why all the "good works" in the world cannot make us alive to God. Only when we see and admit this, is God able to "fix" us!

Christ's Answer
Because our sin has separated or disconnected us from God, we have been left with a God-shaped vacuum, or spiritual emptiness, within. As Augustine put it, "You have made us for yourself, O God, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in you." The world's many religions are all evidence of man's endless search to find God and fill this vacuum. However, because God loved us so much, he sent his own sinless Son, Jesus Christ, to save us from our predicament.6
Christ did this by dying on the cross in our place to pay the consequence of and ransom price for our sins—death. Thus, Jesus Christ is God's only provision for our sin, and he is the only way back to God and the only door into eternal life.7
God's Word, the Bible, says, "For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men."8 Had there been any other way to save mankind, Christ wouldn't have had to die for us. Because he was without sin, he was the only one qualified to die for our sins.

Your Invitation
If you were found guilty of a serious crime and were condemned to death, and if offered, would you accept a free unconditional pardon?
Because of Christ's dying for us, that's what God offers us, and with it the gift of eternal life. All we need to do is to accept his pardon. Here's how to do this:
First: Confess. God's Word says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins."9
Second: Repent. That is, we need to turn from sinful and selfish ways to follow God and his ways. Jesus said, "The Kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe."10 That is, we need to turn from sinful and selfish ways to follow God and his ways.
Third: Believe. "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved,"11 declares the Word of God.
Fourth: Receive. God also said, "To all who received him [Christ], to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."12
Admitting our sinfulness, believing that Jesus died for our sins, inviting him into our lives as Lord and Savior, and accepting God's forgiveness is what makes us real Christians. The following prayer will help you do this:

"Dear God, I confess that I am a sinner and am sorry for all the wrongs that I have done. I believe that your Son, Jesus Christ, died on the cross for my sins. Please forgive me. I invite you, Jesus, to come into my heart and life as Lord and Savior. I commit and trust my life to you. Please give me the desire to be what you want me to be and to do what you want me to do. Thank you for dying for my sins, for your free pardon, for your gift of eternal life, and for hearing and answering my prayer. Amen."

Here's Great Assurance
If you genuinely prayed the prayer to invite Jesus Christ into your life and truly meant it, you are now a true Christian and have the gift of a new spiritual life as well as eternal life. You are also a child of God and a member of his family.13 God promised this. Choose to accept it. Take it by faith and not feelings. Feelings change but God's Word never does.
God's Word says, "And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life."14

FOOTNOTES: 1. John 3:16; 2. John 10:10; 3. Romans 3:24; 4. James 4:17; 5. Romans 6:23; 6. See Ephesians 2:8-9; 7. See John 14:6; 8. 1Timothy 2:5-6; 9. 1John 1:9; 10. Mark 1:5; 11. Acts 16:31; 12. John 1:12; 13. See 2 Corinthians 5:17 and John 1:12; 14. 1 John 5:11-13.

By Richard (Dick) Innes

The first Christmas

2006-12-20T15:27:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I wonder what Jesus would think of what we have made of his birthday. how much of what he taught or believed in is actually seen in all the rush, glitz and materialism that is modern Christmas? Over 2000 years ago, a very uncomfortable Mary (very pregnant)took a long ride on a donkey to a strange town that was over run by people who had been forced there by a mean politician to pay taxes! She and her husband could not find a room, so she ended up giving birth to God in a cold dark cave where they kept animals. She wrapped him ,not in designer cloths but rags. She layed him in a manger (a place where they would feed animals). But all the stars in the sky shone very bright! Angles sang to shepherds proclaiming his birth! Kings traveled from the East to bring expensive gifts! What a contrast! He was born so lowly, yet worshipped in heaven and earth! I wish we could see more of him at Christmas, but there is so much business and stress! But then again, I think it must have been pretty stressful for Mary and Joseph too!

