I Just Lost $950,000.00!

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. [Matthew 6:19-21 (KJV)].

Poor, poor me! I was told a day ago that I had won $950,000 in a big promotional thing of some kind! The lady (who will be hereafter referred to as Miss X) who broke this news to me was very nice and really bent over backward to be very helpful.

Miss X further proceeded to let me know that it would be very easy to claim the prize – all I had to do was provide some information and forward it to an outfit associated with Facebook. At this point the sparring match began in earnest!

Miss X began to tell me that she would guide me through the process so I could claim my winnings. I was to provide name, address, phone, and some other stuff in order to get the prize I had won. My skepticism gear had kicked in at the very beginning (it has done that often as I have had to deal with certain theologians, church leaders and pastors over the years), so I asked her what she was getting out of all this. Her response was that she was not getting a thing – just being helpful.

I was to send an email to a certain address which used Facebook as part of the address that was tied in to yahoo.com and then I would be sent a code number that I would submit for confirmation. I said I could not provide that information, but rather my public phone number which anyone, including persons on the internet can obtain easily. I also said she could use my email address. She claimed my phone number was forwarded to Mr. Mark Zuckerberg who allegedly was a part of this. Soon my phone rang and there was an obvious Oriental on the other end whose command of English left a lot to be desired. I told him he must have a wrong number, thanked him, and hung up. I then reported to Miss X that Mark sounded an awful lot like an Oriental! No explanation forthcoming on this.

The sparring continued as we got down to brass tacks on the issue – she finally said that I would have to advance $550.00 to pay for fees and processing and then the prize money would be advanced to me. I replied that I would triple the fee money and all they had to do was deduct it from the prize money, and then advance by cashier’s check the winnings to me – then we would all be happy!

Of course that was not acceptable with Miss X insisting that I advance the fee amount and my insisting that they change the process as noted. For some minutes this went on until I did something that brought it all to a dramatic climax. As this “wrestling match” began to come to an end, I mentioned that I was not that much concerned about the 950,000 dollars as I was in line to inherit wealth that would make that look like less than 2 cents in U.S. money! After all, I am destined by God’s grace to inherit a special place being prepared by my Lord which will make even the greatest mansions built by wealthy people here on earth look like shabby unstable shacks by way of comparison. (See John 14). Further, I am a joint-heir with Jesus Christ, Son of the living God. So that position makes me rather well off also! (See Romans 8). On the mansion thing, take a look at “Reminders While Mansion Shopping!”.

On options in Facebook you can click on suspected spam icon. In my case, all the conversation was then revealed to those who work with problems involving spam. I clicked on this icon at least 3 times or more in the conversation process and finally I went to make a reply but got a message that essentially informed me that because of settings the message did not go through. And all that Miss X had said was replaced by an official statement that indicated there was a spam problem. Shortly after that Miss X and her photo disappeared – I did not even have to unfriend her. If you should have someone break in or send you an email telling you that you have won, or someone died and left you a batch of wealth, report them to those who are working with such issues and seeking to stop those who victimize many people each month of the year with an alleged lottery win or an inheritance of some kind.

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. [1 Timothy 6:10-12 (KJV)].

How Do You Like Being the Tail Rather Than the Head?

"The alien who is among you shall rise higher and higher above you, and you shall come down lower and lower. He shall lend to you, but you shall not lend to him; he shall be the head, and you shall be the tail. Moreover all these curses shall come upon you and pursue and overtake you, until you are destroyed, because you did not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which He commanded you.” --- Deuteronomy 28:43-45

At the risk again of referring to that book called the Bible, at least a few would agree that there are interesting and at times very disturbing statements made by God

A large number would deny that Deuteronomy 28 has anything to do with the United States. In immediate context the statements were made to ancient Israelite people who were on the threshold of entering territory which God had promised centuries earlier to their ancestors.

There are those who are quick to point out that this only applied in a historical setting to a different culture and has no application whatsoever to the United States in 2009.

But there may be a few dozen at least – but that matters not – who would agree when it is said that there is an eternal principle in the 28th of Deuteronomy which applies to all humans and all nations – it is called obedience to Almighty God!

Of all countries which have had light and revelation since the beginning of their days, the United States has been most privileged. This republic has had constant exposure down through its decades of history to what God expects of a people on an individual basis as well as a corporate basis as a nation.

You can try to split hairs if you wish over this issue, but a simple question can bring a bit of focus to where we are at. Do we resemble the head or the tail more, when God used a graphic illustration as to how it would be for a nation of people, depending on the choice to obey Him or disobey Him?

Just looking at the financial scene alone tells us quite a bit, does it not? Are we lending out millions upon millions of dollars at the present time to other nations of the world? Read closely the closing reference at the bottom of these comments about lending and not borrowing.

Now read again the opening reference above about an alien who is going to be lending to a people who thought they could ignore the laws of God and still prosper – and the sad consequence is that He will make that people the tail as they plunge deeper into debt!

The nation of China alone holds nearly a trillion dollars of U. S. debt, not to mention many other countries that also hold portions of our debt! And with B. O.’s irresponsible spending patterns, there is not going to be any improvement in this situation.

Someone tried to describe how to picture a trillion dollars, since these amounts in trillions are being tossed around repeatedly these days when government finance is discussed. He said a trillion dollars in $1 bills stacked on top of each other would reach 68,000 miles into the sky – looks like you have to have one of those fancy astronaut suits if you would try to sit on top of the stack, would you not?

Read again how it would have been if we, as a nation, would have been obeying God through the years and our leaders would have demonstrated in personal conduct and conversation that obedience to Almighty God is to be the top national priority. Notice what God says He will specifically do for such an obedient people.

Once again, I rest my case – if you disagree, have a long serious talk with God about it and ask Him if He is going to overlook all of our national transgressions!

It’s no Sunday School picnic being the tail! Do you think that President Obama would heartily agree?

"The LORD will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. And the LORD will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them.” --- Deuteronomy 28:12, 13

The Most Powerful god in the World Is in a Staggering Mode and Suffering Acute Anemia!

"You shall have no other gods before Me.” --- Exodus 20:3

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money…….lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God…--- 2 Timothy 3:1, 2a, 4b

Millions would deny it, but it is true, no matter the objections – the most powerful “god” in the world is no longer that. In fact as suggested by the title, this “god” is in a staggering and quite weakened mode, suffering acute anemia in terms of monetary strength!

