“Therefore, confess ( the original tense is in the present participle;
which would have better been translated ‘be confessing’)
your sins to one another, and pray for one another,
so that you may be healed.
The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” James 5:16
I am forever amazed how often we saints of God live in physical and spiritual defeat. All of us realize, and most of us glory in the inheritance we know we will be receiving when our Lord returns and takes us unto Himself for all eternity. What amazes me, however, is that most of us don’t realize the inheritance we have now. We are the righteousness of God, not because of our deeds, but because Jesus made us such when He gave His blood for our sins at Calvary.
I’m relatively sure we’re all familiar with the verses in Ephesians 6 that admonish us to take on the full armor or God so we can stand strong in the battle against evil. But, I suspect most of us forget Jesus’ admonition to his disciples in Matthew 16 when he tells Peter the gates of hell shall not prevail against the church. It appears the church (God’s congregation of warriors) in America thinks we should be living in a defensive posture, vainly trying to hold what little ground we have taken. We are living as paupers and a defeated army because we have forgotten we are children of the King. God tells us the gates of hell shall not prevail against the church. That means we are supposed to be on the offensive, not the defensive.
Most of us apparently don’t believe God wants to heal both our physical and spiritual infirmities. Most of us seem to think God wants to bring glory to his name by strengthening us spiritually in the midst of our physically infirmities, so we can testify to those around us how joyful in Christ we are in spite of those physical problems we are patiently enduring. James 5:15 does not say, and the prayer offered in faith will enable the one who is sick be joyful in the midst of his sickness. It does say, “. . . and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.” Consider this, it’s impossible for a soldier to march forward into the strongholds of the enemy while he is lying on his back. And, I am abundantly aware God does not heal everyone of every disease every time prayer is offered seeking that end. And critical to the context of James 5 is the church and it's godly leadership known as Elders. I was asked the other day if Elders have some special kind of dispensation, to which I immediately replied, "Absolutely!" Of course that special dispensation only applies to elders who meet the biblical instruction for their selection as provided in I Timothy 3, Titus 1, and Eph 4.
I suggest however that God doesn’t respond to most of our prayers asking that a brother be healed of an infirmity because He knows full well that brother isn’t living like a soldier to begin with (James 4:3). He knows that brother only wants to be healed so he can continue living the self-indulgent, impotent, ineffective, unfruitful life he lived before the sickness. God wants to heal us for service not to ease our pain and discomfort. He wants to heal us because it brings glory and honor to His Name. He wants to heal us because He loves us. He wants to heal us because healed soldiers make the best warriors. He wants to heal us because we are the saints of righteousness fighting a battle with demons from the kingdom of hell. If you’re too old and worn out to be of any use as a soldier any longer, just pray God will ease your pain and He may do that, especially if you lived like a soldier when you were well.
If, on the other hand, you are ready to get back into the battle fighting for the lives of those lost souls who surround you every day of your life, call for the elders of the church, let them pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. The immutable God of the universe, through His inerrant word, says He will restore you and raise you up (James 5:14, 15). The only thing you have to decide is whether or not you believe Him?
Living in Christ’s Love,
Brother Dave
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Make Sure Your Treasure is Fireproof
“Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.” (I Cor. 10:14)
At first glance, one might be tempted to say, we don’t worship idols in America. That’s done in pagan countries. And I suppose in a sense that’s true. Most of us don’t set up a figurine before us and bow down to it. I think it is important however for all of us to consider that most of us do have something(s) in our life to which we are so attached that it keeps us from being used effectively by God to minister to the needs of others. Jeff Foxworthy speaks about how one can tell if he might be a redneck. I frequently ask myself if I might not be an idolater, if I believe others will be more impressed with my personal testimony because I drive a Cadillac rather than a Ford, if I tell God I’d be happy to go the mission field, but I have too many responsibilities right now, if I think I’d have a lot more time to witness if I were financially independent; and the list goes on, if I want a bigger, fancier boat so I can take more people out fishing, if I want more, more, more, when I already have so many “things” I could sell them and live comfortably for the rest of my life in most countries without ever working again.
Most contemporary westerners have an incredibly distorted concept of how to measure success, and I’m relatively certain it all began with my generation. We are goal driven to be sure; and that wouldn’t be so bad except that for most of us, those goals are to acquire things like huge houses, several fancy cars, big boats, ATVs, SUVs, 60 “ plasma screen TVs, 1000 watt surround sound stereo systems, Rolex watches, 3 karat diamond rings, and mounds of gold jewelry. To say that our society is obsessed with declaring ourselves accomplished is to grossly minimize the problem.
I am convinced the main reason so many of us fail to speak out against ungodliness when we have the chance to do so is our desire to make sure we do nothing that will jeopardize the important and comfortable position to which we have risen in this earthly life. It is often more important to us to maintain the status quo and not to upset the proverbial apple cart than to model godliness to those around us. I am likewise convinced that is our twenty-first century, All-American version, of idolatry. I am not suggesting there is anything ungodly about modest possessions. I am suggesting that most of us in America have forgotten, or never knew, the wondrous joy of leading a lost soul to the saving knowledge of Jesus, because we’re too busy maintaining those possessions we believe convince our friends and neighbors we are so successful. God, speaking to us through the apostle Paul, makes it abundantly clear not one physical thing we own will enter with us into eternity. It will all burn up in the fire. However, every lost soul help find his way into the kingdom of God, by our lives and our words, will be jewels in the crown we will wear for eternity.
A dear friend and brother in Christ just recently took a solid biblical principle (an example of twentieth century idolatry) and applied it to his life. He realized his family was more important than his job. He decided the tears of his daughter that came because he had missed an important event in her life, were enough to cause him to tell his boss he wasn't going to continue missing out on his children's lives for his job. Of course, all of us who need jobs to pay our bills have to find the godly path He would have us take. We can't just up and quit a job because it is an inconvenience. But if we have our priorities in line with God's word, we can discern when our job is making it impossible to be the godly father and husband we must be to be pleasing to Him.
In closing, I leave you with this one last thought taken from Mark 8:36, “What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” I think it's also crucial to ask ourselves, “What shall it profit a man to gain the whole world and not help others enter into the kingdom of God?” If you're not bearing fruit, it may be because you're too busy making sure you and your family have all those great things that will burn up in the fire (I Cor. 3:13-15; Jude 23; II Pet. 3:7).
Love in Jesus,
Brother Dave
“Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.” (I Cor. 10:14)
At first glance, one might be tempted to say, we don’t worship idols in America. That’s done in pagan countries. And I suppose in a sense that’s true. Most of us don’t set up a figurine before us and bow down to it. I think it is important however for all of us to consider that most of us do have something(s) in our life to which we are so attached that it keeps us from being used effectively by God to minister to the needs of others. Jeff Foxworthy speaks about how one can tell if he might be a redneck. I frequently ask myself if I might not be an idolater, if I believe others will be more impressed with my personal testimony because I drive a Cadillac rather than a Ford, if I tell God I’d be happy to go the mission field, but I have too many responsibilities right now, if I think I’d have a lot more time to witness if I were financially independent; and the list goes on, if I want a bigger, fancier boat so I can take more people out fishing, if I want more, more, more, when I already have so many “things” I could sell them and live comfortably for the rest of my life in most countries without ever working again.
Most contemporary westerners have an incredibly distorted concept of how to measure success, and I’m relatively certain it all began with my generation. We are goal driven to be sure; and that wouldn’t be so bad except that for most of us, those goals are to acquire things like huge houses, several fancy cars, big boats, ATVs, SUVs, 60 “ plasma screen TVs, 1000 watt surround sound stereo systems, Rolex watches, 3 karat diamond rings, and mounds of gold jewelry. To say that our society is obsessed with declaring ourselves accomplished is to grossly minimize the problem.
I am convinced the main reason so many of us fail to speak out against ungodliness when we have the chance to do so is our desire to make sure we do nothing that will jeopardize the important and comfortable position to which we have risen in this earthly life. It is often more important to us to maintain the status quo and not to upset the proverbial apple cart than to model godliness to those around us. I am likewise convinced that is our twenty-first century, All-American version, of idolatry. I am not suggesting there is anything ungodly about modest possessions. I am suggesting that most of us in America have forgotten, or never knew, the wondrous joy of leading a lost soul to the saving knowledge of Jesus, because we’re too busy maintaining those possessions we believe convince our friends and neighbors we are so successful. God, speaking to us through the apostle Paul, makes it abundantly clear not one physical thing we own will enter with us into eternity. It will all burn up in the fire. However, every lost soul help find his way into the kingdom of God, by our lives and our words, will be jewels in the crown we will wear for eternity.
