Category Archives: Politics

Life Insights: Encouragement in the face of Wrong Judicial Decisions

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Encouragement in the face of Wrong Judicial Decisions

Today the Supreme Court historically became involved in the same-sex marriage issue.  On one day, the day before they recessed for the summer, the Justices, crossing ideological lines, struck down Proposition 8 from California and the federal government’s Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

Proposition 8 was the mandate by the people of California to prohibit gay marriages in the state constitution.  Same-sex couples sued for their rights to be recognized as legally married couples and the court agreed with their cause and position.  It affects 18,000 same-sex couples wedded in California back in 2008, after which the voters disapproved same-sex marriage on the ballot.  So now everyone in California has to accept what state constitution did not allow nor the majority of the people wanted.  Now you can guess and realize that the power lies with the court of man rather than the Constitution or the people. This is an attack on what is written.

The federal government’s Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), signed into law by Bill Clinton in 1996, was also struck down.  Those in states with same-sex marriage laws will be allowed to claim rights and benefits the same as hetero-sexual marriages. This is an attack on what is written.

This decision by the courtroom of man does not catch God by surprise.  The Courtroom of Heaven is still in session.  Our responsibility is to mourn for our nation as Daniel did so well in Daniel 9 and prayed on behalf of the nation. Our responsibility is to grow up spiritually and become spiritual parents, that is, to have disciples who are discipling others.   Our responsibility is to ask people if they know Jesus. If they do not or are not sure, then to share the gospel truth and help them understand the truth by faith. Our responsibility is to help draw the body of Christ to BE the body of Christ and care for one another.  Our responsibility is to influence our community through good works and be ready to given an account of the hope that is within.  What a privilege that responsibility is!  Let’s roll!

Do not be discouraged.  Press forward in truth and wait upon the Lord by sharing the truth with every soul who will listen.

 

 

Sequestration: The Government is not God

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Sequestration

Sequestration is the latest ping pong ball played in Washington politics. It is designed by some to gain greater control and resisted by others as the needed medicine for America. Yet the actions have opposite results. The Administration is dramatically using this crisis for securing loyal allegiance from the sheeple (people who act like sheep that don’t care about truth and won’t stand against socialistic tendencies to future control measures).  The Republicans, however are resisting compromise with the intent that the defense complex not be destroyed by additional Democratic sequestrations.  I know I don’t have the total picture, nor the easy answer.  Let’s look at several thoughts.

The problem isn’t the political wrangling. The problem is the cocaine spending addition America has on seeking comfort rather than holiness before God. The political wrangling is merely government’s puny efforts to address a spiritual issue through economic and political ploys.  Is God laughing as the nation rages on without seeking Godly counsel (Ps. 2:1-3)? Are we so foolish that we think we can resolve this apart from divine wisdom?  Do we think we can get another cocaine injection of spending so we don’t have to face reality of monetary idolatry addictions? Do we value comfort and long life more than we value the holiness of God? Do we think we can keep kicking the can down the road and continue putting a larger burden on our children, while we enjoy the high life? What is sequestration?

Dr. Paul Johnson defines sequestration as,

a legal term referring generally to the act of valuable property being taken into custody by an agent of the court and locked away for safekeeping, usually to prevent the property from being disposed of or abused before a dispute over its ownership can be resolved. But the term has been adapted by Congress in more recent years to describe a new fiscal policy procedure originally provided for in the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Deficit Reduction Act of 1985 — an effort to reform Congressional voting procedures so as to make the size of the Federal government’s budget deficit a matter of conscious choice rather than simply the arithmetical outcome of a decentralized appropriations process in which no one ever looked at the cumulative results until it was too late to change them.1

He’s basically saying you take a property for safekeeping so it isn’t disposed of or squandered inappropriately.  The Deficit Reduction Act was designed to impose greater accountability, which every American person and company already is required to have, on a cocaine monetary addicted government.  The automatic cuts are employed when the Administration and Congress won’t agree.

Sequestration is a series of automatic, across-the-board government cuts, totally $1.2 trillion over ten years.  It would be primarily shared by defense and domestic discretionary spending.  The attempt is to initiate steps dealing with national debt, which exploded in 2007 and continues to increase by over a trillion dollars for the last four years.  Let’s be realistic, cutting $1.2 trillion over ten years is peanuts when the budget deficit is equal to that annually!

The standoff started in 2011 when the Republican demanded spending cuts in exchange for Administration obligations. Supposedly one trillion was dealt with, but the second trillion became the fiscal cliff if Congress and the Administration couldn’t agree to spending reductions. Certain programs, like Social Security and certain Defense programs are exempted. 