It is most appropriate to refer to this as a “deity” that dominates the thoughts and lustful desires of a majority of this world’s population in all nations. Furthermore, it has the allegiance of the poor as well as the very wealthy. It is not just in the corporate world that this “deity” has its devotees, but in governments among all nations as well. This definitely includes a debtor nation known as the United States of America!

This “god” is money! As mentioned, there would be a lot of vehement denials, but as the old saying goes, “The proof of the pudding is in the eating!” Where is it that major attention is now focused and has been for quite some time? Is it not on what is happening in the world of finance? Is not the evidence overwhelming that money is the “god” to which multitudes give attention day and night, and it is that toward which they expend energy in order to get as much as they can? And in far too many places are not highly questionable “ethics” employed in that quest, because this “god” has no ethical standards – get all the money you can by “hook or by crook” – and whatever you can get away with, whether you be in government or in business, it’s OK so long as you don’t get caught. And if you should get caught, if you have enough of the “green stuff” you can usually buy your way out of the situation with a high powered lawyer (whose ethics may also be highly questionable) or get a very mild sentence at most! Years ago a fellow got nailed for insider trading on wall street, spent a short time in a country club prison and then was released to go and enjoy the millions he had made illegally. His philosophy was that a little greed is a good thing!

The crisis has developed, not just in the United States, but talk is in regard to the “world economy” and how disaster has struck in many, many places around the world in terms of the money situation! There are protests in many foreign cities as people feel extreme frustration about what is happening financially and the negative impact that is having on their lives.

Now if we may turn our attention to the true and living God Who created a mighty universe of which this puny world occupies but a small spec of space – for the time being this God has permitted the chaos to take place since a majority has chosen to make money their “god.” However, it is wise to remember that the true and living God also chooses when He will bring judgment on false and totally unreliable deities which people take unto themselves. One of the most dramatic demonstrations of this was when Almighty God set the Israelite people free from their enslavement to the Egyptians and brought them to the promised land of Canaan. It is explained simply in such words as these:

“For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.” --- Exodus 12:12

Have you ever noticed that God is quite explicit in speaking to the issue as to Who should be God and the deadly danger of replacing Him with another deity?

Keep alert and see what all happens in days to come as this very popular “god” which so many members of the human race have set up for themselves comes increasingly under the “gun” of the One Who put this world together a long time ago by simple spoken commands! It will also be most interesting to see how government leaders and their “expert advisors” deal with the “god” which is suffering from acute anemia – and you do know, do you not, that this “god’s” blood runs green!

By the way -- do you see what God says will happen if a people who make the claim that He is their God, but they choose to make another deity or a number of deities dominant in their lives? How about reading that whole chapter -- it takes a while for God to detail all the calamities that will come on a nation that makes the fatal mistake of replacing Him with false and unreliable gods!

"So you shall not turn aside from any of the words which I command you this day, to the right hand or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them. But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you: Cursed shall you be in the city, and cursed shall you be in the country…” --- Deuteronomy 28:14-16

Can I Really Help a Terminally Ill Patient, If I'm a Terminal Case Myself?

Feds Plan Huge Bank Bailout - Paulsen: Hundreds of billions of dollars needed to address the problem --- Internet news headline, September 19, 2008

They do it again and again – those “bail-outs” of gigantic firms that have gone belly-up financially. And now the latest announcement of the bail out of banks which as Treasurer Secretary Paulson put it – “Hundreds of billions needed to address the problem.” President Bush and various officials are scrambling to deal with the issue as the stock market took a critical nose dive. After announcements of action to continue the "bail out" operation of various companies and financial institutions the stock market took off into the wild blue yonder with a big trail of GREEN! That is, for the time being.

Now there's a question here and it’s a legitimate one – suppose you are in over your eye balls in debt and a relative is on verge of bankruptcy and comes to you for financial help, would you or more importantly, could you give the cash needed to help that relative?

Think for bit -- here’s the federal government bailing out these big businesses, one after another, and “loaning” horrendous amounts of money – how? Our country is over 9 trillion dollars in debt and the hole is being dug deeper and deeper as time passes!

Isn’t this sort of like

• A terminal cancer patient in the last hours of life trying to console and comfort another cancer patient in the same condition as suggested in the title above?
  
  
• A blind man trying to lead another blind man across an eight lane freeway in the middle of rush hour traffic?
  
  
• An alcoholic trying to help another alcoholic recover as together they drink their 3rd bottle of Jack Daniels with 2 more bottles to go?
  
  
• A person who can’t swim jumping out of a boat in water 100 feet deep and trying to rescue another person who is going down for the third time?
  

Now then, if you dare, check what the latest is in regard to our national debt at
National Debt Clock -- use reverse feature to come back to this place. But notice while you are there the fact that this debt translates into over $31,600.00 per citizen in this country. There are other items of information and links at that location.

What is not recognized by high ranking officials in business and government is that money is a most uncertain commodity. Money is also a very powerful false "god" with people and organized groups of one kind or another (banks, companies, corporations, governments at all levels, etc.) willing to do anything and everything to get their hands on huge amounts of it! In fact, money may be the false "god" that holds sway over greater numbers of people in this country and in this world than any other "god" or "goddess."

Therefore the person applying common sense coupled with a keen sensitivity to spiritual reality recognizes that the true and living God Who created this vast universe by spoken command will at a time determined by Him bring judgment on the false deities which humans have established for themselves -- and this includes the "god" of money! In fact God has made a statement to the effect that He will "famish" the "gods" of this world.

And since I'm in a rather good mood at this point in time, I'll let you hunt that statement up -- I'll even help you by giving a hint -- it's in the Old Testament! There, I've narrowed it down for you -- really, I'm a nice guy, however there are times when people just won't let me be nice!

But alas! I digress -- while the U. S. government will appear to be successful for a time in "shoring up" the finances of the country, just keep in mind that it is like trying to shore up a mine shaft with timbers riddled by termites! Or to put it another way, it's like the government flushing money down an object that is considered an absolute necessity in every home!

