Make God Great Again

 

For decades it was illegal to teach the Bible in the Soviet Union. Violators risked being subjected to “re-education.” If Soviet children were taught to revere anything, it was the Soviet State and its leaders. But things have changed, as you know, in the former “Evil Empire.” Thousands of Bibles have been distributed in Moscow’s Gorky Park, in prisons, and in schools. School children were given Bibles in St. Petersburg. “I remember we had the Bibles in the classroom for only one month,” expressed the mayor, “and saw a profound change among the children.” The children given the Bible to read exhibited behavioral improvements toward one another and others. This was about as shocking as hearing expletives in rap music for the first time! And here’s the irony of the whole story. While Russia began allowing Bibles back into the classroom a dozen plus years ago, America increasingly began viewing the Bible as counterproductive literature. And over the past thirty years we have seen the ill effects of this philosophy. From high school all the way down to the sixth grade, students are bringing guns and other weapons to school for their own protection. Over half of sixteen-year-olds are sexually active, and as a consequence, far beyond the pregnancy and abortion problem, the 21^st Century’s most fearsome plague of STD’s runs rampant among our teens. Sadly, over sixty percent of our children see nothing wrong with cheating on tests to obtain a passing grade without having to doing the work and actually learning about real life. The rise and fall of nations has less to do with weapons and technology, and more to do with the lack of worshipping God and teaching His will. The Soviets are now using proper “re-education” – what we need is to undergo rededication to the godly principles that made this country great.

[2 Chronicles 7:12-22] …if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Much of the world has lost its way broadening morality to the threshold of an abyss that no one can recover from without the Lord our God. As God continues being portrayed as too strict with our self-governing will to do as we please in this life, and as He is being pushed aside, He will take with Him all the free rights we are born with, and we will become subject to evil tyranny (Romans 1:18-25). And if you don’t think that can happen, take a survey of life in the world over just the past five years. We were not born to hate – it is a learned trait that can be unlearned (Ephesians 4:17-32). 2022 must be a year of revival worldwide – read your Bible!

Psalm 148: 1 Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; Praise Him in the heights! 2 Praise Him, all His angels; Praise Him, all His hosts! 3 Praise Him, sun and moon; Praise Him, all you stars of light! 4 Praise Him, you heavens of heavens, And you waters above the heavens! 5 Let them praise the name of the Lord, For He commanded and they were created. 6 He also established them forever and ever; He made a decree which shall not pass away. 7 Praise the Lord from the earth, You great sea creatures and all the depths; 8 Fire and hail, snow and clouds; Stormy wind, fulfilling His word; 9 Mountains and all hills; Fruitful trees and all cedars; 10 Beasts and all cattle; Creeping things and flying fowl; 11 Kings of the earth and all peoples; Princes and all judges of the earth; 12 Both young men and maidens; Old men and children. 13 Let them praise the name of the Lord, For His name alone is exalted; His glory is above the earth and heaven. 14 And He has exalted the horn of His people, The praise of all His saints - Of the children of Israel, (the church) A people near to Him. Praise the Lord! Amen!

The Manual

 

Well, it’s that time of the year when all kinds of new electronics and other “make your life better” products will be entering your life. Removing them from their packaging is getting to be a chore in itself, not to mention one can never get it all back into the box if a return is warranted. Needless to say, once out into the open it’s time to learn how to use the what-ever thing that once had a smile of lofty expectations on your face. Most things still require “some assembly” but others only need batteries or a wall plug. Of course, the first thing we do is try to figure all this out by using our knowledge from passed experiences with related products, which doesn’t work anymore, because it seems every 365 days the entire world has a way of redesigning everything. We end up with extra screws and other parts after the “I don’t need the instructions” assembly is completed. (I spend more time trying to decipher the pictures detailing the assembly process.) Then taking the time to scan the assembly instructions, come to find out, that left over screw or part should have been installed in ‘Figure 3b’ and a lot of disassembly is going to be required. Likewise, following the ‘Quick Set-up’ instructions and after three hours of trying to master the use of that new electronic thing-a-ma-gig, total frustration sets in and the search for the 40-page operating manual is set in gear to find out where you’re going wrong. I’m not fond of manuals either – too much reading necessary to get the “practical” instructions, but an absolute necessity for gleaning full function of the “perfect for you” product. Even though manuals are somewhat tedious, repetitive with the “obvious,” and full of what I consider “useless” material, there is a purpose for manuals.

[James 1:21-25] Life comes with a manual, but unfortunately, the tendency is to toss the manual aside, suggesting that we know how everything is to work, and just kind of “wing-it” through life. But time after time we find ourselves asking the question “Why?” or “What am I supposed to do next?” We face situations difficult to deal with and questions we find difficult to get answers for. Sometimes we might find ourselves feeling hopeless and do not know which way to turn. The manual for life is the Bible. God created the heavens and the earth, placed man in the garden to cultivate it, keep it, and warned of dangers ahead (Genesis 1:1; 2:15-17). That is a manual I think I could have followed, but as simple and plain as it seems, man chose to ignore the manual, follow his own thinking, bringing into the world sin and death. The manual has slowly been revealed over time (Ephesians 3:8-12; Hebrews 1:1-2), but many times with mankind choosing to discard the manual and “make it on his own”. “And how’s that working out for you?” (Dr. Phil)

Now, before we boast too loudly at our ability to follow the manual, when was the last time you opened the manual to study its contents enabling you to glean the full wisdom found within its pages? Have you ever read through it in its entirety? When was the last time you ever read more than a couple of verses in one sitting? And just like some of the product manuals I have read, there are parts of God’s manual that may appear to be tedious, hard to read, and at first look not applicable to life today. But upon further examination, we will find God’s manual to be just what we need to guide us through this life into life everlasting! “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways my ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are my ways higher than your ways, And my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9). A physician can save your life; a lawyer save your business; a financial advisor save your money; an image consultant save your reputation - but only Jesus can save your soul! (Acts 4:8-12)

The High Cost of Living

 

Money. One has to have it. Young ladies about to get married need to make sure their future husband has a working plan to provide a living for the both of them. “Living on love” lasts about thirty minutes into the wedding. Then it’s time for the reception dinner. Time to eat! And one needs money to eat. It seems every time I get ready to do something, it costs me more to do anything. Fuel costs go up. Medical expenses go up. Food costs go up. Housing costs go up. It seems like there is no end to the rising cost of living. Sometimes one wonders why people don’t just throw up their hands in disgust and say, “I’m not paying these outrageous prices!” And yet despite the high cost of living, have you noticed that living is still a highly regarded activity? Money is an essential in our society for obtaining the necessities of life. Often mistakenly quoted from Scripture, money is not the root of all kinds of evil, but the love of money is (1Timothy 6:6-10). One needs money to live. We as people seek to live the very best life that we can, and the costs don’t seem to matter. We live in the best houses we can afford. We drive the best cars we can afford. We buy more shoes than we can wear out in a lifetime. We expect to receive the most aggressive and expensive medical care found anywhere in the world. We may complain about the cost over coffee, but we keep expecting and insisting on the very best.

[Luke 12:15] On the other hand, isn’t it easy to find oneself living for money? For many, life is all about that next possession – the bigger house, the newest vehicle, the latest electronic gizmo, or that must have advancement and raise at work. Jesus said to the crowd, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” (NIV) One’s life is not measured by what you own! Perhaps in the eyes of some people, but not in the grand scheme of life and most importantly, not in God’s eyes. 

What if someone told you that you could have the best possible life and the costs would be minimal? You would probably call them crazy. Jesus said, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy; I have come that they (you) may have life, and that they (you) may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10 NKJ). Albert Barnes observed in his commentary, “Literally, that they (you) may have abundance, or that which abounds.” The word denotes that which is not absolutely essential to life, but which is super-added to make life happy. They (you) shall not merely have life – simple, bare existence – but shall have all those super-added things which are needful to make one’s life eminently blessed and happy. Jesus makes it possible to live an abundant life that is blessed and happy, and it costs the same as it did 2000 years ago …no cost-of-living increase.

