Good question...

We always have great sermons at church but todays was especially interesting. Our pastor, Chip, was talking about how he had had dinner with a new friend recently who was telling them about something in their past and Chip just asked "where were you in your spiritual walk at that time" and the guy responded that he was nowhere and he was still nowhere, he wasnt a Christian and had no desire to become one. So Chip just asked him, what is it..do you have one big unanswered question or a bunch of small questions..whats holding you back? The guy said they're were three main things which were....-How can someone give their life to Christ literally on deathrow and go to the same Heaven of someone who was saved as a child and lived their life for Christ? -Out of all the religions in the world, why is Christianity the only way to get to Heaven? -I dont believe that someone who has lived a good and moral life will end up in hell with someone like Hitler. Those were his 3 main questions and I think we have all been asked a version of those questions from our non Christian friends. Here is how Chip answered them...

-He said he was reminded of the parable of the man who went to town and asked a man to go out into the field and work for him and agreed upon a days wage, so the man agreed and went out. Then every hour after that he sent another man out agreeing to pay him. He sent a man out every hour and at the last hour of the work day he sent out one more man. When the work day was over, all the men came back into town to get paid and he paid them each a days pay...even the man who had only worked for an hour. The man who had been working hard all day was upset and threw a fit but the boss said "hey, this is what we agreed on and it's b/c my generosity that you are even being paid, so what I choose to do with my money is my business but I this is what I offered and I followed through". So, whether or not we are saved as children or on our deathbed, we are all saved by grace. makes sense to me!

-This is a short answer. Jesus said, I am the Way...no one comes to the Father but through Me. No other religious leader has died FOR you....and then rose for you. People may say that it's such a narrow minded way to think but all you have to respond is that, thats what Jesus said.

-This one I love b/c we as humans think we are so moral b/c we constantly compare ourselves to people who are "immoral" and who have done terrible things, such as Hitler. But step back and think about it. I am an awful person, so are you and the thing we should be shocked about is that ANY of us are allowed into Heaven. Think about it. Jesus is the ULTIMATE comparison and we ALL fall short of that! Its so humbling to think that way.

Anyway, go to pinelake.org and listen to the sermon if you have time. This is just a rough summary but I know you would get a lot out of hearing it for yourself. Hope everyones had a great weekend!