Christianity's Biggest Challenge Is Not the Unbeliever

Do you really believe what this Book says?

 Convincing Christians to Believe Jesus Is Harder than Winning Converts

For almost a decade I've been teaching a Bible study called "From Genesis to Revelation." In the course of those years I developed a thematic statement designed to encourage those in the class, but which was really my own issue. "If we really believed what is in this Book, we would live our lives very differently."

The further we went in the reading, finishing the Old Testaments and entering the New, my own faith grew and grew. It wasn't my first time through the Bible. Far from it. But the slow line by line reading of the Bible over so many years, including preparing a lesson each week, was impacting me. Do I still have issues of belief and trust regarding the Bible and God? Sure, but fewer than I did a decade or even a year ago. 

But this much became clear to me. The vast majority of folks who call themselves Christian probably are not. They aren't doing any of the most basic requirements of being a Christian. For many the emphasis seems to be on trying to be nicer or sinning less. These are excellent goals, but have little to do with the Gospel.

In a way, it reminds me of talking with atheists, agnostics, or folks who claim they aren't Christians. You lay out simple, but profound truths that are going to impact their life in a major way for the better, and then give them the hope of heaven. But they will argue with you about evolution or how come there are so many religions or denominations.  They will bring up the problem of evil, suffering, or say things like "I wish I had that kind of faith."

Compare that to conversations you might have with someone who has stated they were saved. "I feel at peace about living with my girlfriend." "Why shouldn't homosexuals who are Christians be able to enjoy loving one another?" "I just can't get into reading my Bible." There is no way I can afford to tithe." "I would go to church, but there are hypocrites there and all those Christians are judgemental.

You can point out that the Jesus they say they are following has clearly laid out the ways you are to live in order to have the best possible life on earth and earn the most crowns in heaven. You might even go so far as to suggest that if they aren't actively dealing with known sin, seeking a closer and more intimate life with Jesus, and producing fruit they may not be heading to heaven. But many are just as hard-hearted as those who make no claim of knowing Jesus.

If we believe Jesus, then we need to repent and ask the Holy Spirit to provide us with the strength and wisdom we need to be nice and sin less, but also to spread the gospel and change the world. But just as God left it up to us to accept His free gift of salvation, He has also left it up to us to decide to be true disciples. We have choices every day whether to follow Jesus, obey His words, carry His cross, and have the discipline to work out our salvation.

Most, almost all, Christians make daily decisions to seek comfort rather than sacrifice, prefer being liked rather than being holy, consuming worldly input rather than Biblical, and striving for personal gain rather than praying for Kingdom increases.

Don't you want the most that life has to offer? Are you satisfied with your current spiritual condition? Don't you desire to serve Jesus in such a way that He will say "Well done thou good and faithful servant" when you join him in eternity? The alternative is "Go away from here. I never knew you."

If you want to change direction, that is repent, and get on a path to being all that you can be as a God Called - He Needs Your Decision! This new book is designed specifically to help any born again Christian to increase their belief and faith. It takes you wherever you are today and empowers you to move to the next step, and then the next, until you are fully surrendered.
follower of Jesus, you might want to pick up

Once upon a time, someone helped you to see that the Gospel was real, that Jesus was the Messiah, that God loved you, and that you needed to repent and be born again. Today, I'm hoping I can be that person who helps you to see that all of those things are true, and so is everything that the Bible says.  And since all those things are true, you should get serious about what the Bible directs you to do. Otherwise, your first decision seems utterly useless.

Hearing from God Through Reading His Word - Part 3

The bible used by Abraham Lincoln for his oath of office during his first inauguration in 1861. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

First Step to Getting to Know God on an Intimate Basis - Read Your Bible

 

"I Believe in God, but I'm Not THAT Religious."

I spoke with an associate today who told me, “I believe, but I’m not religious.”  That isn’t the first time I’ve heard someone say that, and in fact I personally might have felt exactly the same for all of my 20’s and into my 30’s.  Maybe you’ve heard the same thing from friends or felt the same way at times.  

She happens to be one who has very strong beliefs in many areas of her life, including that  GMO’s (genetically modified organisms) are dangerous and should never ...


This is a section of a new book that has been created here on this blog.  The book will be available on Amazon.com April 26 under the title God Called - He Needs Your Decision!  This will be the Kindle edition.  The print edition will follow approximately May 15, and the audio is slated for availability around June 1.  

