The Most Critical Issues Not Yet Faced by All 2016 Candidates!

For if ye throughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye throughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbour; If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt: then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and ever. Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit. Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not; and come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, “We are delivered to do all these abominations?” Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the Lord. -- Jeremiah 7:5-11 (KJV)

Lots of excitement and lots of activity taking place as a number of persons are now seeking to be nominated as candidate for president of the United States. A few debates have already taken place and the end is by no means over. It will be settled finally on election day in November of 2016.

Different issues have been discussed by the candidates and their comments are on record as to what they would do about these concerns if they should be elected to the nation’s highest office.

However, in all the discussing and debating that has taken place, the most critical issues which have a direct impact on the future destiny of our republic have not been faced nor discussed!

The most critical issues facing our republic are moral and spiritual in nature. That is likely the reason those competing for public office do not want to mention them and the mainstream media certainly do not want to give attention to them.

Consider these accepted practices that absolutely guarantee the pouring out of God’s wrath in judgment upon us at some point in the future:

ONE: Our ongoing destruction of unborn children which has been taking place since the infamous Supreme Court decision in January of 1973. We have intentionally murdered and mutilated over 59 million unborn children since that insane decision was handed down! Even worse, it is now known that some who are in the abortion “business” have harvested certain parts of those murdered victims and sold those parts for big bucks! There is no real solid united front in opposing such abominations as this. There are even church groups and leadership within such groups that give the “green light” to these atrocities. I am an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church, which officially gives its sanction to abortion on demand. All a United Methodist woman has to do to get an abortion is to claim that having the baby will bring undue psychological or financial stress or circumstantial pressure to her and she has her “ticket” to get rid of the child God is forming within her! (see Jeremiah 1 on this).

TWO: God has clearly defined the boundaries of human sexuality in His special revelation to us. Sexual intimacy is acceptable ONLY within the covenant of marriage and involves one man and one woman. Anything beyond that in terms of sexual activity is forbidden! However, over time in our history there are purported “experts” who have led us to the point where now sexual experience and expression are best summed up in the words, “Sex is fun with anyone (or more than one at same time) anywhere and at any time!” As a nation, we took the final plunge into the moral cesspool when the U.S. Supreme Court handed down a decision that says sodomites can marry each other and lesbians can marry each other anywhere within the boundaries of the United States. Even some church “leaders” have been involved in the performing of such marriages. A retired United Methodist bishop did such a “marriage” as did a female district superintendent in marrying two lesbian “pastors!” And there has been a lot of whining and crying over the fact of declining membership in the United Methodist Church – a recent report stating a loss of over 116,000 members in one year!

Related to this whole issue on human sexuality and the destructive path we have chosen to travel in defiance of God’s standards is the rise of STD’s (sexually transmitted diseases) within our culture. Some of these are incurable. Worse yet there are large numbers of very young teen agers getting infected and tests have shown that some have more than one STD at the same time!

But after all, have we adults not taught the little tykes how to do it in various ways by example, the internet, our entertainment industry, and our “education” programs in the public school systems?

THREE: Idiotic court decisions which have been directed toward any acknowledgement of God in the public arena such as nativity scenes at Christmas time, a display of the Ten Commandments, or other quotes from the holy Scriptures. The most notorious was in 1963 when the Supreme Court ruled that the Lord’s Prayer (or any prayer) and reading of the Scriptures could no longer be held in public schools. There is not one person living who can say that our public schools have greatly improved, the quality of education is far superior, and human relationships are the best they have ever been because of that decision! Recently a part of a paper was shown on social media – an elementary student was asked to write about the person who most influenced her life. She chose Jesus Christ and wrote about this. She received an F grade with the note by the teacher saying, “Please remove Jesus.”

FOUR: Our widespread and deeply entrenched idolatry. No, we do not have stone or metallic images on every street corner to which we bow down and utter words of praise and adoration. Our idols take different forms with the prominent one being money. The pursuit of pleasure in its many forms and the idolizing that is connected to the realm of entertainment has captured the hearts of millions. Sports is another realm that has become an idol to far too many. Someone observed years ago that you could get tens of thousands into a stadium at sub-freezing temperatures shouting their lungs out at an NFL game on a Sunday afternoon but you can’t get them into church on Sunday morning if a few snowflakes are falling!

It has been documented in surveys that only about 46 or 47 percent of our population can find its way in to a worship service in a church on Sunday morning.

FIVE: The church scene is a very disturbing one. Over the decades past a deadly infiltration has taken place. In the latter years of the 19th Century a devastating thing took place with much of it occurring in Germany. Simply stated, a fellow got the idea that the Bible cannot be fully trusted and things reported in it did not really happen – miracles for instance! This kind of garbage caught on and eventually was imported to the United States. In early years of the 20th Century controversy erupted within the churches and it came to be known as the “Modernist – Fundamentalist” controversy – conflict between those who did not really believe the Bible and those who did. Later on terms such as “liberal” and “conservative” came to be employed as a distinction. In more recent times there has been a growing tendency to accept all religious expressions in the world as being legitimate and that all are on a level playing field with none superior to any other – Christianity is just one of many – pick and choose what suits you best as you move through the religious buffet!

And so today, when you walk into a church, you have to listen carefully with a sense of discernment and a familiar knowledge of Scripture – does that person standing in the pulpit and preaching a message believe the revelation God has given us via holy Scripture or does he/she NOT believe? This problem can be best compared to a fast spreading melanoma cancer. Check again the purpose of Scripture and how it came to be as shown in 2 Timothy 3:16.

God has been speaking, calling and doing some chastising things in these days. But at this point, very few are listening. The basic call is to search our hearts, confess our sins, resolve to be faithful in representing Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, and that He is the only way of salvation and hope! God holds us as individuals accountable, but He also holds entire nations accountable as well – and this includes religious leaders and government leaders.

Again, the REAL issue is not economic, terrorism, illegal immigrants, or national security – the critical issues are those matters mentioned above and no candidate has mentioned a single one.

Unless there is nationwide repentance and a genuine return to God, judgment is the only thing we can expect and quite possibly in the not too distant future!

From the prayer of Daniel, these words:

”To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him; neither have we obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets. Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him. And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem. As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth. Therefore hath the Lord watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the Lord our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice.” -- Daniel 9:9-14 (KJV)

If You Can’t Say Anything Good (or Nice) About Somebody, Then Don't Say Anything at All!

“If you can’t say anything good (or nice) about somebody, then don’t say anything at all!” --- An adage that came into existence a long time ago and is still frequently quoted in today’s world. Origin of the statement and who said it is unknown.

Recently I became involved in a discussion about a certain high profile personality. There were a number of responses from friends and family members. Somewhere along the way the above quote was made and the fact that for some this is a kind of “law” by which we should abide and seek to implement in everyday living. So, if we make statements about other persons, we need to make sure it is “good” – otherwise do not say anything!

Let’s take a closer look at this issue and attempt to determine whether this adage from a time long ago is really legitimate – does it hold up under scrutiny?

In the first place, God does not command such a thing as this. It cannot be Biblically supported. If God would have commanded this, then He would be a hypocrite of the first magnitude because He would have violated it due to saying things that are not at all “nice” about people! A couple of for instances are found in the following:

Lift up thine eyes unto the high places, and see where thou hast not been lien with. In the ways hast thou sat for them, as the Arabian in the wilderness; and thou hast polluted the land with thy whoredoms and with thy wickedness. Therefore the showers have been withholden, and there hath been no latter rain; and thou hadst a whore's forehead, thou refusedst to be ashamed. [Jeremiah 3:2-3 (KJV)]

How shall I pardon thee for this? thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they then committed adultery, and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots' houses. They were as fed horses in the morning: every one neighed after his neighbour's wife. Shall I not visit for these things? saith the Lord: and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this? [Jeremiah 5:7-9 (KJV)]

There are numerous other references found throughout the Scriptures where God makes statements to people in regard to things they are saying or doing and they are not nice things which He says! Just take a slow walk through the Old Testament prophets in the Scriptures and see for yourself.

