Wait a Minute – There Wouldn’t Be A Christmas If It Weren’t for Him!

“Happy Holidays!” – the politically correct greeting in referring to December 25th

The tension grows each year – is it permissible to say “Merry Christmas!” any more? There is a wild mix in this controversy with those who say we should not offend anyone by using an expression that has the word “Christmas” in it – why it even promotes religion if used in the public schools, didn’t you know?

There are those who insist the expression “Merry Christmas!” should be used when referring to the calendar date of December 25. And there is the rather common cliché that is often employed, “Jesus is the reason for the season.”

And there are those who say it doesn’t make any difference and the arguing and conflict over such an issue should stop – let each person choose to observe the season and the day as he or she wants to do or if they don't want to do anything with it at all!

Take note – there would be no Christmas at all if it were not for Jesus Christ! Here are some facts about the matter:

First, He is the One Who made this world and the universe of which it is a very minute part originally – it is His to do with as He so determines.

Second, He was born into this world of a virgin mother – yes, yes I know all about it – there are any number of theologians, seminary professors, church leaders, and pastors (they are a dime a dozen) who question this or deny the virgin birth ever took place. But they won’t be dead more than a few seconds until they have to face the truth and Him Who is truth incarnate!

Third, He is the One Who ultimately gave His life to redeem every human being ever born into this world from sin and its deadly consequences – literally, God in human form satisfied the demands of divine justice on our behalf and made possible our forgiveness and reconciliation to God.

Fourth, He is the One Who is scheduled to return to this sin ravaged planet to set right all that is wrong and to rule it in true righteousness and justice. At long last the world will finally experience peace. For a small minority, this is a hope that the Bible describes as being an “anchor for the soul.”

The Scriptures bear witness to all of the above -- read it for yourself and see! God took the step to become human, bore the sins of the human race upon Himself through a brutal death on a Roman Cross, was resurrected from the dead, ascended back to Heaven, is seated at the right hand of God the Father, and has promised to return to earth again at some point in the future.

Take that away and you have no Christmas!

He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. --- 1 John 5:10-13

Truly Sorry for “transgressions” or Just Sorry for Getting Caught?

Tiger Woods said he let his family down with transgressions he regrets "with all of my heart," and that he will deal with his personal life behind closed doors. --- news release statement on Tiger Woods’ “confession”

It is a given – very, very few people can handle power, wealth, and fame responsibly! Great is the number of persons in professional sports, political office, and the entertainment industry who have given in to raging hormones. The common denominator is an attempt to keep all indiscretions concealed and often to continue immoral activity for one main reason.

That main reason is that the individual believes he or she is the exception to the laws and standards put in place by the Creator of this universe. Those laws and standards may apply to everyone else, but not to me – I can flaunt them because of who I am! So it is said (or at least thought) by a long line of high profile people over the centuries. Defenders of these moral alley cats will make the appeal that what they do in private is none of our business and we are not to do any "judging" in regard to the issue.

Tiger Woods is the latest big name to try to get himself out of the moral quicksand pit into which he has sunk. So amid the mounting pressure that he attempted to elude, he finally has made a public “apology.” Too often it’s been a matter of not really being sorry for the alleged “transgressions” as it is that one got caught and couldn’t hide the offenses any longer. Further, if there had not been some revelation of some kind, the high profile transgressor would have continued to do what he or she had been doing all along!

Yes, forgiveness is possible – each of us is confronted at some point with the issue as to whether we will honestly confess that we are guilty of transgressions and seek the mercy of Almighty God, or try to excuse our offenses and shirk responsibility for our actions. Or worse, utter a feeble half hearted “apology” with the only regret being that we couldn’t keep our “secret life” a secret any longer!

God is extremely merciful – those who have truly repented of their sins and experienced God’s mercy and forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ know full well what it is to live in a state of peace with God. With this comes an abiding assurance of having been forgiven because the regret and following acts of repentance were for real, not merely a charade!

Time will tell as to how it is for Tiger Woods – truly sorry for the “transgressions” with genuine repentance providing clear evidence of the sorrow or simply sorry at having been caught!

Even high profile people in pro sports, government, entertainment, and corporations need Jesus Christ more than anything or anyone else on the face of this planet though most provide evidence that they don’t believe this to be true!

"…you have sinned against the LORD; and be sure your sin will find you out. --- Numbers 32:23b

For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. --- Romans 5:7-9

Congressional Corruption -–> Par Excellence!

Staffers on Capitol Hill were calling it the Louisiana Purchase.

On the eve of Saturday's showdown in the Senate over health-care reform, Democratic leaders still hadn't secured the support of Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.), one of the 60 votes needed to keep the legislation alive. The wavering lawmaker was offered a sweetener: at least $100 million in extra federal money for her home state.

And so it came to pass that Landrieu walked onto the Senate floor midafternoon Saturday to announce her aye vote -- and to trumpet the financial "fix" she had arranged for Louisiana. "I am not going to be defensive," she declared. "And it's not a $100 million fix. It's a $300 million fix." --- recent news release on vote by the Senate to proceed on ObamaCare!

Be honest now – can any genuine law abiding U. S. citizen really be surprised at anything that takes place within the halls of the United States Congress anymore?

The latest debacle made headlines when Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) cast her vote in favor of proceeding with the health-care reform bill. The pay-off for her vote was $300 million for the state of Louisiana! Those Dems needed 60 votes to proceed and Mary got a ton of money for her state by wavering for a bit, but eventually came through for Harry Reid & Co!

Most of us are familiar with the process of an apple getting rotten. It isn’t 100 per cent ripe and ready to eat one day and then the next day it is 100 per cent rotten and good for absolutely nothing! It always starts with just a small spot which, as with a cancer, grows larger with each passing day.

So it has been with the U. S. Congress and the corrupting influence within it. Over time these people have concentrated FIRST on themselves and what they can personally gain from their position of holding public office. You need a bunch of air sick bags as you explore the salaries and benefits these people have voted for themselves. How many companies with employees, whether large or small, do you know in which the employees by power of their vote determine what their wages will be and all the attending benefits? No negotiating – by vote alone the wages are determined and what they will get for pension, what the health benefits are going to be, what they get for expenses such as their traveling around here or there, what they get for furniture, what kind of time off they get, etc.

But the corruption is seen also in how the voting is handled in legislative matters as in the recent instance of bribery and what some term the new “Louisiana Purchase!” That is precisely what happened in obtaining a favorable vote from Mary Landrieu. And you need another carton of sick bags when you hear her “explanation” in regard to her vote. These people have long sense forfeited any sense of respect and deserve to be held in the highest contempt possible! This is why each registered voter should make up his or her mind to ALWAYS vote anti-incumbent at the state and federal levels in every election for at least 12 to 16 years minimum. It likely would take that long for them to learn that they serve us and that we are not their slaves!

For those who believe in the power of prayer, how about concentrating on praying that God will return upon the heads of these people the “fruit of their doings?” It is a very Biblical expression and there are prayers in the Psalms which appeal for God to deal with those who abuse their power and take unfair advantage of their role in government for selfish gain!

May God reward them according to their selfishness and greed, and may He remove them from their positions soon, if they fail to fully repent of their wickedness!

