Jacob’s story is made by ‘Unearthed’. A group highlighting the undeniable connection between internet porn and human trafficking.

www.unearthedpictures.org

Daily Mail Articles

- How internet porn turned my beautiful boy into a hollow, self-hating shell

- Computer porn: Have ministers given up the fight? Tough proposals to protect children would ‘be a breach of civil liberties’

www.iamsecond.com

www.joniandfriends.org

The personal story of Brian ‘Head’ Welch. Former lead Guitarist in KORN.

www.iamsecond.com

A poem by Jeff Bethke highlighting the difference between Jesus and Religion.

www.chiselseason.com

www.danstevers.com

Opening song to one of my favorite Christmas Albums.

Belief and the Christian life

During the 1800s lived a man named Jean François Gravelet-Blondin.  At a very early age he learned acrobatics and how to walk a tightrope. The reason he is famous now is most likely down to his idea of crossing the gorge below Niagara Falls on a tightrope. The rope was 335 meters long, 8 cm in diameter and was suspended 50 meters above the water. He didn’t just do it once. He did it time and time again taking all sorts of props across with him including a wheelbarrow containing a small stove made of sheet iron. He apparently proceeded to light a fire and cook an omelet while suspended on the rope. I don’t know if it is true but there is a well know story about Blondin that goes something like this.  Blondin, with his wheel barrow, asks the crowd, ‘who believes I can cross the the rope with this wheel barrow?’ They all say ‘yes, we believe you can!’ so Blondin continues, ‘Who believes I can cross with somebody in the wheelbarrow?’ They all reply ‘yes we believe you can do it!’.  and Blondin says, ‘ I need a volunteer!’.

Agreeing that Jesus is who he says he is and did what he said he did and even that he can do what he claims to be able to do isn’t enough to put you right with God. You need to be willing to put this into action. Once you have realised the seriousness of your wrong  there first needs to be a readiness to turn around from the direction that you are headed in. Then trusting God’s promises in the Bible and the sacrifice Jesus has made on your behalf, set things right with God asking for his forgiveness being confident that God keeps his promises written in the Bible.  These two actions the Bible calls Repentance and Faith.

When you take this step you are not just brought into a relationship with God, but you now have a new family – the local church. The point is not that God wants you to attend meetings, but that he wants you to enjoy community life. You will need your new family, and they will need you. Through the church God provides those who will love and support you, and help you to learn more about him. God also puts you in his church so you can work together to show his love and share his good news with those who don’t yet know him.

Read it in the Bible,

John 3:16-18

1 John 1:9

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Gods Plan

Part 4

… and the ultimate question

Jesus death isn’t the end of the story. Three days later God raised Jesus from the dead and he broke out of his tomb. He not only appeared to many of his followers, including 500 at one time, he also appeared to a few sceptics as well!

This didn’t happen just because this is what happens to the hero of a story. Jesus actually achieved his own Resurrection through all he went through during his execution. His sacrifice on our behalf was so full, perfect and complete that all that was left to do was for God to declare this publicly. This declaration he gave by raising Jesus from the dead.

It was only now that his followers realised the full extent of Jesus’ rescue mission. But although seeing Jesus in person must have been a massive encouragement, living as his followers was going to be difficult without him there. Jesus told them that after he had gone he was going to send the Holy Spirit to be ever-present with all his followers then and in the future. This way they would always have guidance and encouragement and most importantly strength directly from God to live as a follower of Jesus and to gradually be changed and perfected to be more like him.

Jesus paid the price himself in order to cancel your debt and break down the barrier that prevents you from knowing him. Rejecting him and his gift means that you choose to pay yourself for every wrong that you have commited. This automatically means seperation from God and the perfection of Heaven choosing an eternity in Hell instead. But it doesn’t have to be like this. If you are willing to admit your failure to God, ask his forgiveness and make a U-turn in your life then God offers you a new start under his authority and loving direction. When you get right with God, Jesus’ white shirt of perfection is exchanged for your stained and dirty one and from then on when God looks at you he sees you as he sees his own son. Perfect. This Gift of Grace remains yours until the day you die and meet him in person. At this point God will judge you, not based on your conduct but the perfect conduct of Jesus.

If this story of good news has made sense to you for the first time then don’t put off speaking to God for yourself and putting things right with him. You don’t have to use special religious words. Why not read the account for yourself in the Bible if you have not done so already?

Read it for yourself in the Bible,

Mark 16:1-20  -  The last part of the story for this section.

1 Corinthians 15:3-9  – The Apostle Paul recounting the chain of events in a letter.

Acts 1:1-5  -  The opening paragraph of an account of the events after Jesus death and the start of Church.

1 Peter 1:3  -  The Apostle Peter gives his view on the whole thing.

Promises from God found in the Bible for those who choose to accept and submit to God and for those who don’t:

John 3:36

2 Thess 1:8-9

John 5:24

Romans 10:9

1 John 1:8-10

Romans 6:23

Coming up in part 11 …  Belief and the Christian Life

Read The Gospel Leaflet by clicking here.