Foundations Are Not As Optional As Elected Officials Might Assume!

"Now everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall." --- Matthew 7:26, 27

Upon reaching the magic “100 days” milestone in his presidency, Barack Obama came forth with positive statements interspersed with expressions indicating that there is much yet to do and he isn’t satisfied yet, but has high hopes for what will be accomplished under his watch in times to come.

One thing mentioned was his touting of a “new foundation” for growth. In construction of buildings it is generally agreed that the foundation is extremely critical.

Likewise, the formation and establishing of a culture requires a proper foundation if it is to thrive and survive. This demands a system of values and principles which insure the soundness and reliability of the foundation upon which the culture stands.

President B. Hussein Obama has provided undeniable evidence that the “foundation” he chooses to establish for our republic is humanistic in its design and purpose. He is a prime example of what the Bible warns about in the words of Paul the apostle in his letter to the Colossians (Col. 2:8):

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

Here is a man who places no priority on the worship of Almighty God, Who in grace and mercy, raised this nation up from its humble beginnings and enabled it to become the greatest and most powerful nation on the face of planet Earth!

Here is a man who has by his signature on documents and by the appointment of many to powerful posts in his administration sent a clear message that human life is very cheap and a commodity which can be extinguished as easily and indifferently as one blows out a candle!

Here is a man who is resolved to usurp all the power he can and has already demonstrated that lust by what has happened in the banking and auto industries! And as he pursues his quest for more power, he is totally ignoring the clear principle taught in God’s revelation:

"The Spirit of the LORD spoke by me, and His word was on my tongue. The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me: 'He who rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. And he shall be like the light of the morning when the sun rises, a morning without clouds, Like the tender grass springing out of the earth, by clear shining after rain.'” --- 2 Samuel 23:2-4

The foundation Obama and his blind followers is laying is well described in the statement made by Jesus that you saw at the beginning – a refusal to come to Him, listen to Him, and obey Him is to lay your foundation on sand. The result in time is not hard to imagine and the destiny of those choosing to build on sand is powerfully described by Jesus -- when the storm beat upon the house, it fell, and great was the fall of it!

Obama’s recent speech at Georgetown University symbolizes very well what his approach is when it comes to establishing our republic’s foundation. The White House insisted that all symbols on the backdrop behind the president be covered while he was on stage. That included the IHS Greek letter symbol for Jesus Christ which appears in Christian churches everywhere.

So, symbolically Jesus was blotted out while the president did his speech thing! It’s not outside the realm of real possibility that the day will come when this president, because of the intense calamities taking place now and more in the future, will make an appeal for people to pray and call on God. What do you suppose will be God’s response in light of the fact that His standards for establishing a solid foundation for a nation have been consistently rejected by that nation’s leadership?

According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. --- 1 Corinthians 3:10, 11

Going Out in a Blaze of Glory!

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. --- 2 Timothy 4:7, 8

These days in south central Pennsylvania have been a blaze of striking color everywhere we look – yellow, orange, red and the blending of these colors. Some of our trees are still in stubborn fashion hanging on to the traditional green color of spring and summer. A fully loaded maple in our front yard (as pictured above) is a mix of yellow, orange and a bit of green here and there.

Our weather has been quite mild and today is a cloudy day which makes the colors even more brilliant in the absence of direct sunlight. As I sat on my front porch in my comfortable La-Z-Boy rocker that I got at a yard sale for $5.00, I observed the leaves exhibiting their one last hurrah.

As they left the trees to which they had been attached since spring they headed for the ground. But the descent was not a dead stone-like drop straight down. The motion was varied – a twirl in a circle, a spin, a topsy-turvy tumble, or a smooth aircraft type of glide which may carry the leaf many feet from the tree to which it had been attached for a few months.

Is that not a bit of what life is like? The leaves experienced many conditions during their brief lifetime of a few months – blazing hot sun, high winds, drenching rain and vicious thunderstorms and sometimes the days of calm and quiet – but they hung on and now it’s time to go out in a blaze of glory!

A Christian is the only person on the face of this planet who goes through a wide variety of experiences – the storms of life and the times of quiet calm with the assurance that future glory is ahead as promised by the Lord Jesus Christ in His eternal Word.

Comparisons to natural situations do have their limitations – for the leaves, that last glorious colorful flight ends on the ground with the leaf drying up and eventually crumbling into lifeless pieces. But with the Christian, the exit from this life on earth means an entrance to a status of glory and honor.