The Administration and the media have attempted to paint a bleak picture of an end-of-the-world scenario, yet many in America are not listening and don’t think it will affect them. The Administration has declared that hundreds of thousands will lose their jobs, will cripple education, will leave America unprepared and cause long lines at airports and shuttered American parks. The only urgent and significant concern is a weak military, for that engages the purpose of government. I’d rather deal with the pain now, than have a much bigger pain several years down the road. “It will be like a rolling ball,” said Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, of the manner in which the cuts will impact the economy, in remarks to reporters this week. “It will keep growing.”2

What will happen on March 1? At 11:59pm, there will be an $85 billion federal cut for the remainder of 2013 and a slash of $1.1 trillion for the next decade.  Most Americans have been doing that for the last five years personally, why can’t the American government do that?  We’re addicted to a comfortable way of life.  Yes, it will affect thousands and thousands of people, many I know personally. Practically,

according to the White House, that means “10,000 teacher jobs would be put at risk, and funding for up to 7,200 special education teachers, aides, and staff could be cut”; loans to small businesses would be reduced by up to $540 million; research and development would be stalled as thousands of researchers and scientists would be at risk of losing their jobs; and “up to 373,000 seriously mentally ill adults and seriously emotionally disturbed children could go untreated,” among other impacts.3

Republican plan A is for cuts to social spending, without revenue increases.  The Administration won’t fold here, because it knows it can cut the defense rather than social programs to get many cuts and look like a hero to sheeple.  Democrats want a new tax bill “on those making north of $1 million a year, close tax loopholes, end direct farm payments and delay defense cuts.”4Republicans agree taxes are bad, defense cuts are bad and certain entitlement cuts would be good. They are ready to accept sequestration rather than submit to a socialist agenda.  They are both wrong. 

God never intended for government to be our Savior. God never intended for government to intrude into the liberty of individuals.  However, He did intend that government exist to maintain internal order and external protection. Every people decide what kind of government will rule over them so that God can be worshiped in holiness (Rom. 13:1-7). Each person has a say in what happens in their country.  One voice may not change it, but a movement will.  In the U.S.A. we vote to decide what kind of government we will have. 

Instead of jockeying back and forth, the parties ought to humble themselves before Almighty God and draw people back into His presence, not in establishing a religion, but protecting the free Judeo-Christian expression of liberty in the original charters and writings of our founding fathers. People argue the founding fathers did not intend to create a governmental religion and that is true.  The Judeo-Christian thread was clearly sewn through the fabric of American society, so they did not need to establish any clause. They did understand that the government they established would only work as long as the nation was moral and focused on the God of the Bible:

“We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” John Adams (The Works of John Adams, ed. C. F. Adams, Boston: Little, Brown Co., 1851, 4:31)5

As America loses its spiritual moorings, the government will squander resources seeking to satisfy the cravings for comfort and security of the people. Hence, what we need is governmental restraint, actual budgets and protection from outside nations, not control over freedom-loving people. Hence our need of sequestration or some other form of governmental restraint. Human passions must be brought to order not addictive exploitation of precious resources. Ben Franklin understood this:

“Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote!”  Benjamin Franklin

Modern US government has extreme power lust and seeks to control people with man-centered policies, orders and procedures and give a nod to God at best.  Patrick Henry understood this danger of government’s power lust related to the constitution:

“The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people; it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government — lest it come to dominate our lives and interests.”  Patrick Henry

Which is why Patrick Henry, the great freedom-loving attorney orator declared that a decadent people will become enslaved to the government:

“It is when people forget God that tyrants forge their chains.”  Patrick Henry

Too often sheeple today believe the lie of the “Savior government” rather than search back to the dust laden writings of the founding fathers:

“It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here.”  Patrick Henry

The foundation of the nation is clear. No Christian should ever be ashamed and give up an ounce of liberty to freely worship and spread their faith in Jesus Christ, which was clearly the belief of most of the founding fathers. Their blood was shed for that freedom. Christians today must be willing to shed their blood for continued liberty.

The problem today is not the debt.  The debt is a problem, but not the real problem. That is only a symptom of the real problem.  The real problem is a people hell-bent on pleasure, comfort and personal security. The real problem is that we have forsaken the Lord as a nation.  We as a country are addicted to comfort and are not willing to give up what we have seized as a right.  Instead of denying ourselves comforts for the sake of long-term growth, we become frightened of a “fiscal cliff.”  We ought to be afraid for those who face eternal condemnation.  If you have salvation in Jesus, nothing on earth can take away from the blessing of eternal life in Jesus Christ.  We ought to be afraid and work toward a nation that is settled on one language, one gospel and one Lord. Fear not, “for I am with you, even to the end of the Age,” said Jesus. (Matt. 28:20). Where is your trust?

1http://www.auburn.edu/~johnspm/gloss/sequestration;

2http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57571722/sequestration-looms-but-when-will-the-hurt-feel-real/

3ibid

4http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/appropriations/284965-gop-weighs-giving-obama-flexibility-on-sequester-

5The following foundling father quotes were obtained from http://www.cancertutor.com/Quotes/Quotes_Presidents.html

 

 

Gun Control – Should be in Your Hands!