Woe to her who is rebellious and polluted, to the oppressing city! She has not obeyed His voice, she has not received correction; she has not trusted in the LORD, she has not drawn near to her God. Her princes in her midst are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves that leave not a bone till morning. Her prophets are insolent, treacherous people; her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law. --- Zephaniah 3:1-4

Why Quibble About Abortion in PelosiCare?

Abortion appears to be main reason for conflict in resolving the health care issue in House of Rep’s bill --- Numerous news releases from a variety of sources providing information on Health Care legislation in House of Representatives

It seems the major “sticking point” in the nearly 2,000 page legislation proposal on government health care before the House of Representatives was the funding of abortions with U. S. tax dollars.

There are those, including Queen Pelosi, who want a provision in the bill in which abortions will be paid for through the tax dollars which will fund this Frankenstein model of proposed legislation. And there are a few who are opposed to it.

Why spend time arguing over it? Let it in the bill – let as many females who desire to do so, get abortions and have them paid for by our tax dollars as a fringe benefit of the government operated health care plan.

Why object to this? Our country has been in the abortion business ever since January 1973. There have been over 50 million unborn children brutally mutilated and murdered since that time when the Supreme Court ruled in effect that it is every woman’s “constitutional right” to have her unborn child destroyed if she so chooses!

No president in all the years since has been really aggressive to get this ended, though a few claimed to be “pro-life.” And the Congress is so messed up in its value system that nothing of substance will ever take place there when it comes to protection and preservation of the unborn!

Added to this is the aggressive posture of the present resident of the White House in which he is determined to expand the option to destroy the unborn even further by new legislation (Freedom of Choice Act), his executive orders which have resulted in tax payer support of abortion practices in foreign nations and expanded embryonic stem cell research. He is so blind that he (and his many supporters) fail to see that in God’s sight embryos are in reality human beings in early stages of formation, known and fully identified as persons! You doubt that? For authority on this see Jeremiah 1:4,5 and Psalm 139! And I realize citing a couple of "proof texts" from the Bible will mean absolutely nothing to a large number of persons -- but that is their problem, not mine!

So it is a bit senseless to fight over whether or not government funding of abortions should be included in a government run health care plan, is it not? Ask over 50 million victims of the United States customized version of holocaust! We may well have already crossed over the line of God's offer of mercy and forgiveness and now simply stand on the other side awaiting the outpouring of His wrath upon us in undiluted measure! He has yet to make His full response to the destruction of those persons for whom He had wonderful plans.

For a listing of interesting numbers as this thing has progressed over the decades – that is, how many unborn children have been slaughtered in the womb since certain persons have assumed elective office see A Quick Look at the United States’ Massacre Tally! It also names certain church leaders and the number of unborn victims mutilated and murdered during their time in office.

"For if you thoroughly amend your ways and your doings, if you thoroughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbor, if you do not oppress the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place, or walk after other gods to your hurt, then I will cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers forever and ever. Behold, you trust in lying words that cannot profit. Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to Baal, and walk after other gods whom you do not know, and then come and stand before Me in this house which is called by My name, and say, 'We are delivered to do all these abominations’'? --- Jeremiah 7:5-10

Our Troubles Are Just Beginning!

"I will hand them over to trouble, to all kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah, king of Judah, for what he did in Jerusalem.” --- Jeremiah 15:4

There are certain acts on the part of the Creator of this universe that are to be avoided at all costs and some people at least, as they think through the issues, will agree. But the major problem is that we are at that stage in the history of our republic that God is not considered to be worthy of serious consideration by the majority.

And there is a rather popular heresy that has been adopted within the religious element of our country that refuses to acknowledge that God may be capable of doing some things that are rather negative in scope. For too many, God is a God Who would never do anything that is unpleasant and nasty in our way of thinking – after all, God is a God of love and we are all His children, right? To which a number of persons would give a hearty “Amen!” if not too worried as to what people might think if such an utterance came out of their mouth!

A nation that has its roots in the acknowledgment of God. serious attention to His Word and in its earlier years possessed a national spirit that sought to honor God on part of leaders and citizens will experience blessings as obedience is considered a priority and increased troubles as it lapses into a state of disobedience.

The history of a nation of long ago demonstrates clearly WHAT NOT TO DO in relationship to God. Eventually these people were informed that God was going to hand them over to trouble! Most will pay no attention to this lesson, so it is certain that we will repeat it as did they and learn the hard way that ignoring God is very costly and ultimately very deadly.

The troubles are a mix of many things – an unstable weather system, financial chaos, increased conflicts, military setbacks and defeat, diseases, and eventually overrun or coming under the control of foreign powers! It is a wise thing to review the 28th chapter of Deuteronomy from time to time -- that way when things begin to break loose some of us are not surprised.

Take a good honest look and see this drama being played out before your very eyes. There may be a day come when our leaders (political and religious) will issue an appeal that we should seek God and pray for His help – that is, when the troubles handed to us become so intense that we have come to the end of our rope and find out that we can’t solve all these problems by ourselves! And just what do you think God’s answer will be?

Here’s one possibility – “…. For they have turned their back to Me, and not their face. But in the time of their trouble they will say, 'Arise and save us.' But where are your gods that you have made for yourselves? Let them arise, if they can save you in the time of your trouble; for according to the number of your cities are your gods, O Judah. Why will you plead with Me? You all have transgressed against Me," says the LORD. --- Jeremiah 2:27b-29

Face it -- our elected officials in Washington DC and at the state level haven't done a single thing to help move this nation toward a favorable relationship with Almighty God -- if anything, their attitudes, political shenanigans and lifestyles constitute giving God an obscene gesture! Our troubles are really just beginning!

But they paid no attention, and Manasseh seduced them to do more evil than the nations whom the LORD had destroyed before the children of Israel. And the LORD spoke by His servants the prophets, saying, "Because Manasseh king of Judah has done these abominations( he has acted more wickedly than all the Amorites who were before him, and has also made Judah sin with his idols), therefore thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'Behold, I am bringing such calamity upon Jerusalem and Judah, that whoever hears of it, both his ears will tingle.”…….. Moreover Manasseh shed very much innocent blood, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another, besides his sin with which he made Judah sin, in doing evil in the sight of the LORD. --- 2 Kings 21:9-12, 16

Obama Will Lose His “War!”

The Obama Administration and Fox News have started to become rivals, with the White House commenting that Fox was, “opinion journalism masquerading as news.” --- Internet news release, October 21, 2009

A long, long time ago God made as plain as it could be stated – leaders in governing authority and the citizens of the nation over which they govern who do not listen to Him are bound to fail. One shocking way that God has of revealing this is found in the book of Jeremiah:

“You have forsaken Me," says the LORD, "you have gone backward. Therefore I will stretch out My hand against you and destroy you; I am weary of relenting!” --- Jeremiah 15:6

"Now therefore, speak to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, 'Thus says the LORD: "Behold, I am fashioning a disaster and devising a plan against you. Return now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good.’” --- Jeremiah 18:11

Much publicity has been generated over the “war” that has erupted between the Obama administration and Fox News network. Personally, I don’t watch Fox News that much – a little of Bill O’Reilly, Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity and the others goes a long way! And their parade of females makes one wonder if we are being exposed to a competitive beauty pageant masquerading as “intellectual expertise” in some area or other!