2006-12-15T06:38:00.000-08:00

I have not posted for awhile. I (like so many others) get kind of busy around Christmas. I have been thinking about business. People who are busy don't have time to think about God. Maybe that is why people who are sick or old think about God. I am not so old (well, not so old)but I have been sick. Two years ago, on Christmas day, I tore the ligaments in my knee (ouch)! I had to sit still for two months while it healed. I had loads of thinking time. I wonder if people just stay busy to avoid thinking about important stuff! It is not just important for old people and sick people to think about God...we just don''t get around to it! You don't need to be hit by a bus, or break a leg! Just stop for awhile, stand still, and listen...let God speak to you.

Not just becoming a Christian but staying a Christian

2006-11-30T04:33:00.000-08:00

I think many people make some sort of movement towards God at one point in their lives. They find themselves moved by some event,or feeling a need, or even striking a bargain with God. But what is it that moves a persons heart to want to actually follow God as best they can for the rest of their lives? I think the answer is in the idea of relationship. Yes,Jesus can save you from your sin. He can keep you out of Hell! You sin, and then you ask him for forgiveness...and you are forgiven. But there can be so much more then being a forgiven sinner! You could be a child of God. You could be in the process of actually knowing God. And as we learn to know him, we also learn what he likes and doesn't like. If we love him, we don't want to do the things that he hates! We want to pursue the things that build up the relationship! It is the desire for a deeper relationship that keeps us growing, and not walking away.

The Jesus film

2006-11-19T05:23:00.000-08:00

"The Jesus Film" is a feature-length motion picture released in 1979 that depicts the life of Jesus Christ according to the Gospel of Luke in the Bible.The film's origins can be traced back to 1950 when Bill Bright, who would go on to found Campus Crusade for Christ, wanted to create an entertaining, but biblically accurate film about the life of Jesus Christ that could be translated and distributed globally.

I have put the whole film in 15 parts at the bottom of the blog page. Each part is between 7 and 9 minutes.This movie has gone all over the world.

You can watch the whole movie in German HERE.

2006-11-19T02:38:00.000-08:00

People believed in the ability of the man who crossed Niagara falls on a tight rope pushing a wheelbarrow, but they didn't trust enough to actually get in the wheelbarrow themselves.

Jesus Christ died on a cross for my sins, and your sins. Being a Christian is placing our trust in the work of the cross (the judgement he has already taken upon himself for us). It is putting our self in his hands, relying upon his mercy. Not trying to make it to God in our own power, but really trusting Jesus.

2006-11-09T14:25:00.000-08:00

What could I tell you now if you sat across the table from me? I guess that would just depend upon what you needed to hear. Where you are at, and not trying to repeat what you already understand. If you read about Jesus, you will see He really was different with different people. To the religious, self righteous leaders he was wise and hard, with his disciples He was a friend and teacher, to the sick he was a healer, the hungry people got food, and those who were outcast felt his love and acceptance. There are "formulas" to express the content of the Gospel. I think they are OK. But you need to read the Bible, especially the life of Jesus to begin to understand what He was like.When I first thought about being a Christian I wanted what I would call my fire insurance. I believed God would judge me for my sins, and I wanted to receive the "free gift" of salvation through Jesus Christ. If He was willing to die for my sins, I was willing to receive that gift. I think that was pretty smart. If you believe in Hell, and someone offers you a way of escape,take it!
But after awhile (know one told me to read my Bible) I began to read the Bible. I saw that Jesus called his disciples to follow him. I decided at some point I actually wanted to get to know this God that was willing to die for me. The more I get to know him, the more amazed I am that he would actually die for me! My love and respect just grows more and more. It was not something that happened, instead it is something that is happening. I am changing to be more like this God I am following. I got on a road heading in a direction. It did not seem like such a big thing when I began this journey 33 years ago, but I guess I've covered a little ground!

What do you say when Christians fail?