Life is about godliness. “…Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12: 12-14). We are created and given purpose for our life by God to bring glory to God. We do that when we live noble lives, obedient to His will. Life is about doing a good job on the job, in the family, and in the church. Life is about service to others and saying no to self. Life is about laying up treasures in heaven. “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out” (1 Timothy 6:6-7). When we learn to be happy and content in the right kind of living, then we truly have something. Let go and let God control your life to find peace and happiness.

Don't Be Deceived

 

Baseball Hall of Fame member, Lewis R. “Hack” Wilson once said of the great Negro League pitcher Satchel Paige’s pitches, “It starts out like a baseball and when it gets to the plate, it looks like a marble.” You see, the pitcher’s job is to fool the batter and get him to chase pitches to strike him out. The pitcher will throw different pitches, changing the ball’s location and speed as it approaches the batter to deceive the batter into thinking he is seeing something worth swinging at. A swing and a miss: STRIKE! 

This is the time of the year when everyone is “swinging for the fence” wanting to hit a homerun when it comes to gift giving and making certain people in their life very happy. In that frame of mind many folks have their guard down, not thinking clearly, and venerable to the schemes of thieves who don’t care about your happiness. The wise saying, “If it seems too good to be true – it probably is,” if heeded, will save one a lot of grief. 

And don’t fall for the official sounding telephone calls involving money from you. Renewing your vehicle warranty is one thing, but when it comes to threats or ridiculous situations that can be readily resolved with money, be careful, and investigate first before acting. When someone calls to tell you one of your children or grandchildren is in jail or has had an accident somewhere and they need money right away – don’t fall for it – investigate first! Never go to purchase a “gift card” then give the number on the card to anyone for any reason. I received a call the other day informing me that a shipment coming across the border was being held because illegal contraband was found during inspection, and I needed to dial “1” to quickly resolve the matter. What? I received another call from my “financial institution” insisting I resolve my outstanding $900.00 owed to Amazon for the new iPhone I ordered. I don’t think so. And nobody from the government, utilities companies, or financial companies (credit cards, mortgage, vehicle) will ever call you demanding immediate payments through bitcoin or gift card exchange. Save your money.

[John 8:44] Caveat emptor (Let the buyer beware). If we must be alert to scams, how much more do we need to watch out for the one, “…who deceives the whole world;” (Revelation 12:9). Jesus labels him, “…a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). “Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9). Anyone who thinks these are not sins is deceived. “Do not be deceived: Evil company corrupts good habits” (1 Corinthians 15:33). Anyone who thinks he will not be influenced is deceived. “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will out of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life” (Galatians 6:7-8). Anyone who imagines that his sinful behavior will have no consequences is deceived. “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and is enticed. Then when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. (James 1:14-16). Anyone who does not see where sin ultimately leads is deceived. “…exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘Today,’ lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:13). Eve let Satan talk her into sinning. Have we never fallen into the same trap? How easy is it to convince ourselves that it’s OK under the circumstances, that no one will find out, that an exception will be made in my case, etc. So, we’ve been warned – repeatedly. If we still let ourselves be duped by the Devil, who can we blame but ourselves? The Devil didn’t make me do it.

Paralyzing Fear

 

In 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected President of the United States of America. He entered into the nation’s highest office during exceedingly difficult times. The country was in the midst of the Great Depression, and it was Roosevelt’s task to help the American people regain faith in themselves. It was during his induction speech that he relayed a message of hope by promising prompt and diligent action. He opened his address with these words: “I am certain that my fellow Americans expect that on my induction into the Presidency I will address them with a candor and a decision which the present situation of our people impels. This is preeminently the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly. Nor need we shrink from honesty facing conditions in our country today. This great nation will endure as it has endured, will revive, and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself – nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.” Is fear paralyzing you today? Is fear freezing your efforts to live life?

"Depression" is a word often used and misused by modern Americans. True clinical depression (also known as "Major Depressive Disorder" or MDD) comes from biological root causes such as brain chemistry or hormone imbalance, bipolarism, etc. This type of depression needs treatment by a medical practitioner. Often, what is called "depression" by the average American is not MDD. It is an intense sadness. A common factor among those who have this intense sadness is that they lack hope and are discouraged, which can possibly be brought on by fear of the unknown. To pull out of this form of "depression," may I suggest the following steps. First, pray with faith: “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life. And this is the confidence we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have ask of him” (1 John 5:14-15). Second, focus on others: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3). Third, do something nice for someone else. And this verse holds a promise to Godly people: "Whoever brings blessings will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered" (Proverbs 11:25). In reality, this intense sadness (often mislabeled as depression) comes from focusing on self. Whenever we focus on the good of others, we will find our feelings of sadness drifting away to be replaced by joy.

[Matthew 28:19-20] Fear is a de-motivator. It is a thief capable of stealing our zeal and conviction; it hampers our efforts, and it paralyzes the church. One of the primary hindrances to evangelism is fear. Fear of having a door slammed in our face, of severing a relationship that’s important to us. Fear of not being able to refute opposing arguments. Fear of rejection. Fear and success are incompatible when it comes to carrying out The Great Commission. When fear dominates one’s thinking, a person refuses to step out and do what God intends. We must be a person that, as Roosevelt asserted years ago, converts retreat to advance; overcoming that nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror that paralyzes needed efforts. It is time to speak the truth, the whole truth, boldly. We mustn’t allow fear to incapacitate us and cause us to shirk our responsibility of carrying the gospel into a lost world. As God’s children we have an awesome responsibility to be His voice, His hands, and His feet in the world. It is up to us to carry His message to a dying people. Every time a Christian succumbs to fear and plays it safe, that’s one less messenger available to get the Word out. We have not been given a spirit of timidity (2 Timothy 1:7).

Giving Thanks in All Things

 

A man whispered, “God, speak to me” and a meadowlark sang, but the man did not hear. So, the man yelled, “God – Speak to me!” and thunder with lightning rolled across the sky, but the man did not listen. The man looked toward the heavens then said, “God, let me see you” and a star twinkled and shined brightly, but the man did not see. Then the man shouted, “God, show me a miracle!” and a life was born, but the man did not notice. So, the man cried out in despair, “Touch me God, and let me know you are here!” whereupon, God reached down and touched the man, but the man brushed the butterfly away and walked on. I found this to be a great reminder that God is always around us in the little and simple things that we take for granted. Give thanks he has never left us alone.

From an article, Giving Thanks in All Things by Brian Mitchell, Bulletin Digest 11/16. Most of you I am sure have heard of the novel, Moby Dick by Herman Melville. It tells the story of Captain Ahab’s relentless hunt for the great white whale Moby Dick, who had destroyed his ship and bitten off his leg. Ahab was obsessed with destroying the whale – his life revolved around his resentment, bitterness, and the desire for revenge, which tarnished everything he did. His bitterness had twisted him into a cruel and hateful person, and the saddest thing about the book, and bitterness in general, is the fact that the real victim of Ahab’s bitterness and hatred was Ahab himself. His obsession had made him a most unhappy man and that is what bitterness will do to you. Do you know any bitter people? Those who have been wronged in some way in life and have allowed such to turn them into negative and critical person? Bitterness is a terrible thing, for not only does it make us miserable, but it also makes those around us miserable. 

Webster’s dictionary defines bitterness as an attitude of unfriendliness, resentment, and animosity. If we fail to overcome our resentment and animosity, it will likely develop into bitterness. Bitterness is a malignant form of resentment and anger, and it is capable of spreading rapidly until it affects every area of one’s life. It causes one to become harsh, reproachful, unpleasant, and unfriendly. Do you know anyone that this describes? Bitterness can be the result of someone doing us wrong and getting away with it. It can be brought about by someone achieving a success that we feel we deserved and not having attained. It is often the result of feeling that life has somehow been unfair to us. Regardless of what causes it, bitterness can rob us of our joy for life and make us unbearable to be around. Bitterness can prevent us from practicing kindness and forgiveness (Ephesians 4:29-32). It can destroy relationships with our families, friends, and brethren (Hebrews 12:14-15). And bitterness can cause us to put all the focus in our life on oneself (James 3:13-18). In the end, bitterness causes us to grieve the Holy Spirit; possess a heart of ingratitude; lack kindness and compassion; and develop an unwillingness to forgive others (Colossians 3:12-13).