Click here to buy on Kindle and see more reviews

The rest of this chapter was available free for almost a year, but has now been removed.  It is my hope that you will truly enjoy the book and that it will bless you.  Some have already reported their thoughts about the book.  

Serious Disciples of Jesus should read God Called - He Needs Your Decision!  because, according to one reviewer:

If a baby were born and failed to thrive, the family would rightly consider it a great tragedy. When a Christian is born and fails to thrive, however, many people don’t notice. God Called—He Needs Your Decision! by Randy Kirk is an invitation to Christians to thrive. It is a spiritual counterattack to the widespread misconception that “being” a Christian is a passive state. Randy invites Christians to “do” Christianity.

Katherine Harms, Editor

Are you ready to ratchet up your devotion to God and Jesus to the next level?
God Called - He Needs Your Decision! is perfect for you

Do you sometimes feel stuck in your walk and desire to be of greater service?
God Called was written for Christians just like you

Are you the first to sign up for any seminar that teaches how to find out God’s will for your life?
The pathway to that answer for you is one click away.
Other early reviews:

Michael J. Webb, Bestselling Author of The Master's Quilt

Randy Kirk, in his latest book, God Called—He Needs Your Decision, shows a great gift for telling his story from with the crowd.  He lets the power of the principles exert the authority.  He walks alongside other disciples and points to the principles. 

The solid structure and content of the book attract and pull the reader toward growth.  Kirk’s personal narratives are like stories shared around the fire.  He and the reader work through all the same problems, and both he and the reader experience the successes and the failures, making each very real to the reader. 

Katherine Harms

Are you hungering for a closer walk with God? Do you realize that you need something more than what you have in your spiritual life? Then God Called by Randy Kirk is the book for you to read.

From the first chapter this book caught my attention. Filled with nuggets of wisdom and the instructions and encouragement to step out in faith for a fuller walk with God, this book carefully points out what it takes to go a little further in your daily life: to become a true disciple of Christ. Easy? Not at all. But for a very real sense of satisfaction in knowing you’re doing what you’re suppose to do at the right time in your life, becoming a disciple of Christ will give you a peace and fulfillment from a choice and decision that you must make. Excuses abound plentifully, no matter what age you are, to prevent one from praying the prayer of discipleship, and yet it all depends on your desire and willingness: are you willing to become humble and forsake all to follow Christ?

Kirk’s scriptures drive home his points and his knowledge in the topic is outstanding. His examples and quotes and expounding pinpoints the problems individuals have, the cost many will have, and the solutions to a life of happiness.

I heartily recommend this book for all serious Christians!

Katherine Harms

Click here to buy on Kindle and see more reviews

50% of Old Testament Prophesies Now Fulfilled - Bryan P. Mistele

The Crust Was Removed from My Eyes.   I See So Much Better Now

Almost no other religion has stepped out on a limb and offered to make predictions about the future.  Most who have done so have either had predictions that were difficult to interpret, so general as to be useless, or turned out to be dead wrong.

The Bible, on the other hand, has at least 1000 Old Testament prophetic statements, and the New Testament adds hundreds more.  Like many reading this post, I have read about these prophecies my entire life, argued about them with those who didn't trust the Bible, and attempted to share and explain them with my kids, friends, and in this and other blogs.  (see http://GodvsNoGod.blogspot.com)

But until this weekend and finding an article about Biblical prophesy by Bryan P. Mistele, The Bible's Most Amazing Prophecies, I had no idea how easy it is to prove that Biblical predictions alone create a proof for the Bible being supernatural that is beyond reason to dispute.  Until now, most of my debates centered on the prophecies surrounding Jesus.  And I have to agree with the doubters that taking each of those prophecies one-by-one, you could make a case for Jesus or His followers purposely meeting the prediction, or writing the Gospels to meet the prophetic statements.  This is not to say that I agree, but only that there was an argument to be made.

However, Mistele points out that there are dozens of specific prophecies that we know were written at least prior to Christ's birth, that are very specific and not open to interpretation, that have been fulfilled in ways that are not in question.   So here are a few things to think about before I get into the details:

If the Bible predicted something clearly, in plain language, not subject to interpretation, which would have necessarily needed to have already happened ... even ONE such thing ... and it didn't happen as predicted, what would become of the Bible?  The World would laugh until it cried.  Game over.

