The Better Way

Nicodemus
What must I do to enter the Kingdom of God?
By Gary L. Crawford 4/26/27

John 3
A man came to Jesus, and he didn’t ask how to become Born Again or to be saved. He asks, " What must I do to enter the Kingdom of God?

Jesus said, " You are a man, you have been born of water of a woman, you must choose to be Born Again of the Spirit.

Every man and woman I give a time to live and a time to die Ecclesiastes 3:2 in the Bible, signifying that every human activity—from birth to death—has an appointed season.

* A time to be born, and a time to die
* A time to plant, and a time to uproot
* A time to weep, and a time to laugh
* A time for war, and a time for peace
A time to live and a Time to die
Time on Earth to decide life or death and enter the Kingdom of God, and where you will spend eternity.

Nicodemus:
The air in Jerusalem was thick with the scent of woodsmoke and dust as Nicodemus slipped through the shadows. He was a man of high standing, a master of the Law, yet he felt like a beggar in his own soul. He had spent his life polishing the outside of the cup, but inside, he felt the cold draft of the "walking dead."

Found Jesus:
He found Jesus in a quiet courtyard. Nicodemus didn't waste time with small talk.
"Rabbi," he whispered, his voice heavy with the weight of a lifetime of religious effort.

We know you are a teacher come from God :
"We know you are a teacher come from God. No one can do these signs unless God is with him." He paused, his heart hammering against his ribs. "Tell me... what must a man do to enter the Kingdom of God?"
In Nicodemus’s mind, the answer would be a formula—a higher law to keep, a deeper fast, or a more perfect sacrifice to wash away the condemnation he felt he had carried since birth.
Jesus looked at him, seeing past the expensive robes to the man who was spiritually gasping for air. He didn't give him a checklist. He gave him an impossibility.

You Must Be Born Again
"Truly, truly, I say to you," Jesus said, "unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God."
Nicodemus recoiled as if struck. "Born again? How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb?"
He was thinking of the flesh—of the biological life that eventually withers and dies. But Jesus was speaking of the spirit.

"That which is born of the flesh is flesh," Jesus explained, "and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'"
Jesus leaned in, his voice like a gentle wind. "The wind blows where it wishes. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."
Nicodemus stood frozen. He realized then that his problem wasn't that he hadn't worked hard enough; it was that he was trying to enter a living Kingdom while he was still spiritually dead. He was trying to "do" his way into a life that could only be "given."

The condemnation he felt—the sense of being separated from God—couldn't be fixed by an old man trying harder. It required a new beginning entirely. To enter the Kingdom, he had to stop being the "walking dead" man of the law and become a "living child" of grace.
As Nicodemus left that night, the phrase "a time to live and a time to die" took on a terrifyingly beautiful meaning. It was time for the Pharisee in him to die, so that the man in him could finally live.
Why you must be Born Again:
You are dead in trespasses and sin, headed for eternity in Hell. Born Condemned because of Adam and Eve choosing to follow their enemy and their own understanding. You have inherited in your physical body, and you will die.

John 3:18 states that those who believe in Jesus are not condemned, but those who do not believe are "condemned already" because they have not believed in the name of God’s only Son. This signifies that unbelief is the basis for condemnation, as humanity is already separated from God by sin.

* Purpose of Jesus' Coming: God did not send His Son to condemn the world, but to save it (John 3:17).
* The State of Unbelief: The "condemned already" status means that without accepting Jesus, people remain in the state of spiritual death and judgment that existed before Christ's coming.
* No Condemnation for Believers:
* Those who believe are spared from judgment because they are in Christ
*

Why Nicodemus ask how to enter the Kingdom rather than how to be saved
I believe Nicodemus came to Jesus because he knew something real was happening. He had seen the miracles… the healings… the power of God at work. He couldn’t ignore it.

