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

Hemorrhaging Continues Unabated!

Membership stands at 98,968, down 473 from the previous year......Membership stands at 166,987, up 172 from the previous year......Membership stands at 74,483, down 1,866 from the previous year......Membership stands at 61,534, down 1,379 from the previous year......Membership stands at 96,927, down 2,016 from the previous year. --- representative membership reports from some annual conferences for end of calendar year 2007

They’re coming in and the results are proving to be the same as it has been for many years. The membership of the United Methodist Church continues to decline by thousands each year!

Some attempt to be optimistic by saying that our losses aren’t as bad as they used to be – that’s as encouraging as telling a patient who is bleeding profusely from an injury, “Good news! You’re not losing blood as much as you were yesterday!” The fact is, unless the bleeding is entirely stopped, the guy will die. It is a given – a full supply of blood is necessary to maintain good health and prolonged life!

Among annual conference reports are those which are initiating detailed and often costly “programs” in an effort to reverse the loss of membership. Such is the case in the W. PA Annual Conference with its “Believe Again!” campaign. If a Washington DC politician wants a guideline on creating a bureaucratic “Frankenstein,” all he has to do is look at the W. PA Annual Conference. One of many “goals” in “Believe Again!” has been reached as of the 2007 annual conference session. A full time assistant for Bishop Thomas Bickerton will begin that interesting position as of July 1, 2008. This will enable the bishop to continue his many world wide travels with a full time assistant “minding the store” on the home front! But then, a lot of traveling here and there is quite possible when you are making over $100,000 per year plus a lot of “perks” to go with it.

Oh, by the way -- the W. PA Annual Conference, where I am an ordained elder, has reported its membership to be 187,441 as of end of 2007 -- DOWN 1,738 from previous year. Worship attendance is down 2,552 from previous year!

Will the very ambitious plans of recovery as intitiated in a number of conferences bring about desired and desperately hoped for results? Not likely – but to see why, we have to cross the Atlantic Ocean to a place called Africa and what is going on with the United Methodist Church there.

There is a choice of simple words to describe what is going on, but let’s use the word, “explosion!” The UMC in Africa is growing rapidly. Probably some have attempted to analyze this over recent years.

Let’s cut through all the technical jargon that would be thrown at us about this situation in Africa – the theories – the speculations, etc. Let’s just simply say that these people (laity, pastors, church leaders) know no better than to believe that the Bible means precisely what has been recorded there by direct influence of the Holy Spirit. And God has been wonderfully blessing because of this.

Such is not the case in the United States. We want to redefine God’s boundaries on human sexuality, redefine marriage and redefine what really constitutes a family. In the process we refer to those African United Methodists as being “more conservative” – that’s a bunch of baloney – let’s get it through our thick skulls – those people believe God while we in the United States have placed God on a stool in the corner with a dunce cap on His head and have told Him, “We’ll set the standards on sexual relationships and activity, as well as what marriage and family are all about. Further, we’ll set the record straight that all those so-called “miracles” attributed to you didn’t really happen at all – that’s all a bunch of fairy tale stuff!”

Even professed “evangelicals” have caved in to the pressure in the United States, not wanting to be labeled as being “homophobic” or “mean-spirited.” It’s so much easier to sit down to a table, dialog and say, “We disagree a bit, but we can still work together for the good of the church and exhibit “love” and “respect” for each other’s “positions!”

By the way, anyone out there have some extra gauze to help stop all this bleeding?

And for any from the United Methodist Church in Africa who may stumble into this area – “Brother or sister, keep on taking your stand for God’s revealed truth and the Lord Jesus Christ as the only way of salvation and hope, in spite of the flak you receive from some in the United States UMC or the efforts to hinder and restrict you at General Conference sessions! Remember, Jesus will have the last word on all things – we’ll see how absolutely true that is when He comes back to this chaotic planet!

To whom shall I speak and give warning, that they may hear? Indeed their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot give heed. Behold, the word of the LORD is a reproach to them; they have no delight in it. --- Jeremaih 6:10

W. PA United Methodists on Death Penalty and Hand Guns!

"...We believe all human life is sacred and created by God...The sixth commandment, 'Thou Shall not kill,' not only forbids killing, it also implies that we are obligated to prevent harm and to preserve life and the well-being of human life..." --- statements in proposed resolutions for consideration at the W. PA Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, June 2008

Among the many pieces of proposed legislation to come before the members of the W. PA Annual Conference session during the second week of June, 2008, are those dealing with the death penalty in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the purchase of hand guns.