In the second place there are numerous examples of where persons called by God said things that were not nice about or to others. Here are a few of very many that are revealed in the Scriptures:

Amos the prophet --- Listen to this message, you cows of Bashan who live on Mount Samaria. You women oppress the poor and abuse the needy. [Amos 4:1 (GW)]

John the Baptist --- Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, and were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, “O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: and think not to say within yourselves, ‘We have Abraham to our father:’ for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.” [Matthew 3:5-9 (KJV)]

Paul --- Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, and said, “O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?” [Acts 13:9-10 (KJV)]

Peter --- Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. [Acts 2:22-24 (KJV)]

Jesus Christ --- Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. …….But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. [Matthew 23:1-4, 13-15 (KJV)]

In the third place Christians are specifically called to be salt and light according to Jesus in Matthew 5:13 ff. This does not mean that Christians are perfect. There will be the occasions where confession needs to be made because of failures. But at same time Jesus is stressing a solemn responsibility on part of those who claim Him as Savior and Lord. Salt is a seasoning agent that retards rottenness from setting in. My parents in my young years raised pigs for butchering in the fall. Hams were soaked in a salt brine and smoked in a smoke house. They needed no refrigeration due to the preserving power of the salt. It is not enough to see evil – responsibility is to address it, speak against it and take whatever action is possible to eradicate it!

Light reveals things. I never knew anyone who did housecleaning in the dark or washed their automobile in the dark. Light is needed to reveal where the dirt is and then take action to remove it! By the same token, Christians are light and as such, are to reveal where the dirt is – which simply means, that sometimes we may have to say some things that are not “nice!”

Isaiah was told, “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.” [Isaiah 58:1 (KJV)] I get the impression that the prophet would not be saying very many nice things! How about you?

In light of the fact that our republic presently finds itself in a state of spiritual and moral bankruptcy, could it be that God is calling us to do what He called Isaiah to do centuries ago?

Yes, many would agree with the old adage that “if you can’t say something good about others, then don’t say anything at all!” But it simply is not a valid philosophy to practice in spite of the fact that some sincerely try to practice it. As previously mentioned, the most critical thing is that it cannot be supported Biblically. Of course, if the Bible is ignored or if one believes it to be filled with error and contradictions, then one can believe anything and attempt to live in a world where God has no authority and humans define what is right and what is wrong. That, of course, is a very dangerous and deadly thing to do. Eternity will reveal it to be so!

Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, “Thou shalt surely die;” and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. [Ezekiel 3:17-19 (KJV)]

Imagine No Malaria!

The ministry mission statement is: Imagine No Malaria is an extraordinary effort of the people of The United Methodist Church, putting faith into action to end preventable deaths by malaria in Africa, especially the death of a child or a mother.

Imagine No Malaria (Advance Special #3021190) The Illinois Great Rivers Conference has begun its campaign to raise between $2.3 and $3.5 million over the next three ...

Every 60 seconds, malaria claims a life in Africa. Millions of lives, needlessly lost each year. A continent. Entire nations…slipping away. Slipping through life ..

[the preceding are some texts with links on Imagine No Malaria campaign as a result of a search on Bing]

If you do a search on the internet using the phrase, "Imagine No Malaria," you will be amazed at the results which come forth. Links, links, and more links in this very high profile campaign which is directed toward eliminating the deadly disease of malaria in the continent of Africa.

As noted in one of the texts associated with a link, The United Methodist Church, has been very deeply involved the past few years since this issue attracted attention within the denomination. The bishops, district superintendents, pastors, lay persons, children and youth have become greatly involved. The conferences have rallied to raise a huge amount of money for the cause.

My wife and I have given support to the cause in the past. Certainly this is something that not only needs attention but action also required in order to eliminate the killer.

In one of the quotes above mention is made that every 60 seconds malaria claims a life in Africa. Then following that, "Millions of lives, needlessly lost each year." If the first statement about 1 life every 60 seconds is accurate, then the second statement is not. At rate of 1 every 60 seconds there would be 525,000 fatalities in a year's time of 365 days! That is hardly a "millions" figure, wouldn't you say?

As the campaign against malaria goes on there is another major issue and a possible slogan which is intentionally avoided in The United Methodist Church. You will not hear a bishop even quietly mention it in a very low volume whisper and the Council of Bishops will not publicly make a high profile statement, nor will their respective conferences pass aggressive resolutions about this thing which is nothing less than an abomination in the sight of Almighty God!

How about a campaign that holds high the slogan, "Imagine No Abortions?" One that is emphasized by the Council of Bishops with the same enthusiasm as they promote "Imagine No Malaria?" Tee shirts with "Imagine No Malaria" printed on them have been worn in a number of the annual conferences when they have been in session. How about printing up shirts that say, "Imagine No Abortions," and wear those during the annual meetings of the delegates?

On statistics, consider this - it was noted that there is 1 death every 60 seconds from malaria in Africa. In the United States, double that and then some -- in less than 1 minute's time 2 unborn children are intentionally mutilated and murdered as a result of a conspiracy between a pregnant female and a fellow who makes the absurd claim that he is a "doctor!" Isn't it the purpose of training a doctor to prepare him/her to use skills to enhance and preserve human life rather than deliberately destroy it?

That means more than 1,050,000 unborn children have been destroyed in a year's time in the "land of the free and the home of the brave" -- a nation in which historical documents point out that all persons should have "the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness!"

The bloody track record in the United States at this point in time (November 2012) is almost 55 million unborn children since some black robed people in Washington DC made the unholy and very deadly decision that it is a "constitutional right" for a female to dispatch her unborn child in pieces before he/she is born.

Ask a United Methodist bishop, or a district superintendent, or a conference official about malaria in Africa and be prepared for an extended conversation about the horrors of this thing, how so many are dying because of it, and what United Methodists are doing to eradicate it -- than ask about abortion and witness a sudden case of lock-jaw striking without warning! At the very best will come forth some words possibly that attempt in a feeble fashion to say, "It's a very complicated issue." Yeah, sure! There are a few of us (probably a very few) that do not see the dismemberment of a child whom God is forming in the womb (Jeremiah 1:4,5) as a complicated issue to be debated!

No, it is most unlikely there will ever come forth a bold, courageous, and confrontational statement about the "shedding of innocent blood" (to use God's words for this) and the fact that it has to stop or our republic will experience the devastating judgment of an angry God.

United Methodist silence on the subject will continue and the practice of destroying the unborn will continue -- that is, until Jesus Christ intervenes in His personal return to this planet and then the motto, "Imagine No Abortions," will become a reality in all nations around the world -- a lot of other good things are going to happen at that time also, simply because He has taken full control.

This commentary is stated by Clayton D. Harriger, United Methodist pastor who is a retired elder and member of the Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. Presently serving as pastor of Gipsy Christian Church in Gipsy, Pennsylvania.

I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; when I awake, I am still with You. --- Psalm 139:14-18

Mr. Obama's Righteous Indignation and Fraternizing with Prostitutes!!