A dear friend and brother in Christ just recently took a solid biblical principle (an example of twentieth century idolatry) and applied it to his life. He realized his family was more important than his job. He decided the tears of his daughter that came because he had missed an important event in her life, were enough to cause him to tell his boss he wasn't going to continue missing out on his children's lives for his job. Of course, all of us who need jobs to pay our bills have to find the godly path He would have us take. We can't just up and quit a job because it is an inconvenience. But if we have our priorities in line with God's word, we can discern when our job is making it impossible to be the godly father and husband we must be to be pleasing to Him.
In closing, I leave you with this one last thought taken from Mark 8:36, “What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” I think it's also crucial to ask ourselves, “What shall it profit a man to gain the whole world and not help others enter into the kingdom of God?” If you're not bearing fruit, it may be because you're too busy making sure you and your family have all those great things that will burn up in the fire (I Cor. 3:13-15; Jude 23; II Pet. 3:7).
Love in Jesus,
Brother Dave
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Choosing A Spouse
Sermons, and I suppose books, have been or could be written about the incident in Genesis where we read that Abraham sent his servant Eliezar to Haran to get a wife for Isaac. Over and again, in the Old Testament, we see arranged marriages that worked incredibly well. They were based on things like cultural background, financial status, breeding (another term for family values), and religious preference. Such thinking is not necessarily prejudice, but it is discriminatory. I believe such discrimination is both wise and godly. I humbly suggest the fact that we, in this country, allow our young, teenage children to choose their own lifetime mate is evidence enough that such a system doesn’t work. Our national divorce statistics alone amply support such a conclusion. While I’m not suggesting we’ll ever be able, in western culture, to insist that a daughter has no say about whom she marries, I am suggesting parents should be playing a major role in assisting their children in finding a marriage partner.
One of the most disgusting traditions in the history of mankind is practiced openly and by nearly all western cultures. I have recently heard it called recreational dating, and that description is incredibly insightful. Actually, it is a rather recent occurrence that arrived on the scene with two, turn of the century phenomenon, the car and the woman’s liberation movement. Prior to the arrival of these two things onto the scene in western culture, courting was the norm. A single man and woman of good reputation were never allowed to be alone together. A man had to get permission from a woman's parents to court her. The only purpose of courting was to find a wife. And parents had the final say as to whether or not their daughter was allowed to marry the man courting her. Neither time nor space permit me to expand on the manifold problems that came with the auto and the infamous woman's liberation movement. At least one book could be written about the long term dastardly impact each has had on the family in America. I have written more extensively about the problem in my book titled Raising Godly Children in a Pagan Society. I will only point out here that recreational dating has devastated American families, probably more than any other single factor. It is in direct contradiction to everything the bible has to say on the topic. It is the breeding ground for the “Try it to see if you like it,” mentality that is directly linked to the divorce rate in this country. If you are raising children in this culture, you need to read my book on Raising Godly Children in a Pagan Society, and you need to keep your children out of the public school system. I do not give such advice lightly. I was a public school teacher filling various assignments for over twenty-eight years, so I know about what I speak. Do not swallow the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on true followers of Christ for many decades that your child will be a light shining in the darkness. Please trust me when I tell you, he or she will be squashed like any one of those millions of bugs that get sacrificed on the windshields and grills of cars yearly if you place him under the authority of public school demagogues.
The overwhelming number of administrators, teachers, and service personnel in that system are atheists, left wing radical socialists, fascists, dictators whose number one goal in life is to indoctrinate those under their care into their ideological cult; and they call it education. These freaks of nature are godless, lifeless spirits who drink too much, smoke too much, gamble too much, party too hardy, lack any sense of godly morality, engage in the sexual exploitation of our children, and a huge contingency of them live with multiple sex partners, both hetero and homo sexually. I humbly suggest if you commit your, less than adult, children to being a light shining in that dungeon of depravity, you are, though possibly quite unintentionally, sacrificing them on the altar of Baal. Children of men and women who call themselves followers of Christ have a right to expect more from their parents.
Finally, choosing one's spouse, as practiced in western culture, is kind of like a crap shoot. Place your bet, roll the dice, cross your fingers, and hope you don't crap out. Unfortunately, approximately 54% of marriages in America do just that. If that number alone doesn't sufficiently frighten you parents of little children, I suggest you have no right to have them. It is not a pithy little saying that today's children are tomorrows leaders. It is a fact to which we had best pay closer attention. It is a fact that should cause us to take a serious look at that boy or girl who has plans to spend time with the child for whom God has given us the responsibility to raise. Ethics and morality in America is spiraling downward at an alarming pace. the God of creation is not pleased with America; and He is our only hope. True followers of Christ, kneeling at His altar, seeking His face, and confessing their sin, are the one last chance this country has to stand firm on His promises and reap the benefits of His blessing (Jer. 18:7-10)
God Bless,
Brother Dave
Sermons, and I suppose books, have been or could be written about the incident in Genesis where we read that Abraham sent his servant Eliezar to Haran to get a wife for Isaac. Over and again, in the Old Testament, we see arranged marriages that worked incredibly well. They were based on things like cultural background, financial status, breeding (another term for family values), and religious preference. Such thinking is not necessarily prejudice, but it is discriminatory. I believe such discrimination is both wise and godly. I humbly suggest the fact that we, in this country, allow our young, teenage children to choose their own lifetime mate is evidence enough that such a system doesn’t work. Our national divorce statistics alone amply support such a conclusion. While I’m not suggesting we’ll ever be able, in western culture, to insist that a daughter has no say about whom she marries, I am suggesting parents should be playing a major role in assisting their children in finding a marriage partner.
One of the most disgusting traditions in the history of mankind is practiced openly and by nearly all western cultures. I have recently heard it called recreational dating, and that description is incredibly insightful. Actually, it is a rather recent occurrence that arrived on the scene with two, turn of the century phenomenon, the car and the woman’s liberation movement. Prior to the arrival of these two things onto the scene in western culture, courting was the norm. A single man and woman of good reputation were never allowed to be alone together. A man had to get permission from a woman's parents to court her. The only purpose of courting was to find a wife. And parents had the final say as to whether or not their daughter was allowed to marry the man courting her. Neither time nor space permit me to expand on the manifold problems that came with the auto and the infamous woman's liberation movement. At least one book could be written about the long term dastardly impact each has had on the family in America. I have written more extensively about the problem in my book titled Raising Godly Children in a Pagan Society. I will only point out here that recreational dating has devastated American families, probably more than any other single factor. It is in direct contradiction to everything the bible has to say on the topic. It is the breeding ground for the “Try it to see if you like it,” mentality that is directly linked to the divorce rate in this country. If you are raising children in this culture, you need to read my book on Raising Godly Children in a Pagan Society, and you need to keep your children out of the public school system. I do not give such advice lightly. I was a public school teacher filling various assignments for over twenty-eight years, so I know about what I speak. Do not swallow the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on true followers of Christ for many decades that your child will be a light shining in the darkness. Please trust me when I tell you, he or she will be squashed like any one of those millions of bugs that get sacrificed on the windshields and grills of cars yearly if you place him under the authority of public school demagogues.
The overwhelming number of administrators, teachers, and service personnel in that system are atheists, left wing radical socialists, fascists, dictators whose number one goal in life is to indoctrinate those under their care into their ideological cult; and they call it education. These freaks of nature are godless, lifeless spirits who drink too much, smoke too much, gamble too much, party too hardy, lack any sense of godly morality, engage in the sexual exploitation of our children, and a huge contingency of them live with multiple sex partners, both hetero and homo sexually. I humbly suggest if you commit your, less than adult, children to being a light shining in that dungeon of depravity, you are, though possibly quite unintentionally, sacrificing them on the altar of Baal. Children of men and women who call themselves followers of Christ have a right to expect more from their parents.
Finally, choosing one's spouse, as practiced in western culture, is kind of like a crap shoot. Place your bet, roll the dice, cross your fingers, and hope you don't crap out. Unfortunately, approximately 54% of marriages in America do just that. If that number alone doesn't sufficiently frighten you parents of little children, I suggest you have no right to have them. It is not a pithy little saying that today's children are tomorrows leaders. It is a fact to which we had best pay closer attention. It is a fact that should cause us to take a serious look at that boy or girl who has plans to spend time with the child for whom God has given us the responsibility to raise. Ethics and morality in America is spiraling downward at an alarming pace. the God of creation is not pleased with America; and He is our only hope. True followers of Christ, kneeling at His altar, seeking His face, and confessing their sin, are the one last chance this country has to stand firm on His promises and reap the benefits of His blessing (Jer. 18:7-10)
God Bless,
Brother Dave
The Doctrine of Election
Ephesians 1:4
Ephesians 1:4 reads, ”. . . just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.” Four key thoughts stand out in this short verse:
1. God chose us before the foundation of the world. You see, our security rests on the fact, not that we accidentally came across a believer at just the right time to hear the gospel and get saved, but on the fact that God chose us before the foundation of the world. He then used a faithful believer who would speak the words of salvation to which we would respond. And the glorious truth is that He will use each of us for that same purpose if we will be obedient to speak those words of salvation when God brings one he has chosen to us to hear the gospel.
