PastorTim

Storm Warnings

Springtime is upon us in the great Midwest. Last week brought us high winds and tornado’s, even snow showers! Storm tracker forecasts capture the attention of many, and we should pay close attention to the weather, especially this time of year. There is something however that is a bit more concerning as we cast a glance toward the middle east. One can easily recognize that there seems to be a storm brewing. What’s worse, this week in the streets of Dearborn Michigan, the words “death to Israel” could be heard chanted by a large crowd, followed by the enthusiastic chants of “death the America!”  

Tom Basile the host of “America Right Now” on Newsmax TV and a Washington Times columnist rightly observed, “Times like these should not only breed an unbreakable solidarity between Christians and Jews but also between Americans and Israelis. Israel as a state is a representation of biblical truth. It is by its very existence an acknowledgment that the God of Moses and Abraham exists.

Erasing Jews from the face of the earth through force, as the jihadis attempt to do, or through cultural, political or academic derision, as the Marxists attempt to do, is not just an attack on one religion. It is an attack on the foundations of all Western civilization, especially the United States. The weakening of Israel is linked to the designs of those tearing at American society today. Its existence and stability as a liberal democracy is therefore critical to buttressing our own values as a Judeo- Christian country.”

He continues, “The amoral and atheist proclivities of Marxism or “wokeism” as a political movement and socialism or communism as government structures cannot be underscored enough here as central to shifts in tone toward Israel. The secularists and militant atheists in the Democratic Party know that Jews and Israel are the genesis of and connection to a biblical history that is transcendent. It connects Moses and the Ten Commandments with King David, laying the groundwork for the teachings of Christ, the Apostles and the saints of the universal church. If you eliminate Judaism, weaken Israel or associate either with abhorrent behavior like genocide, then you also begin to eviscerate the underpinnings of Christianity as well.”

Thousands of years ago, a shepherd boy named David sees that Israel is shaking in their sandals against this Goliath, and something boils up and over in his soul. He asks what will be done for the man who takes this giant out forever. Now David is stirring up the people with this kind of talk and his older brother Eliab gets on to him. In 1 Samuel 17:28, “Now Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spoke to the men. And Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, “Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your presumption and the evil of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.” 

And then David responds, in 1 Samuel 17:29, “What have I now done? Is there not a cause?” In other words, is there not a time to take a stand? Is there not a truth worth living for; indeed, worth dying for if necessary? Where is Israel’s conviction? His noble heart pulsing with divine patriotism, David volunteered to fight the evil giant. David’s words reveal to us...What he understood about the hearts of the men, and what he knew must be done. It also reminds us that David knew the Promises his God!

You and I, we are called to pray for Israel standing on the same promises as David in the valley of Elah. As a nation we are called to stand with and defend Israel. The Psalmist inspires us… “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord… Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces. For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee. Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek thy good.”

Historical Biblical landmarks serve as a reminder of not only the sheer determination of the courageous men and women of Israel who labored, fought, defended and are still defending their homeland to this very day! Placed prominently in the foyer of the museum one finds the words of Amos 9:14, “I will bring back the captives of My people Israel; They shall build the waste cities and inhabit them; They shall plant vineyards and drink wine from them; They shall also make gardens and eat fruit from them.” It occurs to me that what has happened Israel is reflective of not only the history of Israel, but of our own nation’s Godly heritage as well. As my friend Dr. Everett Piper observed recently, “What happens in Israel does not stay in Israel.” A truth we must never forget!

 

 

 

 

O say can you see

The air was thick with chaos and despair in Baltimore harbor in the early hours of the morning of September 14^th, 1814. As the smoke and fog rolled away and the golden beams of the rising sun caught hold of the broad stripes and white stars gleaming. It was as if God himself seemed to declare that he had plans for this fledgling nation which was founded on the timeless principles of his word. Things in Baltimore harbor have changed. 

Don Feder, columnist with The Washington Times, writes this week: “Without God, America looks a lot like a bridge that lies in ruins in Baltimore harbor. The collapse of the Frances Scott Key Bridge is a metaphor for our national decline. Key wrote a poem that became the lyrics of the national anthem — including the words: “Then conquer we must when our cause it is just. And this be our motto, in God is our trust” — as he watched the British Bombardment of Fort McHenry during the War of 1812. But as trust in God declines, so does belief in America.