Internet headlines speak of a Secret Service scandal which involved personnel drinking excessively (not H2O by the way) and partying with prostitues in Columbia before Mr. Obama arrived on his trip to that country. A later headline indicated that he was "angry" and an investigation would take place. It was further alleged that some military people were also involved in this incident! --- various internet sources

Mr. Obama has displayed what some would interpret as "righteous indignation" upon learning that some Secret Service personnel along with a few military people had a rather wild party at a 5 star hotel in Columbia before the arrival of the president in that nation! One headline used the word "angry" to describe the reaction of Mr. Obama and an indication of an impending "investigation."

The alleged party involved excessive drinking and the satisfying of that "gratification now without delay" lusting through able assistance given by prostitutes who likely made a good profit that would be on a comparable level of those who make excessive profits by their speculation and manipulation activity in the petroleum business!

Will we who underwite government expenses through our taxes be paying for this escapade as we did recently in the scandalous Las Vegas spree involving government people at a very high level?

Anyway, why should anyone -- whether it be Mr. Obama, the media watch dogs, or those in the U.S. Congress make any kind of issue of this incident, professed "righteous indignation" notwithstanding?

It is Mr. & Mrs. Obama, plus many members of the U. S. Congress, and a number of members of the U. S. Supreme Court that aggressively support the intentional mutilation and murder of thousands of unborn children each week in a nation that hypocritically claims to be the "land of the free, and the home of the brave!" Any effort made to save at least a few unborn from the horrendous fate that over 54 million have already suffered is stonewalled immediately by the aforementioned bunch of persons. It is interesting that this same crowd becomes extremely upset and hostile when confronted with graphic images that provide unmistakable evidence that this is an abomination of the first magnitude from the point of view of our Creator! But then, who pays much attention to the God Who put this mighty universe together by spoken command?

Second, it is the Obama connection with majority support in the U. S. Congress that opened the way for sodomites and lesbians to serve openly in the United States military. And of course throughout the nation there was been subtantial support from the citizens. The media along with the movie and TV industries have been very supportive and have provided the propaganda that this has been a good thing for the country. Again, the One Who gives "life, breath, and all things" (see book of Acts in New Testament) to all humans takes an entirely different point of view on this issue. But the leadership (both political and religious) has so influenced and corrupted the spirit of our republic that what God expects by way of obedience and moral responsibility is given a "thumbs down" response much the same as a blood-thirsty crowd would do in the ancient Roman Coliseum when they felt a defeated gladiator on the ground deserved to die rather than live!

Mr. Obama is certainly in no position to express his professed "righteous indigantion" over the drinking/prostitute party in Columbia by some persons who are a part of the U. S. government. He has far more serious moral issues on his home turf to tend to first as just noted. But we all know on basis of past experience how he will address those issues, do we not? That is, UNTIL Almighty God says plainly, "Enough is enough -- the shedding of innocent blood and blantant immorality will stop now!"

As mentioned on previous occasions, none of us will want to be living within the borders of the republic when God responds with the pouring out of His undiluted wrath. We hear of the disasters brought on by numerous tornadoes involving loss of human life and property distruction at this time of year especially. But that is a mole hill compared to a gigantic mountain when it comes to what God will do because we as a nation saw no need to take Him seriously nor were willing to fully repent and seek to be obedient to Him in all aspects of our behavior and relationships!

"As the thief is ashamed when he is found out, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they and their kings and their princes, and their priests and their prophets, Saying to a tree, 'You are my father,' and to a stone, 'You gave birth to me.' 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." --- Jeremiah 2:26-28

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. --- Galatians 6:7, 8

Will the "Plan" Really Work?

"Obama's plan: New Jobs proposals" --- headline for news article on August 18, 2011

One report mentions about "unemployment north of 9 percent" and the fact that there has been no incumbent president in recent times who has won a second term with the jobless rate near such a level as that. But with election fraud a very real and powerful possibility due to use of electronic voting machines it may not really matter if there is even a 10 or 11 percent rate or more in unemployment!

Will the O "plan" really work is the question. The answer is an obvious "No!"

First, a significant reason is that our republic is exhibiting a high level of defiance against the laws and principles which Almighty God has revealed to be absolutely necessary for peace, prosperity, power, prestige, and positive prospects for the future.

Elected officials, beginning with the president, have provided no evidence that they are seriously concerned about seeking the will of God not just in regard to their personal lives, but also in regard to the health and future survival of our republic. Anyone with a bit of sensitivity to God's special revelation is aware that the will of God must always be a top priority issue -- to ignore it is to invite furture disaster of unprecedented dimensions. The ruins and remnants of past civilizations provide explicit testimony of this fundamental truth!

However, the primary reason the "plan" is doomed from the beginning is the fact that the president with a good degree of support from members of the Congress is an aggressive advocate of the destruction of unborn children. His track record dating back to years in the Illinois legislature is unmistakably clear beyond question on this issue.

No nation with leadership such as that provided by Barack Obama and his supporters will experience the blessing of God nor will that nation have a secure and hopeful future.

The prophet Jeremiah was inspired to make a statement that is largely ignored in personal experience as well as in collective experience such as in the affairs of government. It likewise is too often ignored in church issues as well. Jeremiah said:

"O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps." --- Jeremiah 10:23

We shall be hearing a lot about the "plan" in times ahead. But mark it down -- it is doomed to fail UNLESS there is genuine repentance from our national shedding of innocent blood, entrenched idolatry, pandemic sexual immorality, intentional and widespread profaning of the day of worship, deadly indoctrination of the young in regard to our origins, etc.

At this point in time the prevailing spirit is quite similar to a time of long ago in which a nation of people shared a common viewpoint as graphically described by the prophet Isaiah:

And in that day the Lord GOD of hosts called for weeping and for mourning, for baldness and for girding with sackcloth. But instead, joy and gladness, slaying oxen and killing sheep, eating meat and drinking wine: "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!" Then it was revealed in my hearing by the LORD of hosts, "Surely for this iniquity there will be no atonement for you, even to your death," says the Lord GOD of hosts. --- Isaiah 22:12-14

A line from the works of the poet, Robert Burns, reads: "The best-laid schemes o' mice an 'men / Gang aft agley," An American translation words it like this: "The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry." Keep that in mind in the times ahead as the "plan" is implemented!

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 21:16

Too Late to Pray for Our Republic?

The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, "Stand in the gate of the Lord's house, and proclaim there this word, and say, 'Hear the word of the LORD, all you of Judah who enter in at these gates to worship the LORD!'".......... Therefore do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them, nor make intercession to Me; for I will not hear you." --- Jeremiah 7:1,2, 16

There are two very common assumptions about prayer.

One, that God always hears every prayer. That is, when anyone prays, then God is going to hear and respond to that prayer no matter who is doing the praying and no matter the nature of the request that is submitted.

Two, that God will always be around in a crisis when the time comes in which we need to be "bailed out" -- after all, is God not a God of love and He would never leave us stranded in a time when He is so greatly needed, would He?

Tons of books have been written on the subject of prayer. Further, there seems to be no end to a listing of persons considered to be "specialists" in the realm of prayer in times such as these.

And certainly there has at times been an emphasis upon praying for our republic and its leaders. There are solid Biblical grounds for engaging in such a practice.

However, the Bible also reveals that there are limitations regarding prayer. It's sort of like the proverbial "line drawn in the sand." There can be times when God Himself makes clear the fact that it is useless to pray any longer!

It happened in years just prior to 586 B.C. in the ancient Israelite kingdom of Judah. For the most part God's commandments and standards had been rejected by the religious and political leaders in the kingdom. With that kind of leadership it was simply a matter of time before the majority of the citizens followed the ungodly examples set before them. There was a small remnant which still held to the true faith but the influence of this group could not bring about a miraculous change so that the kingdom again was under the favor and blessing of Almighty God.