The hard fact of the matter is that Fox News, as has Obama and members of his administration, has not really dealt honestly with what the actual root problem of this republic is, which is spiritual and moral in nature. The Fox people and others claiming to be conservative continue to attack what are perceived to be the political “problems” and what they believe has to be done to cure them. This has aroused the wrath of Obama and his supporters. The tragedy is that among these warring parties is the omission of the first step that has to be taken in order to start a process of healing and restoration within our nation. It’s called repenting from sin (personal and collective) and calling on God for mercy and forgiveness.

Whatever degree of improvement might be made through political maneuvering at this stage would be like treating a patient who is suffering from a deadly melanoma with a couple of aspirin tablets! There might be a temporary form of relief from discomfit but the deadly cancer is still there doing its terminal work.

Obama is a loser and through his influence will cause this republic to lose in the most tragic fashion. He is the first president to take the lowest view of human life possible and to aggressively support the massive destruction of unborn children not only within the borders of the United States but has actively taken action so that tax money from our nation goes into foreign nations to support those organizations which provide services resulting in the brutal mutilation and murders of unborn children.

Anyone who believes God is going to bless this nation under such leadership as that is worse than an ostrich with its head stuck in the sand and unwilling to face reality as to where we as a nation are headed.

Obama doesn’t realize that he has had his 3 strikes, is out, and has lost. Three more years will only see things worsen as God continues to issue His warnings and employs those measures that should wake people up and make them aware of the need to repent. There is nothing to indicate at this stage that any significant changes are going to take place and so the foolish and very unprofitable “war” continues!

You see, when Almighty God is against you, you are always the loser!

Then they will cry to the LORD, but He will not hear them; He will even hide His face from them at that time, because they have been evil in their deeds. --- Micah 3:4

Glenn Beck Asks, “Why?”

“What has happened to us?” --- question posed by Glenn Beck on recent Fox News program

Glenn Beck gave considerable time and attention to the brutal beating and death of an honor student in Chicago recently. The student was not a member of a gang and went to the assistance of a friend caught in a melee involving a couple of gangs.

The episode was caught on video tape and Fox News played it repeatedly, including high exposure on Beck’s program.

Glenn asked why such a thing happened and then lamented how things have changed in our nation – at one point with intense emotion he asked, “What has happened to us?”

Sadly, he didn’t really get to the root of what has happened to us over past decades. Here is what we have going for us at the present time:

we have tallied nearly 51 million intentional mutilations and murders in the human womb and continue doing so at the rate of about 25,000 every week! Never forget that these are nothing less than deliberate acts of violence against defenseless and innocent human beings.

we have a deadly trio which spews out violence in many forms to which our young folk are exposed on a daily basis. The exposure begins in the early formative years of their lives. This trio consists of the movie, TV and gaming industries. They’ve been at it for a long time and the seeds they have sown are maturing and bringing forth fruit which makes people ask, “Why?” The result is that our young are literally being “programmed” to react violently when things don’t go their way – differences with others are to be settled in a violent manner.

sexual immorality in its many forms of expression is beyond the pandemic stage. Again, the movie and TV industries have made a significant contribution and the young are encouraged to see for themselves just how much fun it is to be engaged in sexual activity. And the internet is an excellent source of any and every kind of sexual activity which the young can easily access. One rather recent shocking statistic released by the CDC reveals that one out of every four teenaged females has at least one STD (sexually transmitted disease) and some have more than one! Our sex ed classes just haven’t gotten the little tykes to get that condom on the banana correctly, have they?

Our massive idolatry and rejection of God’s standards for a sane, sensible, serene, solid, and “steady as she goes” republic has brought us to the precipice of judgment at the hands of a holy God.

There are a number of other things that could be mentioned, but the preceding issues are more than enough to establish the fact as to why this republic is in hot water in relationship to the God it professes to be “under” and why its days are numbered.

Our basic problem is a spiritual one, not economic, social, political, or our domestic or foreign policies. The necessary cure is mass repentance from sin on the individual level as well as at the collective level. God has been calling and has been doing some things that should make people stop and think, but the response is mainly the same as it was in Noah’s time – in spite of calls and warnings, nobody was listening! And you know what happened don’t you?

So as Glenn asks “Why?” and struggles to find an answer, what do you say? Can you point out where the answer is found, even though the vast majority will reject it, and maybe even Glenn Beck will also reject it!

"And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.” --- Jesus speaking in Luke 17:26-30

Chicago Loses Out on Olympic Bid -- Was It An Answer to Prayer?

Chicago had seemed to pick up momentum in the last few days, with many International Olympic Committee members seemingly charmed by Mrs. Obama. But when IOC president Jacques Rogge announced the results of the first vote, Chicago was the city that fell out.

It was one of the biggest upsets in IOC voting history, and will likely have ramifications throughout the U.S. Olympic Committee. USOC chairman Larry Probst was stone-faced as he and acting CEO Stephanie Streeter walked down a hallway.

Chicago was eliminated in the first ballot of voting for the 2016 Olympics on Friday, a stunning defeat for the city that was expected to be one of the two finalists. Not even the presence of President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama — nor a long list of celebrities — was enough to help the United States' third-largest city. --- news releases Friday, October 2, 2009

Taking two planes (Air Force One for him, and a smaller Boeing machine for her) plus some high profile people including the high and mighty Oprah Winfrey, the Obama camp descended on Copenhagen like vultures going after a dead animal decomposing in 95 degree temperatures!

Their mission? To convince the IOC that Chicago was the only decent place to hold the 2016 Olympic games. The other three cities being considered are not worthy of the honor of hosting the games – that is, if you talk to anyone connected with Chicago politics.

Then a shock wave struck – comparable, if not greater in intensity, than the shakeups taking place in certain areas of the Pacific Ocean in recent days, only in the lobbying sense where the “lobbyist” is arrogant with the attitude, “Because I am who I am, I will get what I’m after!” Chicago was the first one of the four to be kicked out of the competition! Having been in both Rio and Chicago years ago, there is no comparison between the two. Once you’ve been in Rio, Chicago has no attraction whatsoever! Sort of like standing a guy with a fresh haircut and shave dressed up in a brand new tuxedo along side a hobo in rags who hasn't taken a bath in six months!

Was it an answer to prayer? Maybe someone did pray to the effect that until the rampant corruption is purged from that city, may such a blessing as the privilege to host the Olympic Games be withheld!

Preposterous? Yes, many would say so. But stop and think seriously for a moment. Chicago politics is the measuring stick when it comes to how low politics can sink in our republic – so low in fact, that at that level you have to use a high powered telescope to look up in order to see the navel of a blacksnake!

We in Pennsylvania have to put up with the rottenness of Philadelphia politics such as a governor (Ed Rendell) whose roots are in that quagmire and a turncoat senator named Arlen Specter. But these are rank amateurs compared to the pros in Chicago from which there comes forth “The One” named Barack Obama.

This one thing we can be assured of – the bid for the 2016 Olympics disaster is but one of many he will experience. The reason is clear – here is a man who cares not a bit about the will of God for himself and the country he is supposed to lead. Proof of that is clear to anyone who has a sensitivity to God’s view of human life at all stages of existence and the fact that if governing leaders are to fulfill their responsibilities effectively, then the work has to be done in consultation with God on a daily basis!