On Easter Sunday, 43% of Americans were in church. That’s 20 points lower than the number who say they’re Christians. One-third of avowed Christians couldn’t be bothered to go to church on Christianity’s holiest day of the year. What’s more, 57% of Americans seldom or never go to church. Those who don’t identify with any religion (the “nones”) went from 13% in 2010 to 21% today.

In a recent survey, not quite 50% said they have no doubt about the existence of God, compared with 60% as recently as 2008. The rest think all blessings flow from the Treasury. The Founding Fathers had a core set of beliefs, including the conviction that rights are endowed by the Creator. You can see it in the Constitution and Declaration of Independence and the words of those who shaped our republic.”

Our second president, John Adams, declared: “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” As he was leaving the Constitutional Convention in 1787, Benjamin Franklin was asked, “Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?” His answer should haunt us: “A republic, if you can keep it.” Without religion, we are on a bridge to nowhere.

May we once again reach back to that September in 1814 and capture for the moment and for future generations the hope and courage of that new nation. May we endeavor as President Abraham Lincoln said on a hillside in Gettysburg Pennsylvania only 49 years later, may we “highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” 

May we be inspired as we remember that as the British were about to execute their plan of bombarding Fort McHenry, a young lawyer, Francis Scott Key was dispatched to the British fleet to negotiate the release of an American Doctor. Finally, the British agreed to release Dr. Beane but would not let them leave until after the battle began, fearing they had heard too much of the battle plans regarding their impending attack on Fort McHenry. The British fired 1500 bombshells that weighed 220 lbs with lighted fuses that were supposed to explode on impact, but many malfunctioned and exploded in midair. From specially fitted small boats the British also fired new Congreve rockets that would trace a small wobbly arch of red flame throughout the sky. Americans had taken 22 of their own vessels in the harbor so that the ships could get no closer. As long as they were shelling, they knew the fort stood. 

Then an eerie silence welcomed the morning. What the young lawyer Key didn’t know was that there was an attack by land of Baltimore and when the British saw the resilience of these Americans, they ordered a retreat. As Key began to catch a glimpse of the flag over fort McHenry, he was inspired to pen the words that we today herald as our National Anthem. 

We all know the first verse may never forget what the fourth verse reminds us, “O thus be it ever when free-men shall stand, Between their lov'd home and the war's desolation; Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserv'd us a nation! Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, And this be our motto: “In God is our trust!” And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave, O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave! May this always be our motto and may God continue to Bless America!

 

 

 

 

God given rights!

Before July 1776 the American founding fathers clearly understood this principle that is based in the Holy Scriptures. The rights of man come from God and not government! Somehow that timeless truth has gotten misplaced by today’s media elite. Rob Pacienza in the Washington Stand this week wrote, “In a recent interview with MSNBC, Politico national investigative correspondent Heidi Przybyla was asked about the “infusion of Christian nationalism” in Congress following the appointment of an evangelical Christian, Mike Johnson (R-La.), as House Speaker. Responding to the question, Przybyla said, “The thing that unites them as Christian nationalists — not Christians, by the way, because Christian nationalist is very different — is that they believe that our rights as Americans, as all human beings, don’t come from any earthly authority. They don’t come from Congress; they don’t come from the Supreme Court. They come from God.” Wait, this is a surprise to you? Of all our nation’s founding documents, perhaps the most quoted of all is this phrase from the Declaration of Independence!  

Pacienza continues, “As the clip went viral for its inanity, Przybyla scrambled to defend herself, claiming that MSNBC cut off her complete response. Yet the segment clip makes Przybyla look even worse, revealing her breathtaking ignorance of American history, basic political theory, and Christian religion… Przybyla’s assertions also betray her rejection of our nation’s founding principles. Think about it. No lesser a document than the Declaration of Independence refers to “the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God” and says, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

So, when Przybyla arbitrarily declares that belief in the transcendent nature of basic human rights is an extremist threat to the country, she is rejecting not only biblical teaching but also the American Revolution, the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, and the majority of Western tradition. Weekly I am want to speak to some misquote of our founders or mis-representation of our Godly heritage. this week, I must respond!

We believe that our rights here in America come from God. We do not believe our rights come from our government or any government for that matter. We do not believe our rights come from our group. Another word for group is union, another word for union is soviet! The thought that because of my group I have rights is not what we believe as a nation. You must go to another country to believe that. Our founders said that we are endowed by our creator with certain unalienable rights, and that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Nowhere else in the world treasures life like America. Nowhere else in the world treasures liberty like America.