Now then, how about the United States of America -- the "land of the free and the home of the brave?" Are we in a postion to effectively call on God with assurance that as a nation we will be abundantly blessed and secure or have we "crossed the line" and if there is a response, it is worded something like this: "Therefore do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer for them; for I will not hear them in the time that they cry out to Me because of their trouble." (Jeremiah 11:14).

There is more than a tad of evidence to suggest that it could be the latter scenario! We continue to destroy thousands of unborn children every week of the year. As of this writing we have mutilated and murdered more than 54 million unborn children since the infamous Supreme Court decision in January of 1973. We are a nation of fools of the first magnitude if we believe that God is not going to respond to this massive shedding of innocent blood for which we are solely responsible!

We continue to follow our idols at a fervent pace with money being the #1 "god" and the pleasure "god" being a close runner-up. Idolatry can take many forms and certainly has done so in our republic over decades of time. It can be an object, a person, or a type of activity and involvement in the same.

Our sexual immorality is practiced at an unprecedented rate and the philosophy that "Sex is fun with anyone, or more than one anyone at the same time, anywhere and at any time!" is being adopted by all ages in U.S. culture. God has in His special revelation to us explicitly shown where the boundaries on human sexuality are drawn. The sacred gift of human sexuality is to be shared and experienced within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman. Search all you want to -- you will not find even a hint that God has enlarged the boundaries to include additional sexual activity of different kinds involving males and females, same gender persons, adults with children and/or animals, or whatever bizarre perversion may enter a person's mind.

We are teaching millions of our young every year that we have evolved from lower life forms over millions and millions of years in time -- go ahead, insert however many millions of years you want to -- does it really make any difference? Perhaps the big difference in the millions of years is whether the forehead is sloped 3/4 inch backward or a mere 1/4 of an inch! Of course this also means that you have no need of a Creator and you are free to make your own "rules" in life with no real accountability after you die. Since it was convenient to ban God from the public classroom, it was also very convenient to deny that we are the focus of an act of creation in the past with a divine purpose and plan for each conceived human being. A godless theory filled the resulting vacuum and we are producing millions of young people who wander about day after day with no meaning to their existence!

And the church at large that claims to be "Christian" in faith has become corrupted over decades of time. The Bible is under assault and its truths denied by apostate renegades. Just a couple of many examples is denying the literal resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead following His crucifixion and that Jesus was indeed God appearing on earth in human form in the 1st Century! The United Methodist Church stresses that it is a "connectional church" due to its organized structure. What isn't recognized is the seriousness of the "infection within the connection." When a church leader says that we need to forget about going to other nations and converting the people to Christianity because they have their own religions and we ought not to interfere with that, then something is terribly wrong in light of Jesus' command to take the Gospel into all the world and confront all nations with His claims and call.

Pray for our republic and expect to be heard? It could happen if certain conditions are met. The main one is that the majority (including political and religious leaders) are willing to pray in a repentant spirit as did Daniel who found himself being carried away from his home and placed in a raw heathen environment known as Babylon! Consider the opening statements of his prayer: "Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. And I prayed to the LORD my God, and made confession, and said, 'O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments, we have sinned and committed iniquity, we have done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts and Your judgments. Neither have we heeded Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings and our princes, to our fathers and all the people of the land.....'" (Daniel 9:3-6).

Anyone up to admitting that we are badly out of step with the Creator of this mighty universe and we are guilty of commonly accepted practices which have caused Him to pour out His undiluted wrath in the past on cultures that committed similar transgressions?

And what is this thing that is said about history repeating itself?

Then the LORD said to me, "Do not pray for this people, for their good. When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and grain offering, I will not accept them. But I will consume them by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence." Then I said, "Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, the prophets say to them, 'You shall not see the sword, nor shall you have famine, but I will give you assured peace in this place.'" And the LORD said to me, "The prophets prophesy lies in My name. I have not sent them, commanded them, nor spoken to them; they prophesy to you a false vision, divination, a worthless thing, and the deceit of their heart." --- Jeremiah 14:11-14

Science Is Still "god" in the Minds of Some Persons!

O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps. --- Jeremiah 10:23

The debate has at times been fierce and the battle has never seen an "armistice" take place in modern times. It has been the clash between what some may refer to as the irrestible force and the immovable object! Those in the field of science and those in the realm of religion seem to be very often on opposite sides of the fence when it comes to God and His relationship to a mighty universe which has boundaries we have not yet approached in all our probing and viewing.

Recently British physicist, Stephen Hawking, made some statements that are bound to cause an uproar from certain quarters, particularly those who profess to be Christian in their faith. He was interviewed by The Guardian newspaper and referred to the notion of Heaven as being a "fairy story." Hawking said, "I regard the brain as a computer which will stop working when its components fail. There is no heaven of afterlife for broken down computers; that is a fairy story for people who are afraid of the dark."

He advocates that science can explain the universe's origin without the involvement or existence of God being necessary! Why is it when I hear statements such as that coming from someone who is dismissing God as casually as I throw some unwanted item into the garbage can that the game, Pin the Tail on the Donkey, comes to mind -- you know, a bunch of kids with blindfolds on stumble about trying to find the correct part of the donkey's anatomy so they can attach the tail?

Hawking has no authority on which to base such statements except his own personal speculation. All of us humans have a tendency to do that due to having been born with a fallen nature that is inclined at the very beginning to concentrate on the self -- or to put it another way, we are born with an imaginary fiddle in our hands, and when we play it, everyone else in the world is expected to dance to our tune. And if there is a God out there somewhere, then He had better learn to dance to that tune as well!

Hawking's approach is nothing new -- in fact it's been around ever since the disaster that took place in the Garden of Eden a long, long time ago and involved two people known as Adam and Eve. Ever since their fall and banishment from the Garden, all born humans want to set themselves up as an "authority" on anything and everything, including whether there is God or not existing.

God, of course, has clearly revealed Himself to the human race in three major ways. First, through His creation in which the seriously thinking person by observing the creation comes to a sensible conclusion -- there has to be a Supreme All Powerful Being of some kind behind all this.

Second, God took a long period of time to have information recorded and preserved to further enlighten the members of the human race as to His identity, His character, His actions and the conditions by which the human race can become acquainted with Him. About 1,500 years was the amount of time and the use of at least 40 persons or more in bringing about an inspired record commonly now referred to as the Bible. There are a few of us who agree that this record is the final authority on all matters having to do with faith and the practice of that faith in human life and experience.

Third, God chose to become human and reveal Himself in a body of flesh and blood to the human race. The primary purpose for this action was that He would take upon Himself all the sins of the entire human race and provide atonement for all human sin through His sacrificial death on the cross. Through Jesus' death and subsequent resurrection from the dead, total forgiveness is now offered to each human being. The condition is to be honest, admit one's transgressions and repent of those, seek mercy and forgiveness and be restored to fellowship with God our Creator.

But for Hawking and countless others such as he, there is no need for God. Some in this crowd consider any religion as merely a "crutch" to lean on through life because one is not strong enough to go it alone!

Now back to a statement made by Hawking about Heaven -- he dismisses it as something similar to a "fairy tale." Now here's that fork in the road again -- Hawking says there is no Heaven, but Jesus Christ, God in human form, says there is and that He is preparing a place for those who have chosen to follow Him as Savior and Lord. Whom will you believe? I admit that I am not personally acquainted with Stephen Hawking but I am personally acquainted with Jesus Christ. In fact I've known Him now for nearly 54 years! No hesitation whatsoever -- I choose to believe Jesus and look forward to being a citizen in His eternal Kingdom forever!