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Gun Control – Should be in Your Hands!

Friends, we are waging a battle of epic spiritual proportions.  There may be little that is done by the Administration to control guns in America, but it isn’t because the government isn’t trying.  Prevention of greater tyrannical oppression will only be because a unified voice of freedom loving people will draw a line in the sand and say, “Enough is enough.”  Government gun control will be stopped because people put their trust in the Lord, rather than in the government and let the government know government only has the right to enforce the provisions of the Constitution and Amendments.  Government gun control will be stopped because people will resist the infractions of our rights to the Second Amendment.  What is the Second Amendment?
A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.  (Second Amendment)
 
The Second Amendment was written by our founding fathers, who lived during a time of government tyranny.  They knew how a government continued to gain more and more control in oppressive measures that are spelled out in the Declaration of Independence.  Our founding fathers who wrote the Constitution and original Amendments call the Bill of Rights listed 27 grievances against the tyranny of the English Crown who continued to oppress the colonialists.
Most people have read the first few lines of the Declaration of Independence, but forget to read the middle section which lists the grievances and unjust authority of England’s oppressive and tyrannical actions.  The last paragraph is essential to freedom loving people:
We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
But some will say, we should do what the government says.  My answer is, “What does God say in Scripture?”
Before I begin, let me say unequivocally, the only hope for anyone, including America, is trusting in Jesus Chris as personal Savior.  Unless you are born from above, you will die in your sins (John 8:24).  But even the spiritual rebirth does not establish a transformed society, unless people seek the Lord in His Word in the power of the Holy Spirit by faith.  As a person grows spiritually, he must become a spiritual parent who raise up other spiritual parents, or the country will plateau and begin a descent into a morass of immorality.
Scripture records the words of the Lord, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. (Matt. 10:34) He came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10).  He came to die for our sins (2 Cor. 5:21).  But He also knew because of sin in the world, there would be horrible conflict between people.  Bad people would and do violate the well-being of good people and they would and do use horrible means to control others and get what they want.  Hence, Jesus told His disciple to secure weapons,
35 And He said to them, “When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, and sandals, did you lack anything?” So they said, “Nothing.” 36 Then He said to them, “But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one. 37 “For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me:` And He was numbered with the transgressors.’ For the things concerning Me have an end.” 38 So they said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.” And He said to them, “It is enough.” (Luke 22:35-38)   
Jesus said it was more important to have a weapon, than an extra set of clothes. He did not say to trust in the sword, but to secure it and have it available for yourself.
There are times when you must be able to defend yourself.  God gave natural abilities for animals to defend themselves.  He gave teeth and claws to lions, tigers and bears.  He gave stingers to scorpions and bees.  He gave wings to birds, fast feet to blackbuck antelope, fins to sailfish, strong hind legs for fighting and jumping to kangaroos and poisonous fangs to snakes.  But there are some animals, like sheep, that are pretty helpless without the watch care of another. 
Humans fit into that category of needing additional protection.  Without the defense of someone else, like mothers and fathers for babies, man needs a means to protect himself from oppression.  It used to be a flintlock rifle for protection.  Today the weaponry can exist in many other forms.  As long as they are for defense, they fit under the Second Amendment.  Yet the Second Amendment also implies that the right to bears arms is to be used against the tyranny of the government. 
That line takes great discernment and must be weighed against all the other laws and infringements of freedom.   And remember, Scripture usurps the law of the land if they are at odds. (Acts 5:29)  For example, Jesus admonished Peter to return the sword to its sheath to allow God’s will to be fulfilled.  As Jesus was ready to leave the Garden of Gethsemene, a Roman troop came with Judas with swords and clubs and Peter asked, “Lord, shall we strike them with the sword?” (Luke 22:49).  And before Jesus responded, Peter went into action,

Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. 11So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?” 12 Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him. (John 18:10-12)

Matthew adds, “But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.”(Matt. 26:52).  The reality is that there are often unlawful times outside of God’s will that those who take the sword may die by the sword. If you pick up a weapon, you risk bringing death upon yourself.  That is why picking up a weapon must be wisely discerned.  That is what the colonialists chose to do, but only after years of working within the oppressive English system without a just hearing.

Some might not agree with this interpretation.  It is interesting, that Jesus dealt with differing interpretations in His day also.

Jesus dealt with the darkness of His day and as John says, “And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” (John 1:5)  In fact, the darkness runs from the light:
19 “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 “For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 “But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” (John 3:19-21)

Those who reject the light of truth will not understand the truth.  They cannot understand it (1 Cor. 2:14).   No matter how much logic and reason they bring to the table, they will not understand it.  No matter how many testimonials or emotional appeals they make, they will not comprehend.  They cause greater harm to mankind by their rejection of truth, than by humbling themselves before it.  And all their laws that take away freedom will only cause greater harm.