The prophet Isaiah hit the nail on the head and explains why things are the way they are politically speaking when he said, “For the leaders of this people cause them to err, and those who are led by them are destroyed.” (Isaiah 9:16).

It will be interesting to see what God does in the times ahead so far as the elected officials of our republic are concerned. More answers to prayer as God deals with the self-centered corruption that has brought our system of government to the precipice of unprecedented disaster?

“Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” --- Jeremiah 33:3

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. --- 1 John 5:14, 15

Is God Beginning to Make His Move?

PADANG, Indonesia - A powerful earthquake rocked western Indonesia Wednesday, trapping thousands under collapsed buildings — including two hospitals — and triggering landslides. At least 75 people were killed on Sumatra island and the death toll was expected to climb sharply.....

APIA, Samoa - A massive tsunami hurled by a powerful earthquake flattened Samoan villages and swept cars and people out to sea, killing at least 99 and leaving dozens missing Wednesday. The toll was expected to rise.

Survivors fled the fast-churning water for higher ground on the South Pacific islands and remained huddled there hours after the quake, with a magnitude between 8.0 and 8.3, struck around dawn Tuesday.... --- Internet news releases on September 30, 2009

Two days in a row deadly earthquakes have struck in the Pacific area of our world. There has been loss of life with the death tolls expected to increase. Property damage will be extensive as well. We have been having earthquakes and tsunamis for a time. A number do not grab news headlines because little damage is done and injuries to humans are minor in scope.

But when the big ones hit, then the whole world sits up and takes notice. Perhaps it is time to ask a question that is bound to trigger vehement denials as well as a measure of elevation in the blood pressure readings of some persons – especially those who do not want to face the distinct possibility of the reason behind these literal earth shaking events!

The question is this – is Almighty God beginning to make His move? Yes, it is risky to entertain such a thought and worse to make it known publicly. This is not intended to make a “prediction” or set a time table as to when God is going to do what.

We do have considerable witness in Scripture as to some things to expect in the final stages of human history before Jesus Christ makes His return visit to this world. Everything is rather negative as to the unfolding of events, including mention of earthquakes. While earthquakes have been around for a long time there is the record that the frequency is picking up as time passes. Some have described it in this way -- that the earth's crust is like Jello and is now constantly quivering somewhere around the clock.

God does indicate that there will be a time when He is going to shake this world in a way such as never before. And when that happens there will be no “emergency” United Nations sessions – no world leaders addressing the U. N. Security Council as to what should be done – the whole gang will be on the run trying to save their own skins! See how Isaiah graphically describes it:

The loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be brought low; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day, but the idols He shall utterly abolish. They shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, from the terror of the LORD and the glory of His majesty, when He arises to shake the earth mightily. In that day a man will cast away his idols of silver and his idols of gold, which they made, each for himself to worship, to the moles and bats, to go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the crags of the rugged rocks, from the terror of the LORD and the glory of His majesty, when He arises to shake the earth mightily. --- Isaiah 2:17-21

The subject is further discussed later in the prophet’s writings as he details why things have come to the point of world wide destruction – massive rebellion against the Creator of the universe always results in a devastating response:

The earth is violently broken, the earth is split open, the earth is shaken exceedingly. The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall totter like a hut; its transgression shall be heavy upon it, and it will fall, and not rise again. It shall come to pass in that day that the LORD will punish on high the host of exalted ones, and on the earth the kings of the earth. --- Isaiah 24:19-21

Note earlier in Isaiah 24 that three distinct things are mentioned as to why God is doing the things that He is – that is, literally shaking the world such as never before – it is said in verse 5 “The earth is also defiled under its inhabitants, because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, Broken the everlasting covenant.”

There is absolutely no hope when there is mass agreement to defy God’s laws, attempt to alter His ordinances, and reject His covenant established through His own Son, Jesus Christ. But that is what the majority of the human race is determined to do!

So, is God beginning to make His move? What say YOU?

"And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.” --- Jesus speaking in Matthew 24:6-8

Is Iran Now Shaking in It Boots Because of Obama’s “Warning?”

"Iran is on notice that when we meet with them on Oct. 1 they are going to have to come clean and they are going to have to make a choice" between international isolation and giving up any aspirations to becoming a nuclear power, he (Obama) said. If they refuse to give ground, they will stay on "a path that is going to lead to confrontation." --- Statements by President Obama on Iran, September 25, 2009 in Pittsburgh PA

Did Iranian President Ahmadinejad and his people instantly snap to attention, salute the president of the United States, and loudly respond, “Yes, sir! Yes, sir! Whatever you say, sir! We’ll do it right away, sir! Please don’t hurt us!”

If anything the Iranian response was as some put it, “a thumbing of the nose” kind of attitude and Ahmadinejad’s claim that they had done nothing wrong and further, Obama would regret the accusations made against Iran. So it hardly looks like Iran is running scared, does it not?

Consider why “tough” talk coming from the United States is no longer intimidating.

First, the president has never shown even a trace of concern about how this country stands in relation to the God it claims to be “under” as mentioned in the Pledge of Allegiance. But then, he has lots of company in that regard with the U. S. Congress and the Supreme Court, which rules more against God than in His favor.

Since this nation historically has its roots in the public recognition of God and the truths having to do with the practicing of faith which is centered in God, it is most important to determine just what our present relationship as a nation is to God. The best place to see how we stand is to check out Deuteronomy 28 in the Old Testament – God says He will bless the nation that obeys Him and respects His standards, but on the other hand if the nation chooses the way of disobedience, then unprecedented calamities will be that nation’s fate, leading to eventual collapse! Who would be so idiotic as to claim we are an obedient nation in the sight of God and presently in an acceptable relationship to Him?

Second, it is clear after rejecting repeated warnings and appeals that we as a nation are no longer under the favor and blessing of God. Even worse is the fact that God states that He makes the people who have rejected Him a mockery in the sight of other nations. What could be plainer than the following statements made by the Creator of the heavens and the earth:

"You have become guilty by the blood which you have shed, and have defiled yourself with the idols which you have made. You have caused your days to draw near, and have come to the end of your years; therefore I have made you a reproach to the nations, and a mockery to all countries. Those near and those far from you will mock you as infamous and full of tumult. Look, the princes of Israel: each one has used his power to shed blood in you. In you they have made light of father and mother; in your midst they have oppressed the stranger; in you they have mistreated the fatherless and the widow. You have despised My holy things and profaned My Sabbaths….” --- Ezekiel 22:4-8

So, when Obama speaks and warns, is he taken seriously? Ask Ahmadinejad and the people of Iran if their tremors have settled down after the president of the United States has taken them to task and issued a stern warning!

Then they will cry to the LORD, but He will not hear them; He will even hide His face from them at that time, because they have been evil in their deeds. --- Micah 3:4

Playing the Devil’s Advocate for Just a Moment!

For the leaders of this people cause them to err, and those who are led by them are destroyed. --- Isaiah 9:16

Ooooh! Howls of protest are intensifying as it has been learned that the Muslims are having a prayer time on Capitol Hill in Washington DC later today! There is a web site (http://www.islamoncapitolhill.com) which focuses on the event. The home page has a close up of the U. S. flag. Imposed over a part of the flag is a banner which says “Islam & America” and a graphic of two arms with a handshake taking place plus some other stuff on the banner. Another eye catcher on the page is, “IN THE NAME OF ALLAH…..”