[Psalm 100] So, how does one overcome and rid one’s life of this extremely negative emotion? While there is much I could say, let me just suggest that one should stop often and count your many blessings. “…Count your blessings; Name them one by one. Count your many blessings; See what God hath done.” When it comes to the bitterness, anger, and resentment of the world, God has the solution; be thankful in all things. Let us never forget that regardless of what trial or difficulty we may experience, we will always have a great deal to be thankful for. It is like the man who said, “I was sad because I had no shoes, until I met a man with no feet.” Whenever you start feeling bitter about your lot in life, how about you stop for a minute and think instead about all the blessings God has bestowed upon you, and with prayer, give thanks in all things (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

Shaping Us To Fit

 

“Be A Chickadee” by Caleb Smith (Country Magazine June/July 2018) The Red-tailed Hawk is the apex predator in the skies of north Georgia. But just the other day, as I was setting on my porch, I saw a small Chickadee attack one. Chickadees are tiny, weighing less than an ounce, and they lack the hawk’s talons or sharp beak. But here was this enormous hawk, beating its wings as hard as it could, trying to escape the aggressive ball of fluff chasing after it. Surely the chickadee knew it wouldn’t be able to leave a scratch on the hawk, right? Maybe the chickadee knew but didn’t care. Perhaps whatever the hawk threatened was so important in the chickadee’s mind that their actual sizes didn’t matter. In life we face troubles that sometimes seem so much bigger than we are. Some people run when this happens. Then sometimes, people find what the chickadee had; something bigger than their problems. That tiny bird was protecting its nest. And the courage the chickadee showed not only saved its family, but its own life, too. At the first sign of weakness, that hawk would have turned on the little bird. But with courage bold, the chickadee stood firm and faced its problems head on. So, when life rages, and it will, look to the example of the chickadee. Because the hawks of this world don’t care how big you are, they only care how big you act. Find that thing in your life that is bigger than anything the world can throw at you and hold on to it when hard times come. When hawks are at your door - be a chickadee.

During the Great Depression, a good man lost his job, exhausted his savings, and forfeited his home. His grief was multiplied with the death of his precious wife. The only thing he had left was his faith, and it was weakening. One day while looking for work he happened upon some men who were doing stonework on a church building. One of them was skillfully chiseling a triangular piece of rock. He asked, “Where are you going to put that stone?” The craftsman pointed toward the top of the building, “See that little opening up there near the spire? That’s where it goes. I’m shaping it down here so it will fit up there.” Tears filled the man’s eyes as he walked away. He felt God had talked to him through these words: “…shaping it down here so it will fit up there.” He found new meaning and courage through renewed faith to press forward in his difficult situation.

[James 1:1-2] During the last decade of the famous artist’s life, Renoir was confined to his home because of his crippling arthritis. His friend, Matisse, visited him daily. In spite of the torturous pain, Renoir kept painting. In fact, he did so almost to his dying day. On one occasion when Renoir was struggling with every brush stroke, Matisse said to him, “Aguste, why do you continue to paint when you are in such agony?” To which Renoir replied, “The beauty remains; the pain passes.” Some of you may be going through terrible troublesome times. You may be experiencing some heart-breaking sorrow. Or perhaps you are enduring some painful physical illness. Or it may be something else – maybe even too excruciating to talk to anyone about. The blows of the hammer and chisel hurt! But it’s the harsh blows to the body that often brings the greatest strength to the inner person. God is good, even when we don’t understand all the reasons for the things that happen to us. Let us place our trust in the one who sees and knows all. He will do what is best for us. Hold fast to your faith. Don’t let the difficulties of life get you down. They are only temporary. Glory is coming. Keep praying! Keep believing! Let us lay our soul, our heart, and our life into His hands, “…that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”  The Master has to do some shaping of us all down here, so we will fit up there.

One Percent Can Be A Big Deal

 

One percent doesn’t sound like much, but it really depends on the number that the one percent comes from. For example, what is one percent of one dollar? The answer is one little ole’ red penny. Now, that doesn’t sound too big does it, but how about one percent of ten thousand dollars? Well, that would be one hundred dollars and to me that number is growing substantially at only one percent. Every time you add a zero to the number being divided, the little one percent also gets a zero and after a while it’s not so little anymore. One percent can be a big deal. According to a comprehensive study released in 2006, for the first time ever in our nation’s history one out of every one hundred adults in America was sitting in prison. That’s one percent of our adult population. That one percent costs an estimated $49,000,000,000.00 to house, feed, guard, etc. according to the study. That doesn’t include the damages done to victims and their families and property. To beat it all, the crime rates are still rising. According to Wikipedia, at the end of 2016 one in thirty-eight American adults were under some sort of correctional supervision (probation, parole, jail, or prison). In 2018 it was estimated that there were 698 people incarcerated per 100,000 population. Prison, parole, and probation operations generated an $81 billion annual cost to American taxpayers, while police and court costs, bail bond fees, and prison phone fees generated another $100 billion in costs paid by individuals.

Some in our society, and throughout the world, call the Bible an outdated book. According to them mankind has become too sophisticated to believe in God. This is the same society that has over 5% of its adult population in prison! A society cannot get sophisticated enough to outgrow the works of the flesh that has plagued humanity here on Earth. See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is…” (Ephesians 5:15-21). Our “sophisticated” society could use a huge dose of that so-called “outdated” book. No politician, no social program, no amount of money, no man-made laws and no form of government can fix a nation with no God.

[Galatians 6:7] Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. John Lennon said, “Christianity will end, it will disappear. I do not have to argue about that. I am certain. Jesus was okay, but his subjects were too simple. Today we (The Beatles - 1966) are more famous than Him.” Lennon was shot to death for unknown reasons. Tancredo Veves (President of Brazil) during his presidential campaign, said if he got 500 votes from his party, not even God would remove him from the Presidency. He got the votes, but he became ill one day before taking office as President and died. Cazuza (Bi-sexual Brazilian composer, singer, and poet) during a show, while smoking a cigarette, blew some smoke into the air and said, “God, that’s for you.” He died of AIDS in a horrible manner at the age of 32. The man who built the Titanic, Thomas Andrews, was asked, “How safe is the Titanic?” With an ironic tone Andrew’s answered, “Not even God can sink it!” I guess we all know how her maiden voyage concluded.

The absence of a three or four dollar copy of God’s Word (yes, one can actually find a Bible that cheap here in America) in our homes and hearts sure is costing folks a lot more than they ever expected to have to pay. The over one percent of our national debt is absolutely nothing compared to the debt our society, and the world, owes God for what He has given us (U.S.) through the generations. There are not enough zeros in math to express just one percent of that debt. Is one percent a big deal? The numbers don’t lie.

Daily Repentance

 

AN OLD WOMAN having lost the use of her eyes, called in a Physician to heal them, and made this bargain with him in the presence of witnesses: that if he should cure her blindness, he should receive from her a sum of money; but if her infirmity remained, she should give him nothing. This agreement being made, the Physician, time after time, applied his salve to her eyes, and on every visit took something away, stealing all her property little by little. And when he had gotten all she had, he healed her and demanded the promised payment. The Old Woman, when she recovered her sight and saw none of her goods in her house, would give him nothing. The Physician insisted on his claim, and. as she still refused, summoned her before the Judge. The Old Woman, standing up in the Court, argued: "This man here speaks the truth in what he says; for I did promise to give him a sum of money if I should recover my sight: but if I continued blind, I was to give him nothing. Now he declares that I am healed. I on the contrary affirm that I am still blind; for when I lost the use of my eyes, I saw in my house various chattels and valuable goods: but now, though he swears I am cured of my blindness, I am not able to see a single thing in it." (An Aesop Fable) Be sure your sin will seek you out – repentance is due.