“Freedom, Thomas Jefferson said, is the right to choose: the right to create for oneself the alternatives of choice. Without the possibility of choice, and the exercise of choice, a man is not a man but a member, an instrument, a thing.” The timeless reality is, the greater the freedom, the more choices you have, less freedom, less choices.” It is government that controls this. And as President Ronald Reagan pointed out, “'We the People' tell the government what to do; it doesn't tell us. 'We the People' are the driver; the government is the car. And we decide where
it should go, and by what route, and how fast.

Almost all the world's constitutions are documents in which governments tell the people what their privileges are. Our Constitution is a document in which 'We the People' tell the government what it is allowed to do. 'We the People' are free.” It is unfortunate that Miss Przybyla wasn’t taught this in school. It is unfortunate that millions of young people in America have not been given

One of my favorite cartoon characters is Calvin and Hobbes and in a classic sketch you see Calvin’s poor mom confronting him with the question, “Did you break this dish?” Calvin responds, “I was carrying too much, and I dropped it.” She then told him his problem was a lack of common sense to which he replied… “I’ve got plenty of common sense, I just choose to ignore it!”

This reminds me of Peter’s words to the early church when confronting the trending opinion that God no longer involves himself with mankind… “knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” For this they willfully forget:” I really like the King James wording here… “For this they willingly are ignorant.” You can ignore God and you can ignore where our rights come from. But you can’t ignore God. Yes Politico, it’s important to know that our rights come from God. In fact, so does the very world we live in!

CONFESSIONS OF AN ARTFUL DODGER

Merriam Webster Dictionary defines a procrastinate as, blameworthy delay, especially through laziness or apathy. Dawdling, loitering, dallying…  The list goes on and on, but they all mean the same thing. They describe someone who delays finishing a task, putting it off until later. One memorable act of dodging from my past revolves around a new cordless drill that I dropped while doing some home remodeling. A little bump and a concrete floor equaled a sickening crack. Right there before my eyes lay my new drill in two pieces. Normally when the battery pack was taken off it did resemble two pieces, but now the separation point was in a new place!

I was disappointed to be sure, but I wasn’t finished for the day. I simply turned to one of man’s best friends, and I’m not talking about a dog. I’m talking about DUCT TAPE! A few minutes later, I was back in business. In short order however, I found myself unprepared for the next job as the repair didn’t hold and I had to lose time and money on a last minute trip to Lowes. When it comes to issues of the soul however the Bible says a thing or two about the art of dodging.

Jesus talks about a man who hears His words and does not act on what he hears. Jesus even goes as far as to call this man foolish. Listen to the Lord’s words, “And everyone that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.” Does that happen today? Well, I’m led to believe it does. People hear the word of God yet decide to put off acting on what they know to do.

Jesus, in telling the story of a wedding talks about how we can put off getting ready for His return but warns everyone not to put off preparing. “Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.”

There is one other scripture that I want to share on this subject, and it is found in the Old Testament book of First Kings when the prophet Elijah called the nation of Israel together to prove to them who their God truly was,  “And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.”

It was sad that he had to ask the question in the first place, but even sadder that they had no response. What would your response be? Or would you simply put off making up your mind? Putting off fixing a cordless drill is one thing that duct tape can fix, but putting off a decision that could have eternal consequences is quite another. The art of dodging the issue of eternal things could prove deadly.

In Saint Louis, in 1984, an unemployed cleaning woman noticed a few bees buzzing around the attic of her home. Since there were only a few, she made no effort to deal with them. Over the summer, the bees continued to fly in and out the attic vent while the woman remained unconcerned, unaware of the growing city of bees. The whole attic became a hive, and the ceiling of the second-floor bedroom finally caved in under the weight of hundreds of pounds of honey and thousands of angry bees. While the woman escaped serious injury, she was unable to repair the damage of her accumulated neglect. Please, don’t put off another day a decision that can affect where you will spend eternity. Trust me, you won’t dodge that!

 

 

A LEAP OF FAITH

I must confess that at one time I openly made fun of grandparents! I’d say things like, “why I’d never drive 2 hours to watch a soccer game” or “you’ll not catch me down on the floor playing with stuffed animals and drinking imaginary tea from a plastic teacup!” Well, 12 years later I have driven longer than 2 hours just to plant a kiss on a cheek and receive a hug from a sweet grandchild and I have sipped my fair share of imaginary tea from plastic teacups of various sizes and colors! 