Nicodemus already had what most men spend their lives chasing—position, respect, knowledge, and wealth. He wasn’t coming to Jesus because he lacked success.
He came because he knew something was missing.
He didn’t just ask, “What must I do to be saved?”�He asked, “What must I do to enter the kingdom of God?”
In other words, he wasn’t just thinking about escaping judgment—he wanted to understand how to live in what Jesus was living in… how to walk in that kind of power, truth, and connection with God.
He saw something in Jesus that religion hadn’t given him.
And Jesus gave him a simple but life-changing answer:�
You must be born again.
What a person needs to do today
It hasn’t changed.
If you see something is missing… if you know there has to be more than just going through the motions… then you’re in the same place Nicodemus was.
You don’t need more religion.�You don’t need to clean yourself up first.�You don’t need to earn anything.
You need a new life.
Jesus said you must be born again—born of the Spirit.
That means:
* Come to God honestly
* Admit you’ve been living your way
* Believe that Jesus is the Son of God
* Ask Him to come into your life and take over
* Be willing to follow Him, not your own understanding
It’s not complicated—but it is real.

You can do it right now.
“God, I know something is missing. I believe Jesus is real. I’ve been living my way, and I want Your way. Come into my life. Change me. Teach me. I want to be born again.”
That’s where it starts.
And when it’s real…�you won’t just talk about God—�you’ll begin to walk with Him.
That’s the kingdom Nicodemus was asking about.�And it’s still open today.

Don't let un confessed sin ruin the up coming New Year.

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How Is Your Life?
By Gary L. Crawford — 11/18/25
I heard these words in a song years ago, and now that I am nearer to the end of my time here on earth, I felt led to write about life — what I have experienced, what I have seen, and what I know to be true in the lives of many people across America and around the world.
The song was “The Only Real Peace” by Joel Hemphill, and its words have stayed with me:
“Life is a few days of trouble, a wise man once said,�But I’ll not complain, for I’m sheltered, I’m clothed, and I’m fed.�But many’s the trial my wants and dreams put me through —�The only real peace I have, dear Lord, is in You.”
Those words are more real to me now than ever.

A Conversation That Stirred My Soul
This morning, I drove to Joplin to finish setting up my new phone. While I was there, I discovered that one of the workers was actually my neighbor. As we visited, she told me something that shook me deeply:
A neighbor down the street had taken his life about a year ago.
That news is one of the reasons I began writing this message about life. Peg and I talked, and I told her I had visited with him several times about God. I don’t believe he was a Christian — and that bothers me. He either passed our home or we passed his almost every day, and we’d stop and talk for a few minutes. He seemed like a normal man going through life, but something inside him was hurting.
Moments like this make me wish I had known more about him — or understood what burden could bring someone to such a heartbreaking decision.

Two Plans for Your Life
Here is a truth I’ve learned:
God has a plan for your life.�Satan has a plan for your life.�And God created you with free will — the power to choose which plan you will follow.
Jesus said in John 10:10:
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;�I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”
So what does it mean that the thief — Satan — comes to steal, kill, and destroy?

What the Enemy Does
A person walking through life without God — without the Holy Spirit — is alive physically, but spiritually empty. The Bible calls this “the natural man,” and it is why many walk through life feeling lost, hopeless, and alone.
John 3:18 says:
“He that believeth on Him is not condemned:�but he that believeth not is condemned already…”
The enemy works in quiet ways, but with real power:
He injects thoughts into the mind.
Thoughts that steal peace.
Thoughts that kill joy.
Thoughts that destroy hope.
Thoughts that whisper confusion, fear, shame, and worthlessness.
And many people think those thoughts are their own.

How to Know the Difference
So how can we know whether a thought is from God or from the enemy?
God’s thoughts bring:
Love
Peace
Hope
Wisdom
Life
Understanding
A lifting of the heart toward Christ
Satan’s thoughts bring:
Confusion
Fear
Shame
Accusation
Darkness
A focus on self instead of God
Hopelessness
Jesus said His sheep know His voice — and His voice always leads toward life.

