Unnecessary Death

Unnecessary Death

There are three ways to get out of this economic mess we’re in. We can borrow money. Not a very smart decision. Future generations will hate us for saddling them with a debt that will deprive them of the kind of lifestyle we enjoyed. China holds more than $1.5 trillion of U.S. debt. It is very understandable why they are so hesitant to buy any more of our debt in view of the fact our deficit next year will be $1.8 trillion.

A second way we can repair the wreckage is to print more money. When a private citizen does this it is a federal crime called counterfeiting. When the government does this it’s called presidential or congressional genius. The consequence of this practice is always rapid inflation as Jimmy Carter should regretfully admit.

A third way we can climb out of the mud is to use the natural wealth God has blessed us with. A message to the off-the-wall environmentalist: God gave us water, he expects us to use it wisely. He gave us trees, plants, vegetables and fruits, he expects us to be creative in our use of some of these gifts and nourish ourselves with others. The minerals he has hidden in the earth were preserved for our use in this age. He expects us to respectfully extract them and use them wisely.

How is it that a socialist country like Finland can offer “cradle to grave” benefits to its citizens and be flourishing economically while the U.S. social security system faces bankruptcy? How is it that a small, sassy dictator in Venezuela can become a respected voice in the world community? Why will Brazil be a strong voice in the future? What is China doing that we are not doing? These countries are cashing in on vast natural resources that bring billions into their economies yearly.

Our failure to do the same seems very dim witted to me. Louisiana provides 80,000 jobs and brings in hundreds of millions from their off-shore oil industry. California is going down the tube as they refuse to tap into their huge off-shore resources. China adds a coal-fired power plant every month in their country while President Obama has shut down all construction on coal-fired power plants in the U.S.

It’s like a man dying of thirst while lying helplessly beside a rushing mountain stream. It’s just insane!!

A Frustrated Jesus

A Frustrated Jesus

We've all spoken too sharply at times. It seems those harsh words that fly out of our mouths before we know it are most often aimed at the people we love most. They spill out of our mouths as a result of frustration or disappointment or anger. I recently had to apologize to my 4 year old son for speaking to harshly to him because he was slow to obey. Does Christ feel those same frustrations when we are slow to obey?

While studying the 9th chapter of Luke I came across words of Jesus that seemed to reveal a pretty intense level of frustration. A man came to Christ with his son who was possessed by an evil spirit. He asked Christ if he could cast out the spirit and then indicated that he had asked the disciples to do it but they could not. Jesus' answer seems pretty terse; "O unbelieving and perverse generation, how long shall I stay with you and put up with you? Is Jesus irritated, disturbed, annoyed, dissatisfied?

Luke 9:1 reveals that Jesus had provided them with the necessary means to do what they had failed to do. "When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases" So, why had they failed to cast out the demon? They were paralyzed by their unbelief. Lack of faith and powerlessness are slothful sisters that weaken us and frustrate Jesus.

Jesus gave them reason for their failure in Matthew 17 "If you have the faith of a grain of mustard seed, you shall move mountains. Nothing will be impossilbe for you. But this kind doesn't go out without much prayer and fasting. No great thing was ever done for God without much prayer!

In this chapter the disciples witness great and phenomenal things. They witness the feeding of the 5,000. They witness the transfiguration and the casting out of demons. Jesus began to speak to them of how he would soon be taken. And how do they respond? They become involved in a pithy argument about whom among them would be the greatest! Their pride prevented them from being affective for Christ. Pride is the seed for every sin. No wonder Jesus was questioning how long he would have to put up with them!

Are we a blessing to Jesus or is he just bearing with us? Are we a joy to Him or are we breaking his heart. Are we receiving his outpouring or is he just putting up with us?May God help us to flee from our distractions and set our minds on One who is worth living for and dying for. God help us to make the necessary sacrifices in this world in order to attain the blessings that await us in the next.

"Freedom Restricted, Freedom Lost"

"Freedom Restricted, Freedom Lost"

“Freedom Restricted, Freedom Lost”Someone said that “freedom restricted is freedom lost”. I don’t really question the motives of the powerbrokers in Washington. Deep within I want to believe that these people are just mislead and theyreally think that what they are doing is the best thing for the country. But, the determination to restrict our freedoms is nothing less than tyranny.