My mind this week was drawn to a season of my darling granddaughter Kairi’s early childhood that I will refer to as her “Princess Mode.” It was all about the glass slipper if you get my drift. There are beautiful little gowns and tiara’s as far as the eye could see. One noteworthy episode occurred when Terri and I had stopped by the little princess’ house, err.. uh… castle, for a quick meal before some business in Columbus. We were there just a short time when I spotted Kairi laying on the living room floor in full princess regalia with her arms strategically crossed over her chest, legs straight and her little right eye peeking our way waiting for us to notice her.

I said to Terri, “I think she’s waiting for someone to kiss her”; well, me being the imaginary charming prince that I am, rose to my feet and then off to her side planting a kiss on her cheek and voila! Up she pops with a cheery princess grin and a hug. Oh, it’s good to be a grandpa! Mere minutes later I heard an impassioned cry from the top of the stairs call out “Papaw, help me. Papaw help me!” Well in no time I jumped onto my imaginary white horse and rode to the top of the stairs to rescue yon princess from the clutches of the evil witch or dragon or some other such thing! When I neared the top of the stairs to my surprise she literally leapt into my arms! (a little daring if I do say so myself!)

What struck me at that moment and what has lingered on my heart since then is this. That little girl’s faith said without hesitation three very important things. First, it said I believe that if I call out to papaw for help, Papaw will come. Secondly, it said that it doesn’t matter where I am when I cry out, he will do whatever it takes to reach me if I truly need Him. Thirdly, it says loudly and clearly, if I reach out with all my effort, he will catch me!

I still to this day can’t get that image out of my mind! Especially as I consider the faith that each of us can have in a God that is a million times stronger, a million times bigger and not to mention a million times more able than the greatest papaw that ever lived! 

First the scriptures remind me that if I, or you, or anyone for that matter sincerely calls out to God for help, he will respond! The psalmist said it this way, “I called upon the Lord in distress: the Lord answered me” and again, “The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.” Not only that, but the scriptures remind us that no matter where we are, God can reach us if we will but call on his name. Isaiah tells us, “Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:” Lastly, I am blessed to be reminded that if we reach out by faith we will find Him! “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Someone once said, “Little faith will bring your soul to heaven, but great faith will bring heaven to your soul.” Do you need God to bring a little heaven to your soul today?

One night a house caught fire and a young boy was forced to flee to the roof. The father stood on the ground below with outstretched arms, calling to his son, "Jump! I'll catch you." He knew the boy had to jump to save his life. All the boy could see, however, was flame, smoke, and blackness. As can be imagined, he was afraid to leave the roof. His father kept yelling: "Jump! I will catch you." But the boy protested, "Daddy, I can't see you." The father replied, "But I can see you and that's all that matters." If you or I are in trouble, that really is all that matters!

There truly is a God that knows, cares and is able to help us if we will only call on Him. Life, unlike fairytales, is not always punctuated with the phrase, “they all lived happily ever after.” But one thing is for sure, for the life that trusts completely in God, there is an eternity that awaits even better than Walt Disney himself could have imagined!

 

 

 

Taking a chance

Mark Twain once observed, “There are two times in a man's life when he should not speculate: when he can't afford it, and when he can.” While the Bible does not explicitly mention gambling, it does mention events of “luck” or “chance.” As an example, casting lots is used in Leviticus to choose between the sacrificial goat and the scapegoat. Joshua cast lots to determine the allotment of land to the various tribes. Nehemiah cast lots to determine who would live inside the walls of Jerusalem. However, casting lots or gambling for personal gain is another thing altogether. It affects people, families, and society as a whole.  

But how does the gambling industry affect society? First, gambling leads to an increased crime rate. Studies have shown that while casinos initially bring short-term economic benefits, property crimes take a sharp rise by the fourth year. Second, gambling leads to addiction. A survey done by two Duke University professors found that 10% of those who buy lottery tickets are compulsive gamblers who account for a whopping 50% of all money bet on lotteries. It’s also been proven that people are twice as likely to become problem gamblers if a casino is located within fifty miles of their home. Third, gambling leads to what we might call “a culture of destruction.” One survey of compulsive gamblers found that 22% had divorced because of gambling, 49% had stolen from an employer to pay gambling debts, and 79% said they wanted to die.