2006-11-04T13:22:00.000-08:00

There is a very high profile pastor in the USA who has resigned in disgrace because he bought drugs, and had a relationship with a male prostitute. I don't know exactly what he has done. If he is very guilty, or just a little guilty. What does it matter? He fell, and it has put a dark spot on Christians everywhere! I'm sure his family, his poor wife, and the folks at his Church are confused and hurt. I can only say I am sorry this happened. Does Jesus really have the power to change a person’s life? You know what, He does. But God is not going to tie your hands and keep you from sinning. If you don't follow him, you are going to get lost! How does someone like this pastor get lost? Maybe he just stopped reading the map (the Bible), and stopped asking for directions (praying) and tried to make it on his own! We are all lost without God.

What is God like?

2006-11-03T11:06:00.001-08:00

2006-10-31T14:02:00.001-08:00

2006-10-31T13:56:00.001-08:00

2006-10-31T13:48:00.001-08:00

2006-10-31T13:47:00.001-08:00

How Does a person get to Heaven?

2006-10-30T07:19:00.000-08:00

A great illustration about how God is our judge.

2006-10-29T09:25:00.000-08:00

Salvation Video Part 1 and 2

2006-10-29T07:30:00.000-08:00

Rick Warren discusses what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ

Part 2 of a video of Rick Warren discussing what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ

What direction is your life going in?

2006-10-28T08:45:00.000-07:00

I think the reason I thought the Woody Allen, Billy Graham interview was so interesting was how the two men ended up as they got older.The Bible says that sin is enjoyable for a season. Clearly Woody Allen enjoyed his season of sin. If fact, he basically tried to make Billy Graham look weird for not living the life of sin that basically everyone lives. The Bible also says straight is the road, and narrow is the way that leads to life, and not many find it. In contrast, wide is the road that leads to death, and many go in that direction (my paraphrase). As far as I know, Billy Graham lives an amazing life full of peace and honor. When he dies (and it will happen soon) he will die with peace. As far I know about Woody Allen, he will be remembered for his writing and a very troubled personal life. I think the people that choose a life of faith (especially at a young age) will be made to seem weird by the crowds of folks going down that other road. A road determines direction. The real question is were would you like to end up at the end of your journey?

totally interesting interview

2006-10-27T14:47:00.000-07:00

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

2006-10-27T00:58:00.000-07:00

Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him(Jesus). But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." Then Jesus told them this parable: "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
Luke 15:1-7

establishing a relationship with God

2006-10-26T01:05:00.000-07:00

Actually, true Christianity isn't a Christian religion at all - it's discovering and establishing a relationship with God. It's trusting in Jesus and what He did on the cross for you. He did not die just to save your sins. He died so that you could have a way to know God. You begin to know God by praying (and prayer is just talking to God), and reading the Bible. You might think the Bible is just a book. Try reading it for awhile, and see if you still think it is just a book.

meant4more.com

2006-10-24T13:45:00.000-07:00

I am looking for material that might help you in your search for God. I found this web site I think is pretty OK. It is called meant 4 more. It has real stories of other people who were searching for God, and found him. It is basically for teenagers. I don't know who does or doesn't read this. I can imagine you are old, male, middle aged, female, young, gay, married, divorced or going through one. actually I can imagine the only thing you have in common is that you have a computer, and you are reading this! I hope you find the peace and freedom you are looking for. It's been a really long time since I felt lost. Like I wrote in the blog sub title, I've been a Christian for just over 30 years. But I understand abandonment. I've adopted two boys,and I'm in the process of adopting a little girl. I remember once when I was a girl, my family was visiting the zoo. We were looking at the otters, and my dad gave me some money, and said I could go buy a drink. I guess they were talking about going to the next exhibit, but I did not hear them. When I came back from the drink vendor, my family was gone. I can still recall the feeling of abandonment I felt at that moment.I sat on the bench and cried.Finally, someone from the family came looking for me. I guess I thought of that story because I wanted to tell you that God also looks for you. Maybe you are feeling allot of pain, and feel abandoned by God, but He has not abandoned you. He is looking for you.