2. We should be holy. God’s purpose for saving us is that we should be holy. There are lots of reasons we should be holy. One of the most significant is that our being holy is the magnet that draws others to us. Being holy is the same as being a light in the darkness.
3. We should be without blame. Of course when God sees us through Jesus’ shed blood on the cross, He sees us without blame. But this admonition is important because just like the previous admonition to be holy, being without blame, causes others to look at us and see something they don’t see in the multitude of lost souls of this world around us. Thus, those who were chosen before the foundation of the world are drawn to us because they want what they see we have when we live a life of integrity.
4. We walk before Him in love. This admonition seems as if it might be the easiest one of all to follow; yet, I suspect it is the most difficult. Sadly, most of us in western society have a convoluted idea of this word love. We’re told by our Greek scholars there are three words in the Greek that we translate into the word love; I think we miss the point when we begin delving into such distinctions. I think, in one sense, it’s a lot simpler than all that. I suspect God only had one thing in mind when He commanded us to love one another and that’s defined as well as it can be defined in I Corinthians 13. What we discover there is that God’s love is a choice, not an emotion. Godly emotions are the natural overflow of all right choices. When one leads with his emotions he usually gets belted on the chin.
Devine love is a test of the character of the one administering it. It has nothing to do with the character of the one being loved. Devine love is where the rubber meets the road in Christian theology. It doesn’t exist when there is no overt positive action on the part of the one loving. And that’s our thought for the day.
In Christ,
Brother Dave
Ephesians 1:4
Ephesians 1:4 reads, ”. . . just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.” Four key thoughts stand out in this short verse:
1. God chose us before the foundation of the world. You see, our security rests on the fact, not that we accidentally came across a believer at just the right time to hear the gospel and get saved, but on the fact that God chose us before the foundation of the world. He then used a faithful believer who would speak the words of salvation to which we would respond. And the glorious truth is that He will use each of us for that same purpose if we will be obedient to speak those words of salvation when God brings one he has chosen to us to hear the gospel.
2. We should be holy. God’s purpose for saving us is that we should be holy. There are lots of reasons we should be holy. One of the most significant is that our being holy is the magnet that draws others to us. Being holy is the same as being a light in the darkness.
3. We should be without blame. Of course when God sees us through Jesus’ shed blood on the cross, He sees us without blame. But this admonition is important because just like the previous admonition to be holy, being without blame, causes others to look at us and see something they don’t see in the multitude of lost souls of this world around us. Thus, those who were chosen before the foundation of the world are drawn to us because they want what they see we have when we live a life of integrity.
4. We walk before Him in love. This admonition seems as if it might be the easiest one of all to follow; yet, I suspect it is the most difficult. Sadly, most of us in western society have a convoluted idea of this word love. We’re told by our Greek scholars there are three words in the Greek that we translate into the word love; I think we miss the point when we begin delving into such distinctions. I think, in one sense, it’s a lot simpler than all that. I suspect God only had one thing in mind when He commanded us to love one another and that’s defined as well as it can be defined in I Corinthians 13. What we discover there is that God’s love is a choice, not an emotion. Godly emotions are the natural overflow of all right choices. When one leads with his emotions he usually gets belted on the chin.
Devine love is a test of the character of the one administering it. It has nothing to do with the character of the one being loved. Devine love is where the rubber meets the road in Christian theology. It doesn’t exist when there is no overt positive action on the part of the one loving. And that’s our thought for the day.
In Christ,
Brother Dave
Friday, July 17, 2009
Top of the morning to all of you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
Our focus today is on Luke 10:20. In this account, Jesus had sent out seventy of his disciples to on a missionary journey in verse 1. He gives them several instructions among which is this one found in verse 9, “And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near to you.’” They return in verse 17 rejoicing because even the demons were subject to them. Jesus concedes that point, but He responds, “Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” Hallelujah, praise God almighty in the name of Jesus! Can anyone imagine a more glorious truth than that? Our names are written in heaven! Dwell on that the next time the trials in this life get you down.
Our focus today is on Luke 10:20. In this account, Jesus had sent out seventy of his disciples to on a missionary journey in verse 1. He gives them several instructions among which is this one found in verse 9, “And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near to you.’” They return in verse 17 rejoicing because even the demons were subject to them. Jesus concedes that point, but He responds, “Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” Hallelujah, praise God almighty in the name of Jesus! Can anyone imagine a more glorious truth than that? Our names are written in heaven! Dwell on that the next time the trials in this life get you down.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Listen
Mark 4:24 says, "Take care what you listen to." It seems listening is a lost art in America. I can't begin to tell you the number of times I have been talking to someone, almost on a daily basis, who interrupted me in the middle of a point and began talking as if he hadn't heard a word I said. I especially notice this trait in others because I still struggle with it myself. (to be continued this evening)
Mark 4:24 says, "Take care what you listen to." It seems listening is a lost art in America. I can't begin to tell you the number of times I have been talking to someone, almost on a daily basis, who interrupted me in the middle of a point and began talking as if he hadn't heard a word I said. I especially notice this trait in others because I still struggle with it myself. (to be continued this evening)
Monday, July 13, 2009
Relent Concerning the Calamity
We had small groups last evening, and I desire to praise our heavenly Father and His Son, our Lord Jesus for the incredible learning and fellowship we enjoyed. It was the quintessential example of what desiring God does for the body of Christ. I have to go to work this morning, so I will finish this blog when I get home, but I wanted to begin this day with praise, so I pray all of the other groups of our humble fellowship enjoyed similar or better joy as they met together. I was reading Jeremiah this morning in my studies and was especially blessed with 18:7-10. In those verses, God promises to change his plan to destroy any nation that repents and turns to Him, even though they were evil in the past. Specifically the NAS reads, "I will relent concerning the calamity I planned to bring on it." I would like to humbly suggest followers of Jesus need to get down on their knees and beseech the God of the universe to move mightily in His body to get them into the streets to preach the gospel including this message He gave to Jeremiah some 2,700 years ago.
I suspect, as I have often stated publicly, God's wrath is about to be poured out on America for its continued apathetic reaction to His truths. The very fact that an unregenerated mndless airhead like Barak Obama could get elected to the Presidency of this country is a clear indication of the spiritual vacuum that exists in "Christian" circles in this country. And for those of you who think those words are inappropriate to use when talking about our President, I would remind you of two things. First, I am quiet aware BHO has more than air in his head. And I'm quite aware he has a mind, though I haven't seen him use it much so far. I use these terms to describe him using a writing style called hyperbole. I exaggerate on purpose to make a point. Second, I do not claim him as my President. I truly believe he is the most despicable man to ever fill the position, and I find it unbearable to acknowledge he actually got elected. I know that is a problem I have to work out, though I pray daily his entire entourage will somehow be booted out of office for ethics violations or something like that. Of course I know that's not going to happen, but it keeps me sane just considering the possibility.
Back to revival in America, I pray daily those who actually follow Jesus will follow His lead and go into the streets proclaiming the gospel to any who will listen. It's time to wake up and smell the burning souls bound for eternity in hell, (they need to hear the gospel too), and bring the elect into the sheepfold. I suspect the way the world is going, the judgment of Revelation 6-9 is soon coming upon the world.
I still pray God will bless America
I suspect, as I have often stated publicly, God's wrath is about to be poured out on America for its continued apathetic reaction to His truths. The very fact that an unregenerated mndless airhead like Barak Obama could get elected to the Presidency of this country is a clear indication of the spiritual vacuum that exists in "Christian" circles in this country. And for those of you who think those words are inappropriate to use when talking about our President, I would remind you of two things. First, I am quiet aware BHO has more than air in his head. And I'm quite aware he has a mind, though I haven't seen him use it much so far. I use these terms to describe him using a writing style called hyperbole. I exaggerate on purpose to make a point. Second, I do not claim him as my President. I truly believe he is the most despicable man to ever fill the position, and I find it unbearable to acknowledge he actually got elected. I know that is a problem I have to work out, though I pray daily his entire entourage will somehow be booted out of office for ethics violations or something like that. Of course I know that's not going to happen, but it keeps me sane just considering the possibility.