This, of course, is a faith issue. God Himself has revealed that there has to be a measure of faith at work in relating to Him. But He has also revealed that each person is given a measure of faith - note Romans 12:3. However, it is also obvious by wrong choices made that faith can be quenched just as easily as one can put out a burning match by throwing a gallon of water on it!

For any that may be struggling a bit over this issue, further encouragement is given at How to Become a Christian. It is God's desire that all come to repent, receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, and live day by day with the blessed assurance of having everlasting life and a place in Heaven after life is concluded on this earth.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks. By faith Enoch was translated so that he did not see death, "and was not found because God had translated him"; for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. --- Hebrews 11:1-6

United States Now Safer and More Secure? Not Even By the Length of a Gnat's Eyelash!

"It is a good day for America" -- "the nation and the world are now safer" -- "we mean what we say" are some of the expressions in the rhetoric employed by the president and others on the occasion of the killing of Osama bin Laden. --- a hoard of news sources have been addicted to reporting these things on a repetitive basis 24/7

There is no limit when it comes to how easily people can be deceived, especially when it comes to safety and security. By implication in remarks made by President Obama with assistance by other high profile persons of influence plus the added spin of the media circus, we are now much better off with Osama bin Laden's body submerged somewhere in the deep waters of the North Arabian Sea.

One has to wonder whether those persons in high and powerful places really believe our republic is now safer or whether they believe that Islam is a "peaceful" religion and Muslims will all unanimously agree with our president's assessment that everything is OK now or do they erroneously believe that the God of Christianity will protect us from any future threats that may arise?

Islam in its purest expression is not peaceful -- the Quran teaches that all who do not accept and believe in Allah are regarded as infidels, and that includes Jews and Christians. The ultimate goal is a world where Islam rules and controls the total world and infidels exist no more! Granted there are those Muslims who have compromised their faith and are "good and friendly" neighbors here in the United States. And just as they have compromised their faith in regard to the "infidels" so have too many professing Christians compromised their faith, allowing that those of other religions such as Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and others have a faith that is just as legitimate as the Christian faith and the "playing field" of religion is level for any expression of faith whatsoever!

But Christianity in its purest expression is also very radical but not violent in its treatment of non-believers. At the heart of Christianity is a love for all persons and the Christian witness is simply this: God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son (Jesus Christ) that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. No gun is held to a person's head threatening to kill unless he or she believes -- the message is shared in love and the choice is strictly up to the one with whom it was shared. The basic Christian message as based on God's revelation is that salvation from sin and forgiveness are possible only through Jesus Christ and in no other way. Any religion that does not have Jesus Christ at its center, acknowledging Him as Savior and Lord, is a false religion!

The violent death of Osama bin Laden has been highly publicized and wide coverage given to the "celebrations" that have gone on endlessly accompanied by much flag waving as "patriots" took to the streets in the good old U.S.A. and expressed their great delight that this #1 terrorist was now dead.

Really now, are we safer due to this sudden and unexpected event? Most will play the ostrich role and say "Yes, we are." Those few who are realistic will recognize quickly that dedicated Muslims will not sit back and do nothing. There will be responses in times to come. Remember it was an "infidel" nation that ended the life of Osama bin Laden. Do you understand how infidels are to be treated in light of the teachings of the Quran?

There will be those who vainly insist that we are a "Christian" nation and God will protect us. This is another grand deception. The phrase, "... one nation, under God..." is absolutely meaningless in these times when the prevailing mood and spirit of our nation is to give God the all too familiar obscene gesture, and then we set about to do things as we so determine -- God is not honored nor respected and there is certainly no desire to express regret over our flagrant rebellion. Seeking His will for everyday living is the most distant thing from the minds of our leaders as well as the majority of our citizens!

There is one thing that is absolutely guaranteed -- there will be Muslim responses in regard to the U.S.A. killing of Osama bin Laden and the deadly mistake of the widespread celebrations of his death throughout the nation with extensive coverage by the media circus performers! It is simply a matter of time as they make their plans and how those plans will be implemented.

The bragging that was all too obvious in presidential remarks and those of other elected officials within the government as well as high profile media personalities will simply fuel the fire all the more -- we have more than proven that we are indeed the "Big Satan" as seen and regarded by many in the world of Islam! Jesus' statement in John 16 takes on new meaning in light of what has been happening in recent years -- "These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me." (John 16:1-3).

Many recognize, of course, that the president is going to exploit the O.B.L. murder with "tough talk" and a flood of photo-ops in his 1 billion dollar (or likely a great excess of 1 billion dollars) reelection bid in 2012.

When the crises come and the appeal to God for His help goes forth, what will His response be? Read carefully the statement below and then begin to make proper preparations. Note also what He specifically told Jeremiah in regard to answering prayer in Jeremiah 7, 11, and 14. Since I am in a very good mood at the moment, I will allow you the honor of taking your Bible and locating those 3 chapters!

"As the thief is ashamed when he is found out, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they and their kings and their princes, and their priests and their prophets, Saying to a tree, 'You are my father,' and to a stone, 'You gave birth to me.' 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 2:26-29

Ready for Charlie Anonymous?

There are 12 Step programs for persons who are addicted to something -- we have Alcoholics Anonymous, Gamblers Anonymous, etc. Is it now time that a Charlie Anonymous be established for those who are addicted to Charlie Sheen and all his antics?

Charlie Sheen has dominated the news of late to the point of crowding out that guy in Libya -- whose name is Quadaffi, or Khadafi, or Khadafy, or Gadaffi or Quaddafi or (insert your favorite spelling). Such heavy weights as NBC's Today show and Fox News gave extensive amounts of time to this person whose life is in a very tragic unraveling stage! It is crystal clear that media people are mesmerized by this guy Charlie Sheen for some unexplained reason.

His antics get top billing in the world of mass media communications. He is reported to be the highest paid actor in television. But that is not enough for Charlie. He is demanding a 50 per cent pay hike for his work in "Two and a Half Men." Maybe the poor guy just can't make ends meet with a salary of 2 million dollars PER EPISODE -- he wants it upped to 3 million dollars for each episode!

Among other things he is a prime example of the truth that very few persons can handle wealth and power in a responsible way. You see this massively demonstrated in Washington DC and state capitols throughout our entire republic on a daily basis.

But what is really wrong here? It is the fact that Charlie is demonstrating that when you become self-centered and try to run your own life apart from the grace of God, you are going to foul up in many different ways. Every human is born into this world with an inclination to ignore God and live a life that focuses on the self.

Long ago a man, whom God called to warn his generation of impending judgment and destruction if there was not massive repentance on the part of the citizens and their leaders (political and religious), made a most accurate observation about the human race -- "O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps." (Jeremiah 10:23).

Charlie Sheen, because he is very high profile, is showing millions of people what a disaster your life can become when you ignore the calling and claims of Almighty God through Jesus Christ that is extended to every human being on the face of this planet.

There will be those who may come to his defense and in light of statements just made cry out, "Who are you to judge?" The fact is that I am not making a judgment as such but simply conveying what Jesus Christ, the absolute Authority on all matters pertaining to human behavior and relationships, has to say.

First, He said we would really know who people are by the kind of "fruit" they manifest in their lives -- see Matthew 7:17-20. Their speech, conduct, and relationships will clearly reveal as to whether their primary motive in life is to seek and do the will of God or whether it's the person who stares back at them in the bathroom mirror each morning that is calling all the shots day by day until one is buried in a cemetery!

Second, He said we are to be "light" and "salt" in this world if we faithfully follow Him. That simply means we convey the light of God's truth, the reality of salvation from sin through Jesus Christ, and as salt, resist all evil in whatever form it appears. Charlie has provided no evidence in either speech or in conduct that he desires to be "light" or "salt" in the advancement of the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ! (See Matthew 5 about the salt and light responsibility).