[Luke 24:44-47] When Jesus commissioned His disciples to preach the gospel to all the world, He explained the Old Testament theme of His coming death, burial, and resurrection (v.44-46). He then continued with this intended purpose - “…and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all the nations…” (v.47). While addressing the Men of Athens, the apostle Paul said, “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent…” (Acts 17:30). Repentance is a God-given command which is necessary for salvation (Acts 2:38). It is not a one-time act, as some suppose and display, but rather an ongoing change of mind and heart that results in being shaped and transformed by the will of God (Romans 12:1-2). If Christians expect to receive remission of sins on a regular basis, the Bible teaches they must daily live for God – a relationship that involves a constant state of repentance and confession of sins (Luke 9:23-26; 1 John 1:7,9). 

What happens when people stop repenting? * People stop having a sense of sorrow for their sins. * People start feeling a false sense of eternal safety. * People justify sinful acts. * People crucify Jesus all over again. * People let their faith grow weak, their dedication diminish, and their relationships fail. * People harden their heart and become nearly untouchable when it comes to spiritual and eternal truths. Nobody is immune to the reality of this problem. When Jonah preached in Nineveh, the whole country repented. But God allowed them to be destroyed a few years later – why? They stopped repenting! Strong Christian marriages fall apart after years of success – why? Because spouses stop being sorry for poor behavior and they stop forgiving each other. Aging, mature Christians leave the church – Why? Because they cease to call upon their indebtedness to Christ. 

And YOU – well, YOU struggle in the same areas of faith – why? Because there are some things, even in this moment, for which you need to repent, but you have allowed Satan to talk you out of it. “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted…” (2 Corinthians 7:10). Allow God’s love through Christ to continually shape your mind and heart and empower your life unto salvation - and you will be saved! Only bad things will happen when people stop repenting. The opportunity to repent is a great blessing from God. It is cleansing; it is transforming; it is eternal life! Don’t step into eternity blind!

A View From The Top

 

Several folks were enjoying a meal together in a restaurant with conversation among themselves about nothing in particular and everything in general. One of them was preparing to leave and mentioned they hoped to see everyone again. Someone at the table responded by saying they hoped the next time they saw each other it would be right here sharing a meal. We meet people in a wide range of places under a variety of circumstances. We meet them during times such as illness, loss of loved ones, dealing with some emotional stress, at parties, at school, at work, and during worship. I know you can think of other times and places, but you get the picture. Some of those times of being together are wonderful and we certainly would want to see one another again in a similar situation. There are however those times when I wouldn’t want to see that person again, in the place I left them. If I last saw someone with health issues, I would hope to see them next time well and happy. I would not like to repeat a visit to a funeral home to see you again because you had lost another loved one. If I had parted ways with someone on bad terms, I would hope the next meeting we had would be to mend our differences. If I had spent some time with someone who was not a Christian, I would like to think that the next time we met they would have obeyed the gospel. Better yet, I would hope that I had taken time to teach them and encourage them in the way of the Lord. A lot of the folks we meet are brief encounters and we will probably never see them again upon this earth.

A story is told of a little boy who sat in his grandmother’s lap and looked up at her as she worked on her needlepoint. After a while, the boy noticed that the more she worked the uglier the underside of her needlepoint became. It wasn’t until she was finished with it that the boy got a look at the top of her work and saw that she had created a beautiful garden scene. There are times in life when we just can’t understand what’s going on and why life seems to be so tough. We get bombarded with sickness, suffer the loss of loved ones, endure relationship problems, get entangled in family feuds, encounter financial woes, school troubles, and the list goes on and on. It can make it seem as though life is a constant up-hill climb. I wonder if we aren’t often like the little boy and can only see the messes in our lives because we can only see things looking up from the bottom.

[1 Timothy 6:12] I’m reminded of what God told Job when he was looking at the ugliness of his own life. “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God (angels) shouted for joy?... (Job 38:4-11). I know it’s hard to realize now, but God is preparing something beautiful for us, and we have to be patient until we can see life and our life with a view from the top. Life is so uncertain as most of us have experienced so it is always important to make the best of the moment we have. What would we do before departing a happy gathering if we knew we would never see one another again? Paul, the apostle, and some elders of the church faced this dilemma. “And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. Then they all wept freely, and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him, sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoke that they would see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship” (Acts 20: 36-37). All of God’s faithful can say, “I hope to see you again, but if not here, then in a far better place.” What makes a good life? Fight the good fight of faith and lay hold to eternal life.

Change Is Possible

 

As he was standing in line at the grocery store checkout counter, a friend of John’s noticed he was purchasing a dozen roses and a card. “You in trouble with your wife?” the friend asked. “Nope!” John replied. “Preventive maintenance.”

Poet John Holmes (1904-1962) said something about people and dogs that caused my mental wheels to whirl when I read it. See what you think – “A dog is not ‘almost human,’ and I know of no greater insult to the canine race than to describe it as such.” Sounds like Holmes might have been a little sour on the human race. But before you totally dismiss his statement, read the following story (author unknown), and think about it. 

A man e-mailed a hotel to see if his dog would be allowed to stay there with him. He received the following answer: “Dear sir, I have been in the hotel business for over 30 years. Not once during that time have I ever had to call in the police to evict a disorderly dog in the wee hours of the morning. No dog has ever attempted to pass off a bad check on me. Never has a dog set the bedding on fire because it was smoking in bed. And I have yet to find a hotel towel in a dog’s suitcase. Your dog is most welcome at our hotel. P.S. – If the dog will vouch for you, you can come too.” 

Okay, I know the story is a little goofy, and it may be a little overreaching to make a point, but there is a point to the story. It is humans who sin and make a moral and spiritual mess in the world that God created for us to live in together. Daily headlines remind us that we live in a badly fractured and fallen world. Instead of peace there is war; instead of love there is hatred; instead of harmony, hostility; instead of acceptance, rejection; and instead of kindness there is often killing in one form or another. The borders and barriers that divide and hold human beings apart in homes and communities and nations are not just physical. Sin also separates people from God (Isaiah 59:2). And race, religion, class, caste, greed, breed, place, face, prejudice, and pride divide and sometimes cause people to do awful things to one another. Is there any reason to hope for real change in such a fragmented world? Can hostile people come together and live in peace and harmony in spite of the physical, philosophical, verbal and/or emotional barriers and borders that have so badly caused division for so long? Some people don’t think so. You hear this conviction in the old expression, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” On hearing this as an excuse not to change for the better, one lady responded to a speaker, “So isn’t it good we aren’t old dogs?!”

[Ephesians 2:14-18] The Gospel holds out prospect not only for the possibility people can change but also for the power that brings it about. In speaking about the intense hatred and hostility that existed between Jews and Gentiles, the apostle Paul wrote these stunning words found in our reading: “For He Himself (Jesus Christ) is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross (the church), thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were a far off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.” God’s way of bringing warring people together is not to teach them new tricks. His way is to bring them to an old rugged cross. If you come closer to Christ and His will, and I do the same thing, will we not be coming closer to one another? The question is are we willing to come closer to Christ? “…let the peace of God rule in your hearts…” (Colossians 3:12-17).

How Do You Measure Up?

 

In Washington D.C., the Bureau of Standards houses the perfect standard for all measurements for the United States. Every weight and every length used in the United States is supported by a carefully guarded strict standard. Stored in the bureau one can find the perfect inch, the perfect foot, the perfect yard, the perfect gallon, the perfect pint, and the perfect pound. In addition, one would find copies of all the metric measures (e.g. millimeter, milligram, milliliter, etc.). Every weight, length, and volume is judged by those standards which are never allowed to change for any reason.