The righteous also shall see and fear, And shall laugh at him, saying, "Here is the man who did not make God his strength, but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness." --- Psalm 52:6, 7

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money..... --- 2 Timothy 3:1, 2a

They Deserve Much, Much Better!

Madison and Trevor with little brother, Owen, who had just been born a few hours earlier on July 19, 2007. Madison turned 5 years old during May 2008 and Trevor will be 7 years old early in July 2008.

Brianna just turned 3 years old in early June 2008.

Shalie will be 7 years old in early September 2008.

"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart; you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." --- Deuteronomy 6:4-9

As Jean and I will be celebrating 55 years of marriage this Friday, June 13, 2008, a lot of memories will flood our minds. That is a considerable span of time in which a wide variety of experiences have taken place. Out of this we first and foremost give thanks to God for His abundant mercies and the demonstration of His love toward us constantly over these many years.

Many of the memories will involve family -- 5 children and spouses, 9 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. There is a wide span of years in age between the grandkids -- the oldest will be 28 years old this coming November and the youngest, Owen, who is pictured above will be 1 year old come July 19, 2008.

It is these young ones for whom I am increasingly burdened -- what a country they have to grow up in that is becoming more hazardous than a Category 5 hurricane slamming into a coastal area containing a large city!

Stop and think for a moment how the adult generation has so miserably failed these young ones -- they are passing on a republic that is:

• guilty of widespread idolatry, with money the #1 deity in the lives of millions of U. S. citizens and their leaders! But many other "deities" have a death-grip on a majority of adults in all walks of life as well, ranging from those in high profile political circles, the professions and church circles to the average "Joe" and "Jane" who walk the streets in any city or town.
  
  
• guilty of massive immorality of the most perverted expressions with God's standards for moral behavior receiving a thumbs-down response by the majority!
  
  
• guilty of the destruction of tens of millions of unborn children over a period exceeding 3 1/2 decades so that human life in our republic is no longer considered unique and special as it was in the earlier decades of the 20th Century!
  
  
• the prominent teaching in the educational process that tells our young that we have evolved from lower life forms -- you know, the wriggly things in a pool of slime millions of years ago (add as many millions as you want because it cannot be any more fouled up and misleading than it is now, whether you talk 700 million or a million million or 35 quadrillion.)!
  

But what our little ones do deserve is this:

• Adults who will set a holy example by the grace of God in word and deed -- adults who make the will of God the top priority in every day living, regardless of what position they hold in life! After all, failure to do the will of God is to place oneself in a position of condemnation -- Jesus did have a lot to say about that issue.
  
  
• Adults who will provide evidence that Jesus Christ is the living Son of God and the One Who gave His life as a sacrifice for the sins of every human being ever born into this world. Further, that this Jesus is exclusively the only way of salvation, peace with God and hope for time and eternity. No other religious expression can guarantee such things.
  
  
• Adults who unashamedly and without apology believe the volume referred to as the Bible to be the inspired and authoritative Word of God -- the absolute authority on all matters having to do with the Christian faith and the living of that faith in all daily experiences and human relationships in this present world!
  

The responsibility rests on the head of every single adult -- no exceptions -- God has explicitly revealed that He will hold every adult accountable.

The hard reality is that the majority of adults will not take the responsibility to do what God expects in terms of the nurture and well being of the young.

So it comes down to this -- do you care enough for our young ones to do what God requires or shun that responsibility and pay a price later on that is so horrifying that the human mind cannot begin grasp even a particle of it?

We adults in our family will seek by example and teaching to show the little ones pictured above that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life and that no one can come to the Father except through Him. Further that Jesus has a most glorious plan for their lives here on earth. Unfortunately, they will also be exposed to a big bunch of adults in their growing years who will be setting an example of traveling the broad road which leads to a Devil's Hell!

Homework assignment -- read in Luke 16:19-31 in the New Testament about one man who miserably failed in the responsibilities as outlined above and see the tragic details of the price he paid. Your life might never be the same again!

And Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me. But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea." --- Matthew 18:2-6

Is the god of Pleasure Beginning to Take a Hit?

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be...... lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God..." --- 2 Timothy 3:1, 2a, 4b

Our republic is really in a quandary of unprecedented proportions, is it not? There are just all kinds of things happening -- an election in the making with not a single candidate addressing the real issues that directly impact the future destiny of our nation -- a "war" that is hotly discussed and debated on a daily basis -- financial crises and a national debt that continues to escalate!

But the one thing that is beginning to dominate the thinking and decision making of most U. S. citizens every day is something called gasoline and related components such as diesel fuel and heating oil.

It makes headlines in newspapers and TV news reporters are positioned beside a gas station pointing to the recent increase in gas prices (as this is being written, I bought a few gallons yesterday at $3.99 per gallon in Nanty Glo PA) and use a growing favorite expression in their vocabulary -- "pain at the pump!"

There is a scramble to explain why and who is responsible for this growing expression of greed on the part of some very influential persons somewhere -- God alone knows who they are, where they are and what they are doing. The good news is that in due time He will return upon their heads the fruit of their doings -- no one has beaten the "law of sowing and reaping" yet and none ever will!

But maybe there is another factor to consider in all this chaos -- perhaps the "god" of Pleasure is beginning to be hammered a bit! God's actions at times are directed to the "deities" a nation forms for itself.

For decades we as a nation have been on a "pedal to the metal" pace in our pursuit of pleasures of every possible kind. It would take a long amount of space and a considerable amount of time to detail them all here.

It is evident to anyone who looks a bit and listens that we are a pleasure saturated country, and are constantly attempting to devise new ways of experiencing pleasure.

One obvious tragedy in this is the well established fact that we cannot get half of our population into a place of worship on Sunday morning to even go through the motions of worshipping the God Who brought this mighty universe into existence by simple spoken commands!

Sunday, as mentioned elsewhere on my website and blog, ought to be renamed Funday -- it is a day of zealous pursuit of pleasure from border to border and shore to shore.

Interesting, is it not, that now there is much talk not only about gas prices, but what heating costs will be this winter and the ripple impact from fuel prices in terms of groceries and various consumer goods.

Could it be that those guys I see gassing up at a gas pump (tanks on 4-wheelers on a trailer towed by a gas guzzling pick-up) on Sunday mornings may be forced to revise their pleasure agenda in the future? Many other examples could be cited as people deal with costly expenses related to the pursuit of pleasure to the neglect of giving time, attention, money and worship to the living God!