Ben Johnson, senior reporter and editor at The Washington Stand observed this week, “A record-breaking 115 million people watched the Kansas City Chiefs defeat the San Francisco 49ers in last night’s Super Bowl, the largest number in the 58-year history of the game. Last night’s NFL showdown also set another record: Experts estimate an historic 67.8 million people gambled $23.1 billion on the game’s outcome — 44% higher than the previous record of $16 billion placed by 50.4 million people, set just last year, according to a survey from the American Gaming Association. More than one out of every four Americans (26%) wagered money on the Super Bowl, a 35% increase in the number of U.S. gamblers, the survey stated…”

He continues, “An increasing number of children raised receiving quick hits of dopamine from video games have been getting caught in the web of online gambling. A whopping 60% to 80% of high school students say they have gambled for money in the last year, according to the International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviors.”

I remember hearing Chuck Swindoll say, “When testing comes, we get purified, but when prosperity comes, we get vulnerable.” It was on Christmas morning in 2002, Jack Whittaker of Mt Hope West Virginia woke up to perhaps the biggest gift imaginable. Whittaker had won the Powerball lottery jackpot, a whopping $315 million. It was a made-for-TV Christmas story, and Whittaker's hardworking family became celebrities overnight. Whittaker, his wife, Jewel, and granddaughter Brandi Bragg would become TV personalities. But as Whittaker celebrated, he had no way of knowing the coming tragedy and the loss of everything he held dear.

Whittaker gave away at least $50 million worth of houses, cars, and cash. Suddenly, the man who won a fortune at Christmas had become everybody's Santa Claus. Whittaker’s construction company he started had been doing $16-17 million in building, but less than a year after winning the lottery, the company’s success eroded under $3 million dollars in legal fees fending off over 400 lawsuits, because "everybody wants something for nothing." Whittaker began drinking heavily at the local bars to console himself and getting in fights over money. The luckiest man in West Virginia was friendless and lonely. It seemed as if everyone wanted a piece of his winnings except the one person Whittaker wanted to give it to – his granddaughter Brandi.

In time, Brandi started to use illegal drugs. Whittaker repeatedly tried to get her help and sent her to several treatment programs, but she couldn't stay clean. "She doesn't want to inherit the money; she just looks for her next drugs," Whittaker said. "She said, 'Pawpaw, all I care about is drugs.' It broke my heart." Almost two years after Whittaker hit the jackpot, Brandi disappeared. After a frantic two-week search, on Dec. 20, 2004, she was found dead, wrapped in a plastic sheet, dumped behind a junked van. The cause of death was listed as unknown. Whittaker believes that the Powerball win had become a curse upon his family. "My granddaughter is dead because of the money," he said.

In 2009, Brandi’s mother Ginger was found dead, too, in Daniels West Virginia, and added to these loses, Whittaker is being sued by Caesar’s Atlantic City casino for bouncing $1.5 million worth of checks to cover gambling losses. But you know,” said the West Virginia Powerball winner, I just don't like Jack Whittaker. I don't like the hard heart I've got. I don't like what I've become." Paul’s words to Timothy ring true for us today! “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” It’s just not worth taking a chance! 

 

 

 

Knowing what’s best!

Two taxidermists stopped before a window in which an owl was on display. They immediately began to criticize the way it was mounted. Its eyes were not natural; its wings were not in proportion with its head; its feathers were not neatly arranged; and its feet could be improved. When they had finished with their criticism, the old owl turned his head...and winked at them. It could just be that even the experts from time to time are wrong!

The world is filled with experts on just about any subject to which you would think to inquire today. Why, you only have to look to your smart phone to find more information in seconds than a half day trip to the public library 50 years ago! Leon Ho, Founder & CEO of Lifehack writes, “In this digital age, we’ve hit the jackpot with technology. We’re living in a time when information isn’t just available; it’s cascading around us, rapid and relentless. It’s the 21st century, and the knowledge of the world is literally at our fingertips. This explosion of information is a marvel, a testament to human curiosity and our unquenchable thirst for progress…

It’s like drinking from a fire hose — overwhelming and messy.” With all the experts and all the information available, we must be careful not to overlook the dangerous cultural landscape we have before us here in the good old USA! Washington Times columnist Robert Knight observed, “Marx’s Communist Manifesto co-author Friedrich Engels knew what he was doing when he called for abolishing families more than 150 years ago. Mom-and-dad, married families had to be eliminated so that mega-states could rise without hindrance from a strong, independent citizenry. Marx’s vision of totalitarian socialism came to awful fruition first in Russia’s Bolshevik revolution of 1917, which birthed the communist Soviet Union.”