Back to revival in America, I pray daily those who actually follow Jesus will follow His lead and go into the streets proclaiming the gospel to any who will listen. It's time to wake up and smell the burning souls bound for eternity in hell, (they need to hear the gospel too), and bring the elect into the sheepfold. I suspect the way the world is going, the judgment of Revelation 6-9 is soon coming upon the world.
I still pray God will bless America
Sunday, July 12, 2009
They are Stupid Children
"For My people are foolish, they know Me not; they are stupid children and have no understanding. They are shrewd to do evil, but to do good they do not know." (Jer. 4:22)
"To whom shall I speak and give warning that they may hear? behold their ears are closed and they cannot listen. Behold, the word of the Lord has become a reproach to them; they have no delight in it. But I am full of the wrath of the Lord; I am weary with holding it in. Pour it out on the children in the street and on the gathering of young men together; for both husband and wife shall be taken , the aged and the very old." (Jer. 5:10-11)
My dear brother Jordan Hall, senior pastor of Fellowship Church, has been attempting to get the attention of members of this community for several months with his overwhelming humor, and powerful satire. He has been maligned time and again for his unabashed, straightforward, no holds barred, preaching about the evils that lurk in every corner of our little town here on the eastern side of Montana. People who call themselves "christian" but who are obviously not, accuse him of perverting the clear teachings of God's word. Before he came, I thought I was the only one in Sidney who believed God has more traits and characteristics to His nature than love. I had three local pastors basically suggest I take my doctrine and find some place that appreciated it. Of course I immediately advised them if my doctrine was indeed mine, it had no place in God's church. I then invited them to show me where I was wrong. Not one was interested. "God is love!" He doesn't hate anyone!" they insisted. Quite contrary to what God's word tells us (Mal. 1:3; Ps. 11:5; Rom. 9:13). "You can't be filled with the Holy Spirit unless you speak in tongues," cried another. An easily disproved doctrine for any willing to listen to what God's word has to say on the topic. One actually wrote to members of his congregation and told them, "This guy's (referring to me) not a real brother in Christ."
I pray for these false brethren daily. I pray God will open their eyes and help them understand true disciples of Jesus are in an all out war against the forces of darkness here in Sidney, as are Christians all over the world. Warriors get bloody. I am incredibly blessed to be fellowshipping with an army of warriors who call themselves Fellowship Church. Some of us use language that is too strong for some of you who may indeed agree with much of what we are trying to convey, so Jordan and I have agreed to try toning down our rhetoric for the sake of those who have thin skin.
That said, I'm quite sure Jordan will not cease to communicate the truth of God's word without wavering. I certainly have no intention to cease and desist declaring the immutable, irreversible, eternal truths of God's word to appease those determined to perpetrate evil on the citizens of our community.
The gambling halls and most of the bars in Sidney are apparently run by greedy, self-righteous, fools whose only interest is in making all they can from those whose lives are shattered because of their inability to control their addictions to these ungodly pursuits. If these merchants sleep well at nights, its only because their conscience has been seared by years of ignoring it. Owning a business that sells alcoholic beverages is not inherently evil. Owning such an establishment and taking advantage of those who haven't the ability to take care of themselves do to their addiction makes one the lowest of the low. If such people sleep well now, trust God's word when it tells us unless these unregenerated heathen repent of their evil ways, they will spend eternity in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, aka hell, aka Gehenna. (Rev. 20:11-14; 22:14-15)
For those of you who have been duped into believing you are going to spend eternity in the kingdom of God because you prayed a prayer some time in your past, listen to what the word of the Lord has to say. Paul made it clear in II Cor. 13:5 there are things that accompany the life of the one who is truly born-again. These things are called fruit. Galatians 5:22-23 describes the fruit of the Spirit, and that is part of the equation. But, there are at least 16 other things called fruit God's word declares will manifest themselves in the life of the one who has indeed been born-again. Repentance (turning away from sin), love for the brethren, love for God, obedience to the revealed will of God, a burning desire to know God's word, a burning desire to fellowship with the brethren in congregation for worship and learning, a significant prayer life, regular witnessing to the lost, being filled with the Spirit, hatred of evil, proclaiming the gospel without compromise, and caring for the poor, downtrodden, lame, and sick of society are the ones most people who call themselves followers of Jesus ignore. Doing these things doesn't save anyone, but one who is saved does these things because the Holy Spirit of the living God resides within him and overwhelms him with the burning desire to honor Jesus in all he does.
We are save by faith and faith alone. We are sanctified by faith and faith alone. Salvation is from beginning to end a work of faith (Eph. 2:8, 9); but James makes it clear faith that is not accompanied by works is useless (James 2:26). One bright saint asked this question, "If you were on trial for following Jesus, would there be enough evidence to convict you?" Study God's word intensely and you'll discover, to your utter dismay, most of what is being spewed from pulpits in this town came from the traditions of man not God's word. It is being preached by ignorant, self-righteous, unlearned, ungifted men, most of whom haven't read the bible form cover to cover once in their entire lifetime. If these men were called of God to the task they are attempting to fulfill, I will humbly confess I know nothing about what God's word has to say on the topic. I won't bore you with some of the incredibly unbiblical things about which I have heard them preach. If you want to hear God's word proclaimed without apology or compromise, go to our web site: http://www.fbcsidney.com/, hover over media, then sermons, and select any one for a starter. If you're one of those who like the feminized gospel that has been spewed from pulpits across America for over three decades, don't bother listening to the messages on our site. You won't like them. If you're tired of having your ears tickled, get ready for a real treat; if you like what you hear, feel free to join us as we fight the good fight against the forces of darkness.
Finally, as the title of this blog warns, don't be a stupid child.
"To whom shall I speak and give warning that they may hear? behold their ears are closed and they cannot listen. Behold, the word of the Lord has become a reproach to them; they have no delight in it. But I am full of the wrath of the Lord; I am weary with holding it in. Pour it out on the children in the street and on the gathering of young men together; for both husband and wife shall be taken , the aged and the very old." (Jer. 5:10-11)
My dear brother Jordan Hall, senior pastor of Fellowship Church, has been attempting to get the attention of members of this community for several months with his overwhelming humor, and powerful satire. He has been maligned time and again for his unabashed, straightforward, no holds barred, preaching about the evils that lurk in every corner of our little town here on the eastern side of Montana. People who call themselves "christian" but who are obviously not, accuse him of perverting the clear teachings of God's word. Before he came, I thought I was the only one in Sidney who believed God has more traits and characteristics to His nature than love. I had three local pastors basically suggest I take my doctrine and find some place that appreciated it. Of course I immediately advised them if my doctrine was indeed mine, it had no place in God's church. I then invited them to show me where I was wrong. Not one was interested. "God is love!" He doesn't hate anyone!" they insisted. Quite contrary to what God's word tells us (Mal. 1:3; Ps. 11:5; Rom. 9:13). "You can't be filled with the Holy Spirit unless you speak in tongues," cried another. An easily disproved doctrine for any willing to listen to what God's word has to say on the topic. One actually wrote to members of his congregation and told them, "This guy's (referring to me) not a real brother in Christ."
I pray for these false brethren daily. I pray God will open their eyes and help them understand true disciples of Jesus are in an all out war against the forces of darkness here in Sidney, as are Christians all over the world. Warriors get bloody. I am incredibly blessed to be fellowshipping with an army of warriors who call themselves Fellowship Church. Some of us use language that is too strong for some of you who may indeed agree with much of what we are trying to convey, so Jordan and I have agreed to try toning down our rhetoric for the sake of those who have thin skin.
That said, I'm quite sure Jordan will not cease to communicate the truth of God's word without wavering. I certainly have no intention to cease and desist declaring the immutable, irreversible, eternal truths of God's word to appease those determined to perpetrate evil on the citizens of our community.