We Stand by Grace

2006-10-24T13:02:00.000-07:00

A pastor was traveling on a bus down a bumpy road. Seated next to him was a college student who noticed that the minister was reading his Bible. The minister asked, “Are you spiritually ready for the temptations that you will face in college?”

"I don’t have a problem with temptation," the young man told the minister. "I have strong willpower."

The minister took a pencil from his pocket and said, "I can make this pencil stand up on the cover of this Bible even though the bus ride is bumpy."

The young man said, "I’ll believe it when I see it. I don't think you can do it."

"Look, I’m doing it," he replied as the young man watched.

"Yeah, but you didn't tell me you would hold the pencil up with your hand."

"I didn't have to tell you," the pastor remarked. "Have you ever seen a pencil stand up on its own without someone holding it?"

The minister then let go of the pencil, which instantly fell over. "The only reason you stand," he continued, "is because God is holding you up with His hand."

A song and a prayer

2006-10-24T08:29:00.000-07:00

Make my life a prayer to you,
I want to do what you want me to,
No empty words and no white lies,
No token prayers, no compromise,
I want to shine the light you gave,
Through Your Son, you sent to save us,
From ourselves and our despair,
It comforts me to know you're really there.

Oh, I want to thank you now, for being patient with me,
It’s so hard to see, when my eyes are on me,
I guess I'll have to trust and just believe what you say,
Oh, you're coming again, coming to take me away,

- Keith Green

How great is our God

2006-10-23T00:44:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite Christian bands, Delirious

2006-10-23T00:22:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite Christian bands, Delirious

Easy to See Others Faults

2006-10-22T12:04:00.000-07:00

Easy to See Others Faults
Driving to the office this morning, I noticed a woman driving 65 mph with her face up next to her rear view mirror, putting on her eyeliner! I looked away and next thing you know she was halfway in my lane, still putting on her makeup.

As a man, I don't scare easily. But she scared me so much, I dropped my electric shaver, which knocked the donut out of my other hand. In all the confusion of trying to straighten out the car using my knees against the steering wheel, it knocked my cell phone away from my ear which fell into the coffee between my legs, ruined the phone, soaked my trousers, and disconnected an important call. All because of that crazy woman driver!

John 8
But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" "No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."

Listen to the Bible online

2006-10-21T15:17:00.000-07:00

The Bible says that faith comes when you listen to the word of God (the Bible). You can do that right now by going to a web site called Gateway. They have the whole Bible online,and you can read it or even listen to it read. I think you should start with the book of John, this is the story about Jesus.

From the Bible

2006-10-20T11:28:00.000-07:00

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
- John 3:16-17

Real Christians reflect the love of God

2006-10-20T06:15:00.000-07:00

In the headlines you always read the stories about those who say they follow Christ, but "fall from grace"! I can only say that is sad and also too bad. There are Christians who also love to give...just because they know (really understand in their hearts) just how much God has given to them! Here are some of the Christians who are not in the headlines...

A Christian Band called the Newsboys went to Baja and built a house. Here is a video of that trip.

Jesus Died for our sins

2006-10-20T04:57:00.000-07:00

At the core of Christian belief is the idea that Jesus died for our sins (my sins & the sins of the whole world). If you are reading a site like this, you probably already know you are a sinner! In a way it is probably not so hard for you to believe you to deserve punishment for the wrong things you have done. What is probably harder for you to accept is that God sent his own son to earth to accept punishment for you, and all you need to do is trust in his work and stop trusting in your own work!

What people found at church

2006-10-19T10:53:00.000-07:00

I found this short video made by the Vineyard church about what some people found when they started going to church. I don't actually want to promote any one church, although I've been to Vineyard churches and think the people are cool. There are a lot of great churches. My point in posting this video is so you can see that God can reach all kinds of people!

The gospel is GOOD NEWS

2006-10-19T07:15:00.000-07:00

I found this on another blog about the Gospel...