The Only Real Peace
At the end of the day, the song was right:
“The only real peace I have, dear Lord, is in You.”
Not in money.�Not in success.�Not in being strong enough on your own.�Not in keeping up a good appearance.
Real peace only comes from Jesus.
He offers not just life — but abundant life.�A life with purpose, joy, forgiveness, and a future.
So let me ask you, from my heart:
**How is your life?
And whose voice are you listening to?**
If you have any questions or would like to know what God’s Word tells us to do to have
Real Peace in life and life in Heaven.
Call me. . 417-658-2098

With Washington Post – I just got recognized as one of their top fans! 🎉

“Christmas Is “
By Gary L. Crawford 12/12/2024
The Origins of Christmas
The origins of Christmas go back to Pagan traditions, not Christian. Christians didn't celebrate Christmas at all, because they could not agree on the day Jesus was born. After people researched to figure out when Jesus was born. Jesus was most likely born in the fall rather than the winter.
You don't have to be religious or a Christian to celebrate Christmas. Christmas has become more than just the birth of Jesus Christ. Today, Christmas has become the biggest commercial holiday in the world.

By Hrothsige Frithowulf Last updated: September 24, 2024 12:46 pm
The World and Christmas
There are forty-eight countries where Christmas is a nationwide, official celebration. There are forty-nine countries with unofficial Christmas Celebrations
Christmas in Japan is not a public holiday and has an unusual customs. They consume massive amounts of KFC fried chicken on Christmas Eve. (Last updated: November 10, 2023, 3:26 pm)This Christmas custom is so popular people have to order their meals weeks in advance.

Christmas is Special to me
Christmas time took on a special meaning for Peggy and me about 50 years ago. Shortly after Justin was born, we found ourselves in the hospital and were told he was dying. The good news is that God had other plans for his life. However, the doctor told us no live Christmas Trees. So we bought an artificial Christmas Tree.
This year will be number fifty-one for us with the Old Tree and fifty-one years since I wrote the song “Christmas Is Special.” Every year during Christmas Time, after everyone is in bed, I love to sit by the fire and the lights of the tree and thank God for each year and his blessings through the years.
What Christmas once was
As a young boy, Christmas was a time I looked forward to Santa bringing gifts. One year I think about it quite often.
We were living in Coffeyville, Kansas, and getting ready to move to the Old Camp Crowder area to the first house my parents purchased. As I recall, times had to be hard for my parents. On our way back to Missouri, we stopped in Joplin, Missouri. Christmas was coming soon, and all the decorations were up, music playing, and pretty cold. As we walked past the five 5 & Dime Dime on the main street, I saw a Garage complete with, gas pumps, cars, and an elevator. Nothing would do but to go in and see the Garage. When I was told they didn’t have the money to buy it, I started crying, I couldn’t understand why they couldn’t get the Garage for me.
Christmas Morning
Stanley and I got up early and ran to see what Santa had brought us. I found a Garage, complete with cars, gas pumps, and an elevator. It wasn’t the one I saw in the 5&10 Store; it was better, dad had made the garage for me.
What Christmas means to me now
Waiting for everyone to go to bed, turn out the lights, set by the fire and the lights of the Old Tree, and thank God for each special year. Many times, my parents took me to Church for the Church Christmas Programs. I sure miss getting a sack of candy with a big apple and orange in it. I miss the many friends that have gone on to be with Jesus. I love the feeling in the air at Christmas Time and the precious memories of being a Jesus Kid for 75 years. The Greatest Gift my parents gave to me was taking me to Church, where I heard the Story of Jesus and prayed with me the night Jesus came into my life.
I can’t remember a time or Christmas without Jesus.
It’s Christmas time again
I better quit this and take time to share Jesus with someone.
Wishing All a Merry Christmas with Jesus!
“Merry Christmas”
“The Crawfords”
“Christmas Is “