The gambling halls and most of the bars in Sidney are apparently run by greedy, self-righteous, fools whose only interest is in making all they can from those whose lives are shattered because of their inability to control their addictions to these ungodly pursuits. If these merchants sleep well at nights, its only because their conscience has been seared by years of ignoring it. Owning a business that sells alcoholic beverages is not inherently evil. Owning such an establishment and taking advantage of those who haven't the ability to take care of themselves do to their addiction makes one the lowest of the low. If such people sleep well now, trust God's word when it tells us unless these unregenerated heathen repent of their evil ways, they will spend eternity in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, aka hell, aka Gehenna. (Rev. 20:11-14; 22:14-15)
For those of you who have been duped into believing you are going to spend eternity in the kingdom of God because you prayed a prayer some time in your past, listen to what the word of the Lord has to say. Paul made it clear in II Cor. 13:5 there are things that accompany the life of the one who is truly born-again. These things are called fruit. Galatians 5:22-23 describes the fruit of the Spirit, and that is part of the equation. But, there are at least 16 other things called fruit God's word declares will manifest themselves in the life of the one who has indeed been born-again. Repentance (turning away from sin), love for the brethren, love for God, obedience to the revealed will of God, a burning desire to know God's word, a burning desire to fellowship with the brethren in congregation for worship and learning, a significant prayer life, regular witnessing to the lost, being filled with the Spirit, hatred of evil, proclaiming the gospel without compromise, and caring for the poor, downtrodden, lame, and sick of society are the ones most people who call themselves followers of Jesus ignore. Doing these things doesn't save anyone, but one who is saved does these things because the Holy Spirit of the living God resides within him and overwhelms him with the burning desire to honor Jesus in all he does.
We are save by faith and faith alone. We are sanctified by faith and faith alone. Salvation is from beginning to end a work of faith (Eph. 2:8, 9); but James makes it clear faith that is not accompanied by works is useless (James 2:26). One bright saint asked this question, "If you were on trial for following Jesus, would there be enough evidence to convict you?" Study God's word intensely and you'll discover, to your utter dismay, most of what is being spewed from pulpits in this town came from the traditions of man not God's word. It is being preached by ignorant, self-righteous, unlearned, ungifted men, most of whom haven't read the bible form cover to cover once in their entire lifetime. If these men were called of God to the task they are attempting to fulfill, I will humbly confess I know nothing about what God's word has to say on the topic. I won't bore you with some of the incredibly unbiblical things about which I have heard them preach. If you want to hear God's word proclaimed without apology or compromise, go to our web site: http://www.fbcsidney.com/, hover over media, then sermons, and select any one for a starter. If you're one of those who like the feminized gospel that has been spewed from pulpits across America for over three decades, don't bother listening to the messages on our site. You won't like them. If you're tired of having your ears tickled, get ready for a real treat; if you like what you hear, feel free to join us as we fight the good fight against the forces of darkness.
Finally, as the title of this blog warns, don't be a stupid child.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Hate is Important
While studying Matthew 14 this morning, I read the account where Jesus was telling His disciples that anyone who comes to Him must hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, if he wants to be His disciple. This is one of those paradox's of God's word that requires careful analysis and interpretation if one is to understand it within it's context. Romans 12:14 tells us to bless those who persecute us. Matthew 5:44 tells us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. Luke 6:27 tells us to love our enemies and do good to those who persecute us. It is one of the most profound things about a true follower of Christ that he can look into the face of one who wants to kill him and tell him God will forgive him and grant him a place in His kingdom for eternity if he will repent, forsake his sin, and follow Jesus.
Knowing these things, we must wrestle with what He means when He says we must hate those close to us if we are to be His disciple. One could easily write a book explaining this problem. Actually, I wrote that book. I called it Conversion verses Discipleship, so I'll refrain from waxing too eloquent here. Suffice it to say, this is a statement of monumental contrasts. What Jesus wants us to realize is that when we compare our love for Him with our love for those close to us in this life, they must be relegated to the level of hate. That is to say, our love for anyone of His creatures should appear as hate when contrasted with the all consumming love we must have for Him. The rigorous life of the disciple does not grant him the luxury of wallowing in the muck and mire of daily living. I believe I love my wife as much as any human is capable of loving another human. That said, she knows such love is only possible because of the all consumming love I have for my Lord Jesus. She is the second love of my life, whom I believe I would gladly sacrifice my own life to save if that need ever presented itself. But the fact remains that she is the "second love" of my life. And I believe it nears blasphemy to suggest my love for her anywhere nears the love I have for God. I counseled a parolee once who had gone to prison for assaulting his wife and abusing his children. Interestingly enough, he claimed to love both more than he loved God.
Jesus uses similar reasoning when He declares it would be better to enter the kingdom of God without an arm and an eye than to be cast into hell whole. Certainly, the statement is true; but cutting off one's arm or plucking out his eye completely misses the point. It is man's heart that needs healing, not his eye nor his arm. The eye and arm are only instruments of the heart. So, while the statement is true, there will be plenty of people enter into eternity in kingdom of hell without arms or eyes.
God's word is filled with many paradox's, so it behooves us to study it carefully so we don't end up in some cult doing stupid things in His name. There are too many such cults to count. Some of them have gained incredible respectability, in some cases even identifying themselves as Christians, so be careful beloved. Don't be sucked into a cult by placing too much emphasis on your feelings. Godly emotions are the natural overflow of pursuing Jesus above all else. Be a Berean. Always make sure your emotions don't ignore the warnings and insights He provides us in the revealed will of God as given to us in His word.
"For unless one's heart is made soft by the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit of the living God, eternal life after physical death will consist of eternal torment, agonizing thirst, and unbearable heat." (copyright D.L. Purkey 2009)
While studying Matthew 14 this morning, I read the account where Jesus was telling His disciples that anyone who comes to Him must hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, if he wants to be His disciple. This is one of those paradox's of God's word that requires careful analysis and interpretation if one is to understand it within it's context. Romans 12:14 tells us to bless those who persecute us. Matthew 5:44 tells us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. Luke 6:27 tells us to love our enemies and do good to those who persecute us. It is one of the most profound things about a true follower of Christ that he can look into the face of one who wants to kill him and tell him God will forgive him and grant him a place in His kingdom for eternity if he will repent, forsake his sin, and follow Jesus.
Knowing these things, we must wrestle with what He means when He says we must hate those close to us if we are to be His disciple. One could easily write a book explaining this problem. Actually, I wrote that book. I called it Conversion verses Discipleship, so I'll refrain from waxing too eloquent here. Suffice it to say, this is a statement of monumental contrasts. What Jesus wants us to realize is that when we compare our love for Him with our love for those close to us in this life, they must be relegated to the level of hate. That is to say, our love for anyone of His creatures should appear as hate when contrasted with the all consumming love we must have for Him. The rigorous life of the disciple does not grant him the luxury of wallowing in the muck and mire of daily living. I believe I love my wife as much as any human is capable of loving another human. That said, she knows such love is only possible because of the all consumming love I have for my Lord Jesus. She is the second love of my life, whom I believe I would gladly sacrifice my own life to save if that need ever presented itself. But the fact remains that she is the "second love" of my life. And I believe it nears blasphemy to suggest my love for her anywhere nears the love I have for God. I counseled a parolee once who had gone to prison for assaulting his wife and abusing his children. Interestingly enough, he claimed to love both more than he loved God.
Jesus uses similar reasoning when He declares it would be better to enter the kingdom of God without an arm and an eye than to be cast into hell whole. Certainly, the statement is true; but cutting off one's arm or plucking out his eye completely misses the point. It is man's heart that needs healing, not his eye nor his arm. The eye and arm are only instruments of the heart. So, while the statement is true, there will be plenty of people enter into eternity in kingdom of hell without arms or eyes.
God's word is filled with many paradox's, so it behooves us to study it carefully so we don't end up in some cult doing stupid things in His name. There are too many such cults to count. Some of them have gained incredible respectability, in some cases even identifying themselves as Christians, so be careful beloved. Don't be sucked into a cult by placing too much emphasis on your feelings. Godly emotions are the natural overflow of pursuing Jesus above all else. Be a Berean. Always make sure your emotions don't ignore the warnings and insights He provides us in the revealed will of God as given to us in His word.
"For unless one's heart is made soft by the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit of the living God, eternal life after physical death will consist of eternal torment, agonizing thirst, and unbearable heat." (copyright D.L. Purkey 2009)
I woke this morning at 4 A.M. with an unknown concern on my heart. I remembered that my 80 year old brother-in-law had sent me an email recently I had not taken the time to read. Normally, I read about three lines of mass mailings and delete them. I hate those things. I began reading this one and decided it needs to be distributed to anyone who will read it. I have placed it on my blog praying many people will read it there. What Pam says needs to be heard.
Pamela "Atlas" Geller began her publishing career at The New York Daily News and subsequently took over operation of The New York Observer as Associate Publisher. She left The Observer after the birth of her fourth child, but remained involved in various projects including American Associates, Ben Gurion University, and being Senior Vice-President Strategic Planning and Performance Evaluation at The Brandeis School.