God allows distortions of the truth, even in the church, to reveal those who want and abide in the truth (1 Cor. 11:19).  Distortion and evil exists and they will use many man-made ideas to control a situation, but unless it is humbly submitted to God’s Word, it will only create greater oppression on people.   Peter understood this when he wrote, “…untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.” (2 Pet. 3:16)  Consider what Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword in its sheath.” Jesus didn’t tell him to sell it or get rid of it, even though Peter used it wrongly. If you use it wrongly, you may die.

To whom do you trust for your protection?  Do you trust the Lord, or the government?  We should be able to trust the government.  But when our freedoms are being taken away, then we have to pray to wisely discern the line in the sand.   Yet, passive people have been slaughtered at the gun control commands of evil governments all through history.  Prior to brutal government slaughters, gun control measures and laws were enforced on the people.  For example, gun control laws were instituted in Armenia in 1915; Russia in 1918 under Lenin, Germany in 1921 and 1928, China in 1912 and continued under Mao Zedong and in Cambodia in 1938 strictly enforced by PolPot in the Khmer Rouge.   Governments always impose restrictions with growing control in every situation.

What happened in Newtown, Connecticut was a travesty.  But the lunacy of government to think a brewing civil unrest can be quelled by gun control is the greater deception of hypocrisy and evil.  The criminal will never be controlled by laws.  Laws will only restrict good citizens from defending themselves from criminals and tyrannical governments.

Judge Andrew Napolitano, a former judge on the Supreme Court of New Jersey, wrote this analysis:

The historical reality of the Second Amendment’s protection of the right to keep and bear arms is not that it protects the right to shoot deer. It protects the right to shoot tyrants, and it protects the right to shoot at them effectively, with the same instruments they would use upon us. If the Jews in the Warsaw ghetto had had the firepower and ammunition that the Nazis had, some of Poland might have stayed free and more persons would have survived the Holocaust.Read more: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jan/10/the-right-to-shoot-tyrants-not-deer/#ixzz2LefBjtyy

You have the right to protect yourself with sufficient power that you will not be overcome with the current or future weaponry.  If you don’t provide for your family, Scripture considers you worse than an unbeliever.  Paul writes, “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” (1Tim. 5:8)  The context describes respect and financial need.  I would consider life part of the responsibility of every man for his family.

            Do not be fooled, hoodwinked or deceived.  Trust only what you know from Scripture and use it as a filter for everything you see and hear.  Freedom is precious.  Your right to own and possess firearms is protected by the constitution and Scripture.  All you need is Scripture.

 

 

 

One Lie

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There are many philosophies on how we ought to get along.  Some of them are lies.  One lie is Socialism.  Socialism actually intends to do well.  It intends to help man.  It intends to lift people up from their despair, helplessness or oppressed condition.  The problem is it depends on man’s philosophy, ability and techniques rather than on the absolute truth of God’s Word.

Socialism is a lie, because it establishes comparisons between me and my neighbor and I need the government to help mediate equality between us.  It’s a lie, because that is not the role of the government, nor the goal of man (Romans 13:1-7; 1 Cor. 10:31).  Socialism taunts and bashes the success of some, declaring they are evil while stealing from those who “have” to give to the “have  nots.”  Granted, the government merely calls it a tax, but it is stealing.

Anyone who has a business is considered well off and workers are poor.  A business owner might be scraping by to get the business going and the worker is living off the manipulations of some power hungry labor union (Unions had their place at one time, but the greediness of business has been surmounted by the greediness of some labor unions).

Unfortunately, Socialism establishes class warfare that as long as there are others “who have more than me,” I should have the government working for me to work for my equal rights.  It’s a lie.  It won’t happen.  It’s like a drug that people think will help them, but in fact, will hurt them.  It will not help me not feel small compared to what I think others have.

David Noebel writes, “[Socialists] believe that capitalism eventually destroys itself as it exploits more and more peole until everyone has been reduce to worker status”  Understanding the Times, 9.4.3. Socialism seeks to stop that perceived fall and safeguard the people by its own devices, albeit controlled by “Elites.”

People foolishly think that it will be those “above me” economically will be the ones pulled down “to my level,” when in fact everyone will lose.  Socialism thinks that the free-market system is top-down managed system to hold workers down, when it fact it is a bottom-up system that works according to the decisions of everyone in the system making decisions about what they want to buy or not and who can provide the best product at the best price.  IN FACT, Socialism is controlled by “Elite people” who think they know what is best for everyone.