For example, if the Bible said specifically that the Temple would be torn down by the Egyptians and rebuilt by the Assyrians after the fall of Babylon, and it didn't happen, there would be a theological crises over this fact.  Proof?  Follow the trail of modern archeology as many spend their lives trying to find a Biblical error.  They can't wait!

But what if the Bible predicted a string of events, and all of them came true; one after another, throughout history.  The odds of being right on just on would be huge.  But the multiplying effect of being right time after time and never wrong is beyond human comprehension.  

But we don't need archeology or any other science  for the following: 

The Old Testament predicts:

• That Abraham will be a father to a great nation and have descendants to numerous to count
• The same prediction is made regarding Ishmael
• Then again for Isaac
• That the Jews will be dispersed throughout the world, but will be gathered back again.
• That Nineveh will not merely be destroyed, but will be an unmarked grave
• That Sodom and Gomorrah will be destroyed and never rebuilt

You see, there are these and many more instances where the statements are unambiguous and 100% factually known to be true today.  They are not in dispute.  One could suggest that Nineveh has been located, but only 2600 years after it was destroyed.  

There is no need for interpretation.  No way to say that Israel has not become a state and a member of the United Nations, to boot.  Can anyone say that Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael did not produce descendants to numerous to count.  There is no chance of doing an accurate census of even the Jews, much less the Arabs. 

What are the odds of a prediction made 2,500 - 4,000 years ago being true today?  Try it.  Make a prediction right now about anything specific that you believe will be true 250 years from now.  Will America be a world power?  Will cars be a mode of transportation?  Pick a human being alive today that you think you could predict will be the father of nations. 

These six examples should be enough to persuade every thinking human being that the Bible is God breathed. But according to Mistele, 500 of the 1000 prophecies from the OT are known to be clearly factual today.  I'd suggest that you read his article at http://yeshua.org/bible/the-bibles-most-amazing-prophecies/ .  Then I would suggest that you read his book:  I'm almost finished with it, and my faith has been buttressed immeasurably.  I had to repent this morning of my lack of faith.  The book is "The Truth About Prophesy In the Bible," and is about $10 on Kindle. 

God Wants to Have a Conversation With You

Ian Holm as Bilbo Baggins in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Would You Like to Hear from God?

I would like to invite you on a journey.  Not unlike Bilbo Baggins, the journey is also an adventure.  I will encourage, but never coerce you to take this journey, but I believe that I can promise you only good will come from it.  On the other hand, on the way to gaining that good, there could easily be trials, danger, choices that seem impossible to make, and obstacles that seem insurmountable.  Just like for Bilbo Baggins.

Since you will be seeking to hear from God and ultimately to find out His will for you, or His calling for your life, the Devil is very likely to make an effort to stop you.  The last thing that the Devil wants is for Christ followers to start actually doing the will of the Father, imitating the life of the Son, or being filled by the Holy Spirit.

This was the orignian first chapter of a book that has been created here on this blog. It is now the second chapter, but more importantly,  The book will be available on Amazon.com April 26 under the title God Called - He Needs Your Decision!  This will be the Kindle edition.  The print edition will follow approximately May 15, and the audio is slated for availability around June 1. 

The rest of the book was available free for almost a year, but has now been removed.  It is my hope that you will truly enjoy the book and that it will bless you.  Some have already reported their thoughts about the book.  

Serious Disciples of Jesus should read God Called - He Needs Your Decision!  because, according to one reviewer:

If a baby were born and failed to thrive, the family would rightly consider it a great tragedy. When a Christian is born and fails to thrive, however, many people don’t notice. God Called—He Needs Your Decision! by Randy Kirk is an invitation to Christians to thrive. It is a spiritual counterattack to the widespread misconception that “being” a Christian is a passive state. Randy invites Christians to “do” Christianity.

Katherine Harms, Editor

Are you ready to ratchet up your devotion to God and Jesus to the next level?
God Called - He Needs Your Decision! is perfect for you

Do you sometimes feel stuck in your walk and desire to be of greater service?
God Called was written for Christians just like you

Are you the first to sign up for any seminar that teaches how to find out God’s will for your life?
The pathway to that answer for you is one click away.
Other early reviews:



Even as a Pastor sometimes we can lose focus on what it really is to be a
true disciple of Christ.

I would recommend it to any Pastor or leader of a church
Great Stuff!