Coinciding with this has been the news release with a lot of attention given by Fox News reports as well as on its web site to the incident of small children in a school in New Jersey singing the praises of President Obama. Here is just one stanza of what the little tykes were singing – “He said red, yellow, black or white, All are equal in his sight. Mmm, mmm, mm! Barack Hussein Obama.” This is, of course, a take off on the Sunday School song titled, “Jesus Loves All the Children of the World!” But then it is not “legal” to mention Jesus in school and besides, Barack Obama rates much higher than Jesus by choice of a lot of U. S. citizens anyway!

Do we not claim to be a nation that is one of rich “diversity” and ought we not to honor our leaders – is that not a keystone in our democratic way of life? At least that is the sentiment we are often told by those in high and powerful places (both religious and political) in our republic these days. So if the Muslims want to have a prayer meeting on Capitol Hill and if a bunch of little kids with strong urging by their teacher want to sing lyrics that exalt Barack Obama to the status of a new “deity” in our nation, who is to say they shouldn’t?

Such developments should be of no surprise – this stuff has been in the making for decades. It started as we closed out the 19th Century and entered the 20th. Something subtle and sinister was taking place. It was the importing of theological garbage from the European continent and disseminated in a number of seminaries in our country. Basically this junk questioned the integrity of the Scriptures and information as reported therein. Reported miracles were questioned or outright denied as ever taking place. The Person and work of Jesus Christ were looked upon with great skepticism – especially His atoning death on the cross for the sins of the human race and His literal resurrection from the dead immediately following His crucifixion.

The opening years of the 20th Century witnessed a war of a kind erupting known as the “Modernist vs. Fundamentalist” controversy. As time dragged on the labels sometimes were changed and pastors became known as “liberal” or “conservative” or something sort of in between or maybe more extreme on one side or the other.

Seed was sown over the decades with skepticism gaining the upper hand and the whole culture was impacted. Our system of morals and values saw a major shift over time. Powerful influences further underscored the fact that the Bible no longer is to be taken seriously, except for a small minority that often is labeled in the most negative terms.

A recent survey not all that long ago came up with the fact that only about 51 per cent of Protestant pastors hold to a Biblical world view. That means that about 49 per cent have problems with believing what is revealed in the Scriptures! Don’t want to risk being called a “fundamentalist” you know! Added to this is the troubling fact that less than half of our population can make it to a place of worship on a Sunday morning. Sunday is now clearly established as a day of business, pleasure seeking and spectator sports events -- that is the priority, and horror of all horrors -- "pray" and hope it doesn't rain to spoil our fun!

No, in reality I am bothered by Muslims having a prayer meeting on Capitol Hill – you can see why in my earlier post on Christianity being the only TRUE faith and the only way to God’s Heaven.

And the little kids singing the praises of Obama brings to mind the effective tactic of indoctrination employed in Nazi Germany in the 30’s and early 40’s that resulted in something called the Hitler Youth. They were taught to sing the praises of their Fuehrer and that he was “The One” who would lead them to Germany’s Promised Land! They learned too late that Hitler led them to an indescribable hell.

There are moments as human history churns along that God will allow the rebel spirit of a culture to prevail for a time and permit certain people to influence that culture in way that is not good – that is, until He eventually intervenes and does something that makes the ears of all who hear the details tingle more than just a little.

It is becoming more obvious as time passes that we shall learn lessons in the same way as did the ancient Israelites of long ago!

They soon forgot His works; they did not wait for His counsel, but lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tested God in the desert. And He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul. --- Psalm 106:13-15

OK, Who Wants to Go First?

UNITED NATIONS - With President Barack Obama presiding over a historic session, the U.N. Security Council unanimously approved a U.S.-drafted resolution Thursday aimed at ridding the world of nuclear weapons. --- News release, September 23, 2009 from New York

It most likely will be noted in future textbooks on world history due to being only the fifth time that the U. N. Security Council met at summit level since the United Nations was put together in 1945. Barack Obama was the first American president to preside over a Security Council summit. One has to wonder what political shenanigans and arm twisting took place behind the scenes to bring that about. With all his pride and arrogance that seems to increase with each public appearance President Obama declared, “The historic resolution we just adopted enshrines our shared commitment to a goal of a world without nuclear weapons, and it brings Security Council agreement on a broad framework for action to reduce nuclear dangers as we work toward that goal."

Now the big question in pursuit of this goal of a “world without nuclear weapons” is simply this – who will be the first to lead the way? Which nation will announce through its leadership (president, prime minister, king, queen, or 2-bit dictator) “We have a cache of nuclear weapons and we are going to dispose of them promptly – send your representatives to witness this historic moment!”

Hearken, what’s that I hear? Why it's a bunch of loud footsteps -- almost like a stampede, indicating people in high and powerful places rushing to the door to line up and say, “We want to be first, and if we can’t be first, we’ll be second in line!”

Yes, I admit it – once in a while I’ll entertain a fantasy and when it comes to the granddaddy of all granddaddies in a fantasy world, this one on universal nuclear disarmament takes the grand prize. Maybe Obama has been puffing on the wrong peace pipe and wasn’t aware of what was put in it!

Recently I posted a commentary on the G-20 summit taking place in Pittsburgh PA. In that it was noted that the major problem is the fact that those who are in positions of leadership in nations around the world are in the main unregenerate in heart and mind. That means spiritual blindness regarding who God is and what God expects of us individually and collectively. Another negative associated with this condition is selfishness and suspicion of others.

The foremost Authority on human behavior and relationships pinpointed the reason for conflicts that escalate from small circumstances to whole territories and nations. Here’s how He said it, and it certainly beats any diagnosis of a psychologist or psychiatrist:

And He said, "What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man." --- Jesus Christ speaking in Mark 7:20-23

So, if and when this thing of pursuing a “world without nuclear weapons” should come to pass and in light of the above statement on human nature, it will likely go something like this – “I’ll get rid of my nukes, but you have to get rid of yours first!” Maybe Obama with his super inflated ego can broker the deals on this and set a noble example by having the United States go first.

But not only did Jesus, the foremost Authority on human behavior, pinpoint the root of all human problems, but He also pulled back the curtain a bit and gave us a view as to what to expect in the future – it’s not very pretty. Here’s what He said:

And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” --- Matthew 24:4-13

The book of the Revelation goes into graphic detail as the human race comes down the final stretch of history as we presently experience it. It becomes painfully obvious that nobody was willing to go first and get rid of his nukes and so everybody tenaciously hung on to what he had. Further, it is likely the number of weapons will be steadily increased because we can’t “trust those other people!”

Don’t hold your breath in the midst of the fancy rhetoric now taking place until someone says, “I’ll go first and here are all my nukes – see, I’m dumping them all into the garbage can!”

Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. --- James 4:1-4

Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!" --- Revelation 11:15

Is Christianity the Only True Faith and Way to God's Heaven?

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6).

The debate has raged on century after century wherever there has been religious activity of some kind and Christianity has been manifested in the midst of that activity.