Ludwig von Mises wrote, “The entrepreneurs and capitalists are not irresponsible autocrats.  They are unconditionally subject to the sovereignty of the consumers.  The market is a consumers’ democracy.”    http://mises.org/humanaction/chap15sec4.asp

The very complaint many have against successful people – greed – is really at the heart of those who resent their success – they are also greedy.  The fact is they want someone else, the government, to make sure they get to see falsely established success.  Then when politicians promise benefits and give gifts, people foolishly vote for the benefits rather than the principle.  If American continues toward socialism, it will eventually kill the means by which America became great.  Socialism depends on man controlling the economy.  Free market is, as Adam Smith wrote in his book The Wealth of Nations (1776), is guided by the invisible hand of the decisions made in the market place.  It eventually evens out.

Will you trust the sovereignty of God?  Will you work if you can so that you can eat?  Will you trust in the Lord and trust His provision?

The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich. (Proverbs 13:4)

For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. (2 Thessalonians 3:10) [For those in genuine need, the church has the responsibility to help immediately and help the person get on his feet so he can feed himself.  The person must humble himself and want the help).

Pursue God and trust His Word and He will provide what you need.

 

Strong Delusion – Part 2

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As I  quoted from Paul yesterday, “They did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie”  (2Th 2:10-11) This will actually be fulfilled during the Tribulation, but because of the falling away of Christians in the last times, we will see this even during our days.

We revealed in the election that we are rejecting God as a country.  We are rejecting a personal relationship with God, God’s design for marriage, who is sovereign in our lives and the gift of life from God.  Our moral compass is slowly spinning around and does not know how to orient to Truth.

Decisions made Tuesday reveal several things about our attitude toward God.  First, we do not want God in our lives.  The Democratic Platform almost left God off the platform, until the committee heard enough backlash from constituents to force a voice vote to reinstate God into their platform.  I still believe the voice vote went in favor of leaving God off the platform, but the chair knew the right answer was to keep God at least written into the platform.  We want what we want rather than submitting to God’s Word.  Many are warning America is heading for a fiscal cliff when the real problem is we have reached the tipping point of the spiritual cliff.  The fiscal cliff is only a tangible sign of the spiritual and moral cliff we are falling off.  We don’t trust in God; we as a nation trust in government. 

You might think that we Christians already know this.  Most know this, I realize.  Yet, I am ashamed of fellow conservatives and Christians who did not vote.  Complacency and lack of understanding biblical responsibility caused many to think their one vote would not count.  That foolish thinking could have changed every race.  Some who did not vote are thinking, “But I prayed for the election.”  That is foolish.  Get off your seat and get on your feet and vote for biblical principles.  A Christian who did not vote, but could have, does not have God ruling in his life.

Secondly, we think we know about love and marriage better than God.  Same-sex proponents are no longer quiet about their lifestyle.  They are open, brash and hardened about it and not desiring the freedom that can be acquired in Jesus Christ. Scripture warns repeatedly that marriage is between one man and one woman from the beginning to the end.  The issue is not whether love exists between two people, but whether God exists between two people.  For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.  Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.(Rom 1:26-27)  I don’t hate those who choose a lifestyle contrary to God’s design.  I want to help them see how they can experience the joy of God’s design. 

We are merely living out what Paul wrote in the last days, But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:  For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good…” (2Ti 3:1-3)  I’m no better than anyone else, I just know I need to pursue God’s design for the best way to honor Him and experience the blessing of what He designed.

Thirdly, we think government will best be able to care for us.  Government is put in place by God to insure external and internal peace so that we can worship Him, live in peace and extend His reach in peace to other nations of people. (Rom. 13:1-7)  The local church was intended to care for people.  We have failed over the last twenty centuries to do that.  It’s no wonder why people look to and are dependent on the government.  That is indicative of our failure to disciple people to Jesus Christ’s mandate of making disciples of all the nations.

In 1900, the church was the center of people’s lives.  Today, church is a drive-thru place where I can get my spiritual fix and move on to more important events in my schedule.  When the church gets back to true discipleship and an orientation where each person understands his/her role in discipleship, the church can be restored to her rightful place of being the Bride of Jesus Christ. In the meantime we’ll likely continue following “everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” (Judg 21:25)  The solution is always to seek what is “pleasing to the Lord.” (2 Cor. 5:9)

Fourthly, we think we can control life.  Whether we think we can end a baby’s life in the womb and call it a choice, or we can spend our way to prosperity with fake money, God will have the final say.  One day, “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow…and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  (Phi 2:10-11)  As you and I look and depend on Him, only then will we experience His life and the life He intended for us (John 10:10).

Yesterday, I said I was disappointed.  Yes, I didn’t know how much the outcome would affect me.  I’m actually excited to see how God is going to work through the details of these events.  I’m excited to see how people will respond.  I’m excited to see how His power will inspire us to press to the objective of the upward call in Christ Jesus.  I know in whom I believe.

I know not why God’s wondrous grace
To me He hath made known,
Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love
Redeemed me for His own.

Refrain

But I know Whom I have believèd,
And am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I’ve committed
Unto Him against that day.

