Pastor Chuck Smith interviewed by Pastor Greg Laurie

Hi everyone.

Just wanted to share with you a very important video I think for everyone.
My favorite pastor, Greg Laurie recently interviewed my another favorite pastor, Chuck Smith.
It gave me so much encouragement and inspiration.
I am very sure that you will be blessed as well.

below is quote from pastor Greg's blog.

Rarely does a man affect an entire generation. But I know a man who has done that and more. His name is Chuck Smith.
Chuck’s primary focusChuck’s laser beam-like focus has always been on Bible exposition.
His teaching and leadership produced a generation of men who went around the world starting churches (I am in those ranks myself). You could arguably make a case for contemporary Christian music and worship starting at the church he has pastored since the late sixties, Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa.
Very few people know his whole story and it is indeed an amazing one.
It will be my privilege to interview Chuck Smith this coming Thursday, Jan 5 at Harvest Orange County.I have a unique vantage point in that I have had the privilege of knowing Chuck personally for forty years. We have had many adventures together and I want you to better know the man behind the message.
Chuck recently found out he has lung cancer.This interview was previously scheduled for mid-January, but Pastor Chuck just found out that he has lung cancer. He is going to have tests done this week and surgery the following week, so Chuck graciously agreed to reschedule it for this week.
The service will start at 7:00 P.M. (Pacific) and will be webcast live at www.harvest.org.
We need to hold up this man of God in prayer and ask the Lord to give wisdom and guidance to the medical team that will be attending to him.

Click here to watch the video!!!

Heavenly Minded

A Real Place for Real People

But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

— Hebrews 11:16

The Bible has much to say about what heaven is like. First, heaven is an actual place. Jesus told His disciples, "I go to prepare a place for you" (John 14:2). Heaven is a real place for real people, and when we get there, it will be amazing and fantastic.

The Bible uses a number of words to describe heaven, including "Paradise." Jesus said to the thief on the cross who came to his senses, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43). The Paradise Jesus was speaking of, literally translated, is a word that would have been used in the first century to describe the garden of a king. It is hard for us to imagine how luxurious and splendid this would appear to someone living in this time. If you were a relatively impoverished person and were given the privilege of going into the walled garden of a king, you would be overwhelmed by the fragrance and beauty of it all. So "paradise" was a point of reference for people. Although limited, it gives us a sense of how heaven will overwhelm our senses.

The apostle Paul died, went to heaven, and came back to earth. In describing his experience, he said he was "caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter" (2 Corinthians 12:4). Heaven will be better than anything we could imagine, and Scripture gives us descriptions and hints of what it will be like.

So what does it mean for us today? If we are heavenly minded, then it will affect the way we are living on earth. And if it doesn't affect the way we are living on earth, then how heavenly minded could we really be?

I quoted this from Pastor Greg Laurie's daily devotion which I receive.

I don't know if this happens to you.
But, stupidly, I get caught up with the things of this world so often.
Somewhat, the joy this world offers becomes attractive to me suddenly.
And the bitterness, anger, jealousy, all those kinds of sin I commit.
What I found is that when that happens, there is no room for Jesus in my heart.

I need to fixated on Jesus more.
I need to be more heavenly minded.
So that God can lead me and fill me with His joy.

Truth, Exclusive?? Part2

True Tolerance

Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

— Acts 4:12

I find it ironic that those who tell us we need to be tolerant are very intolerant of the gospel. In fact, the most intolerant people seem to be those who are always telling you to be tolerant. I have heard the complaint that Christians are so intolerant, yet I don't think that is true at all.

I think Christians are the most tolerant people of all, because we want to reason with those who have a different belief system than ours or live a different lifestyle than we live. Yes, we believe in absolute truth and believe in it unapologetically. But I have found that people who are the most intolerant are the ones who say, "I don't like the fact that you believe in absolute truth, and I am tolerant of everyone except you. I want you to shut up. I don't want you to state your views." What happened to all their tolerance? Where is the so-called love?

To proclaim that Jesus Christ is the only way to God will offend some people. But we proclaim it because the Bible clearly teaches it. This is what we call an essential, a nonnegotiable. Jesus stated it as succinctly as it could be stated when He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). When we state that as fact, it will offend certain people.

When a physician discovers a problem with a patient's health, he or she must tell the truth, even if it could upset the patient. As Christians, we must tell the truth about a person's condition, which, according to the Bible, is sinful. We must explain the problem and then offer the solution through Jesus Christ. And this will offend some people.

This is the quote from one of the devotions I receive daily from Pastor Greg Laurie's ministry.

I thank God that I read this in time like now.

I posted one article previously. In short, Ozawa's assertion was that Christianity is exclusive, in other words, "Intolerant".

Please read this and tell me what you think.

God bless