Whats the alternative?

 

    The story goes that a man fell of the edge of a cliff, he hung dangling over the precipice ready

    to fall to his death. In a last effort he yelled heavenward ... God!! help me! If you can hear  

    me,  Help! - God answered and said, let go of the branch, let go and trust me. The man was

    considering the answer as the small branch that held him from falling began to give way.   

    After considering the answer God gave, he looked upward and said, is there anyone else

    up there?

 

         Today there are many people who are looking for the True God but when they come

    into contact with Him through the Bible, they ask, "is there anyone one else up their".

    We are told by many in our world today that there are alternatives out there regarding

    what to believe if we find we are unhappy with some of the alternatives. Some create

    their own personal beliefs, others explore Eastern or even Occult beliefs. In the end, we

    are told that it does not matter what you believe so long as you believe in something.

 

          The fact is is that believing hard enough  does not make a belief true. Some are sincerely  

    wrong in what they believe. Of course telling people this is considered politically incorrect. Th

    Many people are hanging onto thin hopes and giving themselves false security

    by thinking there are many ways to heaven and God does not mind as long as you really

    believe in your heart. But truth is not made true by a majority vote.

 

           Jesus said he was the Way, the Truth, the Life - for him, there were no alternatives, Jesus

    made it clear that he was the only show in town. This is a hard thing to accept in our

    present cultural infatuation with the new tolerance that comes to mean acceptance of

    everyhting - uncritically. Yet, when you are dangling over a steep drop and are ready

    to fall to your death ... you will want to make sure you have the facts right or the results

    will be eternally consequential!

 

         Jesus asks us to listen to his voice and trust him to let go and trust that he will be at

    the bottom ready to catch us. For over two thousand years people have trusted his words

    that he is the Savior, ready and able to lead us to a loving God and recieve the forgiveness

    we need so much.

 

         Today it is easy to get confused about faith issues. There are so many alternatives out

    there. Many more are assuring themselves that Jesus Christ is an option among many

    means of salvation and many many more are telling themselves that their goodness and

    kind works will do the job. Jesus said he is the only alternative becasue he alone lived

    in full perfection to the law of God and therefore qualified as the only just one ... his

    merits are given to you ... freely. Grace says that God grants you salvation based on

    what Jesus did on the cross and not what you think you can do to impress God. It is free

    becasue you cannot work or earn it. Jesus did it for you - now he says, trust me ... let go!

 

        Do you trust Jesus today? are you  hanging on  just making it through the day? Perhaps

    Jesus is calling to you saying ... "let Go! I will catch you!". His love was demonstrated at

    the Cross and resurrection. He demonstrated that he was the only alternative. No other

    religious figure in history did what Jesus Christ did. For many religion is 'doing' - for those

    who trust in Jesus Christ our faith is based on his finished work ... "Done". Let go, trust

    God to carry you. There are no others UP THERE listening. Jesus Christ is the only alternative.

 

     In Christ Alone

 

     Pastor Dean

 

        

 

 

 

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Pastor Kucera studied for his B.A. degree from Judson Baptist College with a Major in Philosophy and Religion and Minor in Fine Arts. He studied for His Masters in Divinity from Both: Covenant Theological Seminary (PCA. Presbyterian Church in America), St Louis MO, and University of Dubuque Theological Seminary (Presbyterain) , Dubuque. IA. Pastor Kucera went on to study for His Doctorate at the U of Chicago. His interest in Psychology led him to study Clinical Psychology on both a Master's level (Governors State University, University Park. IL), and Doctoral level Psychology at Illinois School of Professional Psychology, Rolling Meadows, IL. Pastor has also studied in Hungary and has written articles for Hungarian Religious publications. He is currently finishing up two books. One on Christian Apologetics for Lay people and Cultural Issues and the Church Today. He hopes to finish these up and work toward publishing them. Pastor Kucera loves cooking and oil and water painting and wood working. His love for music often results in his playing both piano and organ for services and fun. Pastor Kucera holds to an Evangelical and Orthodox Theology and desires to offer alternatives to the Liberalism (Progressive Christianity) which has come to dominate so many churches today. Pastor Dean has a strong interest in both professional and practical (Lay) appologetics. Pastor believes it is a must that Lay People within the churches become fully trianed in how to 'give a reason for the faith they hold'. It is time we trian our people in the defense of the Christian Faith in order to withstand the attacks brought against it these days. Too many church members are ignorant of the Christian faith and doctrine which often leads to a lack of ability to respond to the many issues put forward by our culture. Pastor Kucera wishes to reverse this trend through education of the average lay person in the church.

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                                                              and God has spoken !