In Biblical times the standard measure of distance, or length, was the cubit. One cubit, using a typical adult male, was the measured distance from one’s elbow to the tip of the middle finger, about eighteen inches. The problem with that way of measuring is that one man’s cubit will differ from another’s. To solve that dilemma, one man’s arm became the standard for each construction project. When measuring really mattered, reeds would be cut to the length of his cubit for everyone to use while measuring because it was impossible for the “standard man” to be in multiple places at once.

Have you ever considered what your life would be like if it were being measured-up at the end of each day? Imagine what it would be like if your “batting average” in life was figured out at the end of every day and the next morning it appeared in bold newspaper headlines for everyone to see. Professional baseball players suffer that every day. How did Alex DeGoti do yesterday? What’s his average now? How would you like that? “Yesterday the batting average of T.W. Bonham dropped another five points as he went hitless four times at bat. He struck out on his visit to the hospital, flied out twice in his attempt to find volunteers for that important job that needs doing before the seminar next week, and his Sunday school lesson was a popup to the infield.” Try it yourself. “Yesterday, Jon Doe’s slump continued as he went 0 for 4. He lost a contract before noon, chewed out his secretary immediately afterwards, grounded out with his teenage son’s request for help, and was thrown out of the game for arguing with his wife.” The fact is that no one keeps up-to-date batting averages on us, and in the best of ways, I suppose that’s a good thing. But it also means that we can utterly stop growing without even knowing it. Nobody is measuring us. Nobody is timing us. Nobody is keeping the averages current. One day life slows down, we look around and suddenly realize that we’ve become stagnant. One person put it this way, “Growth is the only evidence of life; whoever isn’t busy growing is busy dying.” (Mirror, Mirror on the wall - never lies.)

[Philippians 3:7-16] Paul wrote: “…I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me …Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” We are to “grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). God’s Word must become for our lives what the Bureau of Standards is for weights, lengths, and volumes. It shows us how God would have us to live the ideal life. The real difficulty is that we often try to establish our own standards derived from our desires, our feelings, and our failings. “All scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16). Each of us should be able to say with the old cowboy, “I ain’t what I ought to be; I ain’t what I want to be; and I ain’t what I’m gonna be; but thank God for this one thing – I ain’t what I used to be!

Why? Enemies of God

 

Political correctness is a set of beliefs that is in total opposition to God and righteousness. It is the system of the most ungodly and immoral people on earth. It is preached by our news media and entertainment industry, supported by our most radical politicians and is being taught to our children in the public school system as truth. The politically correct say we must support abortion on demand, accept homosexuality as an alternative lifestyle, decriminalize drug use, restrict religious freedoms, teach the theory of evolution in public schools as fact, punish the hard-working citizen while rewarding the indolent, open our borders to illegal immigrants, take weapons of defense from honest citizens, downsize our military to a point of ineffectiveness, allow for exorbitant lawsuits in our legal system, give preferences to minorities, oppose capitalism while supporting socialism, revise the taxing system so as to redistribute whatever assets are available thus eliminating the right to own property, give government controlled agencies more power and individuals less freedom, entrench the political party that is politically correct and attack all opponents of political correctness as often as possible. Their biggest claim to fame is they will save the planet from the people who live on it.

[Psalm 37] 7 “Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass…” Have you ever looked at life around you and become perplexed and frustrated? Doesn’t it seem that things go well for non-Christians? Doesn’t it seem like the very people that have turned their backs on God, displaying little or no interest in Him, are also the ones who “have it all together”? They seem to be really getting a lot out of life and enjoying a prosperous existence. Many, many righteous persons have felt these feelings. Job cried out in anguish of his soul, “Why do the wicked live and become old, Yes, become mighty in power?” (Job 21:7). The Psalmist observed, “Behold, these are the ungodly, Who are always at ease; They increase in riches” (Psalm 73:12). Jeremiah moaned, “Righteous are you, O Lord, when I plead with you; Yet let me talk with You about Your judgments. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why are those happy who deal so treacherously?” (Jeremiah 12:1). It’s not so much out of envy that we look with astonishment at the apparent well-being of unbelievers around us. After all, the essence of a person’s life does not reside in his possessions (Luke 12:15). But absence of envy does not squelch the burning desire to know – WHY? What’s going on? Why do they seem to be doing so well? God answers these fretting’s. He wants us to be relieved of our perplexed and frustrated feelings. The whole of Psalm 37 is like a salve to an injured faith. 1 “Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. 2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And whither like the green herb.” The battle may seem to be going their way, but the war is not over! There is a time frame to take into account that transcends the immediate and monetary! “But the wicked are like the troubled sea, When it cannot rest, Whose waters cast up mire and dirt. ‘There is no peace,’ Says my God, ‘for the wicked’” (Isaiah 57:20-21). All of this hustle and going on around us is nothing more than futile restlessness! They’re frantically kicking mud up on the shore. They cannot experience the peace which the Christian enjoys, “…and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7). God is still on the thrown and the righteous will hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant…” (Matthew 25:14-46).

Don't Give Up Now!

 

History books are filled with biographies of failures who made good. From them we can learn the valuable lesson that failure need not be fatal. The first President of the United States—the father of our country—lost two-thirds of the battles he fought during the Revolutionary War. But George Washington won the war, founded a nation, and succeeded brilliantly in spite of those failures. Who failed more than Babe Ruth? In a base­ball career that spanned 21 years, the immortal slugger hit 714 home runs, but he struck out 1,330 times. Until he retired in 1935, this fa­mous failure was baseball’s biggest attraction. Just because one fails at some point in life does not necessarily mean he or she is a failure. After Edison had experimented 10,000 times with his storage battery and still could not get it to work, a friend tried to comfort him. “Why l have not failed,” Ed­ison replied. “I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” Nearly deaf and with only three months of formal schooling, Thomas A. Edison patented more than 1,000 inventions. During his 60 years of reaching toward the unknown, Edison failed more than he suc­ceeded. But who would call Edison a failure?

Dear Members and Friends of the Church, I secretly visited your Bible classes recently and was overjoyed to see that so many of you had not come. I heard some lessons that were not very well prepared, and some teachers said that no visits had been made during the week. I was simply delighted! It thrilled me to see some leave the worship service right after the Lord’s Supper was over, indicating that they were not going to let the proclamation of God’s Word come near to them. I saw some others come just in time for the beginning of worship to sit glassy eyed with their mouths shut while only a few sang the hymns. Then they dosed or acted bored to death while the preacher went through his Sunday morning ritual and humdrum or ‘bore-a-story.’ I was especially pleased to note how many sheepish donations were given and how many failed to even bring an offering. I love to see the church in financial difficulty. Again, there was a sparkle in my eye when I returned Sunday night and saw that so many had not returned for the evening worship hour. I was extremely glad. I am writing this note to encourage you to forsake the worship this coming Sunday. It will be more comfortable for you, and besides, it will make my work much easier to do. Hoping to be with you soon! Deceitfully yours, The Devil.

[Hebrews 10:19-39] “…do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For in just a little while, ‘He who is coming will come and will not delay. But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.’ But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.” Is it a sin to fail? The answer is both yes and no. It is a sin when failure is due to moral or spiritual laxness or to laziness. But it is not a sin to fail when one has done his best, within the will of God, and the results were not what he wanted. One must not be so afraid of life that one refuses to try. We don’t have to succeed, but we do have to give life a run for its money. Take heart! If life has put you on the canvas and pummeled the breath out of you, it is still too early to quit. If you feel you must quit, then do it the day after tomorrow. You may have lost the battle today, but you could win the war tomorrow. As Grantland Rice, America’s first great sportswriter, put it, “When Jesus comes to judge us, He will not be so concerned about whether we won or lost, but how we played the game!” God will measure you by your faithfulness (Revelation 20:11-15).