Third, Jesus said that those who are faithfully following Him would experience hostility time after time in the world -- that is, hatred and violent acts under various circumstances, depending on where one is located. In some parts of the world there are places where Christians are violently attacked and even killed; others are beaten, tortured, and imprisoned. Here in the United States it hasn't reached that stage yet, but the hostility is growing in verbal attacks, court decisions, and certain negative reactions to the witness of Christianity. Charlie has provided no evidence that he has been on the receiving end of hostility because he is a follower of Jesus Christ.

Is there hope for Charlie? So long as he draws a breath and his heart continues to beat, there is that possibility that his eyes will be opened and by the grace of God he will see that his greatest need is to seek mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ, Who sacrificed His life on a Roman cross 2,000 years ago so that Charlie and all the members of the human race, including you and me, could be forgiven of all sin and be a part of Jesus' Kingdom forever and forever where there is no pain, no grief, and no trouble of any kind.

But in the meantime as the media prattles on about Charlie is it time to establish a Charlie Anonymous? Maybe you can be the one to start a chapter in your community!

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. --- Galatians 6:7,8

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. --- Romans 6:23

The One Absolute That High Profile Conservatives Are Avoiding!

An internet search will reveal that "conservative" talk show hosts and commentators are a rather large number of persons. Some are very high profile and quite popular among those who claim to be conservative in their view points. Listeners to these persons number in the millions each week. A major problem however is the fact that the Limbaugh's, Beck's, Hannity's, Coulter's, O'Reilly's, Ingraham's, Malkin's, Levin's, and (add your nominee) are missing the main and very critical ingregient when it comes to the restoration of our republic! --- information gathered from a Google search of the internet

The above named persons who are identified as being "conservative" in their philosophy have a multitude and then some of supporters and faithful followers. There are a large number of others who not so well known except in the immediate geographic area where they are located, which is usually a major U.S. city and ranging out for a number of miles from that city or however far their program may reach.

BUT, all this huge gang of conservatives has a common thread of neglect when it comes to what is really needed to get our republic back on track -- to get the economy "fixed" -- to get away from big government and its growing control of the many facets of our lives -- to regain the vision possessed by our founding fathers when the republic was born.

You cannot construct an arch if you omit the keystone - you cannot light up a home at night if you cut off the electicity or have no candles on hand -- you cannot make a delicious home-made cake if you leave out the eggs -- you cannot grow a beautiful flower if you do not give it water -- and you cannot go anywhere in an automobile if it doesn't have an engine to provide power!

So what is this "missing link" -- this absent "absolute" -- in all the conservative talk that goes on endlessly day by day? It is found in one rather simple word which is rare in its usage today and at times intentionally avoided. It is the word "repentance!" Yes, it has a distinct religious connection, which is why it is so critically important.

Almighty God, Who has plainly revealed Himself to the human race in a number of ways, has issued the call for the citizens of this nation and their leaders to make repentance a top priority issue in their experiences. It requires soul searching, honesty, deliberate choices, and a 180 degree turn in which God is sought in a spirit of remorse (for offenses committed) and humility. Honest confession in which each individual, no matter who that person may be, admits to being guilty of sin against God and one's fellow human beings. Further, the willingness to receive Jesus Christ into one's life as personal Savior and Lord and be committed to obeying Him on a daily basis. After all, Jesus' purpose for coming to this world 2,000 years ago was to sacrifice His life and satisfy the demands of divine justice on our behalf -- literally, He took upon Himself every sin of which every human being is guilty of committing in a lifetime! Forgiveness is freely offered, but one has to repent in order to experience it -- that is, confess known sin and indicate a desire to no longer continue to live in sin.

Simply put - repentance is intellectual (I realize and understand that I am a sinner and guilty before a holy God); emotional (I am very much troubled as it dawns on me that I am under condemnation for my sin); and volitional (I will no longer continue in my sinful way of life) -- I will turn my life over to the control of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

The mass number of "conservatives" omit this ingredient in all their talk about what needs to be done to get our republic "fixed." There would be objections to this by suggesting that it is not their business to bring a religious issue into their discussions. So, what's the use of wasting time -- it would be like giving a dying cancer patient an Advil tablet and a bandaid and telling him he'll be OK!

To Glenn Beck's credit, he has at times made reference to God and does so in his book, "Broke," but never really comes to grips with the issue of repenting from sin -- it is more in generalities, not in the specifics of the need to recognize sin and get rid of it. With all the "conservative" talk about our nation and its many problems, it is nothing more than an exercise in futility, if repentance from sin and turning to God are not highlighted!

Now then -- I have been around long enough to know that of the few who read this, most will conclude that this is just another rant coming from a religious fanatic and not to be taken seriously.

But I have done what my Lord put on my heart and conscience to do -- and I am in pretty good company -- better men than I will ever be -- the kind for whom I am not worthy to open a door for them to enter or leave a room -- but they sounded out a message in their times which warned of God's judgment if there was not extensive repentance from sin. And for the most part, that call to repent of sin was rejected -- what followed some time later was not at all pleasant. A classic example is seen at the time in which a man by the name of Noah lived!

Have you ever seriously thought about what the consequences will be of the massive shedding of innocent blood over decades (killing unborn children), rampant sexual immorality, entrenched idolatry, the misleading of our young regarding origins, the literal trashing of the day of the week that was intended for rest and the worship of God, and the growing hostility being shown against the Christian faith?

Maybe it is time we begin to give thought to the very real possibility of judgment at the hands of an angry God! But don't expect such a subject as this to be mentioned, even in a whisper, by those who claim to be "conservative" on their programs -- they might lose too many sponsors!

"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

So Now It Is Time to Pray, Is It?

After the tragedy of the shootings in Tucson AZ there were calls to pray coming from many quarters, including the Congress of the United States, moments of "silence" etc. --- as reported by various news releases throughout the nation

It never fails to happen -- each time there is some kind of a tragedy in the United States in which a number of lives are lost under certain conditions, then there is quite a bit of attention given to the subject of prayer. And having been a pastor for over 50 years, I not only attempt to respond by praying myself, but also urge my congregational members to pray as well.

The last few days have seen the media dominated by the tragedy in Tucson AZ. Terms such as "thoughts and prayers" are often stated. The president and his wife were featured as leading the nation in a "moment of silence" -- you know, a generic term that no person should find offensive as opposed to an announcement, "And now the president is going to lead us in a time of prayer to Almighty God through His Son, Jesus Christ!"

But have you ever considered what God's response might be in these incidents as many say, "We need to pray!" This is especially an interesting phenomenon in a nation that has "officially" placed "No Trespassing" signs up so that the Creator of this universe -- the One Who gives and sustains all life will know clearly where He is permitted to be present and acknowledged and where the off limits territories are located!

Nearly 50 years ago God was informed that He was no longer welcome in the public school systems of this country nor was His inspired Word (the Bible) to be read in the hearing of students attending public schools. I state it this way because the infamous Supreme Court decision on the issue amounted to exactly that! This debacle of the first magnitude was further broadened as years passed and in a sense "refined" as students in graduation exercises were told to make no reference to God or Jesus Christ in the course of delivering their remarks, etc. Many hailed the decision as a great advancement and a very good thing -- there were even a number of thoughtless church leaders that praised this decision!

I remember well a high school student in one of our youth groups telling me that someone put a sign up on the school bulletin board after the Supreme Court's major blunder -- the sign said, "In case of nuclear attack the ban against prayer in this school will be temporarily suspended!" He further told me the sign was not up very long until a member of the school administration quickly tore it down and presumably placed it in the notorious "round file!"