No person could state it any better than the apostle Paul when he said, “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” And we who have chosen to follow Jesus are included in that sweeping declaration!

Having lived for a little over three quarters of a century and having served as a pastor for nearly 50 years of that time, those leaves I have been watching have a way of reminding me that glory, by the grace and mercy of my Lord, lies straight ahead! It is my responsibility to keep hanging on and to continue to fulfill the calling that Jesus Christ has extended to me to preach and teach His Word!

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. --- Colossians 3:1-4

B. O. the Poster Child of Many Mass Media Folks?

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. --- Colossians 2:8

It surfaced some time back -- statements that B. O. was getting more favored (and very biased) treatment from many of those in the mass media -- that is, he is their favored and preferred candidate and it is showing in the way they treat him and McCain in their reporting of Election 2008! Or another way of putting it -- the scales of the mass media are heavily weighted in favor of B. O! For McCain, it's really an uphill battle, since the "deck" is stacked against him so far as a large number of the mass media people are concerned. There are and will be more favorable sound bites for B. O. than there will be for McCain.

This was demonstrated in the area where I live within the last few days -- days of the Democratic and Republican conventions. Our local newspaper reported on the acceptance speeches of both candidates. The bias stood out like a proverbial sore thumb!

A letter was sent to the newspaper about this. With this newspaper, my letter has less chance of being printed than a snowball has of surviving intact in that very, very hot place to which a lot of people of all ages make reference from time to time! At my main web site I have devoted some time and space to my ongoing special "relationship" I have with the editorial department of this particular paper and their refusal to print any of my letters any longer -- they used to, but no more!

See the letter below ---

Friday, September 05, 2008

Editor:

Be careful right now because you just might be accused of being biased in your reporting on the presidential election of 2008. And this in turn would result in your being identified with much of the mass media which is rapidly building a reputation of being very biased toward and supportive of Barack Obama in his bid to be our next president!

Suspicion arises at the present time due to your handling of the acceptance speeches of Barack Obama and John McCain respectively.

Your front pages speak out loud and clear. On August 29th you had a photo of Barack Obama on the front page which measured 7 ¼ inches by 10 inches – not quite a traditional 8 x 10, but close! On September 5th your front page photo of John McCain measured 4 ¼ inches by 6 ½ inches, slightly over ½ the size of Obama’s acceptance speech photo! McCain’s photo doesn’t qualify for a traditional 5 x 7 by a long shot!

Written column space in the AP articles was approximately the same with one glaring difference. The Obama article on the inside page also included a picture of Mrs. Obama and daughters. This photo measured 3 ½ by 3 ¾ inches. John McCain and family did not fare that well as there was no photo of them at all.

Photos do have influence and the size of such do register – the bigger the photo, the more attention it attracts and greater is the impact on the observer, even when it comes to the election process. Cambria County being a kind of “Mecca” for the Democratic Party it can be assumed that Obama will be much higher profile than will McCain when it comes to media coverage.

This has been written by one who is a non-affiliated registered voter.
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Still contending at www.crrange.com, blogging at http://cdharriger.blogspot.com and warning at www.crrange.com/USACoffin.html,

Clayton D. Harriger, Pastor

There you have it. It appears that we citizens need to maintain a high degree of suspicion when it comes to watching and listening to the mass media people -- are they JUST reporting news or are they trying to force-feed us with some propaganda and get us to vote for their favored candidate?

But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. --- 2 Timothy 3:13

Mandatory Training on Racisim? You've Got to Be Kidding!

Mandatory Training on Racism Scheduled --- Headline on front page of the March 14, 2008 issue of InterLink, newspaper of the W. PA Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church

It seems all systems are go as another "mandatory" training session for clergy of the W. PA Annual Conference on the explosive issue of racism will happen at four designated locations this spring. Bishop Bickerton has sent a letter detailing this matter and stressed also the need for church leaders among the laity to attend as well.

The events are being funded through the "Believe Again" program which was launched some time back. I still have not gotten an answer to an issue I raised about this at the begining -- just what is it I am to believe anyhow? A link at the bottom of this discussion will provide more details about that.

Apparently to get us all set straight on this racism thing a company known as Rhymes Consulting which is based in Pittsburgh will provide leadership for the sessions. Now the question is this -- is this a Christian organization and are the people leading this all dedicated Christians deeply involved in their respective churches?

But no matter -- at the heart of the Christian faith is something called transformation of a person in the inner depths of that person's being upon the condition of repenting from all known sin and receiving Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord -- quite literally, a miracle of change takes place!