Stop and think for a minute -- a lot of decisions are going to be made and a lot of plans changed due to drastically changed financial spending -- we'll spend a lot more money on our gas, our heat, our groceries -- which means leas money for our pleasure pursuits than we've been used to having. And then there is the fact that many families are up to their eyeballs in debt because they made the deadly mistake of adopting the philosophy of "instant gratification" -- just have to have those things that enhance our fun times even if we have to go deeply into debt to get them.

Something we so easily forget -- the thing about God as He begins to deal with a culture and its rebellion is that He has many methods at His disposal and can keep turning the screws tighter and tighter as time progresses!

Of course we also have an abundance of information available that if the tactics do not bring about the desired results, then eventually judgment is employed and God has done that very thing a number of times, but somehow the dominant spirit in our republic right now is that we feel we are an exception -- besides, this is a "Christian" nation, isn't it?

What will be the next "god" or "goddess" on God's hit list? Now is the perfect time to review a portion of 2 Chronicles 36 -- see how one people fared who thought they could ignore God and get away with it -- start reading at about verse 11.

"For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD." --- Exodus 12:12

Will the Feddy Be Able to Overcome the Eddy?

News of a fire sale at Bear Stearns (BSC, news, msgs) had global markets in pandemonium today, even after the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank stepped in Sunday night to try to restore confidence in the financial-services sector.

After a rocky week for Bear Stearns, JPMorgan Chase (JPM, news, msgs) announced on Sunday that it would acquire the Wall Street giant for a mere $2 per share in a stock-swap deal.....--- opening atatement in news release on finance matters during morning of March 17, 2008

eddy - a current of air, water, etc. moving against the main current and with a circular motion; little whirlpool or whirlwind. --- Webster's New Universal Unabridged Dictionary

Ok, ok -- so it's a bit of a game with words and expressions -- "feddy" is my coined expression for the U. S. Federal Reserve and "eddy" of course is defined as noted above. Eddy represents the financial "current" which these days often goes against the flow of the goals of government, corporations and powerful individuals when it comes to a commodity called money.

The stock market continues to lose ground with what are considered "bad news" reports related to finance. The Federal Reserve then cuts interest rates a half point or so. Then there is a surge and the Dow "rebounds" -- this may be as much as 100 to 200 points or more! But as time passes there is another slide.

There is no lacking in the field of professed financial "experts" -- the guys that tell you how best to invest your money and what the hot stocks are, etc. Cable channels have programs devoted to this subject and there is an endless parade of discussions on the economy and the world of finance. The one thing they do not or are unwilling to face -- this so-called wealth (fat portfolios with "profitable" investments) thing is mainly on paper plus the fact that our nation is trillions of dollars in debt with some foreign countries owning a lot of that debt, including a major player called China!
Now the question is this -- how long will the Federal Reserve (Feddy) have to cut the rates to keep things on an even (and prosperous) keel so far as the United States' economy is concerned? Will they reach a point where there can be no more "cutting" because they have reached the big "0?" Will they reach a point where lenders will have to pay people or companies to borrow money? Yea, I know that is an absurd and very stupid question, but since I was on a roll with this -- I just had to toss it in!

On a more serious note -- when enough people and those who are in control of corporations have made money their god, the time does come when the Creator, Who owns all things including that which is finance related, of this universe begins to bring on some unpleasant happenings. It starts with something called chastisement and often will be directed to those things which have become an idol -- you know, something (or combination of things) which have priority in our lives and God and His revelation to us are placed in the corner somewhere to gather dust!

Note a few statements about this matter from God's point of view -- please understand that most people who hold all positions in life are not the least bit interested in God's point of view on anything! This alone mainly explains why our republic is in the chaotic condition that it is at the present time!

He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like foliage... He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches, and he who gives to the rich, will surely come to poverty... A man with an evil eye hastens after riches, and does not consider that poverty will come upon him... There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men: a man to whom God has given riches and wealth and honor, so that he lacks nothing for himself of all he desires; yet God does not give him power to eat of it, but a foreigner consumes it. This is vanity, and it is an evil affliction... Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days... "The merchants of these things, who became rich by her, will stand at a distance for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, and saying, 'Alas, alas, that great city that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls! For in one hour such great riches came to nothing.' And every shipmaster, all who travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a distance and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, 'What is like this great city?' And they threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and wailing, and saying, 'Alas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth! For in one hour she is made desolate.' Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her!" --- Proverbs 11:28; 22:16; 28:22; Ecclesiastes 6:1, 2; James 5:1-3; Revelation 18:15-20

A conclusion to all this? Simply, that when money has become a prominent "god" in a culture, then Almighty God Who put this universe together by spoken command will so arrange things that even Feddy cannot overcome the Eddy!

The solution, of course, is a deliberate choice of action called repentance from sin -- but that is something which about all cultures at any given time refuse to do -- there are ruins from out of the past that bluntly remind us of this unchanging fact!

Look! Is that your money going down that bathroom piece of furniture? Quick, call "Feddy" -- maybe it can put the brakes on it!

That Rich "List" -- Are They Really?

Then Jesus said to His disciples, "Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." --- Matthew 19:23, 24

It's almost the same thing as a religious annual ritual -- the Forbes listing of the wealthiest people and who moved up, or down on the list in 2007 -- also the newcomers are mentioned as well. The wealthiest of the bunch has a fortune estimated to be about 62 billion dollars! And, no, it's not Bill Gates who has been #1 in the money making department for a long time, but in 2007 he came in second. Of the 2007 crop of billionaires, six are in their 20's age-wise.

But enough of that -- if you want to get all the details, journey over to the Forbes web site -- get pictures, figures, what they are into, what kind of houses (translate mansions) they live in and how many they have, etc.

God has revealed that true wealth is never measured in terms of how many dollar bills you can rub against each other, or how thick your stock portfolio may be, or how much acreage you may own, or how big your company may be!

