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!