Waning Religious Freedom

 

Palestine in the first century was less prosperous than some other regions, but the historian writer Josephus tries to present the country as quite prosperous. He accurately depicts the Jewish population there as primarily engaged in agriculture: “Ours is not a maritime country, neither commerce nor intercourse with the outside world has any attraction for us. Our cities are built inland, remote from the sea, and we devote ourselves to cultivation of the productive country with which we are blessed” (Against Apion 1.60). The chief products of Palestine were the staples of olives, wine, and cereals. The Jordan Valley was known for its groves of date palms and balsam trees. Sheep and goats were raised, and fishing was common. This was the land where Jesus grew up and lived in.

[Jeremiah 2:31-35] “O generation, see the word of the Lord! Have I been a wilderness to (these United States), Or a land of darkness? Why do my people say, ‘We are lords; We will come no more to You?’…” Speaking to the Constitutional Convention on June 28, 1787, Benjamin Franklin spoke these words: “I have lived, sir, a long time and the longer I live the more convincing proofs I see of this truth – that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it possible that an entire empire can raise without His aid?” We live in an age when more and more voices are being heard on every side in an effort to silence God – to quiet Him and make Him irrelevant to America’s public life. Far from following the advice of today’s civil libertarians, our founding fathers on many occasions publicly called upon their nation to fall down on bended knees and give thanks to Almighty God. In America we have been the undeserving recipients of God’s most bountiful land. Let us not become guilty of a most grievous sin – the sin of ingratitude. In God’s Word, it is recorded that James wrote: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (James 1:17). Every generation is obligated to learn from the past mistakes of others. In a real sense, the former generations will weigh in on the outcome of their successors. Jesus said, “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe unto you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you” (Luke 10:13-14). Religious freedom, while we still have it, is a privilege that so many people have not yet really learned to appreciate. For the person who is not a Christian, it is a squandered blessing. Some wrongly conclude that religious freedom is the freedom to not become a slave to Christianity. Technically, that’s true. But the fact is, the principle of religious freedom is unnecessary if you do not want to become a Christian. You can be a slave and not become a Christian. “For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lust of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption…” (2 Peter 2:18-22). Religious freedom really shines, however, when such freedom allows one to become a Christian and to become free of the bondage of sin and death (Romans 8:1-11). That is the true spirit of religious freedom. Constitutionally, religious freedom is the right to worship free of the dictatorial subject of government. The government cannot set up a state supervised church as the only means of worship. A One World Order will do exactly that. Your freedoms are waning quickly!

“Whatever makes men good Christians; makes them good citizens.” – Daniel Webster

Committed or Decommitted?

 

Investments can be tricky things. Does one put their money in stocks or bonds, real estate, or hide it under the mattress? Even the most seemingly stable places to put one’s money can turn south in a heartbeat. Lots of people have experienced the phenomena of thinking they have invested well only to learn all the money is gone. So where should one invest? Ben Franklin said, “If a man empties his purse into his head, no man can take it away from him. An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.” Proverbs 4:6-7 teaches: “Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her and she will watch over you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.” Sadly, most people have invested all they have in possessions that will perish with use. They neither possess wisdom or understanding in the meaning of life and the gainful interest of eternal life with the Creator of all things.

It was the final hole of the 1961 Masters Tournament, and golf legend Arnold Palmer had a one-stroke lead and had just hit a very satisfying tee shot. He felt he was in pretty good shape. As he approached his ball, he saw an old friend standing at the edge of the gallery. The friend motioned him over, stuck out his hand and said, “Congratulations.” Arnold later said, “I took his hand and shook it, but as soon as I did, I knew I had lost my focus.” On his next two shots, he hit the ball into the sand trap, then put it over the edge of the green. He missed the putt and lost the Master’s because he had lost his focus (Carol Mann, “The 19^th Hole”). The Constitution of the United States is a masterful work dictated through wisdom and understanding. Established as a free and sovereign Republic among all the nations of the world, the United States of America grew and prospered because of its wisdom and understanding of the will of God for mankind. We have shaken the hand of the evil one and lost our focus!

[2 Corinthians 5:9-11] A High School senior star football player had “committed” to play football at a certain university after graduation. Then, to everyone’s surprise, he “decommitted” (not even sure that’s a word) and planned to visit other universities. He wanted everyone to know that the original school was “still in the running,” but he would like to look at one particular school and perhaps a chance to play for the past year’s national champions. Maybe, like a lot of other people in our society, this young man has never learned the meaning of commitment. Apparently, his “world” is the “sports world.” In that environment one’s only commitment is to the game. How often do you hear of an athlete, coach, or manager whose entire career is spent with one team? How many times a year are “multi-year contracts” torn up (at least figuratively) when circumstances change? Sadly, this is not confined to the world of athletics. It seems that in almost every area of our lives people are deciding to “decommit.” Often, the couple who promises to remain together in sickness and in health, etc., will do just that until some circumstances arise “too tough to handle.” Then the most attractive option is to decommit. There used to be a level of commitment between employers and employees, but that no longer seems to be the case. It is much easier for one or both parties to decommit rather than work together. Our Lord knows about decommitment. He see’s far too many people become Christians; live life anew, only to see them decommit when the going got rough or turned to something more attractive to live for. Many people forget, or never knew, what their purpose in life is. What is our over-riding number one goal? Please God (2 Corinthians 5:9) and do everything to His glory (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Removing Your Façade

 

It is so difficult to understand all the goings-on around the world today, as to why it’s happening, and is some of it just a diversion to draw attention away from a more sinister activity being quietly preformed in the background. Fabricated crises are being orchestrated around the world to create confusion, conflict, and riotous situations simply to develop the idea that conservative thought and capitalism are destroying the natural progression of humanity thus the need for world order.

Webster defines the word ‘façade’ as the main front or face of a building; an outward appearance, especially concealing something hidden; a false, superficial, or artificial appearance or effect. Most of the time, this word is used to describe a part of a building, specifically, a wall placed around the top of a building to give a nice clean look by hiding all the A/C units and vent pipes coming out of the roof. The same word can be used to describe the outward appearance of a person, (and I dare say, political agenda). Not just the clothes and physical characteristics, but the actions and words of a person. Someone who is trying to make you believe they are someone they are not, is using a façade. This has become a very dangerous practice among the political leaders of the world, and might I add, this has been going on for a very long time. The situation we find ourselves in today is their ability to create a crisis, place the blame for the crisis on several fronts, and convince people that they’re the good guy in all this.

[2 Peter 2:1-22] Our country was formed based on Christian beliefs and that’s a fact whether you are willing to accept or not. Our current society has influenced the Christian church, and its members, to a point some are wearing a façade in an attempt to blend in, while still trying to defend their right to religious freedom. They show up Sunday mornings to worship looking like Christians. They put on their best clothes, smile, and act friendly, carry their Bibles, and attend classes. But the rest of the week, one might never guess they went to church. In fact, it might even be a surprise to their friends, classmates, or co-workers to find out that this person was a Christian. I have to believe they are a good Christian, but why would someone do this? I think the façade might be a worldly weekday façade they wear around their friends, classmates, and co-workers. To relate it to the building idea, what if a place had a clean rooftop and they put up fake A/C units and pipes sticking up everywhere? What if it really was a clean establishment but put fake bags of trash around the front door, or what if they had a really nice clean lawn and placed fake weeds in the grass? Sounds ridiculous right? People are doing this! Sunday mornings people are actually being the Christians they truly are and want to be, but the rest of the week they live a lie. Does any of this sound familiar? Do you see patterns of wearing a façade in your life? Don’t be discouraged! This is a common problem these days, not to justify it, but to encourage you and to give you hope! You can tear down the worldly façade. Not just to put up a new Christian façade, but to be the Christian, and citizen, that you really are – flawed, but honest and living for Christ and the American way. Paul wrote to the church in Philippi, “I eagerly expect and hope that I will be in no way ashamed but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death” (Philippians 1:20). If this country is to remain ‘the land of the free and the home of the brave’ it’s time to take down the façade and show our true colors. It’s time to defend the Word of God and the Constitution based upon it, thereby showing the world true love.

What's So Important?