While the making of money by the ton drives a majority of people in today's world with greed often proving to be the merciless taskmaster with whip in hand, Jesus explicitly warned about this deadly danger and what the realistic goal in life should be during our journey on this earth:

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." --- Matthew 6:19-21

Wealth that counts beyond the limitations of earth and time is defined in terms such as these;

• a future residence which will make the most expensive mansions found in this world look like dilapidated shacks by way of comparison -- read it for yourself in John 14:1-3 -- Jesus promised to go and prepare a place for us!
  
  
• we share in Jesus' possessions -- since He made the entire universe, that takes in quite an inheritance -- "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. --- Romans 8:16, 17
  
  
• more on the inheritance -- "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." --- 1 Peter 1:3-5
  
  
• and the reward for faithful service -- more than a gold watch! "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'" --- Matthew 25:23
  

Another important thing to remember about handling this thing called money -- God uses a far different standard of measurement when it comes to how we have used it and to what extent we have shared our money for use in His work.

There was a day when Jesus and His disciples were observing those giving their money for God's work. The rich dipped into their money bags and put in their offerings, which seemed to be quite generous. A poor widow woman gave her offering which was described as being two mites -- in our coinage it was maybe about 2 cents. What a shock when Jesus told His disciples that the widow have given more than all the rest of the wealthy people added together! He further explained that they put in some out of their abundance, but she put in all that she had -- her purse was totally empty when she left the temple that day. But the rich still had money jingling in their bags!

It is obvious that whatever your state in life may be -- an income measured in billions, millions, many thousands or a few thousand, or maybe just a few hundred dollars, God doesn't take so much notice of the amount you give, but how much do you have left over after you have done your giving for the expansion of His Kingdom in this chaotic world!

The apostle Paul addressed the issue in these words:

"But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows..... Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy." --- 1 Timothy 6:9, 10, 17

For more details on this issue see Reminders When Mansion Shopping! A link at the bottom of that area will bring you back to this place. Enjoy a look at what real and lasting wealth is all about!

Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: "The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?' So he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry."' But God said to him, 'You fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?' So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." --- Luke 12:16-21

Fairy Tales 2008!

"When I become the next president in 2008, I am going to....." (insert anything in place of the periods -- it will be helpful if you let your imagination kick into overdrive for a few minutes before inserting the whatevers!). Now after that insert any name from the "wannabe" candidates for president of the U.S.A. at any location, any day of the week, any hour of the day or night! This applies up until the conventions later this year -- then you can still do the above exercise, but the names will be limited to Democratic and Republican nominees plus whoever else may jump into this 3-ring circus!

Circulating on the Internet is this little gem of a granny with a couple of her grandchildren -- granny, having lived for quite a number of years, has developed an immeasurable amount of wisdom when it comes to the subject of "politics!"



Now then, a modest proposal which will transform this repugnant practice every 4 years in the matter of choosing a president:

• each aspiring candidate would be given $100,000 out of the U.S. treasury to use to convince us as to why he or she should be president. No other funds, including private contributions by groups, corporations, or individuals would be permitted. The candidate would not be permitted to even use money out of his or her private bank accounts -- only the 100 G's could be used and a public record would be revealed as such funds are used up, making the individual accountable for that amount. If the amount is exceeded, then the candidate would be automatically disqualified from further involvement in seeking public office. Once the funds are used, that's it. Media could not give "free" time or space to the candidates during this time. It would be illegal for private citizens to "buy" advertising space for a candidate.
  
  

  Don't forget -- more elections are "bought" than we would want to admit -- in far too many cases, he or she who can garner the most bucks, usually takes the cake -- or more accurately, the political office which that person coveted intensely!
  
  

• political "conventions" would be eliminated -- the primary voting tallies added up for all states would determine who would be the candidate -- runner up would be the VP candidate, whether the presidential candidate liked him or her or not!
  
  
• during the week before the election, the media would give one half hour to each candidate to make a speech to the whole country as to why he or she should be elected president. After the speech no media hatchet men (or women) would be permitted to hash and rehash and rehash and rehash what has been said. Printed media would permit each presidential candidate and vice presidential candidate to write in 1,000 words maximum a listing of reasons why they should be elected to lead our nation for 4 years. The expense for that half hour and printed space in news media would also be paid for from public funds -- no political parties involved in this! That would be it -- nothing more!
  

OK, OK! So it qualifies for something of the most radical kind rather than being just modest! Yes, yes -- I know this doesn't stand a chance of surviving -- even much less than the proverbial snowball has in that very hot place you may have heard about -- which is denied by a number of theologians, seminary professors, and pastors -- but alas, I digress -- the hot place subject is for another time and eventually will be discussed in this blog at some point in the future.

Stop and think about the criminality and profanity of it all -- millions upon millions of dollars spent by a number of very ambitious people who are trying to convince us that the U.S. government under their leadership will take good care of us from "the womb to the tomb!"

What really is disturbing to the first magnitude is this -- all that money which could really be used to help the needy -- those victimized by the goons of greed in high places -- skyrocketing prices in about everything and no plausible explanation other than powerful people in high places can pull strings at will and the low income people get kicked again, even when they are already down!

Actually, we're probably talking money in terms of billions instead of millions when the dust has settled a bit come January 2009! And that doesn't include the congressional election mess, or equally so, the elections at the state level!

One thing sure -- if those radical proposals just mentioned would become a reality, it would end a lot of this thing of politicians being "beholden" to certain special interest groups and powerful individuals who have helped "finance" their campaigns -- but hold on, it will come to an end.

Perhaps God will step in soon -- and we should expect that since none of the candidates have really addressed the ethical, moral and spiritual crises which threaten the ongoing survival of this republic!

But there is good news -- a day is coming when all politicians will be booted out of office -- the control of this nation, if it is still standing at the time, and all others in the world will be in the hands of One Who holds the title, King of kings and Lord of lords."

For a few of us, we can put up with the political antics a while longer, though it be very frustrating -- do our voting according to conscience for the time being, but at the same time look forward to the day when God in effect says, "Now we are going to do everything MY way!"

Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, "Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us." He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The LORD shall hold them in derision. Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, And distress them in His deep displeasure: "Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion."..........Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!" --- Psalm 2:1-6; Revelation 11:15

And a P.S. on this -- I am a "non-affiliated" registered voter in Cambria County, Pennsylvania -- I like it that way, especially when I get calls from political groups seeking my vote for their candidate -- funny thing, as we engage in conversation, it seems they convey a feeling of regret that they dialed my phone number -- now, I wonder why?????