Knight continues, “Then it blossomed in Hitler’s National Socialist Workers Party takeover of Germany in 1933, eight years after he published “Mein Kampf.” It conquered China in 1949. Americans once instinctively understood the threat posed by socialism… It took a lot to wear down America to get where we are: two world wars, a sexual revolution, disastrous wars in Asia, a swollen government and a corrupted mass media and educational establishment. The latter two combined to germinate the monster of “wokeness” that will destroy our children’s future if we let it.” We must not let it!

Benjamin Franklin wrote in a letter to his father in1738, “The scriptures assure me that at the last day we shall not be examined on what we thought but what we did." Remember, the Lord has entrusted to you and me with the stewardship of this very moment in history and there are millions yet unborn who are counting on us to do the right thing! The first and most important thing we can and must do is to pray!

In 1787 as the Constitutional convention seemed to grind to a halt it was the wisdom of the afore mentioned Benjamin Franklin who stood and said, “We indeed seem to feel our own want of political wisdom, some we have been running about in search of it. We have gone back to ancient history for models of Government, and examined the different forms of those Republics which having been formed with the seeds of their own dissolution now no longer exist. And we have viewed Modern States all round Europe, but find none of their Constitutions suitable to our circumstances. In this situation of this Assembly, groping as it were in the dark to find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when presented to us, how has it happened, Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understandings? In the beginning of the Contest with G. Britain, when we were sensible of danger we had daily prayer in this room for the divine protection. ”Our prayers, Sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of superintending providence in our favor… And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth- that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings, that "except the Lord build the House they labor in vain that build it." I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel: … And what is worse, mankind may hereafter from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing Governments be Human Wisdom and leave it to chance, war, and conquest.” For us who know what’s best, we must avoid the overload of information as Franklin admonished and stand firmly on the same timeless principles of God’s word! 

 

Nothing more than feelings

I remember well, the year was 1996 and I was a young pastor of a Nazarene church in southern Ohio when I heard Josh McDowell mention he saw as a potential danger. He began to recognize what he described as cultural tolerance. It is the basic idea that each person’s dignity and self-worth actually depends on everyone else endorsing their personal “truth,” that each person has the right to a moral code so subjective that no one else can judge it, regardless of its effect on themselves or society, and that those who “judge” it, must be shouted down and silenced.

Traditionally, tolerance values, respects, and accepts the views of others without necessarily approving of or participating in their beliefs or behaviors. It differentiates between what a person thinks or does and the person himself. This view of tolerance, however, is no longer the popular view. Instead, today's tolerance advocates that all truth claims are equally valid. Words like "diversity" and "multiculturalism" are often used interchangeably with the word "tolerance" in advocating this perspective.

C.S. Lewis wrote a great short book called The Abolition of Man that describes the destructive character of the new philosophic idea I have described. The book begins by criticizing an English schoolbook written for young children. The schoolbook recounts a well-known story about the poet Samuel Coleridge at a waterfall. Coleridge heard one tourist call the waterfall “pretty” and another call it “sublime,” and he sided with the second tourist—the view of the waterfall was sublime, he said, meaning majestic and of great spiritual worth. According to the author of the schoolbook, however, Coleridge’s judgment simply reflected his “feelings” about the waterfall, because truth is subjective. Taking this story as his starting point, Lewis goes on to show that if the idea that there is no objective truth becomes dominant, it will lead to an abolition of man. Because how is man different from the beasts if he lacks the divine spark—the ability of reason to make judgments about what is beautiful and what is not and about what is right and what is wrong?

Speaking of Josh McDowell, He writes, “cultural tolerance wants us to operate from our emotions and experiences, not God’s universal truth. The fallout of living according to how we feel? We become a society populated by self-obsessed people. One of the expressions I hate most: “What’s in it for me?”

Referring again to Josh McDowell, “I don’t know about you, but I want to live in a society that places a premium on mutual respect and care — simply because we’re all God’s children. We’ve learned that cultural tolerance professes to truly embrace tolerance and diversity but does not. If our society were really interested in everyone being “who they are,” cultural tolerance would respectfully honor Christianity as a lifestyle option. But as cultural tolerance is only interested in its viewpoint, it clearly displays its own intolerance.”