The question comes down to this one basic issue – is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the exclusive way to salvation from human sin? Is Jesus the ONLY way to reconciliation with God and the ultimate privilege of living in His Kingdom forever?

Or do other religious expressions also have a legitimate claim to speak with authority when it comes to addressing the issues of human sin, redemption from such, life’s purpose on earth, and eternal destiny?

A tragic development has been taking place in recent decades. Within the ranks of professing Christians is the growing tendency to accept other religious expressions (Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, Shinto, Taoism, etc.) as being on an equal level with Christianity – no one “faith” is superior to any other! Each has something to contribute to the “pool” of religiosity when it comes to matters of faith and expression of faith. Christians, of course, are expected to desist from insisting that Jesus Christ is unique. Rather, He is to be regarded as being on a par with other great religious personalities that have walked across the stage of human history as it plays out.

Without further comment consider a few of the claims Jesus Christ made for Himself in addition to the one mentioned at the very beginning:

"I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst……I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world." (John 6:35, 51).

"I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life. ….As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." (John 8:12; 9:5).

"I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.” (John 10:9).

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep…. I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep….. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father." (John 10:11, 14, 15, 18).

"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25, 26).

I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit…… I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. (John 15:1, 2, 5).

Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?" Jesus answered, "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice." (John 18:37).

Also note the exclusive demands which Jesus made upon us, the members of the human race, such as the absolute need to be born again as mentioned in John 3. The other three demands are found in Matthew 18:3, Luke 13:3 and John 6:53-56. These have to do with being converted, repenting, and having a faith relationship with Him which draws upon Him for sustenance in living day by day.

OK, now it’s decision time – are these claims made by Jesus true? Or was He misquoted, or are the Scriptures in error on these statements? Or did He not realize what He was saying when making such outlandish statements?

If He is right regarding the claims He made and the demands He placed on each human being, then all other religious expressions have struck out in the ball game of life! You only hit the home run when you make a positive response to His claims and demands. There are in the world today former Hindus, former Muslims and those of other world religions who have come to Jesus Christ, receiving Him as Savior and Lord of their lives, but at a very high price.

In the Muslim view, a Muslim who has converted to Christianity is now an infidel and execution in a Muslim controlled culture is the means by which such infidelity is dealt with if the “convert” does not repent and return to the way of Islam! It does not go well for the Hindu who converts and becomes a Christian either!

Someone, it may have been the late C. S. Lewis, observed that if such claims as made by Jesus are not true then He is to be regarded as a lunatic on the same level as a man in an asylum who claims he is a poached egg!

But if His claims and demands are true, then we have to settle the issue as to what place this Jesus is going to have in our own lives and live each day with the reality that the time will come when He will judge us and declare where we will spend our eternity – in a glorious Heaven with Him, or in a Devil’s Hell which the human mind cannot begin to fathom when it comes to anguish and regret! (Check one man’s experience on this in Luke 16 – you don’t want to join him!).

Is Christianity the only true faith on the face of planet Earth? How do you answer?

Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. --- Philippians 2:9-11

G-20 = Chaos and More!

President Barack Obama is pushing the Group of 20 leading industrial nations to make sweeping changes in how they run their economies. --- news release on President Obama’s plan to tell other nations what to do!

Pittsburgh PA will be the scene of all kinds of activity as it hosts the famous (or is it more appropriate to use the word “infamous”) G-20 Summit later this week.

“G-20 is made up of the finance ministers and central bank governors of 19 countries: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, United Kingdom, and United States of America. The European Union, who is represented by the rotating Council presidency and the European Central Bank, is the 20th member of the G-20. To ensure global economic fora and institutions work together, the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the President of the World Bank, plus the chairs of the International Monetary and Financial Committee and Development Committee of the IMF and World Bank, also participate in G-20 meetings on an ex-officio basis. The G-20 thus brings together important industrial and emerging-market countries from all regions of the world. Together, member countries represent around 90 per cent of global gross national product, 80 per cent of world trade (including EU intra-trade) as well as two-thirds of the world's population. The G-20's economic weight and broad membership gives it a high degree of legitimacy and influence over the management of the global economy and financial system.” --- Source: G-20 web site at http://www.g20.org

What can be said other than this will be one gigantic fiasco as all these combined world leadership meetings always prove to be. When the president of the United States declares his intention to tell these people to make “sweeping changes” in the way they run their economies, then it is guaranteed that the result will be as attractive and impressive as a celebrated chef who makes a cake with rotten eggs!

Obama’s "sweeping changes" in the United States’ economy have resulted in the greatest amount of deficit spending and enlargement of the U. S. debt in the republic’s history! So, is he challenging the other nations to follow his example? It is a given that China won’t since it supplies us with a major portion of our consumer goods (much of which used to be manufactured in the U. S.) and is holding over three quarters of a trillion dollars of our debt!

So when these international gabfests of one kind or another take place, what can be expected? There is a common denominator and it is this – the vast majority, if not all, are unregenerate in heart and mind. Consequently the existence of a mighty Creator God Who has clearly revealed Himself means absolutely nothing to these heathen in high places. This further means that God’s perfect will is of no concern just as we see it demonstrated on a daily basis in the functioning of our own government. And what is the result of this approach and proud attitude? It will always be increased chaos and conflicts! For each is driven by self-centeredness and suspicious of the others, seeking always to get the upper hand.

There is always a lot of noble sounding rhetoric – playing political games with a lot of posturing (just like it is done in Washington DC) but in the final analysis it’s still “When I play my fiddle, you dance!” At G-20 there will be a lot of fiddles, including one or more from Washington DC and none of them will be a Stradivarius!

Is there an answer to this mess? Yes, but not one the players at G-20, the United Nations, or any other conglomerate will in humility and a repentant spirit accept. It is spelled out graphically in Psalm 2:

Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, "Let us break Their bonds in pieces and cast away Their cords from us." He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; the LORD shall hold them in derision. Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, and distress them in His deep displeasure: "Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, 'You are My Son, today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.'" Now therefore, be wise, O kings; be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him. --- Psalm 2:1-12

One of these days the ruling powers of the nations of this deeply troubled world will realize too late what fools they have been and how different the nations and the world would have been if they had sought to do the will of Him Who holds the title, “King of kings and Lord of lords!”

But when you don’t seek Him then you are unable to handle the wide ranging power that comes with your office and position in a responsible fashion and for the betterment of the nation in which that office and position is held!

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. Now everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall." --- Jesus speaking in Matthew 7:21-27

As God Withdraws, What Will We Do Now?

With their flocks and herds they shall go to seek the LORD, but they will not find Him; He has withdrawn Himself from them. They have dealt treacherously with the LORD, for they have begotten pagan children. Now a New Moon shall devour them and their heritage. --- Hosea 5:6, 7

It happened to a nation a long time ago. They had become very powerful and they had prospered immensely. In the earlier years the people of that nation had appreciated God, consistently worshipped Him, took His commandments very seriously and sought to obey Him fully. The leaders (political and religious) and the citizens shared in the conviction that God and His intended purpose for them were to be given top priority on a daily basis.

But then something happened. As time passed God began to be treated as though He were a meddlesome nuisance. His commands were ignored, spiritual adultery was adopted as a desirable way of life and the nation sank so low that the sacrificing of their small children alive to heathen deities became a common practice!