The gospel is GOOD NEWS
Good news. That is the dictionary definition of the term "gospel." The question that then needs to be answered is, of course, "what is the good news?"

The best answer to that question is in the Bible, where John 3:16 tells us that: "God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life."

The good news is that God didn’t sit up in heaven watching humanity make a mess of their lives and their world. He did something about it with extraordinarily important implications for people both now and for eternity. Let’s look at our situation and what God did in more detail.

Without God, making a mess of our lives is pretty much what we do. We might look OK on the outside, but inside, in our quiet moments we are aware of a big empty place. When we’re all alone we suspect we’re missing out on a wonderful destiny that we were created for.

Inside, we know we were created to live forever. I think in every heart we know there is a place where all dreams can come true, where we will find forever perfect love, but somehow we also know we can’t ever get their on our own. So we try to build a heaven on this earth with money and stuff and toys—but the toys grow old and the dreams turn to nightmares.

We also know at the end of this life, if we face death without God, eternity is frightening.

What do we do then?

We might try to reach up to God, but just being a good person and trying to do all the right things never feels like enough. Just doing good and feeling good always feels like it falls short because it does.

The problem is that we can’t ever do enough good because the problem is inside s—it’s our inner core that wants our own way and not God’s. That is what sin is all about and from that wanting our own way, we turn away from all that is good. Every sin, from a selfish lie to save our reputation, to a theft or murder to get what we want—it all results from going away from God.

The problem is we were born sinners and we can’t make the sin inside go away on our own. Most of us can barely avoid chocolate for 24 hours; or exercise regularly or any other resolution we make, let alone stop sinning.

It gets even worse because God takes sin very personally. God can’t allow sin into His presence. Sin separates people from God, not only in this life, but for all eternity.

The hard part

There is one other part of the gospel story that is very hard to understand, and I can’t pretend to explain why, but God tells us that sin isn’t something He can just ignore. He can’t say, "Oh, it’s all right. . . I know you had a hard time on earth, or a dysfunctional family, or whatever other excuse we might use, but let’s just forget it all and welcome to heaven anyway."

I wish He was like that, but He’s not. Somehow in the whole plan of things (which again, I cannot explain) sin, big or little, that turning away from God, has to be punished. When people say, "my will be done," God says OK, for all eternity you don’t have to have anything to do with me. But once you decide that, (and the Bible tells us that humanity as a whole decided that is the direction they wanted to take a long time ago) there is no going back, there is no way on our own we can get back to God. The consequences are pretty grim: a life never truly fulfilling though it may be filled with lots of stuff here on earth. And then you die. The Bible describes life after death without God as a place of never ending regret and suffering. It’s not a party with the other guys who raised hell together in life. In the real hell you are completely alone with regrets that can never be resolved.

That’s what makes the gospel GOOD NEWS

Here is where the good news starts. In this situation, where we can’t do anything to save ourselves, where the future looks really grim without God, it says that God loves us and didn’t abandon humanity when we turned our backs on Him.

Immediately after Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden and went their own way from God, God first stated their punishment, and then immediately said that he would one day provide a savior to bear that punishment.

It sometimes seems (from a human perspective) that God takes an awfully long time to work things out and the good news of the gospel is one of those things. The story of that outworking is the story of the Christian Bible—the Old Testament looking forward to the day that Jesus would come, the New Testament telling the story of his life, death, resurrection and the start of the Christian church.

Because of the death of Jesus on the cross, because the Bible tells us that at that time all of the sin of humanity past, present and future was poured out on Jesus and he took the penalty of all that sin on himself, in a way also very hard to understand, we can be forgiven. That is the heart of the good news of the Gospel.

This good news is a gift

It’s rather amazing to consider all God did in history to prepare the world for his Son, all Jesus did in his life on earth and all he suffered dying on the cross, for us. The Bible says that Jesus, who personally never sinned, was willing to take on the horror of all the sins of humanity, past, present and future and to endure them for us. Think for just a moment about a horrible sin, something that makes you sick to even consider. Imagine what it would be like if you forced to bear the guilt and penalty of that sin.