 

One of the beliefs that has crept into our culture is one whereby we tend to deny responsibility for our own actions. While we understand clearly that if one sits behind the wheel of a car and drives it 60 miles per hour into a tree, we die; yet we deny the same law of cause and effect in the area of moral irresponsibility. So, we give credibility to the fiction that a serial killer is such because his father or mother did something to him that made him that way, or worse yet, he was born that way inheriting some genes.

A forty-year-old man suffering from the classic “mid-life crisis” syndrome, sat down with a preacher to discuss his marital problems. He explained how his marriage of twenty years was no longer sexually satisfying or fulfilling. Finally, he reached the “bottom line” – “I just don’t love her anymore,” he said. “What can I do?” After a brief moment of reflection, the preacher said decisively, “As I see it, you have only one option…” The man perked up with anticipation. Was the preacher going to suggest a divorce? Would he finally be free to pursue the thrilling lifestyle of the younger generation that he had come to admire? Would this be his chance to regain his fleeting youth? “…seems to me that the only thing for you to do is REPENT and start loving your wife again.” So often we hear of married couples who complain that they have “fallen out of love.” That’s sad; but it happens. The real issue is what you do about it.

In our own “pursuit of happiness” we have fallen out of love with the Constitution that governs these United States. By eliminating God from both education and social diction, Meism has thwarted the efforts of teaching successor generations lawful respect and responsibility toward one another. If it’s uncomfortable for one’s lifestyle then blame society for suppressing you. Failed actions on one’s behalf are always someone else’s fault. Patriotism and political involvement by the general public has waned so great that elected Representatives have become competitive idiotic propagandizing liars, vying for top positions in the dictatorship they’re building. Folks, we’ve got to repent and start loving our country again! There are tons of problems in this country, and the world, that would be solved if from the top down everyone would get back on their knees and beg God’s forgiveness! Forest fires; drought; hate and murder; greed and misappropriation; you name it – it would all go away with God’s involvement.

[Matthew 13:24-30] In Jesus’ parables, ‘The Hidden Treasure’ and ‘The Pearl of Great Price’ (Matthew 13:45-45) both men understood the value of their finds and what sacrifice was essential to obtain them. Both men considered their prize worthwhile. Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is like both valuable items. The truth that Jesus taught in these parables illustrates the need to evaluating the things we consider most important. What is worthwhile in your mind? What is the desire of your heart? What is so important that it becomes your life-long pursuit?  What is it that is worth all you have and all you are? That may very well say something about your character. Solomon said wisdom is so precious that it is worth the same effort one would put forth to find silver or hidden treasures (Proverbs 2:1-5). The apostle Paul thought that the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus was so great that he counted everything else as worthless that he might obtain that knowledge (Philippians 3:8-9). The salvation of your soul should be worth more than the whole world (Matthew 16:24-26). We live in uncertain times. The only things that will outlast this world and go on into eternity are spiritual in nature. You are made in the image of God (spirit in nature, Genesis 1:26-27) – heaven or hell?

Who's Coming For You?

 

The engraving of the confession, in poetic form, presented on stone at the New England Holocaust Memorial in Boston, Massachusetts reads:

First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out — Because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out — Because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out — Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me —and there was no one left to speak for me.

Martin Niemöller was a German Lutheran pastor and theologian born in Lippstadt, Germany, in 1892. Niemöller was an anti-Communist and supported Adolf Hitler's rise to power. But when, after he came to power, Hitler insisted on the supremacy of the state over religion, Niemöller became disillusioned. He became the leader of a group of German clergymen opposed to Hitler. In 1937 he was arrested, confined in Dachau and Sachsenhausen, and was released in 1945 by the Allies. He continued his career in Germany as a clergyman and as a leading voice of penance and reconciliation for the German people after WWII. Niemöller made confession in his speech for the Confessing Church in Frankfurt on 6 January 1946, of which this is a partial translation: “... the people who were put in the camps then were Communists. Who cared about them? We knew it, it was printed in the newspapers. Who raised their voice, maybe the Confessing Church? We thought: Communists, those opponents of religion, those enemies of Christians - "should I be my brother's keeper?" Then they got rid of the sick, the so-called incurables. I remember a conversation I had with a person who claimed to be a Christian. He said: Perhaps it's right, these incurably sick people just cost the state money, they are just a burden to themselves and to others. Isn't it best for all concerned if they are taken out of the middle [of society]? Only then did the church as such take note. Then we started talking, until our voices were again silenced in public. Can we say, we aren't guilty/responsible? The persecution of the Jews, the way we treated the occupied countries, or the things in Greece, in Poland, in Czechoslovakia or in Holland, that were written in the newspapers. … I believe, we Confessing-Church-Christians have every reason to say: mea culpa, mea culpa! (my fault, my fault!) We can talk ourselves out of it with the excuse that it would have cost me my head if I had spoken out. We preferred to keep silent. We are certainly not without guilt/fault, and I ask myself again and again, what would have happened, if in the year 1933 or 1934, there must have been a possibility, 14,000 Protestant pastors and all Protestant communities in Germany had defended the truth until their deaths? If we had said back then, it is not right when Hermann Göring simply puts 100,000 Communists in the concentration camps, in order to let them die. I can imagine that perhaps 30 to 40,000 Protestant Christians would have had their heads cut off, but I can also imagine that we would have rescued 30 to 40,000 [sic] people…” (wikipedia.org/First they came…)

[Genesis 6:5-8] Let’s face it – apostasy (2 Timothy 3:1-5) is once again engulfing humanity at an alarming rate and consuming the souls of mankind (Romans 1:18-32) without discrimination, which I believe will trigger the Destruction of the World 2.0 - very soon (2 Peter 3:10-13). No one will physically survive; but the spirit of man can survive if properly prepared (Galatians 5:15-26). Don’t stand before God with your head hung low saying, “My fault, My fault! (Romans 2:1-11). Stand proud before the Lord as a survivor of truth (2 Peter 3:14-18). Repent; confess your faults today (Acts 2:37-41).

How To Destroy A Country

 

“One university after another is bowing before the violent demands of a small minority of radicals who intend to overthrow the existing government...The radicals fully intend to overthrow the national government and replace it according to their own fuzzy, undefined lines which they cannot explain. They have decided to seek as many confrontations with the police and university officials as they possibly can. They are using terror tactics in some parts of the country now.” This was written fifty-one years ago in the July 1970 issue of the Voice of Freedom. Following these observations was a short article entitled “How to Destroy a Country”: * Affirm man’s animal origin, nature, and functions to the exclusion of everything else, and ridicule all reference to his spiritual qualities. * Inculcate general disrespect for any kind of authority by urging people to obey their own impulses in the name of freedom. * Hamper the enforcement of the criminal code with decisions that slow down the judicial process and make it difficult to arrest, convict and sentence a culprit for an offense against society. * Import vast supplies of hallucinogenic drugs and make them available to the youth of the land; then provide the youth with plenty of money with which to buy them. * Loosen all restraint on the entertainment media so that sexual license may be presented to the public in its rawest form. * Corrupt the youth of the land by permitting pornography, obscenity, and general immorality to be indulged in freely without fear of arrest or persecution. * Soft-pedal all discussion of loyalty, responsibility, patriotism, duty, and sacrifice in order that freedom of dissent may be established. * Split the older and younger generations by encouraging them to distrust each other and to condemn each other’s institutions. * Pollute the air, the streams, and lakes, and erode the land until the environment is so poisoned that life can no longer be enjoyed. * Indoctrinate the public into believing that God is dead, Jesus Christ is a myth, Christianity, a byword for an ancient superstition, and the church an institution that humanity has outgrown. Well, here we are living a fifty-one-year-old prediction that wasn’t far off, was it.