The Money god Is Getting Hammered -- More to Come???

Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death...He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like foliage...He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches, and he who gives to the rich, will surely come to poverty...A man with an evil eye hastens after riches, and does not consider that poverty will come upon him. --- Proverbs 11:4, 28; 22:16; 28:22

Just like watching worms on the proverbial hot skillet -- see the people in finance circles scrambling like crazy! The mighty Fed again has reduced interest rates -- the president is now talking of an even "bigger" stimulus package and is in discussion with congressional leaders as to what can be done QUICKLY to end this financial chaos. Markets elsewhere in the world are "hemorrhaging" so it seems and the dollar is being battered everywhere!

But they won't ever learn -- greed has been running amok for a long time in this world and persons with great wealth and power seemed to have been on a roll -- maybe the time has come when the Creator of this universe is saying that this game of greed has gone on long enough and it's time to end it.

Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days. Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter. You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you. --- James 5:1-5

If that should be the case, then all human efforts to "shore up" financial markets throughout the world will be in vain -- one thing sure, the god of money, which has its tentacles securely wrapped around huge numbers of people, will be brought down eventually.

When we refuse to make Almighty God first place in our lives and refuse to honor Him with words, actions, and especially our use of material gain, then we are in for consequences we cannot even begin to imagine. Consider what the foremost Authority on human behavior had to say about this thing called money:

Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!" And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, "Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." --- Mark 10:23-25

A Bank Experience of Another Kind!

Since the below comments have been written a few developments have taken place:

• we were informed that the account in question will remain the same as originally agreed upon in 1996 -- no fees and checks will be free as always.
  
• at about the same time as posting these comments, an article appeared in our local paper about banking practices, some of which are highly questionable in terms of ethics as it applies to treatment of customers -- the "fee" thing!
  
• an excellent article also appeared on the internet comparing banks to credit unions and services offered by each -- the clear winner is the credit union and it was noted that banks would like to see credit unions eliminated, if that were possible!
  

We have been customers of a well known bank in the Johnstown PA area for 34 years. Dealings from time to time with the local branch where we had opened our account in 1973 were quite positive. The manager was very friendly and if I wanted a loan it was always a pleasurable experience -- about all I had to do was tell him what I needed and he would always give me the loan without any hassle. But that was quite a few years ago when such experiences took place.

Along the way in spring of 1996 the bank offered a variety of accounts including a special one for persons aged 55 and older. Some of the features included free checks and for a 0 to 299.00 balance there was a $4 monthly fee, BUT a notation on the brochure said that fee did not apply to those accounts where pension and Social Security checks were deposited electronically. The words, "does not apply," were in bold print for emphasis. That is how we set up for our checks to be deposited.

Eventually the bank merged with another under some kind of an arrangement (merger, take-over, buy out or whatever) and the name was changed. But our 55 and over account remained the same. Our checks were free and there were no charges of any kind connected with our usage of the account. That is, until just recently when my wife discovered a $6 fee had been charged.

Jean was told that our account was being charged a $6 monthly fee because that type of account had always been charged that. Further, this had just come to some one's attention after all this time. Jean's protest and appeal on basis of original agreement fell mainly on deaf ears.

So then -- a certified letter to the CEO of the bank -- a phone call from a person in charge of all branch offices acknowledging receipt of the letter -- refusal on her part to recognize the original agreement -- her "offer" to switch us to a "free" checking account but we would then have to purchase the checks we would be using with the account!

Jean finally found the original brochure with all the details of the accounts offered at that time clearly spelled out. We paid a visit to the local branch manager who saw the details of our 55 and older account with her own eyes.

A copy was sent to the CEO and then another phone conversation with the person in charge of all branch offices who insisted that they had changed the account conditions a while back -- which was to say that what we had no longer applied as stated in the original agreement. However, she said she would review the brochure in question and would make a "decision." She was noticeably irritated when I raised the issue as to how a court would rule in regard to such an issue.

So we are awaiting the "decision" as to whether we will continue as we have during the past 11 years OR changes will be made so that we will be paying somehow whereas we never did before! I vote for the latter to be the case -- how about you?

But then it just dawned on me about a day ago that the reason we got into this situation of obvious conflict is that we and the bank people are operating on two different standards.

My wife and I function on the Biblical covenant principle while in the corporate business world that principle is not practiced except in some cases that are very rare exceptions. The rare exception is due to where the faith and commitment of the owners of a company are centered!

The Biblical covenant principle is simply an agreement into which two parties enter, each meeting certain conditions and the agreement is binding until both parties involved agree to change or terminate the agreement!

In the corporate world at large today agreements are made and then broken at will without so much as blinking an eye! The judicial system has seen large numbers of cases involving the breaking of agreements, some even class action in nature.

God's revelation gives a shocking prediction of human history as it comes down the home stretch of its existence. There will be three very deadly "loves" which will dominate the lives of the majority of humans -- love of self, love of money, and love of pleasure more than love of God. Many other characteristics will be prominent as well, including people commonly breaking agreements -- check it at 2 Timothy 3:1-5 in the New Testament.

How well are you doing at giving your word and then KEEPING it in agreements you have made in the past?

Are You Among Those Special "Reserves?"

"Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him." --- 1 Kings 19:18

He found himself in the pit of deep despair – he was on the run and trying to hide – a very powerful and wicked woman was after his head, literally!

Elijah had just won a major victory over the false prophets of a heathen deity named Baal. A part of that victory involved the execution of those false prophets. Queen Jezebel, who had been instrumental in importing Baal worship into the northern kingdom of Israel, had vowed to remove Elijah’s head from his shoulders due to the major blow he had inflicted on the institution of Baal worship!

And so as the prophet engaged in a major self-pity experience and felt the best thing for him now was to simply die and have his miserable existence terminated, God dramatically revealed that Elijah was not the only faithful one left, as he had led himself to believe. "Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him," said God! In the midst of all the confrontations which had taken place and the challenging of the heathen prophets, Elijah had failed to recognize the existence of God’s “reserve” force.