After 9/11, "Atlas" had the veil of oblivion violently lifted from her consciousness and immersed herself in the education and understanding of geopolitics, Islam, terror, foreign affairs and imminent threats the mainstream media and the government wouldn't cover or discuss. To wit: I am a student of history. Professionally, I have written 15 books in six languages, and have studied history all my life. I think there is something monumentally large afoot, and I do not believe it is just a banking crisis, or a mortgage crisis, or a credit crisis. Yes, these exist but they are merely single facets on a very large gemstone that is only now coming into a sharper focus. Something of historic proportions is happening. I can sense it because I know how it feels, smells, what it looks like, and how people react to it. Yes, a perfect storm may be brewing, but there is something happening within our country that has been evolving for about 10 - 15 years. The pace has dramatically quickened in the past two.
We demanded and then codified into law the requirement that our banks make massive loans to people whom we knew could never pay back? Why? We learned recently that the Federal Reserve, which has little or no real oversight by anyone, has "loaned" two trillion dollars (that is $2,000,000,000,000) over the past few months, but will not tell us to whom or why or disclose the ?terms. That is our money. Yours and mine. And that is three times the $700 B we all argued about so strenuously just this past September.
Who has this money? Why do they have it? Why are the terms unavailable to us? Who asked for it? Who authorized it? I thought this was a government of "We the People," who loaned our powers to our elected leaders. Apparently not. We ?have spent two or more decades intentionally de-industrializing our economy. Why? We have intentionally dumbed down our schools, ignored our history, and no longer teach our founding documents, why we are exceptional, and why we are worth preserving.
Students by and large cannot write, think critically, read, or articulate. Parents are not revolting, teachers are not picketing, school boards continue to back mediocrity. Why? We have now established the precedent of protesting every close election (now violently in California over a proposition that is so controversial that it wants marriage to remain between one man and one woman. Did you ever think such a thing possible just a decade ago? We have corrupted our sacred political process by allowing unelected judges to write laws that radically change our way of life, and then mainstream Marxist groups like ACORN and others to turn our voting system into a banana republic. To what purpose?
Now our mortgage industry is collapsing, housing prices are in free fall, major industries are failing, our banking system is on the verge of collapse, Social Security is nearly bankrupt, as is Medicare and our entire government. Our education system is worse than a joke (I teach college and know precisely what I am talking about.) The list is staggering in its length, breadth, and depth. It is potentially 1929 x 10. And we are at war with an enemy we cannot name for fear of offending people of the same religion who cannot wait to slit the throats of your children if they have the opportunity to do so.
And now we have elected a man no one knows anything about, who has never run so much as a Dairy Queen, let alone a town as big as Wasilla, Alaska. All of his associations and alliances are with real radicals in their chosen fields of employment, and everything we learn about him, drip by drip, is unsettling if not downright scary (Surely you have heard him speak about his idea to create and fund a mandatory civilian defense force stronger than our military for use inside our borders. No? Oh, of course. The media would never play that for you over and over and then demand he answer it. Sarah Palin's pregnant daughter and $150,000 wardrobe is more important. Mr. Obama's winning platform can be boiled down to one word: Change...radical change. Why?
I have never been so afraid for my country and for my children as I am now. This man campaigned on bringing people together, something he has never, ever done in his professional life. In my assessment, Obama will divide us along philosophical lines, push us apart, and then try to realign the pieces into a new and different power structure. Change is indeed coming. And when it comes, you will never see the same nation again. And that is only the beginning. I thought I would never be able to experience what the ordinary, moral German felt in the mid-1930s. In those times, the savior was a former smooth-talking rabble-rouser from the streets, about whom the average German knew next to nothing. What they did know was that he was associated with groups that shouted, shoved, and pushed around people with whom they disagreed; he edged his way onto the political stage through great oratory and promises. Economic times were tough, people were losing jobs, and he was a great speaker. And he smiled and waved a lot. And people, even newspapers, were afraid to speak out for fear that his "brown shirts" would bully them into submission.
And then he was duly elected to office with a full-throttled economic crisis at hand [the Great Depression]. Slowly but surely he seized the controls of government power, department by department, person by person, bureaucracy by bureaucracy. The kids joined a Youth Movement in his name where they were taught what to think. How did he get the people on his side? He did it promising jobs to the jobless, money to the moneyless, and goodies for the military-industrial complex. He ?did it by indoctrinating the children, advocating gun control, health care for all, better wages, better jobs, and promising to re-instill pride once again in the country, across Europe, and across the world.
He did it with a compliant media. Did you know that? And he did this all in the name of justice and...change. And the people surely got what they voted for. (Look it up if you think I am exaggerating.) Read your history books. Many people objected in 1933 and were shouted down, called names, laughed at, and made fun of. When Winston Churchill pointed out the obvious in the late 1930s while seated in the House of Lords in England (he was not yet Prime Minister), he was booed into his seat and called a crazy troublemaker. He was right, though.?
Don't forget that Germany was the most educated, cultured country in Europe. It was full of music, art, museums, hospitals, laboratories, and universities. And in less than six years - a shorter time span than just two terms of the U. S. presidency - it was rounding up its own citizens, killing others, abrogating its laws, turning children against parents, and neighbors against neighbors. All with the best of intentions, of course. The road to Hell is paved with them.
As a practical thinker, one not overly prone to emotional decisions, I have a choice: I can either believe what the objective pieces of evidence tell me (even if they make me cringe with disgust); I can believe what history is shouting to me from across the chasm of seven decades; or I can hope I am wrong, close my eyes, have another latte and ignore what is transpiring around me.
Some people scoff at me; others laugh or think I am foolish, naive, or both. Perhaps I am. But I have never been afraid to look people in the eye and tell them exactly what I believe - and why I believe it. I pray I am wrong. But, I do not think I am. Since many of you enjoy senior citizen status or will sometime in the not too distant future, I thought you might be interested in this information.
IN GOD WE TRUST?
Everybody who is on this mailing list is either a senior citizen, is getting close, or knows somebody who is. Most of you know by now that the Senate version (at least) of the "stimulus" bill includes provisions for extensive rationing of health care for senior citizens. The author of this part of the bill, former senator and tax evader, Tom Daschle, was credited today by Bloomberg with the following statement.
Bloomberg: "Daschle says health-care reform will not be pain free. Seniors should be more accepting of the conditions that come with age instead of treating them."
If this does not sufficiently raise your ire, just remember that Senators and Congressmen have their own healthcare plan that is first dollar or very low co-pay which they are guaranteed the remainder of their lives and are not subject to this new law if it passes. Please use the power of the Internet to get this message out. Talk it up at the grassroots level. We have an election coming up in one year and nine months. We have the ability to address and reverse the dangerous direction the Obama administration and its allies have begun and in the interim, we can make our voices heard! Let's do it!
If you disagree, don't do anything!
Pamela "Atlas" Geller began her publishing career at The New York Daily News and subsequently took over operation of The New York Observer as Associate Publisher. She left The Observer after the birth of her fourth child, but remained involved in various projects including American Associates, Ben Gurion University, and being Senior Vice-President Strategic Planning and Performance Evaluation at The Brandeis School.
After 9/11, "Atlas" had the veil of oblivion violently lifted from her consciousness and immersed herself in the education and understanding of geopolitics, Islam, terror, foreign affairs and imminent threats the mainstream media and the government wouldn't cover or discuss. To wit: I am a student of history. Professionally, I have written 15 books in six languages, and have studied history all my life. I think there is something monumentally large afoot, and I do not believe it is just a banking crisis, or a mortgage crisis, or a credit crisis. Yes, these exist but they are merely single facets on a very large gemstone that is only now coming into a sharper focus. Something of historic proportions is happening. I can sense it because I know how it feels, smells, what it looks like, and how people react to it. Yes, a perfect storm may be brewing, but there is something happening within our country that has been evolving for about 10 - 15 years. The pace has dramatically quickened in the past two.
We demanded and then codified into law the requirement that our banks make massive loans to people whom we knew could never pay back? Why? We learned recently that the Federal Reserve, which has little or no real oversight by anyone, has "loaned" two trillion dollars (that is $2,000,000,000,000) over the past few months, but will not tell us to whom or why or disclose the ?terms. That is our money. Yours and mine. And that is three times the $700 B we all argued about so strenuously just this past September.
Who has this money? Why do they have it? Why are the terms unavailable to us? Who asked for it? Who authorized it? I thought this was a government of "We the People," who loaned our powers to our elected leaders. Apparently not. We ?have spent two or more decades intentionally de-industrializing our economy. Why? We have intentionally dumbed down our schools, ignored our history, and no longer teach our founding documents, why we are exceptional, and why we are worth preserving.