I trust you will join me in that endeavor to press on!

Strong Delusion – Part 1

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          Paul says it well, “they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie”  (2Th 2:10-11)  I rejoiced that Mike Pence will become Governor Mike Pence for Indiana, but regarding many of the other elections, I admit that I’m disappointed.  I’m thankful that history never depends on man and I will never trust in man.  Jeremiah warned Israel, “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the LORD. For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, And shall not see when good comes, But shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, In a salt land which is not inhabited. Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD.  For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.  (Jer 17:5-8)  When Jeremiah prophesied, Israel was in a downward spiral to her fait accompli.

I’m not disappointed in those who achieved personal victory, even if I didn’t vote for some of them. I’m disappointed in where my country is spiritually.  I realize today how deluded we are in our thinking.  We Christians have not fared well in living out the gospel message and discipling people to a saving faith in Jesus Christ and to holiness in spiritual discipleship.
 
The vote tells me several things about my country.  First, we are more concerned about self than principle.  We would rather get what we can get for free than live principles of hard work and doing what is best for our community.
 
It has been alleged that Benjamin Franklin wrote, “When the people find they can votethemselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.”  Whether he said it or not, it’s a true statement.  As the political pundits discussed why some won and why others lost, the bottom line is a spiritual issue.  People are selfish and would put aside principle and vote for freebies they can get.  Fifty percent of American people pay a total of 3.4 percent of the federal income tax receipts.  Forty-seven percent are receiving food stamps.  I am troubled by much of the greed of the wealthy, but I’m also troubled by the entitlement mentality of my less well off brethren.
 
Ron Paul lives on principle and many of his ideas should have been adopted by both of the parties.  He said,
“People do not want anything cut…They want all the bailouts to come. They want the Fed to keep printing the money. And they don’t believe that we’ve gone off the cliff or are close to going off the cliff. They think we can patch it over, that we can somehow come up with some magic solution. But you can’t have a budgetary solution if you don’t change what the role of government should be. As long as you think we have to police the world and run this welfare state, all we are going to argue about is who will get the loot.”
 
 
 
 
Secondly, we care about present personal rights than biblical ethics.  A majority of youth, women, those in labor unions and non-whites in America voted for President Obama and only white males voted in majority for Mitt Romney.  I’m not anti-any-group.  Jesus died for every person.  There are clear biblical principles that are more important than my “rights” or desires.
 
I can learn from anyone and I need others to complement what God has given me to do on earth. Yet, as a country, we’re more concerned as a nation about personal rights like women’s rights than the right of the unborn baby.  We’re more concerned about who will pay for my education of reconstructed history than someone who wants students to learn true constitutional history.  We’re more concerned about creature comforts, vacation, high pay for mediocre work than a system that allows people to be rewarded for excellent hard work.  We’re more concerned about getting the golden eggs from the government for free because we came from a country of oppression than following the guidelines everyone else has to follow.
 
Thirdly, we get sucked into hype and misinterpretation rather than truth.  The two senator hopefuls from Missouri and Indiana made comments that were distorted and likely caused their losses. Todd Akin from Missouri, made the comment about “legitimate rape” which was extremely an unfortunate choice of words, much like Richard Murdock’s comment, “even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that is something that God intended to happen.”  Murdock’s statement is easily misunderstood if people don’t listen to understand. Akin did not speak well and did not handle things well.  Murdock was blasted by the viral threat of digital gossip.  The situation was indicative of where our country is spiritually.  But I don’t put my hope in people or my country.
 
My hope is in nothing less that Jesus Christ.  This vote merely means there are many more opportunities to penetrate the world with the gospel and I need to use every day for clear thinking and effective discipleship. The following words are my hope:
 
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
 
            Let me address specifically tomorrow, how my country has revealed that its eyes are divided and away from Jesus Christ.

Pulpit Freedom

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10 years ago, if I said marriage is between a man and woman, few would disagree.

30 years ago if I said that homosexuality is not acceptable before God, few would disagree.

40 years ago if I said that abortion is wrong, few would disagree.  But now people will say I’m too political.

It was on July 2, 1945 that Lyndon Johnson faced a tough campaign against a couple individuals who used 501(c) 3 secular organizations.  Johnson authored the Johnson amendment to congress that imposed restrictions on 501(c) 3 organizations from making political speeches, comments and commentary.  It was not intended to restrict churches, but the devil used it to hinder and stifle churches from speaking their conscience. 

I have always considered you wise enough to make solid biblical decisions, so I have not from the pulpit made significant appeals, proclamations or exhortations regarding how you should vote.  I still believe you are wise enough to understand biblical mandates and truth, however, I speak today as an encouragement for you to realize your  Christian responsibility to vote.