One item addresses the subject of establishing a moratorium on the death penalty. One argument put forth for this is quoted above, and is a quotation from the Social Principles of the United Methodist Church. Officially the denomination goes on record as saying that "we believe all human life is sacred and created by God." The resolution proceeds to set forth the logic of the need to preserve life.

There's a major problem here -- we strongly protest the execution of criminals convicted of murdering one or more other human beings, but we will not "officially" protest the intentional pre-meditated mutilation and murders of thousands of unborn children in the state of Pennsylvania each year!

And then there is the resolution which is titled, "In Support of 'One-Handgun-a-Month' Legislation in Pennsylvania." This one gets a bit wild by mentioning that in light of the sixth commandment we are "obligated to prevent harm and to preserve life and the well-being of human life!"

Ah, yes -- same issue, only in connection with those horrible things called "hand-guns" -- it's like a lot of people are going to walk in the store and buy 2 or 3 of those things every week! If we want to propose legislation on restricting or limiting what are regarded as "tools of death," how about eliminating those "tools" used by those guys who wear white coats and mistakenly have the initials "M.D." behind their names -- you know, those tools used to tear apart an unborn child before it is born? Quite a few thousand in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania end up murdered each year before they are born with no charges of criminal activity ever being filed!

But worse, we draw that line at the entrance to the human womb -- we'll legislate in the name of protecting human life, but what's inside the human womb -- you know, that little one God is forming for a high and holy purpose (Jeremiah 1:4,5) -- that one doesn't count. Maybe that's because too many of us have bought into the propaganda line that all that is inside the womb is a mass of tissue and blood, to be disposed of at the whim of the "mother" (term used loosely) and in the name of "constitutional rights!"

Do you sense that something is terribly amiss here? Do you wonder at the blatant inconsistencies of episcopal leadership which does not hesitate to address certain social ills and campaigns vigorously for stamping out malaria in Africa which kills a million children a year (according to figures quoted by those involved in the Nothing But Nets campaign) but says absolutely nothing about the 1 million unborn victims of intentional murder in the United States each year?

What will happen? The W. PA Annual Conference will likely pass those resolutions and many others besides, and then return home with a "feel good" feeling that we have done some great things for the Kingdom of God. But in the meantime the slaughter of the innocents continues and we haven't even uttered a whisper of protest against this abomination!

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!" --- Matthew 23:23, 24

Could We Have Some Attention Directed to a Greater Tragedy, Please?

The above banner is on display at the home page of the web site of the Western Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church. Address for the site is http://www.wpaumc.org/ if you want to see it for yourself.

Yea, I know -- here I go again! But you have to understand that it's a pattern I've been in for quite a few years -- as I recall, it all started back in about the year 1973. A lot of water has run under the bridge in that amount of time and a lot of blood of the innocents has run down the sewers also!

W. PA United Methodists have been challenged repeatedly to support the Nothing But Nets campaign in an effort to cut down the number of malaria victims in Africa. As noted above, 1 million children die in Africa each year from malaria.

Bishop Bickerton has been at the forefront of this drive. He's been all over the map in promoting this and received high profile publicity at the General Conference recently with the announcement of grants being given to the United Methodist Church as the campaign continues.

Well and good -- Jean and I have contributed to this effort as have many other individuals and groups.

BUT, as asked so many times before -- why is there stone silence in regard to the more than 1 million unborn children who are brutally mutilated and murdered in their mothers' wombs each year in the "land of the free and the home of the brave?" Come on now, tell me -- why do our bishops in the United Methodist Church, Bickerton included, come down with a severe case of lock jaw when it comes to speaking out on this abomination? Do they deceive themselves into thinking that Almighty God is not going to respond to this massive shedding of innocent blood?

For the latest numbers from certain points of time and since certain politicians and church officials have taken office, go to A Quick Look at the United States' Massacre Tally!

Will there be anything significantly done to stop the hemorrhaging? Not likely -- about all we have to look forward to is God's response to it all, and that will not be a Sunday School picnic by any stretch of human imagination!

And will there be some "balanced" information on the W. PA Annual Conference web site about 1 million or more unborn children in the United States being exterminated each year along with 1 million children in Africa dying from Malaria? We all know the answer to that one, don't we?

"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

Still No Word About That Other Million!

Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; and I ordained you a prophet to the nations." --- Jeremiah 1:4, 5

Tomorrow, April 25th, is being noted as Malaria Day. United Methodist agencies are stressing the date along with offers of resources to better educate us on the need to combat malaria in Africa.

My bishop in the W. PA Annual Conference, Thomas Bickerton, has been very aggressive in promoting the need to support what is commonly known as "Nothing But Nets." Finances are raised to purchase netting to protect individuals from being bitten by mosquitoes which spread the disease. Our conference reported that he was in New York yesterday meeting with some big name people etc. and promoting the cause of combating malaria in Africa.

The bishop, as well as UMC agencies, stress the fact that there are 1 million or more victims who die of malaria each year in Africa. There has been a positive response to the appeal for support. In fact, my wife and I have sent in support for this cause.

But there continues to be the nagging question -- with all the traveling, contacts made, and conversations on the subject of malaria deaths by Bishop Bickerton -- why has he along with all the other bishops never mentioned the fact that there are also over 1 million unborn children mutilated and murdered in their mothers' wombs each year in the "land of the free and the home of the brave?"

Yea, yea, I know! I've been making a big issue of this thing of slaughtering the unborn for a long time -- how is it that we as a nation and as a church have allowed ourselves to be deceived into thinking that God isn't paying the least bit of attention to this abomination, or worse, that He simply doesn't care and will never confront our republic about this?

Back to the UMC bishops -- want to see how many unborn have been brutally mutilated and murdered under their respective watches? Go to A Quick Look At The United States' Massacre Tally! -- scroll down a ways to see the different bishops and the numbers. As of 8:43 AM on April 24, 2008 there were 4,786,524 unborn children exterminated in the United States' version of holocaust since Tom Bickerton became bishop of the W. PA Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church!

Now to what extent has he expressed concern about this abomination in comparison to what he has said about people dying from malaria?

Does anyone dare to entertain a thought that there is more than a tad of inconsistency at the episcopal level of the United Methodist Church?

In addition to that, here's another little gem to think about -- with all the lamenting about loss of members in the United Methodist Church, how many more do you think we might have had if those nearly 49 million unborn children would not have been destroyed since the infamous Roe vs. Wade decision of 1973? Want to sleep on that one tonight, if you can?

In the meantime we still wait to hear a word from Bishop Bickerton and the rest about that other significant "million" that they have miserably failed to mention!

'Thus says the LORD: "Execute judgment and righteousness, and deliver the plundered out of the hand of the oppressor. Do no wrong and do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, or the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place......Yet your eyes and your heart are for nothing but your covetousness, for shedding innocent blood, and practicing oppression and violence.'" --- Jeremiah 22:3, 17

Nothing But Nets and Saving Children!

"You see, malaria is a big deal. It's one of the root causes of poverty. It kills a million people a year, 75 percent of whom are children. When you think about it in those terms, it's a daunting reality. Yet, there is a simple way for everyone who reads this to participate in beating this disease -- spend $10, send a bed net and save a life. That's it! That's all it takes! Buy a net -- save a life. End of story. Better yet, end of disease........Wow! Imagine it -- a world without malaria. Millions of people given the same chance as you and I to live a long, healthy, and sustainable life." --- Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton of the Western PA Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church in January 19, 2007 issue of InterLink, the conference newspaper.

Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton is deeply involved and totally committed to the "Nothing But Nets" campaign. He is the head man of the Western PA Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. This piece of real estate takes in about the western 1/3 of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The conference has been saturated with information and challenge to get involved by purchasing insecticide-treated bed nets to curtail the spread of malaria in Africa.

Statistics cited by Bishop B. are that about 1 million people die a year from malaria and of that number, about 750,000 are children. Hence, the appeal to go to the rescue and start reducing the number of fatalities.

This is not intended to take away from the effort nor diminish its importance. My wife and I will be giving support to this effort. Those reading this can obtain more information and how to give support by going to U.S. Netting or www.nothingbutnets.net. [NOTE: If you go to the Nothing But Nets web site, the stats there will tell you that 1 million children a year are victims of malaria which is a quarter of a million more than quoted by Bishop B. above.]

However, it is necessary to point out a glaring inconsistency here which is quite commonplace among UMC bishops, particularly in recent decades as they have stressed the need to be in ministry to children.

Bishop Bickerton is pushing the NBN campaign and states that about 3/4 of a million children in Africa die each year from malaria. Now then, how often have you heard this bishop deplore (either in vocal statements or in his InterLink column) the fact that well over 1 million unborn children are deliberately mutilated and murdered each year in "the land of the free and the home of the brave?"

The bishop is also at the heart of the "Believe Again" strategic plan for ministry in the W. PA Annual Conference which was enthusiastically adopted last June at the annual meeting. One of the plush "perks" he will personally get in time will be a full time assistant to the tune of a few tens of thousands of dollars per year!

A part of the strategy in this "plan" is an emphasis on church congregations addressing issues of injustice and seeking to come to the assistance of those who are the victims of injustice.

I have yet to receive a reply from the bishop or any of his superintendents (there are 10 of these people) when I asked them in a personal letter addressed to each if they as leaders were going to address the issue of injustice that results in the intentional and brutal murders of over 1 million unborn children each year in this republic.

There has been this strange and very unsettling silence on the part of UMC leadership over the years when it comes to the United States' version of "holocaust." Perhaps this takes place because of the "official" statement in the denomination's Book of Discipline relative to the subject of abortion. The United Methodist Church is on record as declaring a "reluctance" to approve of abortion, but then after mentioning the reluctance thing, goes right ahead and gives a green light to the heinous practice anyway, saying that an unacceptable pregnancy may bring about hardship, stress or whatever!

In personal communication with bishops over the years, one told me that she stands by the position of the church (as cited above), so whatever the church decides at a General Conference (every 4 years) that is what she will support. Presumably if the UMC decided to jump off the highest point of the Grand Canyon into the river below, she would jump too without objection. Another bishop did go so far as to state in a response that abortion is a serious issue, but I was making too much of the issue, etc!

Unfortunately there are too many United Methodists who hold bishops in higher regard than Roman Catholics hold the Pope! When they say "Jump!" the standard response is "How high, and for how long?" And when they speak there are those who hold that every word spoken is "gospel truth," but documented evidence can prove otherwise in a number of cases! There are still a few of us that believe there is a much higher Authority than any designated church leader, UMC bishops included, and sometimes this will mean we definitly will be marching to the beat of a different Drummer!

How about rephrasing Bishop Bickerton's statement above with use of another word in this manner --

"Wow! Imagine it -- a world without abortion. Millions of people given the same chance as you and I to live a long, healthy, and sustainable life."

Do you think the bishop would be willing to make such a statement and lead the way to making that a reality with enthusiastic support from his fellow bishops?

We all know the answer to that one, do we not?

Peeking into the Future!

Ah, what fascination -- what adventure -- unparalleled excitement as one seeks to probe the future and what lies in store for us!

Many are the gimmicks and methods employed to see what the future holds for us. There are efforts to contact the dead -- maybe we can touch base with aunt Susie or uncle Sylvester and they can give us a clue as to what's going to happen next month on the 23rd! Then there are the crystal ball people and the others who lay out cards with weird pictures on them. Still others say it's all in the stars and planet alignment -- the zodiac and your astrological sign -- all this stuff as it interacts somehow shows us what is yet to be. And it is a given -- there are those who read the daily Horoscope (should it really be spelled "Horrorscope?") religiously and act accordingly -- it is their "bible" for shaky times such as these!

OK -- do you want information that is 100 per cent accurate and comes from the most reliable source you will ever consult in a lifetime? Really -- are you sure about that?

Then be sure you hold to that desire, because it is possible to know some things for sure when it comes to future happenings. Now this is not the kind of information where you will be tipped off as to what you will eat for breakfast next Friday morning or what you will be wearing when you leave the house. On the other hand, this is information that gives you basic facts as to what is going to happen so that you are challenged to make the proper preparation for the events taking place.

Our Authority is none other than Jesus Christ Himself! Only He is qualified to reveal the basic facts as to what the future of this world holds in regard to its human inhabitants. Statements He made on future events are found mainly in Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 17 and Luke 21 in the New Testament Scriptures.

In consulting them do not let anyone, pastor or teacher or layperson, try to foul you up about "interpretation" -- just imagine Jesus speaking these words to you and take them at face value -- you'll come out alright!

The world and nations within it will become increasingly corrupted spiritually, morally and ethically. Jesus summarized this trend by saying it will be like it was in the generation in which Noah lived before the judgment of the flood and as it was in Lot's time when he lived in the city of Sodom before it was destroyed by a judgment of fire!

There will be all manner of earthly calamities and cosmic phenomena happening. Note some the specific things to which Jesus made reference:

• massive deception and delusion will take place -- Jesus repeats Himself on this warning to be alert and not allow yourself to be deceived by false teachers
  
• wars and rumors of wars with nation rising against nation and kingdom against kingdom -- there will be no peace in spite of efforts to achieve it
  
• there will be famines in many places -- people starve to death every day in some nations of this world
  
• pestilences (devastating diseases) will be found throughout the world -- e.g. Africa is being ravaged by Aids in spite of massive amounts of money being poured into that continent in an effort to bring it under control -- sexually transmitted diseases are on the increase!
  
• earthquakes are increasing in frequency -- sensitive instruments record the crust of the earth is quivering constantly like a bowl of jello being shaken -- and then a tragic by-product of an earthquake sometimes happens -- it's called a tsunami -- ever hear of it?
  
• lawlessness abounding with the tragic result that some will simply give up, considering that the price to be paid for resisting evil is simply too high!
  
• increased hatred and persecution of Christians as the home stretch of human history runs its course!
  
• a time labeled as "great tribulation" -- trouble so intense that nothing like it has ever happened before nor ever shall again!
  

The New Testament writers added to this information in different ways such as 2 Timothy 3 and 4; 2 Peter 2 and 3; and Jude. The biggie in all this is the book of The Revelation with lots of detail -- enough to make the thinking person say, "I want to be sure I'm right with God and I'm on the way to heaven when my life on earth if over."

The responsibility of the Christian is first and foremost that of being a witness in word and deed to the salvation which is exclusively offered through Jesus Christ, Who is Savior and Lord over all. Here are some things to bear in mind:

• daily disciplines of Bible reading/study and prayer -- every day, no exceptions!
  
• involvement in the fellowship of believers, giving public expression to one's faith
  
• personally pursue holiness by the grace of God as the minimal standard for one's lifestyle -- this means saying "No!" to a wide ranging acceptance of indulgences and practices by a majority of persons in today's world, including what is sometimes advocated even in professing Christian circles -- and sometimes by church leaders themselves who profess to be "Christian!" The Holy Spirit is faithful to guide us in these matters and in the making of our choices -- that is, if we permit Him to guide us.
  
• sound the warning trumpet of impending judgement by Almighty God and the reasons why God has every right to bring judgment without delay!
  
• keep reminded each day that Jesus' return could be at any time -- but also, be reminded that here in the "comfortable" United States things could become very difficult for Christians before Jesus does return -- some object to this possibility and suggest that before it gets too tough He will come and take the Christians out of here. But why should we be favored in such a manner when right now in other places in this world our Christian brothers and sisters are being put to death for their faith, or beaten, tortured and put in prison for no other reason than the fact that they are followers of the Lord Jesus Christ! We are a spoiled and pampered lot, are we not?
  
• apply the prayer as mentioned in Psalm 141:5 diligently -- pray specifically against the deeds of the wicked -- there are a lot of them around, you know, doing a lot of things which God condemns. They sit behind desks in high places as well as lurking about in dark alleys!
  

Be concerned about the future -- ask God to help you understand those things He has revealed about the future, and to prepare you to speak about it. Be bold in stressing the fact that there is absolutely no hope in the future outside of Jesus Christ. We are urged to comfort one another from time to time with the reality that Jesus is going to come back to earth again as King of kings and Lord of lords. Amen!

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. --- Titus 2:11-14