In order for this miracle to take place the 4 demands Jesus placed upon us humans must happen -- no options here -- either we meet those conditions or we don't!

• Jesus said we must be born again - John 3:3
  
• Jesus said we must repent - Luke 13:3
  
• Jesus said we must be converted and become as a little child - Matthew 18:3
  
• Jesus said we must eat His flesh and drink of His blood -- not literally, of course, as He explains on the occasion of issuing this demand - John 6:53-66
  

But that is where the problem is -- it is possible to hang the label, "Christian," around your neck -- circulate in and around the church and not really know what it is to be born again as well as meeting those other demands as set forth by Jesus! I recall hearing a preacher many years ago expressing frustration about the subject of being "born again" -- he admitted he knew nothing about it!

But having the experience will change one's perspective when it comes to racial issues plus a lot of other stuff which relates one way or another to this thing called sin. Paul expressed it well in statements made in Galatians 3:28 -- and how about those statements in Colossians 3:4-14 -- you know, where he says racial identification is obliterated and not recognized in Christ Jesus -- sure shoots this diversity thing (of which too many United Methodists are so proud) all to pieces, does it not?

Is this racism thing the only thing NOT to go when Paul was inspired to write this:

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. --- 2 Corinthians 5:17

Is there anyone brazen enough in the W. PA Annual Conference or anywhere else for that matter who will say to Paul -- "Yes, some things may be a bit different, but racism still remains -- it's an old thing and it will stay, no matter what -- even the grace of God is not sufficient to deal with that one -- at least not until we call in a consulting firm!" Come to think of it, there probably are some who would do it!

Just what is meant when it says that a person becomes a new creation in Jesus Christ? What are the "old things" which pass away? What are the things which become "new?"

More to come in a day or two about this racism matter -- as experienced by a fellow who at one point didn't really care if there was a God or not!

By the way, that link on the matter of "Believe Again!" as mentioned earlier -- it's at Believe Again! OK! But What Is It That I Am to Believe? A link at the bottom of that area will bring you back to this place.

"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you."
--- John 15:5-12

The TV News Channels -- Can Those People Really Be Trusted?

"You know what’s really frightening? You actually have an influence on this presidential election. That is scary, but it’s true. You’ve got stoned slackers watching your dopey show every night and they can vote." --- Bill O'Reilly (talking head par excellence of Fox News) as quoted in a remark to "Daily Show" host Jon Stewart, Sept. 22, 2004

We are a people practically smothered in surveys and polls with no sign of any relief in the near future -- especially in a presidential election year!

Competition is extremely fierce among those 24/7 news channels with at least two making the claim that they are number 1 and the most trusted!

Those are Fox News and CNN with others nipping at their heals.

Fox News with its razzle-dazzle display of graphics gives one the impression that here is a beauty pageant of females with nearly inch-thick layers of make-up masquerading as news -- there are a few males sprinkled here and there! The claim of this whole bunch is that they are "fair" and "balanced" and "surveys" taken are used as proof that they are trusted and the most "conservative," whatever that word is supposed to mean anymore!

CNN also does a great job of flashing all kinds of stuff before your eyes when it comes to graphic images and all that kind of stuff, being so similar to Fox News. One of the king pins on this network is "Wolf the Blitz" -- he, along with other CNN males and females, is an expert on just about any topic you want to name.

The networks are really scrambling to outdo each other in this election year -- you know how it works don't you? Higher ratings always mean more revenue for the network and fatter wallets and purses for the guys and gals who do the reporting! So it's a bare knuckle brawl out there as we move toward November 2008!

If these people were really honest with us, they would paint their faces white, put a red rubber ball on their noses, and dress up in a baggy purple suit with yellow polka dots!

Trust them? Why should we? They have an "agenda" which they will try to keep concealed as much as possible -- they are masters at the use of words and phrases -- the "tilting" of information and not really "reporting" objectively but telling us how we ought to think about the issues of the day.

One accessory is an absolute must in each household if you choose to view and listen to these people -- have an air sick bag at your side at all times -- and maybe two, especially when they conduct one of those presidential candidate "debates" -- you'll fill more than one bag after an episode such as that!

Be careful as you try to sort out truth in the massive flow of information with which we are bombarded daily from many different sources -- TV, talk (yak) radio, printed media, and what purports to be "news" magazines!

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. --- Colossians 2:8

The good news is that anyone can know the truth if he or she really wants to and to be able to discern the right from the wrong -- but there are conditions to be met in order to experience those things.