How unfair! You’d respond and that’s true. No one deserves to pay for the sins of someone else. But multiply the horror of that countless times over. That is what Jesus did. He took our place on the cross and bore the plenty for our sin. It wasn’t fair, but He did it because He loves us.

The next move is up to us

It’s even more amazing that God doesn’t force anything on us, he always gives us free will, freedom to choose or reject this good news. It is our choice.

Testimony of Kristi

2006-10-18T07:48:00.000-07:00

Kisti a student at the University of Virginia tells about how the internet lead her to Christ. Kristi's testimony demonstrates the effectiveness of christian sites on the Internet. In this case EveryStudent.com
Kristi stated: "I didn't think that anything on the web could actually change my life. But it did, and I now realize that was just God directing me to what would be the best way to reach me. That was God -- using this tool that I was on every single day -- to reach me."

Manuel tells his story about his way to Christ, In German

2006-10-18T07:41:00.000-07:00

Hi, I found this on YouTube. This the story of one person who found Christ. It's in German.

This is how you become a Christian

2006-10-17T12:32:00.000-07:00

I do not know what brought you to this page, but I am sure it was no mistake. If you are interested in finding out about how a person would become a Christian the following are some of the "basics". The most important thing you should know is that as much as you may want to know God, He said in the Bible He is searching for you like Shepherd who has lost a sheep. God wants very much to know you. I hope this helps.

How to Become a Christian Have you felt the "tug" of God on your heart? Becoming a Christian is one of the most important steps you will take in your life on earth. Learn what the Bible teaches on how to become a Christian and what it means to be a follower of Christ. This call to salvation begins with God. He initiates it by drawing us to come to Him.

John 6:44
"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him ..."
Revelation 3:20 :
"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in ..."
Human Efforts are Futile:
God desires an intimate relationship with us, but we can not obtain it through our own efforts.
Isaiah 64:6
"All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags..." Romans 3:10-12
"...There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no
one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become
worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one."
Separated by Sin:
We have a problem. Our sin separates us from God, leaving us spiritually empty.
Romans 3:23
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
It is impossible for us to find peace with God through our own efforts.
Anything we try to do to obtain God's favor or gain salvation is
worthless and futile.
A Gift from God:
Salvation then, is a gift from God. He offers the gift through Jesus, his Son. By laying down his life on the cross, Christ took our place and paid the ultimate price,
the penalty for our sin -- death. Jesus is our only way to God.
John 14:6
"Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me." Romans 5:8
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Responding to God's Call:
The only thing we must do is respond to God's call.
But how? How do I become a Christian?
Receiving
God's gift of salvation is not complicated. The response to God's call
is explained in these simple steps found in God's Word:
1) Admit you are a sinner and turn away from your sin.

Acts
3:19 says: "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be
wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord."

2) Believe Jesus Christ died on the cross to save you from your sins and give you eternal life.

John
3:16 says: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so
that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal
life."

3) Come to Him by faith.

In John 14:6 Jesus said: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me."

4) You may pray a simple prayer to God.

You may want to make your response to God a prayer. Prayer is simply
communicating with God. Pray using your own words. There is no special
formula. Just pray from your heart to God, and He will save you. If you
feel lost and just don’t know what to pray, here’s a prayer you can pray.

"Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am sinful and in need of Your forgiveness. I
am sorry for my sinful lifestyle and I want to turn from it and follow
You. I believe that You died to pay the spiritual cost for my sins and
that You rose from the grave. I invite You to come into my heart and
become my Lord and Savior. I ask this in Your name. Amen."

5) Now, don’t doubt.

Salvation is by grace, through faith. There’s nothing you did, or ever can do, to deserve it. It’s a free gift from God. All you have to do is receive it!

Ephesians
2:8 says: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and
this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God."
6) Tell someone about your decision.

Romans
10:9-10 says, "If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and
believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be
saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified,
and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved."