salvation thoughts

I think it was Ravi Zacharius that said once in a conversation with Bruxy Cavey and I apologize if I'm mistaken, but he pointed out that one of the very special things about Christianity is that unlike any other religion in the world, we don't become more accomplished as we progress in the faith. At the moment of salvation, we are fully saved, full heirs and can never become more Christian. That work was done for us by Christ. The mistake we make is in "working out our salvation" and thinking that this is a value added situation rather than a labor of love for the One who has already given us all. Our labor doesn't gain us any advantage in Heaven other than a deeper relationship with Jesus who uses our work to teach us His nature and to sense His presence in others. The relationship is everything but it is a privilege from the start and not a path to greater privilege.
Other faiths work hard for a hope at the end while we receive ours at the start.

Follow the money

I received a call today which was in fact for my son Michael. It seems that some time ago he was button holed by a rep for the group that raises funds for Sick Kids and being a good hearted person he set up a monthly donation. Now they won't quit phoning. The same happened to my daughter with James Robison's work. She felt bad after seeing the little children on TV and made a donation and now the mail is full of solicitations for more money. I realize that these organizations do good work. For years I have had regular donations taken off my pay for the United Way but the thing that bothers me about the charities is that the fund raising has nothing to do with the actual charity. Fund raising is a huge "for profit" business and only a portion of your donation ever gets past the sticky fingers of the organization and reaches the actual charity who then have to cover their costs before the hungry kids get to eat.
Many charities don't publish how much of every dollar actual buys food or medicine but I think it would be a shock to find the truth.
One of the problems I have with our churches and in fact with Christians themselves is the baggage that surrounds the core of Jesus. Our faith is about Christ and His indwelling and transformation of us but every where I go I see a lot of misdirection that dresses private and corporate agendas up to look like faith but are actually meant to benifit the person or organization rather than creating real venues of faith. If charities are Christian why did they hire money lenders to push growth beyond what faith would provide? Why do faith teachers want to be paid for their prosperity teaching? Doesn't God provide all their needs?
On the rare occasion that I encounter a genuine Godly Christian, usually older and careworn but full of His real peace, it is a conversation to treasure. Even their silence breathes life into your spirit.