Since Barack Hussein Obama has become president our government has been expanding at the speed of light. He and his lieutenants believe that an empowered government is much better than a free market system. They sincerely believe that our present economic problems are actually the fault of our free market system. The solution is to take control away from individuals and corporations and empower the government to solve our economic problems.

They fail to acknowledge that pretty much every thing the government has tried to run has been a failure: Medicare, Welfare, Education, Social Security, Healthcare, etc, etc. How arrogant are they to believe they can run GM or America’s banks!! The latest power grab is the TRACE Act of 2009. (Tracing and Recalling Agricultural Contamination Everywhere Act) The government will now try to control the production, growth and distribution of all food. Under this act, you will have to register the tomato plants growing beside your garage. If you intend to grow food you will have to submit a written plan to the government for approval!! All in the name of food safety!

The Clean Water Restoration Act will give the government control over how much water is available to water your garden. I don’t think this is a caring government concerned about the welfare of its population. It seems more like a tyrannical, out-of-control government more interested in grabbing up land, wealth and power over its citizens.

There is a certain amount of injustice that seems to accompany freedom. Some cows will be diseased. Some vegetables may be contaminated. I’d rather deal with the injustice of living in a sin affected world than live under a tyrannical, club wielding government.

Do This More and More

Do this more and more

Its not a perfect analogy but I think it has value. Our human relationships mirror our relationship with God.

The first time I met the woman who would become my wife I was intrigued. I became very creative in developing opportunities to cross paths with her and have conversations with her. I soon began courting her. We only become Christians after we have been courted by God himself. Our relationship with him was his idea first. John 6:44 "No man can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him..."

After several years of courting I finally proposed. I remember very well the time and the place. I bought the ring, I popped the question and thankfully she said yes or I would have a very expensive ring I could never wear. Christ asks us to come to him. He has no obligation to keep asking if we say no.

There followed a time of engagement. We really got to know each other well. During this time there is still opportunity to 'chicken out'. But, as true love grows there is a feeling that I want something deeper, something more. There are so many who begin the journey toward God but they never finish it. Someone or some thing interferes and the relationship breaks down.

A wedding took place on June 15, 2001. We made a promise to love and cherish each other forever. We gave up certain freedoms that we had owned for the sake of the relationship. The longing for something deeper was now experienced. Anyone who is saved will experience a desire for something deeper. This longing for more of Christ is expressed in a total consecration to him. I belong to him and him alone! We refer to it as sanctification, a setting apart or being made holy in his image.

Shannon and I have lived in marriage for many years. There are things to learn. There are mountains to climb. There are battles to be won. Marriage is a wonderful gift of God but it doesn't come without a price to pay. God is never satisfied with a shallow, surface relationship. So, he throws a lot of curves at us. It is the hard things that build strong character in the relationship.

A Christian never completes his sanctification. It is an ongoing process that lasts a lifetime.The sanctified life is like one who goes on a diet. He might try different programs. He might buy certain exercise equipment. He may curb his consumption. But, the bottom line is if he is going to lose weight he must change his lifestyle. To be truly sanctified doesn't mean we try this and we try that, it means we allow Christ to change our lifestyle. It is an anomaly of sorts. You arrive at sanctification but you are also always arriving. It's not just one step at a time, it's diving in, it's immersing oneself in Christ. 1 Thessalonians 4:1 "Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more."

It Is What He Puts In Us

It Is What He Puts In Us

Everyone knows what it means to be forgiven. Its a very commonly used word. But so few seem to understand what is means to be sanctified. Sanctification is a church term that is hardly used in everyday life. When we are forgiven, He cleanses us, He takes the sin out of our hearts. But, a void exists and a void always begs to be filled. Sanctification is filling the void with His love. It is learning to love God "with all your heart and soul." (Deut. 30:6) But, it is also learning to "love your neighbor as yourself." (Luke 10:27)

Many yearn to love in this way. It is required that we give ourselves entirely to God. We must be fully committed. We must cast out the other idols in our lives for Christ makes very clear that He will not share the throne of our hearts with any other. We give ourselves totally to Christ because we need Him to do in us what we cannot do for ourselves!