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. --- 1 John 4:1-6

Potty Mouth Professionals!

Should professionals be expected to use language that isn't laced with profanity? It is obvious that among that crowd are those who cannot speak without injecting some vulgar term into what they are attempting to communicate!

Some examples:

(1) Dr. Phil is well known for his talk show (and counseling) program. We may get the last few minutes as we turn on our local newscast at noon time. For some, even 2 or 3 minutes of Phil goes a long, long way. Anyway, he was in a phone conversation with a lady who had a camera focused on her in her living room. Phil wanted to talk to her husband about a domestic issue, but he wasn't available -- Phil became a bit frustrated and in the process of speaking, used the word "ass" and he was not making reference to the little humble beast of burden which has long ears!

(2) A member of the U.S. Congress was speaking on a news sound bite over the issue of sending more troops into Iraq -- he attempted to emphasize the critical nature of such a move and stressed that we needed to be sure, only in front of the word, "sure," he had to insert the word, "damn."

(3) Even President Bush was caught using profanity at a meeting of the heads of some nations overseas -- he said something to Tony Blair, assuming the mike was turned off, but it wasn't -- and so everyone who saw the video and heard the statement found out that even a president can have a potty mouth!

(4) One of our grandsons was working toward a teaching degree and part of final preparation was spending time with hands on experience in a classroom. In his case it involved elementary aged students. He was just getting started with his class time when one of the students loudly used the infamous "f" word! Our grandson said it stopped him cold -- he didn't know what to do next and looked to the regular teacher for some guidance on the matter. It is well established by now that discipline of the little tykes when they get out of line either by speech or by conduct is a no-no. If you try to discipline them as they should be, you'll end up without a job and become a defendant in a lawsuit!

(5) And as you well know, that infamous "f" word is not limited to children and youth -- of course "mature" (term used very loosely) adults have made use of the word and the young 'uns decide they can use it too! It was back a spell that Vice President Dick Cheney was extremely frustrated in an exchange of words with some elected government officials and used the word publicly! Now then, would you want your young son or daughter to repeat the speech of a very high level elected official of the federal government -- worse yet, do you want them to grow up and be like such people?

Potty mouth language has become more and more accepted -- it's considered "cute" when a toddler begins to learn to talk and foul language pours out of his mouth -- things which he has picked up from adults or older siblings, by the way! But we simply shrug our shoulders and say that it's just the way life is -- things are different now in the 21st Century!

The pattern can be traced through the history of mass media in broadcasting and publishing enterprises. There was a day in which profanity was not used in what was considered a respectable publication, radio, or TV programming. Then came "ratings" in entertainment and everything began a corroding and corrupting process until we have "arrived" and foul language is as common place as hamburgers and pizza!

Almighty God has addressed all issues of life which have to do with human behavior, including the way we speak. He has made it clear that His Name is not to be taken in vain. But it is common place to hear people telling God to "damn" something, or when we hit our thumb with a hammer, for some reason it seems appropriate to utter the Name of Jesus Christ!

Here are a few statements which God has placed in His Word that apply to the things which come out of our mouths:

Let the lying lips be put to silence, which speak insolent things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.-- Psalm 31:18

For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips, let them even be taken in their pride, and for the cursing and lying which they speak. -- Psalm 59:12

They utter speech, and speak insolent things; all the workers of iniquity boast in themselves. -- Psalm 94:4

For they speak against You wickedly; Your enemies take Your name in vain. -- Psalm 139:20

"Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." -- Matthew 12:34

"But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment." -- Matthew 12:36

But now you must also put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. -- Colossians 3:8

We humans have been created with the power to choose -- to exercise our will and take action for evil or for good. It would be a lot different, would it not, if more people, including the high profile potty mouth persons, would make it the prayer and desire of their hearts to implement the following statements into everyday living:

My tongue shall speak of Your word, for all Your commandments are righteousness.
-- Psalm 119:172

My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD, and all flesh shall bless His holy Name forever and ever.
-- Psalm 145:21

Listen, for I will speak of excellent things, and from the opening of my lips will come right things; for my mouth will speak truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips. All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; nothing crooked or perverse is in them. -- Proverbs 8:6-8

I rest my case!

And for potty mouth people who may just happen to read this, whether you are a high profile professional or just an average citizen moving about from day to day, the following is for your use before leaving!

Don't worry, the septic tank is quite gigantic in size and can handle very well your multiple contributions!