At a certain point God said He would withdraw from them. Now then – guess Whom they came running to and calling on when calamities really set in? But there was no response – God had withdrawn from a nation of people who made the hypocritical claim that God was their God!

Since we are duplicating the same pattern as did those people many centuries ago and since there is overwhelming evidence that God is withdrawing from the United States, what will be the response of Obama, the U. S. Congress, the “religious” leaders, and the citizens to that withdrawal?

Will there be a spirit of genuine repentance as expressed by Daniel in his prayer (see Daniel 9)?

Or will there be bitterness and accusations that God has no right to do things that disrupt us in our idolatrous and immoral ways of life?

Or will the president and the Congress actually make a concentrated effort to ram through legislation in the vain attempt to offset all the negatives that take place because God has withdrawn from this republic?

Will church leaders attempt to stage some extra church activities – maybe even suggest that perhaps some extra praying should be done, as God in the process of withdrawing does something else – the “famishing” of the numerous idols that have been set up in a republic known as the United States of America?

What say YOU?

"It shall be in that day," says the LORD of hosts, "that I will cut off the names of the idols from the land, and they shall no longer be remembered. I will also cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to depart from the land.” --- Zechariah 13:2

The LORD will frighten them, because he will destroy all the gods of the earth. Then everyone in faraway places will worship him wherever they are. --- Zephaniah 2:11 (New Century Version).

What Good Is Physical Health Care Reform If We Don’t Have Spiritual Health Care Reform?

“Thank you, God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America.” --- concluding words of President Obama in his address to the U. S. Congress, 09/09/09

The battle continues to rage on even in the wake of President Obama’s address to the nation and the U. S. Congress as he pushed zealously for all to accept his proposal to overhaul and reform the way we as a nation handle our health care situation.

There are those who adamantly oppose government controlled health care such as that being proposed and considered by the Congress. Ads are being run and time given as to why the legislation now before the U. S. Congress should be rejected.

On the other hand, there are those who passionately embrace the president’s plan to nationalize the health care system as much as a groom embraces his bride on their wedding day! Maybe this is in part due to such supporters viewing Obama as their “knight in shining armor” and they are like a fairy tale princess just waiting to be rescued!

Even if some sloppy semblance of a government controlled health care system is put in place, what good is it going to do if a much greater health care of another kind is intentionally neglected as has been the case for many decades?

We’re talking spiritual health care here and the United States, as is the case with all other nations, is in a pandemic crisis in regard to this issue. It makes the physical health care issue fade far into the background by way of comparison when it comes to what is most important for our republic’s survival in times to come!

Less than half of our population can make it to a place of worship on a Sunday morning and this includes the president and his family. The day of worship is treated like a holiday with the pursuit of “fun’ things, enthusiastic support of a myriad of sporting events, and commercial business ventures. God labels it with an unflattering expression – He calls it “profaning the Sabbath!” Ah, that means when we choose to ignore Him on the day He is to be honored and worshipped, then He is very displeased.

Much, much more could be added to the above, but space does not permit it at this time. The issues of our spiritual health have been addressed at Driving the Final Nails! There are 8 "nails" being driven into our nation's coffin -- that isn't a hammer you are holding in your hand, is it?

The time will come when the president will realize that his throwing out the generic phrase, “…God bless the United States of America,” at the end of his speeches does not cut it. And that he was dead wrong in believing that physical health care was the top priority issue -- but then, he isn't alone on this -- millions of citizens and a hoard of elected officials stand by him on this deadly position. But by that time it will most likely be too late to bring about the necessary changes in order to get the republic back on track where it ought to be in relation to the God we claim to be “under.”

Spiritual health care reform is the most serious issue our nation is presently facing, but who cares? Only a few fanatical “right-wing nuts,” and that certainly omits elected officials and not a few religious leaders as well!

"....if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." --- God speaking in 2 Chronicles 7:14

Good, So Far As It Goes!

"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart; you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. --- Deuteronomy 6:4-7

News media will saturate us today about the president and his address to school students across the country. As always, the battle lines have been drawn on this as is the case with anything involving the president of the United States. There are those who support this action on the part of the president and those who are bitterly opposed. In days to come the battle will continue.

Having read the text of the president's message to school students I find it quite commendable for the most part. It is a basic challenge to stay in school, work hard and seek to make a positive contribution to the nation after one has completed the process of education. If he sticks to the text then some good things should result from his effort -- a positive effect on students.

He draws on his own background experience and cites some other examples of those who have overcome very negative circumstances in gaining an education.

There is a positive challenge to each person individually and that each can make a difference in the future.

If there are no further efforts in the background to attempt to incorporate the president's personal political agenda into all this down the road, then some good things should happen, as noted in my Facebook entry earlier today.

However, the down side is the fact that the president in his final statement of making reference to God's blessing, that is, that God might bless everyone and the entire country fails to realize that God is not to be taken for granted and that His blessings are absolutely conditional.

President Obama and the members of his administration as well as those who make up the Congress and the Supreme Court are in a state of total ignorance regarding responsibility of the citizens and their leaders to seek and do the will of Almighty God. This simply isn't being done and we have yet to realize the price to be paid for our rebellion against the Creator of this mighty universe!

In my Facebook entry I made reference to Deuteronomy 28 and the fact that God spells out clearly what national responsibility is when it comes to relating to Him and what happens when a people choose to ignore the laws and principles He has set forth. As a nation we are facing increased calamities as God shows us that we have no hope for the future when we defy Him through persistant disobedience!

What the president shares with school students is good so far as it goes, but he has avoided the most critical issue that has to do with this nation's future health and destiny!

"But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you: Cursed shall you be in the city, and cursed shall you be in the country. Cursed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. Cursed shall be the fruit of your body and the produce of your land, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks. Cursed shall you be when you come in, and cursed shall you be when you go out. The LORD will send on you cursing, confusion, and rebuke in all that you set your hand to do, until you are destroyed and until you perish quickly, because of the wickedness of your doings in which you have forsaken Me..... --- Deuteronomy 28:15-20

Read on, if you dare, the rest of Deuteronomy 28 -- you might not sleep well tonight, but that's OK if it causes you to do some praying in a different way than you have ever done before!

Now All He Has to Do Is Convince God!

“And that's how Ted Kennedy became the greatest legislator of our time. He did it by hewing to principle, but also by seeking compromise and common cause — not through deal-making and horse-trading alone, but through friendship, and kindness, and humor." --- statement by President Obama in the eulogy he presented at the memorial service for Senator Teddy Kennedy

It had to be the icing on the cake after all the words of praise and tribute when President B. Hussein Obama took to the podium and declared before the whole world that Teddy Kennedy was truly the “greatest legislator of our time!”

A majority are probably already convinced that this is so – others may have been wavering a bit, but the eloquence and rhetorical skills of the president would convince them rather quickly and the doubts would vanish as rapidly as the morning fog when it is hit by the hot August sun!

But there is a minority that is not only skeptical but have solid grounds for challenging such a statement as to T. Kennedy being the “greatest legislator of our time.”