In a 21st Century republic known as the United States of America God has His “reserves” that have refused to bow the knee to the modern Baals, which are manifested in many forms. Consider some of those Baals in our culture to which millions of knees are bowing every day -----

• the Baal of pleasure which now dominates the weekends, including the day which was set apart for the worship of the true and living God Who created this mighty universe by spoken command and Who loves us humans so much that He gave His own Son, Jesus Christ, as a sacrifice for our sins so we could be forgiven and be citizens in His Kingdom forever. Less than half of U. S. citizens are willing to go to a place of worship on Sundays!
  
  
• the Baal of money which now enslaves a huge multitude of individuals as well as a growing number of corporations. This brand of Baal has the unique power to fan into raging flames a vicious appetite called greed. But it’s not limited to individuals nor corporations headed up by CEO’s who are driven by a desire to chalk up record breaking profits year after year, but elected officials enjoy sticking their thumbs into the public money pie with constant scheming as to how the citizens can be bled for more and more revenue!
  
  
• the Baal of entertainment, talk-show, mass media and political celebrities. There is a wide variety of personalities here as well as the subject matter which may be expelled from the mouths of the same. The problem is that millions follow this one or that one and regard every word spoken by the one to whom they are ever loyal as “gospel truth.” Devotees of these celebrities are much more concerned about what their “idols” have to say about anything than what Almighty God has to say – and He does have a lot to say about the most critical issues of life on a personal level as well as on the collective level! Even among those who profess to be Christian in their faith there is all too often a confession that they do not spend the time studying the Bible as they feel they should! It is the God-inspired record of the Bible which is the measuring stick as to whether members of the aforementioned group are true or false in whatever statements and claims they make about anything.
  
  
• the Baal of sexual immorality which is a very cruel and merciless deity as it exploits the part of our being that expresses its cravings at a very young and tender age. Thanks to perverted thinking, reasoning and example setting by adults over time, our young are now constantly exposed to damnable teachings that sexual experiences under just about any condition are good – you, and you alone determine what your sexual preferences should be and how to be sexually intimate with whoever and whenever! God’s revelation about the boundaries of expressing and experiencing our sexuality are totally rejected. The evidence is overwhelming that our culture is resolved to take a fatal plunge into the pool of disaster when it comes to handling God’s sacred gift of human sexuality!
  
  
• the Baal of humanism which attempts to convince each one of us that we humans can handle all the issues of life be they personal and individual, or at the collective level. At times scientific advancements coupled with new breakthroughs in technology have been quite impressive and a person can be persuaded that we no longer need a “crutch of superstition” consisting of belief in a “higher power” which has whatever name you may give to that deity. However, along the way as we choose to travel this road, human life often becomes very cheap and expendable. And so there is no real moral sensitivity at the national level and no real concern that we have destroyed millions of unborn children over the past few decades!
  
  
• the Baal of “church-ianity” – the word is probably not in the dictionary, but it’s a way of best describing the infiltration of the church by forces of compromise, “political correctness,” unbelief and brazen immorality! Those in a number of church groups who hold to a Bible based faith are being pressured to compromise the faith (e.g. that Jesus is NOT the exclusive way of salvation), to speak a certain language so that no person is ever offended, to doubt the mighty acts of God in times past as well as what God has specifically planned for the future, and to accept without question sexual behavior patterns which God has clearly condemned! Constantly through legislative actions or declarations from church leaders the exhortation is to bow to the modern Baal and kiss him!
  

Somewhere scattered throughout the 50 states that comprise this republic is a minority number of persons – the ones who have not bowed the knee to the 21st Century version of Baal in its many grotesque forms – they are God’s special “reserves!” Are you one of them?

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

More About This Money Thing!

On an earlier post the subject of money was discussed with the fact that it has become a prominent "god" in this republic of the United States and that it dominates and actually enslaves the lives of millions of all ages.

A very bitter and dissatisfying fruit produced by this "deity's" influence is greed. You see, in serving this particular "god" one is driven by greed on a 24/7 schedule! This takes place on an individual level and also on a corporate level. Take note at the end of the year as to what corporations report record breaking profits and what we as consumers were paying for whatever it is these leeches in the business world are producing!

Money in itself is a neutral commodity. It is neither good nor evil. But human attitudes toward, desires for, and use of money will either be good or evil depending on choices made by each human individually and a group of humans at a corporate level where power and influence are quite extensive and where manipulation in the worlds of finance and business are not just possible, but all too often a way of life!

The God-fearing and wise approach to money involves the following essentials:

• The recognition that God owns all things. This basic truth is revealed repeatedly throughout the holy Scriptures. Note just three of many:
  

  
  The earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein. --- Psalm 24:1
  
  "The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine," says the LORD of hosts. --- Haggai 2:8
  
  "...Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power and the glory, the victory and the majesty; for all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and You are exalted as head over all. Both riches and honor come from You, and You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; in Your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. Now therefore, our God, we thank You and praise Your glorious name. But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from You, and of Your own we have given You...."
  --- part of King David's prayer in 1 Chronicles 29:11-14
  

  
  
  
• Recognizing that a proportionate share of one's income is to be given in support of God's work going on in the world. Most Christians agree that the tithe (10% of one's income) is the standard of giving to those efforts of sharing the message of salvation and hope through Jesus Christ among all peoples and nations of this present world as mandated by Him in Matthew 28:18-20
  
  The tithe was practiced under what is known as the Old Testament covenant that was established under the leadership of Moses.
  
  Reason, coupled with the complete revelation to which we now have access, and the knowledge of Jesus' sacrifice for all the sins of the entire human race leads an open minded person to the conclusion that one can do nothing less than give 10% of our gross income to support the spreading of the Gospel of Jesus Christ everywhere!
  

  
  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. --- 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
  

  
  
  
• Recognizing the ultimate accountability to God Himself as to how our money was used in addition to all the other facets regarding what we did with our lives while residents in this present world. There are two judgments we need to keep always in mind -- one involves Christians appearing before Christ to have their works "assessed" and rewards or loss handed to them, depending on how serious they were in serving and representing Him during their lives as believers. The issue is not whether they will enter Heaven, but rather the quality of service through obedience which they produced -- wise use of time, abilities, and material goods, including stewardship responsibility of money which was entrusted to their care.
  