Beware not to feel too haughty about giving yourself entirely to Him. Frankly, we are not really giving much. In our sinful and carnal state we really have nothing to offer. Have you seen the new 2010 Mercedes-Benz? Wow. What if someone offered to give you a Mercedes-Benz? You might be pretty excited about that until you realized that the Mercedes they were offering was an unrestored 1912 model with a crank on his front end that was rusted out and inoperable. Something to look at but nothing more.

When we give ourselves to God he goes to work on us. Sanctification is God purifying us. Restoring us and making us useful. It's an engine overhaul. A new set of tires. A fresh coat of paint. Until He does this we are pretty much useless and of little value.When the vehicle is restored it still won't run unless it is filled with fuel. Sanctification is God energizing and fueling us with the infilling of his Holy Spirit. It is his reminder to us that anything we become or anything we accompllish is not of our own merit, it is the Holy Spirit living in us and working through us.Are you sanctified, set apart, cleansed, empowered to do God's will? Are you equipped to live your life for God's glory?

Why were they so amazed?

Why were they so amazed??

Jesus gave his disciples power to heal the sick, to cast out demons, to preach the gospel and to cure diseases. Amazing!!
There is recorded a conversation in Luke 9 between Jesus and his disciples. He asked them, “Who do these people say that I am?” They replied, “Some say you are Elijah and still others say you are a prophet from long ago.” Then the impulsive disciple speaks up and says, “You are Christ, the son of God.”
The disciples certainly got some things right but they also left themselves open for a lot of reproof from the Savior. He scolded them for wanting to send the multitudes away instead of feeding them. He scolded them for arguing among themselves who would be the greatest among them. He ignored their silly idea of wanting to make monuments to honor men instead of giving glory to God.
After all of this, a man whose only son was afflicted by demonic activity came to the disciples for healing but they were helpless against the demons. So he came to Jesus. Jesus answered his request and they were all amazed at the greatness of God. Then Jesus rebuked his disciples again for their lack of faith. If they really truly believe him to be the Son of God, why were they so amazed? "O unbelieving and perverse generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you and put up with you?”
He had already given them the power to cast out demons, they just didn’t have the faith necessary to use the gift they had received. How little are we actually doing for Christ 2000 years later? What are his expectations for us? He is still the Son of God!!
I remember my grown sons striving so hard to live up to their father’s expectations when they played little league baseball as small children. Are we trying to live up to our heavenly father’s expectations? Has he changed? Has he lowered his expectations for his followers? How long since you’ve seen the sick miraculously healed? How long since you’ve seen the tormented delivered from his demons? How long since you’ve heard a message so powerful in the Spirit that the congregation left the church in speechless wonder?
He is the same God with the same expectations. If these things are not being done it is due to our lack of faith.

Where is the United States in Bible Prophecy?

Where is the United States in Bible Prophecy?

The United States is the most powerful and wealthy country in the history of the world. So, where does this extraordinary country fit into the biblical prophecy of the last days? The Bible indicates that in the last days there will be four relevant kingdoms. If these are the last days then these four kingdoms seem to be in China, Russia, the Islamic world and the European Union. How could the United States be left out of the mix???

Some have tried to force the issue by inserting the U.S. into certain prophecies but all are pretty unconvincing. It’s like trying to force a square peg into a round hole. The only other option is to believe that in the last days the U.S. will be relegated to irrelevance. How might this happen? Perhaps we will all be wiped out by a disease like the Swine Flu? Perhaps our enemies will successfully launch an EMP attack on us which would pretty much relegate us back to the 19th century. Or maybe we will disintegrate internally as the issues that divide us like abortion, gay marriage, education and now capitalism continue to cut a deeper rift into our collective soul. Hal Lindsey suggests that perhaps the rapture will so decimate the country that we will not be able to reorganize in time to play a significant part in the coming tribulation.

I don’t know why the United States can not be clearly identified in biblical prophecy as other countries are. I’m not convinced yet that the U.S. will not play a significant role in the unfolding of events in the last days. But, I’m aware along with thousands of other Americans that the U.S. seems to have reached its apex and is now experiencing a decline in its economic and military influence. No pitcher wants to come out of the game unless they’ve been severely injured. Standing along the sidelines while someone else carries the ball will be an uncomfortable position Americans are unfamiliar with.