The present administration did inherit a mess, but the mess is even greater now in several areas.  Morality is spinning out of control, economics are sliding off the chart, infrastructure is failing, and the family is becoming weaker.  The US security is weaker across the world, the flag is disdained by most countries and the US is targeted by radicals by a three point plan to dismember our strength to bring us under Sharia law.  The reason for all of this is because we as a nation are turning from our spiritual moorings and worship of Jesus Christ.   We saw this in our study of Chronicles time and time again when God raised up enemy forces to cause Israel’s attention to return to the Lord.

I have read most of the GOP and DNC platforms. 

Let me give you four issues for you to consider:

1)      I believe Scripture teaches that life begins in the womb and any party or person promoting ending that life at the choice of a person, even the mother, shows a complete disregard for our Creator God.  The Republican platform only demands that the 75 million tax payer portion of the Planned Parenthood 1.1 billion budget not be provided by the government or the taxpayers.  The DNC “strongly and unequivocally supports Roe v. Wade and a woman’s right to make decisions regarding her pregnancy, including a safe and legal abortion, regardless of ability to pay,” i.e. Abortion on demand supported by the government

2)      The DNC platform promotes same sex marriage – and will not enforce the DOMA – Defense of Marriage Act, which is a union between one man and one woman.  The DNC platform “support marriage equality and support the movement to secure equal treatment under law for same-sex couples.”  This is completely incompatible with the Word of God.

3)      The GOP platform emphasizes a handle on fiscal responsibility.  The DNC wants the government to continue funding help to the allegedly disadvantaged.  I’m not sure what to do about 47 million on food stamps, but that number is beyond my understanding.  The recent QE3 to infinity will not only increase the national debt, but hamstring seniors who depend on a fixed income and destroy a solid monetary based for the poor who will suffer as prices increase, and they will increase.  There have been more “Acts”, whether the Recovery Act, the American Jobs Acts, Affordable Care Act, Lilly ledbetter fair pay act, paycheck fairness Act, and many others, that have been written in the last four years.  Each one brings more people under the economic handout of the government and therefore control of the government.  People are not working toward freedom, they are sliding into slave dependency on the government rather than the Lord.  I don’t condemn people who are caught in very difficult situations.  Use the situation to provide for your family so that you can get out and become independent of the government as soon as possible.  If someone is caught in a lifetime dependency on the government, I don’t condemn them.  We must understand, the government has never produced anything.  It only takes money from people in order to buy things from enterprise.  The President has stated before his presidency that he is for redistribution of wealth, a socialistic mechanism.  The DNC asks people to pay their fair share.  Fair share would seem like an equal percentage.  I do agree with both parties that loop holes should be closed so that no person in a higher income bracket can have enough loop holes to not pay taxes.  Simplify everything to a few taxes and you’ll shut down all the loopholes.  If someone controlled the present government waste, like the 500 Million that went to a company like Solyndra that shuts down within months, we would have fewer problems.  Someone must return the money to the tax payers.  Few of the recent administrations have done well in this.

4)      The right to bear arms.  The DNC platform states, “We believe that the right to own firearms is subject to reasonable regulation.”  This may lead to Judicial expediency vs. the constitution.  I am very concerned about where the DNC might take this in the future.  You have the right to protect yourself, not with bow and arrows, but with protection that you can afford and not cause harm on other innocent people.    


I won’t even bring up the problem that the DNC wanted God removed from the platform and the voice vote, while said by the chair that it was clear, seemed clear that a majority were louder in keeping God off the platform.

It’s not about politics; it’s about principle.  It’s not about race, it’s about righteousness.

Is the answer with the Republican party?  I don’t believe they have the answers in total either.  I don’t see how they will bring our economic problems under control any time soon.  My problem is I saw the previous Republican administration expand the national debt, grow the government and cause more people to become dependent on the government subsidies.  That’s all about power and control.  The government has just a few responsibilities and they are outlined in Romans 13.  The citizens have responsibility to feed themselves.  So what do you do about the greed inherent in free enterprise?  I despise that.  There is greed there, but also in power politics and control. That is there because we Christians, for 150 years, are not discipling our children and neighbors before God.  We are too comfortable and we are content with growing problems in our neighborhoods and communities, as long as it doesn’t affect us. 

There are other issues with the platforms. Let each one decide by his/her own conscience how they should vote. There are complicated issues. The main issue is America is walking away from her spiritual moorings. The answer is found in the gospel of Jesus Christ, not in a particular party. Unless the country returns to its foundation it will spin down the spiral into a third rate country.

Vote for the candidate who endorses the constitution and amendments as they were originally written.

 

 

 

Pretending World Peace

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I’m grateful for the relationship I have in Jesus Christ.  He keeps me on track with the truth.  It’s not a pretend relationship.  Because of that eternal relationship, I want to pursue Him with my entire being.   That gives me the practical outworking of His peace.  Paul writes, “and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Phi 4:7).  There are, however,  many unsettling issues in the world.  Some people might be very bothered and wonder, “What is happening?”

