Why do Christians persist?

[Rick C. Hodgin]

We know that nobody can come to Christ until God the Father draw them
from within (John 6:44). None of us know when that will happen for
which of us. As such, we are patient, and we wait for the day when
God Himself opens up a person's understanding so they can then hear,
know, and understand the things of God.

I was almost 35 years old before the Lord called me. And I used to
make fun of Christians, calling them "Bible Thumpers" and such names.
I used to make fun of my brother and his family for praying when they
would leave the house in the car to go somewhere. I thought he was
someone who needed a crutch, who wasn't able to do on his own, and so
on. But, when God opened my eyes I found out I had been the one who
was wrong.

I care about each of you. I will continue to post these messages for
those who may get to a place in their life where they want to hear
about that hope, hear about that future made secure in Jesus Christ.

It's an ongoing calling to each person, such that the only way someone
will wind up in Hell is if they continue to reject the call ongoingly
throughout their entire life, even to the point of their death, so
that there is no mistake about it, no excuse, no claims of, "Well, I
didn't know," or, "I never heard the gospel message."

All have heard. All are aware. And we each make our position on
Jesus Christ known by the things we do. We either receive Him and
then go forth living for Him, or we reject Him to our own damnation.

I have hope for each of you. I care for each of you. I want each
of you to be saved and enter in to eternity alive and thriving in
the Kingdom God's prepared for us, for we are His own creation made
in His own image and likeness, and He has BIG BIG plans for us.

But only those who will seek the truth will enter in.

Be one who seeks the truth. Pursue it with great vigor. Be one who
acknowledges that you are a sinner in need of forgiveness, and that
you cannot cleanse yourself because your hands are already dirty in
sin. Come to Jesus and ask Him to cleanse you of all sin and all
unrighteousness. He will. It's why He came to the Earth, to save
all who will be saved, and His sacrifice on the cross is big enough
to cover all of your sin as well.

I want you to have a future. A secure future. A future in Heaven
with God, with the angels, where we all grow and learn and explore
His mighty universe together.

You should read the last few chapters of Revelation (from Rev 19 on)
and see what is coming for the Earth, and for the saints who are
saved. It will change your perspective on what's important in this
world. It will make you a full-on disciple of Jesus Christ. It will
do this because of the new life Jesus brings, which undoes the old
and wicked/evil sinful ways of this world by opening up your under-
standing to the way things are supposed to be per God's design, for
this world we live in now is not how our lives are supposed to be,
but it is only this way now because of sin. What God has planned
for us is far greater, and you can experience a portion of that, a
"down payment" the Bible calls it, even here in this world, which
is through the presence of His Holy Spirit in your life. The
"comforter" the Bible calls Him, because He comforts you as you go
on through the pain, turmoil, and angst of this sinful world.

You are loved by me, and by all Christians. But, you are loved by
Jesus Christ even more. He died to save you. He gave His life to
rescue you from death. He is the Good Shepherd who lays down His
own life for the sheep (us). Seek Him.

--
Rick C. Hodgin

[rickchod...@gmail.com]

A request for each of you

Original post : https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/alt.os.development/nvGbmY74C-4


To my fellow "Usenet group"ies:

I come before you today with a request for each of you. I ask
you to give it an ear and ponder it in your heart. Consider it
for a time each day and think about what it means to the baseline
fundamental views we hold in our lives.

-----
My request is that you consider what this means to your self-
image: You were created. You do have a purpose. You were not
an accident of random chance in this universe. You were, instead,
specifically and purposefully hand-crafted by God, hand-placed
into this world where you are, with a purpose to have a real im-
pact upon this world. To further realize that within the creation
of your existence, the one creating you had a real purpose in do
doing. God created you with a goal of certain things He wants you
to do in this world, for example.

Think about this idea: That you were created, that you do have a
real purpose, and that you will go on after you leave this world,
and that you do have a choice today regarding how you will live
your life, and that the warning given you by your very creator is
that there is a real enemy here in this world, responsible for all
that we see wrong here, who seeks to mislead you, trick you, trap
you, and ultimately destroy your soul by leading you away from God,
but if you will give God an ear, and stop hardening your heart
toward Him, that He will guide you not only to safety in this world,
but to the fullest, richest prosperity in Him.

Think about this. Read it a few times. Make sure you get a clear
understanding: You were created specifically by God. You have a
real purpose, and there are two paths before you: one leading to
forgiveness for the wrong you've done, to be a part of God's plan
for your life, one that keeps you unforgiven in the wrong you've
done and is leading away from God and God's plan for your life.

-----
God created you for greatness. He loves you. He will lead and
guide and protect and save you from all evil. But He also honors
you too much to violate His greatest gift to you: your volition.
He will not violate your free will to choose. But look into Him
and see how He's revealed Himself through His Son. The Bible
gives us a view of God that explains things in a way which really
resonates on the inside if you're willing to receive it. But if
you harden your heart, it will always only be a book of laughable
tales and fantasies.

The choice is yours, but the truth speaks to you. You were God's
creation. You were made special. You do have a purpose. And
you will go on after you leave this world. God has a plan for you
and will save you from everything bad, and give you a real and
secure future that dwells in fullest, richest prosperity for you,
His beloved and held dear, most special creation.

Thank you,
Rick C. Hodgin

[Peter Cheung]

We should sue Rick C Hodgin

read this post https://groups.google.com/forum/m/?fromgroups#!topic/alt.os.development/ReiCmUesObU