  
  Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. --- 2 Corinthians 5:9, 10
  
  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. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become manifest; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. If any one's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If any one's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.--- 1 Corinthians 3:10-15
  

  
  The other judgment involves all who are not Christian -- they too are to be judged on basis of their works. Since these rejected Jesus Christ as the only possible way of being forgiven and thus qualified to enter Heaven, the issue will be the intensity of punishment in Hell. This judgment has been commonly referred to as the "Great White Throne Judgment" for obvious reasons as stated in the book of The Revelation.
  

  
  Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
  --- Revelation 20:11-15
  

  
  Luke 16 provides some details as to the nature of torment experienced by those who refused to repent of their sins and in this age of Gospel proclamation, have refused to receive Jesus Christ into their lives as Savior and Lord!
  

While money dominates the vast majority of people, you don't need to let it dominate you -- but only by God's grace and mercy can you be set free from it's tentacles! Another way of looking at it -- it's a bit like handling dynamite -- handle it wisely and carefully and good things can take place through its use -- handle it foolishly and it will destroy you both in time and for eternity!

Parting questions -- is your love for Jesus Christ greater than your love for money? And if your love for Him is greater, what portion of your money is being used to honor Him as Savior and Lord of your life?

Wow! The Dow Blasts Through 13,000 -- But That Doesn't Mean a Chicken in Every Pot!

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! --- 2 Timothy 3:1-5

Wall Street ready to throw a party in the streets -- money rolling like a mighty river -- "experts" on investing so excited that they might even dampen their britches and start looking for some Pampers to assist them in their "emergency" circumstances!

Yes, for a time there are some who are making money like crazy -- as one convicted "insider" said years ago, "A little greed is a good thing!" For a time he served in a "country club" prison environment (designed just for "white color" people) and then was released to spend all his millions made with a bit of "manipulating" in the world of finance.

But the masses within our republic will reap no benefits from this supposed "boom" as the DOW ascends to new heights. It can be proven by data available that the gap between the rich and poor is an ever widening chasm.

Greed is the motivating factor more and more with obscene profit figures being released by a growing number of corporations such as those dealing with petroleum, pharmaceuticals, etc. And there is that Haliburton outfit (with which Dick Cheney had direct connections years ago) which is making money by the truck loads under the guise of "reconstructing" Iraq, and which has made a move to shift headquarters into an Arab country! Anyone out there noticed lately about an "accountability" problem with millions and millions of dollars in the so-called "reconstruction" of Iraq?

A number of companies have dismantled operations here in the U. S. and have set up shop somewhere overseas or across the border in Mexico where workers will be paid a piddling amount under unhealthy work conditions to put together a product which will be sent here for sale! Have you made it a practice to look at where your purchased consumer items have been made? Write down the names and see how soon you have a quite a listing of countries which occupy representative seats at a place called the United Nations!

But who cares? So long as the select "few" make tons of money in the process everyone will be happy, right? And every once in a while we hear a word from that dark, dismal and depressing place known as Washington DC about how great the economy is doing!

OK -- enough of the attempt to bring us down to reality! This republic which finds itself in a most tragic state of spiritual, moral and ethical bankruptcy will discover likely too late that what seems to be a financial "boom" really is not, and is to be likened to an overinflated balloon about to pop! And guess who has the pin in His hand ready to prick it?

Among the many "idols" which have been set up over the years in this nation, the one which occupies the #1 position is most likely money. God has indicated that He will judge a nation and in the process He will bring its gods to nothing! He did it in ancient Egypt and in ancient Babylon as well as in dealing with many other peoples as history has run its course -- here is God's declaration about the matter:

The LORD will be awesome to them, for He will reduce to nothing all the gods of the earth; people shall worship Him, each one from his place, indeed all the shores of the nations. --- Zephaniah 2:11

In fact it is predicted that the time will come as human history reaches its final stages that fear will drive even prominent, powerful and very wealthy people into the recesses and cavities of the earth's surface! You don't think it will happen, do you? If you disagree, you'll have to have a heart to heart talk with the One Who said this:

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

It's really not a question of whether that Wall Street "balloon" will pop, but rather WHEN it is going to happen!

Stayed tuned for the next edition of further discussion on this interesting subject of money and how to be wise in handling whatever amount God sees fit to entrust to your care -- that way you won't get burned as will happen to the majority in the future!

"After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.' His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'" --- Matthew 25:19-21

Have You Graduated Beyond the Bunnies & Eggs Thing?

Just as it is at Christmas time, the competition is fierce -- ads coming at you in all directions trying to persuade you to buy new clothes and lots of sweet stuff as you prepare for Easter. Of course those selling other kinds of merchandise are reminding you that it's spring time and you need a lot of their products for making it a much better spring than you've ever had before! And if you're hurting for some reason -- maybe you skinned your toe on your neighbor's uneven sidewalk, there's a zillion lawyers out there with repulsive ads telling you to sue and get "the money you deserve for your pain and suffering!" That way you can give your neighbor an Easter present he won't ever forget.

What is your reason for celebrating Easter, if you have managed to move beyond such stuff as that mentioned above? Are you able to lift your vision far beyond the little bunnies, chickens, and eggs -- the jelly beans and the flowers?

After gazing for a time on a central cross outside the city of Jerusalem with the body impaled upon it now removed, are you a bit excited? Does the excitement become more intense as you remember again that the grave was unable to hold Him in its deadly grip and that Jesus came out of that tomb three days after His slow and painful death on a Roman cross?


Even within churches claiming to be identified with the Christian faith there has at times been skepticism displayed when it comes to the literal bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. For a few of us, that comes as no surprise -- each century has produced a number who seem to take delight in denying that Jesus is alive, but our response is simple -- "You are badly mistaken -- I'm in daily contact with Him and we have conversation about many things. You can't carry on conversation with a dead person successfully!"

Let the skeptics ramble on in their blindness and stupidity, we know better as we continue to walk in fellowship with Him Who is King of kings and Lord of lords! So this Easter, let's check our vision again -- how far can we see? Do we see Him Who was dead for a brief moment and placed in a stone tomb, but is now alive and some day in the future will return to rule this world forever?

"Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know." Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." --- John 14:1-6

If you are still at the bunny, chicks, eggs, and chocolate level, slip on over and take a look at How to Become a Christian -- you life just might be changed forever!