But let’s cut to the chase.  The uprisings in the Middle East against American interests are only the tip of the anger sword Islam is waving at America.  Ambassador Rice, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, says it was a spontaneous attack.  But the Libyan leader says it was pre-meditated, especially for the day on which it happen – 9-11.  For some reason, I’m more confident the Libyan leader, President El-Magariaf, is right.

I’m confident many are being pulled along by those who have set their mind against America and may not really know what they are doing.  Yet, the attacks on the embassy in Egypt, the killing of the four Americans in Libya, including the ambassador and several other attacks on embassies in Sudan, Yemen and Tunisia are not only from extremists.  They present the spread of not just American hatred, but what America represents – the stronghold of Christianity and support of Israel.

Let’s get wise America and the church!  We need to pray the White House wakes up.  They are playing the United States into the hands of a few. The WH is pretending they are asleep and you can’t wake up someone who is pretending they are asleep.  What is happening is no accident and it isn’t some spontaneous reaction from a film.  The film is only an excuse to expand Islam’s influence.  Steel up your thinking!

We need to grow in geo-political awareness.  Let’s get out of our comfort zone and prepare our mind for opportunities to shine the gospel of truth.  Are you ready to share the gospel with your neighbor?  Are you familiar with what the Koran says about you?  The only answer is found in the truth of the gospel.  In the mean time, become equipped mentally and practically.  Let’s not pretend everything is fine when it is not. 

Aurora

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Aurora

Last night, another tragedy has struck America.  The details will be laid out for us in the days ahead, but in the mean time at least 12 are dead and 50 wounded.  A tragedy like this could happen anywhere and families will become paralyzed with fear and bewilderment.  Take time to think through the repercussions and pray for the families involved.  This is not a game.  Thank God, He is still sovereign, faithful and merciful.

This incident shows the insidious nature of the wickedness of man’s heart.  When man is not in submission to the justice of God, he acts independently and causes havoc in the world mirroring the evil one.  That’s where we Christians, with merciful, open hearts, need to realize our part to set our minds on the things above and set our priorities on building God’s kingdom rather than going about our business thinking this would never happen close to home.  God will have his way and use His people for His glory if we trust Him and reach out to neighbors with the gospel.

Is there someone you know that needs an ear?  Is there a parent you know struggling with his/her child?  Is there a person who is functioning alone and needs the gospel? 

The world will spend inordinate amounts of time trying to define why this happened.  There are a multitude of contributing factors.  The biblical answer is what John wrote, “For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous.”  (1Jo 3:11-12)   The man killed and wounded because he did evil deeds and would not humble himself before the righteousness of God.

Does that excuse the rest of the world?  No, we all have a part to use our time, talents, treasures and truth to connect people to worship God, equip people to grow into the image of Christ and multiply ourselves to reach the world.  There is one answer to these actions and it is found in humble obedience to God’s word, first in becoming a new creation in Christ and secondly growing into Christ-likeness.  Let us commit ourselves to set our minds on the things above where Christ is and transform our world.  In that commitment, let us use the opportunity to listen to others as they process, yet again, another tragedy.

War on Poverty Man’s Way

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            In 1965 Lyndon Johnson declared war on poverty when 15% of America was under the “poverty” level.  His “deal” became a raw deal, because man will never solve his problems without the Grace of God.  We now spend 668 billion dollars per year on 126 programs.  We are still at the same level of poverty of 15%. God is not a part of the program. If you leave God out of any solution, you’ll have a temporary fix at best and a deceitful money pit of misery at worst.

            When a repentant woman came into a dinner engagement and anointed Jesus’ head with a very costly oil of spikenard, the indignant criticized her for this seemingly waste of resources.  Jesus told them to leave her alone and then said, “For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always.”  (Mark 14:7)  Jesus didn’t say, don’t help the poor, but you may do them good.  He also said they would always be with you.  In other words, we ought to do good by helping, but always in the name of Jesus, so Jesus is the reason for our help to them and they know the reason for the help they receive.  But we should also know that money and resources in themselves are not the solution to poverty as the raw deal has shown.

            Am I against the support the poor receive from the government?  Not really.  I believe the church should be the source of help, but the church is at a point, where it can hardly take care of its own.  Unfortunately, the government welfare level of support has risen 41% in the last three years alone, an astronomical figure and still there is no change to godliness or upward mobility of the poor.  The only true answer is a change of heart and seeking after God’s way.  Money has become one of the “gods of this age.”  People think money will solve theirs and the world’s problems.  It never will and never was meant to solve problems.

            What we can do is reach out to the poor through intentional outreach.  Grace does that through Servant’s Heart, individual ministries and the newly formed Outreach Ministry Team. Who can you tell about your relationship with Jesus Christ?