While very few are recognizing it, we are duplicating the behavior patterns of an ancient kingdom which existed over 26 centuries ago in the Middle East. It was known as the kingdom of Judah, inhabited by Israelite people. For some time they were on a course leading to disaster due to persistent ethical, moral and spiritual corruption. Faithful prophets in those times sounded the warning of impending judgment if there was not widespread repentance on the part of the people and their leaders, religious and political. But the prophets for the most part were written off as a bunch of wild-eyed religous fanatics who were candidates for the insane asylum, if there were such an institution -- or better, execute them and feed their bodies to the dogs!

Eventually judgment did come, but not without ample warning by means of calamities of various kinds as well as the faithful appeals right up to the end stated by the prophets. And when a rather universal appeal for people to pray was made throughout the nation, here is how God responded --

"As the thief is ashamed when he is found out, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they and their kings and their princes, and their priests and their prophets, saying to a tree, 'You are my father,' and to a stone, 'You gave birth to me.' 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 2:26-29).

In light of the preceding quote and a look at the present ethical, moral and spiritual condition of our republic at the present time, will you dare to ponder a bit on how God is viewing us and what kind of response or lack thereof might be taking place?

"Therefore do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer for them; for I will not hear them in the time that they cry out to Me because of their trouble." --- Jeremiah 11:14

There Would Be No Mosque Controversy IF….!

For weeks intense controversy has raged over the intention to build a mosque very close to the “ground zero” site where the World Trade Center was destroyed on September 11, 2001 due to terrorists hijacking loaded commercial aircraft and flying them intentionally into the Twin Towers --- from a myriad of mass media reports on the issue.

Muslims are resolved to put up a mosque near the location of the World Trade Center where the destruction of the gigantic Twin Towers took place nine years ago on September 11th.

The real tragedy is not the destruction of the Twin Towers, as horrible as that event was, but in the fact that we have arrived at such a place that the building of a Muslim mosque is a very real possibility and will likely be brought to completion with a great deal of fanfare!

When this nation was put together in a formal statement on July 4, 1776, the persons responsible were nearly unanimous in agreement in their identification with the Christian faith as Protestants.

They further acknowledged the need to depend upon and be obedient to the God Who had revealed Himself in two very special ways – through His inspired recorded Word (the Bible) and by becoming incarnate in the Person of Jesus Christ – that is, the belief that Almighty God chose to become human and personally visit this planet which He had created!

For some time such beliefs and convictions were held by the larger number of leaders and it was not unusual for them to make statements of the need to acknowledge the existence of God, but also that it was imperative that the entire nation seek to comply with His commands in order to experience His blessings and insure a positive future in years to come.

The Christian faith was embraced by a large number of the growing population. As migration toward the west took place so did the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as demonstrated by such persons as the Methodist circuit riders.

The influence of the Christian faith in the early decades was evident in at least two significant ways. Sunday was a day set aside to provide opportunity for families to worship and to rest after a week of work. In the public school systems the practice of reading from the Scriptures and praying the Lord’s Prayer was instituted. So, if a school pupil came from a heathen home, or his/her family was identified with some religious expression other than the Christian faith, there still was daily exposure to God’s revelation during the school year.

But the time came when at the end of the 19th Century heresy began to be imported from the European continent and certain truths in the Christian faith began to be questioned. The skirmishes in the early years of the 20th Century became known as the “fundamentalist-modernist” controversy – or perhaps “war” is a better term to apply. The rebel seed began to be sown and terms used were changed a bit. A pastor became known as being “liberal” if he could not accept certain things in the Bible as literally taking place. One of the early facts questioned was the virgin birth of Jesus with liberals concluding that it really didn’t make any difference and probably Jesus did have a human father -- either Joseph or someone else!

Time rolled on and eventually insane and bizarre court decisions took place that altered the religious landscape of the United States permanently. Two most significant decisions were the banning of Bible reading and reciting of the Lord’s prayer in public schools and a few years later the decision that it is a “constitutional right” for a female to deliberately arrange to have her unborn child mutilated and murdered! Strangely there were and are church leaders who support such decisions. A host of politicians support and attempt to defend the practice of destroying about 25,000 unborn children each week!

Compromise had been extremely common within church circles as the last half of the 20th Century came to a conclusion. Doing “dialog” is the big thing as we sit down and discuss our “common ground” with other religions in the world and how we can work together for a better world. We discuss controversial moral issues and seek to find a way which is acceptable to all by concluding that God did not really mean what He said when He drew the boundaries for acceptable sexual expression and experience!

So today, after decades of sowing the rebel seed within professing Christian circles, the Christian faith is regarded by most as simply a religion on a buffet table with many other religions in which you simply pick and choose what suits your fancy – or if you don’t want to choose any, that’s ok too. We can still work together to build a better world!

If the Christian faith had not been compromised, divided, and greatly weakened as the result of imported theological garbage from Europe in the closing years of the 19th Century and early years of the 20th Century, there would be no controversy over the building of a Muslim mosque near “ground zero” in New York City!

Do not spend any time fussing and fretting over the mosque construction plan – rather, be more concerned about the fact that this nation is going to experience the outpouring of God’s wrath due to its unwillingness to fully repent of its abominations which are so widely accepted and practiced at the present time. Our leaders, elected officials and church, show absolutely no real concern about this, nor is there much of any genuine concern among us, the ordinary citizens either!

Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No! They were not at all ashamed; nor did they know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; at the time I punish them, they shall be cast down," says the LORD. Thus says the LORD: "Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk in it.' Also, I set watchmen over you, saying, 'listen to the sound of the trumpet!' But they said, 'We will not listen.' --- Jeremiah 6:15-17

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."..... Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." --- John 8:12; 14:6

Taking Back America - Very Doubtful Indeed --

Organizations have been formed, "conservative" politics has been gaining momentum in anticipation of the November 2010 elections, books by the dozens have been written, and talk show hosts with a "conservative" reputation have been having a field day!

"Taking Back America!" has been a rallying cry for quite some time. The tea party gatherings were not the fly-by-night phenomenon that mainstream media people wanted us to believe. So then came the "labeling" of those involved in the movement to "take back America."

If you in any way disagree with or, horrors upon horrors, you dare to oppose the agenda being advanced by Obama & Co. then you are a bigoted racist filled with venom and undiluted hatred!

As of this date (Aug. 28, 2010) on which these comments have been written, Glenn Beck is at the center of a rally at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC. Preparation and accompanying publicity for this have been going on for months. Beck's TV program on August 27 featured some members of the clergy. Expressed in the course of their discussion was the opinion that another "great awakening" is now taking place. Some details were revealed in an effort to support the suggestion that this is truly happening around the nation.

Is it happening for real? Will America actually be "taken back" as many attempt to spell it out in light of the chaos that now rules in government, business, industry, education, and even too many church groups?

There will be some stirrings here and there perhaps and emotions will run very high, but for the healing and restoration of the republic as God defines a culture that is in right relationship to Him, the "taking back America" thing is very doubtful to say the least!

The reason is rather simple. In the midst of the activity and rhetoric spewed forth, including Beck announcing that we "need God," there is no serious consideration of the need to repent of all sin! This is an absolute must on both the personal and individual level as well as the collective level in all facets of our society.

There is no remorse and regret that we have brutally mutilated and murdered at least 52 million unborn children since January of 1973, or engaged in widespread idolatry with our version of homemade "deities," or engaging persistently in sexual immorality of pandemic proportions, or massively profaning what is supposed to be a day of worship and rest, or teaching millions of our young that we have evolved from lower life forms which existed millions and millions of years ago! But worst of all is the fact that Jesus Christ is ignored as the exclusive remedy and answer to one's personal salvation from sin and admission into the eternal Kingdom of God!