[Psalm 9:17] In life as children of God, we are different from the world. No matter how you slice it, our world simply doesn’t measure up to the standard God has decreed as the right way to live. Whether those of the world know God’s will and don’t care, or simply have never heard, they aren’t doing what God has commanded. And as we live our lives, following the will of God in the best way possible, we can get discouraged and begin wondering if we are in fact the ones who are wrong since so many people are different from us. Be rest assured that it is in fact the worldly who are going the wrong way. Jesus said in his recorded sermon, (Matthew chapters 5, 6 & 7) that only a few people will be saved (Matthew 7:13-14). By comparison, the vast majority of people who live on this earth are not living as God would have them to and will not inherit eternal life. And no matter how odd it may seem to the world for us to live differently from them, we are doing, to the best of our ability, what the God of heaven has commanded us to do. “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Galatians 6:7-10). Pray for our freedoms.

Except The Lord Builds It...

 

Benjamin Franklin addressed the Constitutional Convention in 1787 during crisis in their deliberations and was recorded as follows: “Mr. President; The small progress we have made after 4 or five weeks close attendance & continual reasoning’s with each other, our different sentiments on almost every question, several of the last producing as many noes and ayes, is methinks a melancholy proof of the imperfection of the Human Understanding. We indeed seem to feel our own want of political wisdom, some we have been running about in search of it. We have gone back to ancient history for models of Government, and examined the different forms of those Republics which having been formed with the seeds of their own dissolution now no longer exist. And we have viewed Modern States all round Europe, but find none of their Constitutions suitable to our circumstances. In this situation of this Assembly, groping as it were in the dark to find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when presented to us, how has it happened, Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understandings? In the beginning of the Contest with G. Britain, when we were sensible of danger we had daily prayer in this room for the divine protection. Our prayers, Sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a Superintending Providence in our favor. To that kind Providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth- that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings, that ‘except the Lord build the House they labor in vain that build it’. I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach and bye word down to future ages. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing Governments be Human Wisdom and leave it to chance, war and conquest. I therefore beg leave to move, that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the Clergy of the City be requested to officiate in that service.” https://wallbuilders.com/franklins-appeal-prayer-constitutional-convention/

[Matthew 24:36-39] Our God is a God of infinite virtue. His love is boundless. His mercy is absolute, His grace unhindered. But even our God in time will say, “Enough.” As in the era of Noah; of Sodom; the nation of Israel; time came when God said, “I will go no farther with these people.” This lesson from the Word of God - people, nations, and even the Lord’s church never seem to take serious. In God’s own good time he will bring an end to this foolishness of our self-governing, and the curtain will come down on the final day. Paul put it in these words, “…in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 1:8). “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31). Except the Lord builds the house our labor is vain (Psalm 127:1).

I Wish You Enough

 

Recently, at an airport boarding gate, a man overheard a father and daughter in their last moments together. Her flight departure had been announced, and they were standing near the security gate. They hugged each other and he said, “I love you. I wish you enough.” She in turn said, “Daddy, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, daddy.” They kissed and she left. He walked over toward the window where the man was seated. Just standing there staring at the airplane as it departed the gate the man could see the father wanted and needed to cry. The father turned to the man sitting there, not wanting to intrude on his privacy but desiring a friendly conversation with someone asked, “Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?” Welcoming the solicitation to converse the man replied, “Yes, I have. Forgive me for asking, but why is this, a forever good-bye?” Looking back toward the window, the plane now gone, the already lonely father said, “I am old and she lives much too far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is, her next trip will be for my funeral.” Then the man asked, “When you were saying good-bye, I heard the two of you say, ‘I wish you enough;’ may I ask what that means?” The father began to smile and took the seat next to the man. “That’s a wish that’s been handed down for many generations in my family. My parents said it to everyone.” He paused for a moment looking off into space as if remembering it in detail. He smiled even more. “When we said, ‘I wish you enough,’ we are wishing for the other person a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them.” Then turning toward the man, he shared the following: “I wish you enough sunshine to keep your attitude bright; I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sunshine more; I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive; I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger; I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting; I wish you enough lose to appreciate all you possess; And I wish you enough ‘Hello’s’ to get you through the final ‘Good-bye’” With tears in his eyes, the old man stood and walked away.

[1 John 2:15-17] The media is always bombarding us with things we know we cannot afford and things we will never have. But people dream anyway. They dream of being rich, owning large tracts of land with acre after rolling acre. They desire sports cars and speed boats, or cattle and horses. They have a picture in their mind of that “dream house” and being a jet-setter. Some dream of power and prestige. Some will do anything to make their dreams come true. They desperately want to be active participants in the lifestyles of the rich and famous. Practicality and reality are not qualities and truths that enter their minds often. So, what is your dream? What is it you want more than anything else in your life? Hopefully it has nothing to do with the things of this world. Jesus said, “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Matthew 16:26). This is a question that ought to give pause for serious reflection. Is pursuing any worldly dream of wealth, power or fame worth losing your soul? Jesus implies, absolutely not! These things are not only temporal and slated for destruction (2 Peter 3:10), but just the desire for them, not even the acquisition, can damn our souls. If we are going to dream then let’s dream (anticipate), gaining heaven. Don’t let the excitement of going there be choked out by the mundane trinkets this world has to offer. Our most imaginative dreams cannot compare with the joys and glory of heaven. I wish you enough to be comfortable but not miss heaven for the world!

Get Back Into The Pool!

 

There’s this story about an overweight out-of-shape fellow who started a swimming regiment. For many months before he had walked for weight-loss, but in his research on “the best way to lose weight” later reasoned, swimming would be a faster way of shedding his accumulated and unnecessary poundage. Three times weekly he went to the local gym to make good use of its state-of-the-art indoor pool, but he did so acutely aware of how he was not like the other swimmers. He watched out of the corner of his eye, awed by the maneuvers others performed. With ease, chiseled and sculptured bodies performed their picture-perfect flips, and somersaults, and dives as he sheepishly held on to the pool’s edge, occasionally bobbing up and down showing off his ability to hold his breathe while pinching his nose. None of the expert swimmers seem to give him much attention so, after three weeks in the pool, he returned to the safety and security of walking. Discouraged and ashamed, he walked round and round the local school track and said to himself, “When I get into shape, I’ll return to the pool.”

I wonder how many people use that same line of reasoning when it comes to meeting with the church, or more accurately, attending worship. “When I get into shape, I’ll go.” “When I get my life in order, I’ll be there.” “I’ve got a few things in my life I need to straighten out first, then I can attend worship.” These attitudes of the heart reflect faulty reasoning. These thoughts assume wrongly that everyone else is perfect but we are inadequate and will not “fit in”. These ideas suggest that the church is more a safe haven and sanctuary for the self-righteous than it is a hospital for broken and hurting hearts. I must confess that I have, in the past, chosen the earthly over the spiritual when I worried about this world and its distractions; when I neglected prayer and Bible study; when money and material things were becoming too important to me; and when I was not actively seeking ways to serve Christ and save souls. An occasional short-coming that does not characterize me is one thing, but I do not want to become like those bread-chasers recorded in John 6:22-40. I do not want to resort to Christ when all else is falling apart in my life. I want Christ to be the priority of my life, letting him fix what is broken in me and use me as a tool in his hand.

[Colossians 3:1-17] When worshippers come together to praise and give thanks to God for what he has done for each of us, we assemble on equal footing. All are sinners. All are sin sick. All are in the need of God’s grace. All are needing and seeking God’s forgiveness. The call of Jesus is not, “Get it right, and then come unto me.” The call of Jesus is, “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29). The key words here are “learn from me”. Jesus said, “…I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance” (Mark 2:13-17). The call of the church must be identical to the call of Jesus. Even if you don’t feel “good enough” or “in shape,” that’s exactly the kind of heart for which God is looking. Stop walking and wandering around in the world looking for fulfillment in your life. Get back into the pool! The church does not exist to tell you how to live. The church and God’s Word exists to help build one up, become spiritually strong, preparing one for the life to come, saving one from the horrors of eternal punishment. A person changes from the inside out and a God-fearing spirit develops a faithful, disciplined life. “Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil” (Proverbs 3:7).