Students by and large cannot write, think critically, read, or articulate. Parents are not revolting, teachers are not picketing, school boards continue to back mediocrity. Why? We have now established the precedent of protesting every close election (now violently in California over a proposition that is so controversial that it wants marriage to remain between one man and one woman. Did you ever think such a thing possible just a decade ago? We have corrupted our sacred political process by allowing unelected judges to write laws that radically change our way of life, and then mainstream Marxist groups like ACORN and others to turn our voting system into a banana republic. To what purpose?
Now our mortgage industry is collapsing, housing prices are in free fall, major industries are failing, our banking system is on the verge of collapse, Social Security is nearly bankrupt, as is Medicare and our entire government. Our education system is worse than a joke (I teach college and know precisely what I am talking about.) The list is staggering in its length, breadth, and depth. It is potentially 1929 x 10. And we are at war with an enemy we cannot name for fear of offending people of the same religion who cannot wait to slit the throats of your children if they have the opportunity to do so.
And now we have elected a man no one knows anything about, who has never run so much as a Dairy Queen, let alone a town as big as Wasilla, Alaska. All of his associations and alliances are with real radicals in their chosen fields of employment, and everything we learn about him, drip by drip, is unsettling if not downright scary (Surely you have heard him speak about his idea to create and fund a mandatory civilian defense force stronger than our military for use inside our borders. No? Oh, of course. The media would never play that for you over and over and then demand he answer it. Sarah Palin's pregnant daughter and $150,000 wardrobe is more important. Mr. Obama's winning platform can be boiled down to one word: Change...radical change. Why?
I have never been so afraid for my country and for my children as I am now. This man campaigned on bringing people together, something he has never, ever done in his professional life. In my assessment, Obama will divide us along philosophical lines, push us apart, and then try to realign the pieces into a new and different power structure. Change is indeed coming. And when it comes, you will never see the same nation again. And that is only the beginning. I thought I would never be able to experience what the ordinary, moral German felt in the mid-1930s. In those times, the savior was a former smooth-talking rabble-rouser from the streets, about whom the average German knew next to nothing. What they did know was that he was associated with groups that shouted, shoved, and pushed around people with whom they disagreed; he edged his way onto the political stage through great oratory and promises. Economic times were tough, people were losing jobs, and he was a great speaker. And he smiled and waved a lot. And people, even newspapers, were afraid to speak out for fear that his "brown shirts" would bully them into submission.
And then he was duly elected to office with a full-throttled economic crisis at hand [the Great Depression]. Slowly but surely he seized the controls of government power, department by department, person by person, bureaucracy by bureaucracy. The kids joined a Youth Movement in his name where they were taught what to think. How did he get the people on his side? He did it promising jobs to the jobless, money to the moneyless, and goodies for the military-industrial complex. He ?did it by indoctrinating the children, advocating gun control, health care for all, better wages, better jobs, and promising to re-instill pride once again in the country, across Europe, and across the world.
He did it with a compliant media. Did you know that? And he did this all in the name of justice and...change. And the people surely got what they voted for. (Look it up if you think I am exaggerating.) Read your history books. Many people objected in 1933 and were shouted down, called names, laughed at, and made fun of. When Winston Churchill pointed out the obvious in the late 1930s while seated in the House of Lords in England (he was not yet Prime Minister), he was booed into his seat and called a crazy troublemaker. He was right, though.?
Don't forget that Germany was the most educated, cultured country in Europe. It was full of music, art, museums, hospitals, laboratories, and universities. And in less than six years - a shorter time span than just two terms of the U. S. presidency - it was rounding up its own citizens, killing others, abrogating its laws, turning children against parents, and neighbors against neighbors. All with the best of intentions, of course. The road to Hell is paved with them.
As a practical thinker, one not overly prone to emotional decisions, I have a choice: I can either believe what the objective pieces of evidence tell me (even if they make me cringe with disgust); I can believe what history is shouting to me from across the chasm of seven decades; or I can hope I am wrong, close my eyes, have another latte and ignore what is transpiring around me.
Some people scoff at me; others laugh or think I am foolish, naive, or both. Perhaps I am. But I have never been afraid to look people in the eye and tell them exactly what I believe - and why I believe it. I pray I am wrong. But, I do not think I am. Since many of you enjoy senior citizen status or will sometime in the not too distant future, I thought you might be interested in this information.
IN GOD WE TRUST?
Everybody who is on this mailing list is either a senior citizen, is getting close, or knows somebody who is. Most of you know by now that the Senate version (at least) of the "stimulus" bill includes provisions for extensive rationing of health care for senior citizens. The author of this part of the bill, former senator and tax evader, Tom Daschle, was credited today by Bloomberg with the following statement.
Bloomberg: "Daschle says health-care reform will not be pain free. Seniors should be more accepting of the conditions that come with age instead of treating them."
If this does not sufficiently raise your ire, just remember that Senators and Congressmen have their own healthcare plan that is first dollar or very low co-pay which they are guaranteed the remainder of their lives and are not subject to this new law if it passes. Please use the power of the Internet to get this message out. Talk it up at the grassroots level. We have an election coming up in one year and nine months. We have the ability to address and reverse the dangerous direction the Obama administration and its allies have begun and in the interim, we can make our voices heard! Let's do it!
If you disagree, don't do anything!
Friday, July 10, 2009
I was reading Jeremiah this morning in my studies. Chapter 6 verse 19 really hit me hard, "Hear, O earth: behold, I am bringing disaster on this people, the fruit of their plans, because they have not listened to My words, and as for My law, they have rejected it also." Of course, the United States is not Israel, but God is still God, and He has demonstrated time and again historically how He deals with nations who ignore His law. In America, we allow sexual perverts like Michael Jackson run free, and when they die, we pay homage to them as if they were gods. Murderers like O.J. Simpson are found innocent because we are more concerned with "justice" than we are with justice. Our President appoints men who are proven tax evaders and a woman who thinks her minority status makes her more qualified than a white male to be one of the most influential judges in the nation. Those too corrupt to pass their interview with the U.S. Senate get hired by major corporations to make sure those corporations get their share of our money (aka the stimulus plan). And now, most recently, a major newspaper photographer, got a candid photo of Barak Hussein Obama scoping out the backside of a woman who had just passed him.
Letters to the editor of the local newspaper bring down the displeasure and insults of citizens who don't have the intestinal fortitude to identify themselves as they rail against anyone who has an ounce of moral fiber and who refuses to cow tow to a fascist, socialist, fool whose only claim to fame before he became the U.S. President is that he voted present on numerous critical issues when he was in the U.S. Senate. This fascist, unregenerated heathen is a consummate liar, one who believes in murdering helpless babies, denies America's roots are based on Judeo/Christian values, and claims to be a Christian himself (another one of his long list of deceptions).
Immorality is spinning out of control in America. Same sex marriages, prostitution, murder, child pornography, sexual assault, juvenile delinquency, robbery, and burglary are as commonplace as flies on cow patties. The standard for behavior in this country is so low a gnat couldn't squeeze under it. I suspect the wrath of God is soon coming to the shores of of this great nation if we don't find a way to turn around our complete apathy for the things of God. Personally, I am opposed to the concept of freedom of religion. While I know we can't force anyone to be a true follower of Jesus, we can, as a nation refuse to allow any God but Yahweh Elohim to be worshipped openly anywhere within the borders of this country; and I suggest an edict making that law would do much to change how we deal with evil. I spoke with a dear brother today who suggested such thinking violates our founding principles. I couldn't agree more. I don't think most of our founding fathers were actually followers of Christ. What they were was people who had been forced to follow a false religious organization in England and throughout Europe; and they didn't want to have anything to do with another. What I'm suggesting is making it a crime to openly declare allegiance to Allah, Mohammed, Buddha, or any of the other millions of false gods would make it possible to get those off the streets who do pose a threat to our national security. It is utter nonsense to suggest that only those who openly claim to be radical Muslims are a danger to our national security. One of the most basic tenets of Islam is their duty to kill anyone who refuses to acknowledge Mohammed as "the prophet" and Allah as "the god."
Finally, I suggest we must strictly enforce immigration laws if we ever hope to bring our current economic and moral crisis under control. I am all for allowing people from foreign nations to immigrate legally to America. I am vehemently opposed to ignoring and/or rewarding those who come here illegally. It is a colossally irresponsible act on the part of our government to refuse to act immediately and with extreme prejudice against those whose very presence is a violation of all this country has honored for over two hundred years, namely our Constitution.