Robert Hill - Administrative Pastor
Core Church Los Angeles



God did not call a specific group of people to discipleship - the young, the mature, the outgoing.  He called all of us to become disciples, disciplined ones, ready to listen and follow where He leads. My first reaction when I hear this  message is to duck my head in condemnation, knowing I am not living up to this commandment. However, in his new book, God Called—He Needs Your Decision!, author Randy Kirk immediately moves toward the positive possibilities that can lead to major advances in our lives and purpose.

Just reading the first few pages, God spoke a quick word to me, setting me free from years of bondage to what people will think of me if I follow Jesus full out. Using Randy's simple steps of faith, this is a must-read for your next step in growing in grace.

Cheryl Colwell   author  The Secrets of Montebellis and The Proof

The Psalmist tells us that deep calls unto deep . . . Take the plunge into
the River of Life with Randy Kirk's newest book, God Called—He Needs Your Decision! and drink deep from the well that never runs dry.  Find keys to intimacy with Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit hidden in plain sight.  Come away refreshed and longing for more of Him.

Michael J. Webb, Bestselling Author of The Master's Quilt


Randy Kirk, in his latest book, God Called—He Needs Your Decision, shows a great gift for telling his story from with the crowd.  He lets the power of the principles exert the authority.  He walks alongside other disciples and points to the principles. 

The solid structure and content of the book attract and pull the reader toward growth.  Kirk’s personal narratives are like stories shared around the fire.  He and the reader work through all the same problems, and both he and the reader experience the successes and the failures, making each very real to the reader. 





Katherine Harms

Bible - The Books of the Major Recommendations

Our Bible study class realized as we read through the books of the "law," that God didn't really suggest he was going to create problems for man if he failed to act in accordance with the law, but rather that there were natural consequences of sin.  Do the right things and life will go well for you.  Do the wrong things and you will suffer.

And yet, as every Christian knows, we see those who are sinning apparently doing well, and those who are living fairly righteously suffering consequences.  While I'm certainly not the first to think of this, I had a new take on the issue during my prayer time.

For the person living outside of God's commands and admonitions, even on their best day they are waiting for the other shoe to drop.  They live in fear, or at least stress over, the likelihood that they will get caught by those who are losing because of their gain, that the gravy train will run out, and they will be reduced to living like the rabble they so judge, or that illness or other consequences (STD's, stress related illnesses, etc.) will create discomfort or even death.

On the other hand, those of us who humble ourselves and attempt to live righteously will, as Paul points out, prosper even in our loss.  We will be hopeful when we suffer,  see potential good or gain in every loss, not be subject to stress due to anxiousness over our unexposed sins, and worry less about how others may be angry or unhappy with us.

Thus, we inherit the kingdom of God through our being meek now, not later.  We who may be last come in first now, not later.  Our riches lie in our good health ... healthy outlook ... even when our physical or fiscal health is not so good.

The Truth About the Bible - How Can Anyone Doubt?

Out of one small population of nomadic people has grown three religions that represent over three billion followers.  By some amazing coincidence these three groups continue in the 21st Century after the birth of Christ to conform to Biblical descriptions of them laid down between 2000 and 7000 years ago.

The Jews, probably most remarkably, like no other group on earth, maintain their identity as a "nation" even though they are scattered over and over again throughout history.  They constantly strive to come back to the nation of Israel just as the prophets said they would.  This very small population group has been more reviled and despised than any other group even until today.  They have been destroyed for no other reason but their identity as Jews over and over throughout history, even until today.  And yet they persist.  They neither proselytize nor subjugate anyone into their faith.  And then, as prophesy proclaims in multiple passages, the Jews return to Israel and establish a recognized state.  AMAZING!

The Muslims, which according to the Bible, grew out of the same root as the Jews, but were described by the Bible as being wrong headed, have shown themselves, even until today, to be a religion which grows by fear and subjugation.

The Christians, growing out of the Jewish root, and following the Messiah, Jesus, have almost without exception shown themselves to be an unselfish, forgiving, and peace loving group.  Their growth has come by preaching and conversion through the free will of the individual to choose Christ.

All of this is written and described and has come to pass in a way precisely laid out in the Bible.  The historic elements of the Bible are specific as to names, places, prophesies, and details of both daily life and civilizations.  The potential for non-believing or even believing scholars to find gaping holes in the Biblical account abound due to all of this detail, and yet no such gaping holes are found.  If there could be a major showing of a huge error, hundreds of millions would fall away from the faith.

How can their be any serious doubt that the Bible is divinely inspired?  If it is the Word of God, how can those who believe it so easily disregard it.  This is the great mystery.