Until there is brutal honesty starting with leadership in our churches and in our government at various levels in admitting the aforementioned sins and abominations and the fact that such offenses have to cease immediately, then all the talk (and debate) about "taking back America" is in vain.

Perhaps the time has now come that the person who chooses to face reality in this republic needs to think and anticipate judgment at the hands of a God Who is holy and Who will not endlessly tolerate rebellion -- especially on the part of a nation which claims to be "one nation, under God...!"

I spoke to you in your prosperity, but you said, 'I will not hear.' This has been your manner from your youth, that you did not obey My voice. The wind shall eat up all your rulers, and your lovers shall go into captivity; surely then you will be ashamed and humiliated for all your wickedness. --- Jeremiah 22:21, 22

Letter to a Bishop in W. PA!

Hello! Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Theo and I am Administrative Assistant to the person who is in charge of the web site, Circuit Rider's Range. His given name is Clayton D. Harriger and he is an ordained elder in the Western PA Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. There are United Methodists, including those in positions of leadership, who get extremely upset with him about some things. If you ever go to his web site, you will see what I mean. Anyway, a resolution was passed in the 2009 session of the Western PA Annual Conference in which each clergy person was to pay $25 to support a fund which would assist clergy on what is described as "short-term disability." Each member of the clergy was expected to pay this, including those who are retired. CDH recently received a letter from Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton reminding him that he had not yet paid the $25.00. So, CDH responded with a letter and enclosed a check for $25.00. BTW, Theo is my shortened name which CDH gave me -- an explanation about my longer name is given at the web site. Now, here is the letter.

*** *** ***

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton
Western PA Annual Conference
The United Methodist Church

Dear Bishop Bickerton:

I received your letter reminding me that I owe $25.00 as my part in the one time contribution (pertaining to RS 404 – 2009 Annual Conference session) which is expected of all clergy in the conference. This is to inform you that I am paying this under protest. The reasons are as follows:

First, whoever dreamed this debacle up didn’t give any serious thought to fairness in such an assessment. There is a big difference between my income and yours, clergy with the “plush” appointments in the conference, the district superintendents, and even those clergy at the lower end of the salary scale. The last I heard, bishops are making something like a 6 figure annual salary, are they not? Therefore, let those in the upper salary ranges pay more on this “short-term disability” program and show some mercy toward us retirees.

Second, I own my own home and pay taxes on my property. I pay all expenses to maintain my home. I pay for all furnishings for my home. I pay all utility expenses for my home. I pay the insurance on my home. You and the active clergy on the other hand have some very nice perks – you have your home furnished with major appliances and you do not personally pay taxes on your home. You do not pay maintenance costs for the home in which you live. You do not pay the utilities for your home. And you do not have to pay the insurance on your home, except if you choose to have your personal possessions insured. But that is far different than the total insurance bill for a residence such as the one in which I and my wife presently live!

Third, you who are active clergy have advantages in health coverage that we retirees do not have. We were kicked out of the dental plan a few years ago, and finally someone decided that we retirees should have some coverage, but it is nothing to make the front page of the local newspaper. I have paid a few thousand dollars just for dental work alone because of extreme limitations in the plan as applied to retirees. So I am having expenses where you in the active clergy category do not!

Finally, there has been a heavy stress on the “connectional system” and “covenant” – you have been one to remind us in the conference of this. OK, why are such words as “fairness” and “equity” obviously missing when it comes to the “connection” and RS 404? The retirees’ share should have been in the $5 to $7 range maximum, while you active clergy could far easier pay $200.00 or $150.00 than I can pay the 5 bucks!

Enclosed is my check for $25.00 which is submitted under protest.

Still contending at www.crrange.com, blogging at http://cdharriger.blogspot.com and warning at www.crrange.com/USACoffin.html

Clayton D. Harriger, Elder in full connection, W. PA Annual Conference

PS – On another issue related to the “connection” – what hasn’t been realistically addressed is the “infection within the connection” which is why the United Methodist Church is in a state of decline!

cc: The Rev. Alyce Weaver Dunn, newly appointed DS for the Johnstown District

I did not sit in the assembly of the mockers, nor did I rejoice; I sat alone because of Your hand, for You have filled me with indignation. --- Jeremiah 15:17

That Gulf Oil Spill - A Certain Fact Commonly and Vigorously Denied!

"Then they will answer, 'Because they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and embraced other gods, and worshiped them and served them; therefore He has brought all this calamity on them.'" --- 2 Chronicles 7:22

Therefore thus says the LORD: "Behold, I will surely bring calamity on them which they will not be able to escape; and though they cry out to Me, I will not listen to them. --- Jeremiah 11:11

"Because you have burned incense and because you have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD or walked in His law, in His statutes or in His testimonies, therefore this calamity has happened to you, as at this day." --- Jeremiah 44:23

It is dominating news everywhere on a worldwide basis and the longer the crisis continues, the more the assignment of blame and responsibility escalates! One wonders if President Obama's hatchetman, Rahm Emanuel, continues to play the favorite string on his fiddle which gushes a familiar tune, "Never let a crisis go to waste."

As the president continues to wear out Air Force One (will hundreds of millions have to be spent for a replacement before his term ends?) he is finding out as he walks along beaches with oil penetrating them that things just don't happen automatically when he opens his mouth and gives a command -- you know, like "Fix that ##$$@@%% leak!"

What is really pathetic in this happening is the fact that the president, his administration, the members of the U.S. Congress and the "experts" on deep sea oil drilling fail to realize another dimension in what is termed an environmental disaster of the first magnitude.

Since we have for decades as a nation chosen to give the Creator of the universe an obscene gesture as to our response to His claims and His call that we repent of our sins, receive His Son, Jesus Christ, as Savior and Lord, and commit to seeking His holy will and purpose for us, then we can only expect a series of calamities in our national experience as the blessings of God are withdrawn!

God has clearly established the fact that a sane, sensible, serene, stable, secure, and stellar society is experienced on basis of total obedience to Him. To reject Him is to become the target of unimaginable calamities and ultimately judgment and total destruction if there is refusal to repent. The principles as to how this comes into play are spelled out throughout the Scriptures, but especially in Deuteronomy 28. In that chapter a sharp contrast is drawn as to what happens when a nation obeys God as opposed to what happens when disobedience is chosen by the majority of the citizens and its leaders!

There will be large numbers who will vehemently deny that God has anything to do whatsoever with what happened in the Gulf of Mexico. Granted, there are any number who deny that God even exists, or if He does, He just kind of looks on indifferently as to what is going on in this world. A greater number may claim there is a God and that they "believe" in Him -- but they live day by day as though He doesn't exist -- what some describe as being a "practical atheist" -- insisting there is a God but denying Him by personal lifestyle!

But what if.....?

Yes, the day will likely come that just maybe the leak will be "fixed" but the damage that has taken place up to that moment is impossible to fully and accurately calculate. Plus the fact that for those willing to face the reality, there is the recognition that Almighty God does interact with the members of the human race and the nations into which they are divided. What is on the divine "agenda" so far as the schedule of future calamities are concerned as Jesus Christ tarries in His personal return to this confused and chaotic world?

"And they shall know that I am the LORD, and that I have not said in vain that I would bring this calamity upon them." --- Ezekiel 6:10

Vengeance is Mine, and recompense; their foot shall slip in due time; for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things to come hasten upon them.' --- Deuteronomy 32:35