Revival would be a great start, but with less than 5% of our country actually being followers of Jesus (that's my uneducated guess), more than a revival of this tiny group is needed. Of course a true revival would cause those who are in actually, born-again, bible thumping, God loving, gospel preaching, followers of Jesus to begin proclaiming the gospel from the housetops, so maybe that would bring a rather quick end to the monumental apathy Americans currently demonstrate toward the things of God.
I Pray God will Bless America,
David L. Purkey
Letters to the editor of the local newspaper bring down the displeasure and insults of citizens who don't have the intestinal fortitude to identify themselves as they rail against anyone who has an ounce of moral fiber and who refuses to cow tow to a fascist, socialist, fool whose only claim to fame before he became the U.S. President is that he voted present on numerous critical issues when he was in the U.S. Senate. This fascist, unregenerated heathen is a consummate liar, one who believes in murdering helpless babies, denies America's roots are based on Judeo/Christian values, and claims to be a Christian himself (another one of his long list of deceptions).
Immorality is spinning out of control in America. Same sex marriages, prostitution, murder, child pornography, sexual assault, juvenile delinquency, robbery, and burglary are as commonplace as flies on cow patties. The standard for behavior in this country is so low a gnat couldn't squeeze under it. I suspect the wrath of God is soon coming to the shores of of this great nation if we don't find a way to turn around our complete apathy for the things of God. Personally, I am opposed to the concept of freedom of religion. While I know we can't force anyone to be a true follower of Jesus, we can, as a nation refuse to allow any God but Yahweh Elohim to be worshipped openly anywhere within the borders of this country; and I suggest an edict making that law would do much to change how we deal with evil. I spoke with a dear brother today who suggested such thinking violates our founding principles. I couldn't agree more. I don't think most of our founding fathers were actually followers of Christ. What they were was people who had been forced to follow a false religious organization in England and throughout Europe; and they didn't want to have anything to do with another. What I'm suggesting is making it a crime to openly declare allegiance to Allah, Mohammed, Buddha, or any of the other millions of false gods would make it possible to get those off the streets who do pose a threat to our national security. It is utter nonsense to suggest that only those who openly claim to be radical Muslims are a danger to our national security. One of the most basic tenets of Islam is their duty to kill anyone who refuses to acknowledge Mohammed as "the prophet" and Allah as "the god."
Finally, I suggest we must strictly enforce immigration laws if we ever hope to bring our current economic and moral crisis under control. I am all for allowing people from foreign nations to immigrate legally to America. I am vehemently opposed to ignoring and/or rewarding those who come here illegally. It is a colossally irresponsible act on the part of our government to refuse to act immediately and with extreme prejudice against those whose very presence is a violation of all this country has honored for over two hundred years, namely our Constitution.
Revival would be a great start, but with less than 5% of our country actually being followers of Jesus (that's my uneducated guess), more than a revival of this tiny group is needed. Of course a true revival would cause those who are in actually, born-again, bible thumping, God loving, gospel preaching, followers of Jesus to begin proclaiming the gospel from the housetops, so maybe that would bring a rather quick end to the monumental apathy Americans currently demonstrate toward the things of God.
I Pray God will Bless America,
David L. Purkey
Thursday, July 9, 2009
An Intelligent Response
In Chapter 12 of the gospel of Mark, a scribe comes to Jesus and asks Him, "What commandment is the foremost of all?" You can read verses 29-31 if you don't know His answer, but my point here is Jesus' response to the scribe's words. "When Jesus saw that he had answered intelligently, He said to him, 'You are not far from the kingdom of God.'' This comment by Jesus, should set to rest those who suggest following in the footsteps of the Creator of the universe, becoming a disciple of Christ, bearing one's cross daily, confessing Jesus as Lord, and proclaiming the gospel without wavering is anything less than intelligent. When this scribe answered intelligently, Jesus told him he was on the right track. I become weary of the great multitudes of psuedo intellects who preach the gospel of self-righteousness, self-esteem, and self-centeredness. When I write letters to the editor of our local newspaper, pointing out the gazillion holes in the theory of evolution, these same ego driven maniacs insist the theory of evolution is scientifically sound. I've gotten hate mail from doctors, lawyers, pharmacists, science teachers, and even self-proclaimed theologeans who claim such nonsense is fact.
To these air headed morons I have only one thing to say, well, maybe two or three things actually: If it is a fact that the earth is now 93 billion years old--the latest estimate by these so-called intellects--why did they claim it was only 20 million years old just a decade ago? I really must laugh when they respond with such jibberish as "Well, uh, gosh, gee, facts change when we get more information to help us determine which facts are true." In other words, if you haven't got a clue, use big words, make things up as you go, and dazzle your audience with BS.
The term intelligent design escapes these psuedo-intellectuals because their intellect is pseudo. It is a put on. It is false. It has no basis in reality. They have filled their heads with useless information, most of which has no connection to reality. Any true intellect (biblically defined as the intellect that has been regenerated by God's Spirit) can see clearly and understand the theory of creation makes much more sense and takes much less faith to believe. I am currently teaching a class in Genesis that meets Monday evenings at 7 P.M. at the big white building across from Miller's Corner in Sidney, Mt. We discuss the biblical account of creation, God's foreshadowing of the coming Messiah immediately after the fall of man, the archeological and historical evidence which validates the veracity of the biblical account of things like the flood and the Tower of Babel, and the Abrahamic Covenant.
We are learning how to intelligently refute those who contradict. Feel free to join us regardless of your religious affiliation, or even if you have none yet. Sceptics are welcome too.
To these air headed morons I have only one thing to say, well, maybe two or three things actually: If it is a fact that the earth is now 93 billion years old--the latest estimate by these so-called intellects--why did they claim it was only 20 million years old just a decade ago? I really must laugh when they respond with such jibberish as "Well, uh, gosh, gee, facts change when we get more information to help us determine which facts are true." In other words, if you haven't got a clue, use big words, make things up as you go, and dazzle your audience with BS.
The term intelligent design escapes these psuedo-intellectuals because their intellect is pseudo. It is a put on. It is false. It has no basis in reality. They have filled their heads with useless information, most of which has no connection to reality. Any true intellect (biblically defined as the intellect that has been regenerated by God's Spirit) can see clearly and understand the theory of creation makes much more sense and takes much less faith to believe. I am currently teaching a class in Genesis that meets Monday evenings at 7 P.M. at the big white building across from Miller's Corner in Sidney, Mt. We discuss the biblical account of creation, God's foreshadowing of the coming Messiah immediately after the fall of man, the archeological and historical evidence which validates the veracity of the biblical account of things like the flood and the Tower of Babel, and the Abrahamic Covenant.
We are learning how to intelligently refute those who contradict. Feel free to join us regardless of your religious affiliation, or even if you have none yet. Sceptics are welcome too.
I’m not sure I should write this letter. I might offend some poor snail whose highest aim in life is to collect welfare. But, here goes. I know most Montanans are gun owners. The Second Amendment guarantees private, non military citizens the right to “keep and bear arms.” It reads like this, “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.” Some would have us believe that does not give us the right to own fully automatic weapons that are actually designed to make it possible to defend oneself against a tyrannical government that attempts to take away private property illegally or against a possible terrorist attack. Some refuse to believe this means we should be allowed to bear them concealed without gaining further government permission. Once again, for those of you who didn’t bother listening to your government and history teachers when in school, you can find out for yourself by Googling 2nd Amendment and reading the hundreds of articles found there. The founding fathers were specifically thinking about the tyrant King George III when they insisted this amendment be part of the original Bill of Rights. It’s critical for us to understand this point, because they believed they needed to own the same quality of weapons, or even better ones if possible, than the government from which they had just declared their independence. A semi-automatic AR 15 with a 30 round clip is a formidable weapon to go against; but that same design in the fully automatic version wielded by one who knows how to control it is even more formidable. Imagine the look on a terrorist’s face were he to come face to face with a private citizen in this country who actually knew how to defend himself with such a weapon. Imagine what Montanans are going to have to face if we decide at some point in the future we are fed up with and refuse to continue submitting to the leadership of a fascist autocrat who thinks he’s a king. Barak Hussein Obama is the first President I have observed in my 64 years on this planet whom I believe really does want to become the first fascist dictator in 230 years of American history. And while I find that disconcerting, it is of more concern to me how many Americans just don’t seem to care. I’m not advocating anarchy. What I’m pointing out is that the Declaration of Independence makes it clear when a people believe their government continually, without regard for its citizens rights or welfare, usurps its authority, violates the constitution they are obligated to observe, and makes up the rules as it goes along, that people has the right to withdraw from that union of free states. “Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”
God Bless America,David L. Purkey
God Bless America,David L. Purkey
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