As noted in a previous post, T. Kennedy supported and pressed for legislation which when held up against God’s clear revelation is found to be weighed in the balances and shown to be very much wanting! His zeal in supporting all that had to do with the deceptive “right” to destroy unborn children and to sanction the “right” to engage in immoral sexual conduct which God in no uncertain terms condemns is an indicator that this man demonstrated an attitude which is the equivalent of spitting in the face of Almighty God. It is this same God Who claims the authority to establish clear standards for human behavior and relationships.

Now the big challenge that remains is this: for Barack Hussein Obama to convince God that T. Kennedy was right on all issues, especially the intentional destruction of unborn children and that it is OK for persons who identify as practicing sodomites or lesbians to engage in sexual activity and to even be “married!”

Throughout history there have been national leaders who have had egos that would make Mt. Everest seem like a tiny mole hill by comparison, who were persuaded that they knew better than the citizens they governed what was best for them, who in their arrogance got extremely upset with anyone who would question their policies, and who, more often than not, embarked on a course of action that eventually caused the nations they were supposed to be leading to experience disaster and eventual collapse! Obama has shown that he fits this mold perfectly!

Even as President Obama takes on more and more the image of Captain Smith surveying the bow of the Titanic sinking beneath the waves of a very frigid Atlantic, it is a given that his supposed gift of oratory and persuasive rhetoric will not cause the Creator of this mighty universe to so much as blink for a split second of time!

Rather it will simply be another leader of a nation doing what all the others who have preceded him have done – when it comes to standing before God, whether leader or common citizen, we won’t do the talking, but rather we will do the listening:

Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. --- Romans 3:19

It will be a drastic change of pace, will it not? A powerful world leader who is used to telling and people listening to whatever it is that he tells, now in the position of having his mouth shut with tongue very still and he is doing the listening while Someone of far greater authority than a puny world leader could ever dream of possessing is now doing the talking – what a sight that will be to behold!

Yes, Virginia, Teddy was dead wrong on some of the most critical moral issues taking place in human history and no one will convince the Creator of this universe otherwise!

For the leaders of this people cause them to err, and those who are led by them are destroyed. --- Isaiah 9:16

You Will Always Know a Tree by Its Fruit!

"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.” --- Jesus speaking in Matthew 7:15-20

The media have attempted to provide a full fledged “gully washer” ever since the death of Ted Kennedy a few days back. The accolades have been unceasing coming from liberals and professed conservatives – almost a sporting type of competition to see who can outdo whom in declaring what great things Ted Kennedy has done as a member of the U. S. Senate.

But a tree is known by its fruit and Jesus Christ, foremost Authority on human behavior, responsibility and destiny, stated that people are as trees – the fruit that comes forth out of their lives speaks of what they really are by way of character.

Note two kinds of “fruit” which the Ted Kennedy tree has produced over the years.

First, Ted Kennedy was opposed and voted against the Defense of Marriage Act. He was an ardent supporter of G.L.B.T. “rights” in every sense of the word. On the occasion of Massachusetts, his home state, becoming the first state to legalize same-sex marriage he said,” "The nation’s eyes were on Massachusetts today, and they saw a triumph for civil rights and fundamental fairness. Today’s historic vote will have a national impact on civil rights for years to come. Massachusetts has led the nation in education, in health care and in biotechnology, and today Massachusetts renewed its commitment as a proud leader in civil rights."

Second, Ted Kennedy was strongly supportive of abortion rights and opposed even the legislation that restricted partial-birth abortions just as our president has done in the past on such issues. When that legislation was before the Congress, Kennedy said, ““I do not believe it is the role of the Senate to interfere with or regulate the kind of medical advice that a doctor can give to a patient.” The bill was signed into law by President G. W. Bush and was later challenged in federal courts. On April 18, 2007, however, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that the partial-birth abortion ban was in fact constitutional – not because of Ted Kennedy, but in spite of him!

What more needs to be said? Kennedy, as so many are inclined to do, spoke of “rights” where there are no rights due to our Creator having established the standards and ordinances at the beginning of human history. What has often been termed a "right" to do a certain thing is in reality a deadly choice if it goes against the spiritual and moral principles which God has established for His creation!

God’s standard for marriage is a special covenant relationship between a man and a woman. Very likely Mr. Kennedy now realizes that a bit late.

God has a plan and specific pupose for every conceived human life – there is no such thing as a “right” to interfere in His plan for those lives, unless a culture wants to commit moral and spiritual suicide, which is what ours has been doing for over 36 1/2 years!

By now Mr. Kennedy sees human life differently. Think not? After death we will all see things God’s way – this life is simply an opportunity to accept God’s clear revelation as it applies to our responsibility, conduct and ultimate accountability to Him in eternity or reject it and stand condemned because we thought we could write our own rules in life, while ignoring His!

Yes, Jesus, as always, was right on target when He said that we will know a tree by the kind of fruit it bears!

And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God. --- Jesus speaking in Luke 16:15

Defining Greatness!

“An important chapter in our history has come to an end. Our country has lost a great leader, who picked up the torch of his fallen brothers and became the greatest United States Senator of our time.” --- statement by President Barack Obama on occasion of the death of Senator Edward Kennedy, August 26, 2009

Our mass media outlets will be saturated with information related to Edward Kennedy now that he has crossed over into that realm known as eternity.

There will be no end to the praises of what he did, having served longer as a senator except for two other persons in the history of the U. S. Congress. He is described as having compiled a very impressive “list of legislative achievements on health care, civil rights, education, immigration and more.”

A couple or so questions can be asked – “Is the country better off now than when Kennedy began his first term as a senator in 1962?” Is the nation standing at a higher ethical, moral and spiritual level now because of his powerful influence and the fact that he is considered the “greatest U. S. Senator of our time” according to B. O?

Remember in those early years of Kennedy’s term of office that significant changes did take place in our nation – we had court decisions that literally kicked God out of the classroom with no more prayer and no more Bible reading permitted and some years later another insane court decision that said it is perfectly acceptable for a female to arrange to have her unborn son or daughter destroyed before birth – the ushering in of the United States’ version of “Holocaust!”

So, again, think for a moment – are we at a higher level now than we were when Edward Kennedy began serving as senator? Do we have a higher standard of morals – are we closer to our Creator – is He being honored more in our personal lives and in our national life now than 50 years ago? We all know the answer to that one, don’t we?

There is the human way of defining greatness and starting with today and over the next number of days we will see that all played out – if you aren’t careful you will not see visions of sugar plums in your dreams – you will see Kennedy again and again!

Then there is God’s way of defining greatness with a notable example given of how this is. It is from the book of Joshua and features a man by that name who was a leader among the Hebrew people as they began to occupy the land promised to them by God.

Just a few words will make it clear regarding the U. S. definition of greatness as it pertains to political leaders as opposed to God’s definition.

First, look at God’s instruction as to how Joshua was to prepare himself for leadership responsibility and especially notice the guarantee of "good success":

"Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." --- Joshua 1:7-9

Second, look at the influence a truly great leader had on the people in a very simple statement that says it all – something you do not see today:

Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had known all the works of the LORD which He had done for Israel. --- Joshua 24:31

Ought we not to pray that God will raise up a number of Joshuas to provide sane, sensible and stable leadership for our beloved republic which now finds itself wallowing in a quagmire, sinking deeper as each day passes?

And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God." --- Jesus speaking in Luke 16:15