May we be reminded that Truth has always mattered to God. One of my favorite writers Oz Guinness states in his book A Time for Truth, “all truth is God’s truth and it’s true everywhere for everyone even if no one believes it!” So, speaking in an election year, truth is not subject to your vote or your opinion!

Once, when a stubborn disputer seemed unconvinced, Abraham Lincoln said, "Well, let's see how many legs has a cow?" "Four, of course," came the reply disgustedly. "That's right," agreed Lincoln. "Now suppose you call the cow's tail a leg; how many legs would the cow have?" "Why, five, of course," was the confident reply. "Now, that's where you're wrong," said Lincoln. "Calling a cow's tail a leg doesn't make it a leg!" 

Truth embraced and believed is one thing for it can change a life setting the one embracing truth free from the bondage of the past to enjoy all the blessings the creator has planned for them. However, truth acknowledged and ignored is another scenario altogether causing one to miss the greatest joy in this life and in the life to come. Truth is still truth whether inconvenient or not.

Jesus, facing the imminent death of the cross surrounded by his dear friends, wanted to give them something to remember as they faced the uncertainties of the days that lie ahead for them said in John 14, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye 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 unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” This is not about feelings; this is about truth!

 

 

First things First

Here in the United States of America and around the world the freedom of religion, speech and the press are among the most important components in the foundation of a free society. Amendment I of the Constitution states clearly, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” I have long since known and deeply appreciated this freedom in the land that I love. I am now more concerned than ever that these freedoms are in jeopardy.

My friend Dr. Everett Piper in the Washington Times last week writes, “Creatio ex nihilo is a Latin phrase used to describe a central theological point of Christianity. It’s an axiom that captures the first event of Genesis: “In the beginning, God created.” It says it is God and God alone who can take nothing and turn it into something. He’s the one who sets the field and draws the boundaries. He’s the one who puts the goals in place. He is responsible for the rules and the definitions. God establishes order. No matter what you’ve been told, there is a Creator, and it’s not you. Some things are what they are, and neither you nor I has any business or power to change or redefine them. Facts are facts, and that’s the end of it… Truth is true, and falsehood is false, and that IS the end of it.

Only one worldview acknowledges that truth is endowed by our Creator and is not the subject of a political consensus. Only one worldview understands that all our rights and freedoms, therefore, can never be taken away by a democracy or a demagogue. In the ontological world of Creation vs. chaos, some things simply are. The yard lines are down. The boundaries are set. The rule book is written. It can’t be manipulated into whatever you’d like it to be. Only the Creation worldview understands that denying established facts doesn’t change them.”

On June 20^th 1785 James Madison in his Memorial and Remonstrance against
Religious Assessments wrote, “the equal right of every citizen to the free exercise of his Religion according to the dictates of conscience is held by the same tenure with all our other rights. If we recur to its origin, it is equally the gift of nature; if we weigh its importance, it cannot be less dear to us; if we consult the “Declaration of those rights which pertain to the good people of Virginia, as the basis and foundation of Government,” What Madison suggested and what was embraced by not only the Virginia legislature, but our young nation as well, established a worldwide principle of religious freedom. A freedom with worldwide significance which is still understood and appreciated to this day.

Here in America, unlike other places in the world, our founding documents say that our rights come to us from God and not Government. We have them because of our creator, not our group. If rights because of your group are what you are interested in, you’ll need to move to another country to find those. The premise of our nation’s founding is clearly defined, “We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness….” If it is suggested that American’s rights are based on anything else, reject the premise and stand for truth.  

Jedidiah Morse, a historian of the American Revolution wrote, “To the kindly influence of Christianity, we owe that degree of civil freedom and political and social happiness which mankind now enjoys. All efforts made to destroy the foundations of our Holy Religion ultimately tend to the subversion also of our political freedom and happiness. In proportion as the genuine effects of Christianity are diminished in any nation… in the same proportion will the people of that nation recede from the blessings of genuine freedom… Whenever the pillars of Christianity shall be overthrown, our present republican forms of government and all the blessings which flow from them must fall with them.” 

President Ronald Reagan in his farewell address reminded America, “An informed patriotism is what we want. And are we doing a good enough job teaching our children what America is and what she represents in the long history of the world? ... We've got to do a better job of getting across that America is freedom... freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of enterprise. And freedom is special and rare. It's fragile; it needs protection. So, we've got to teach history based not on what's in fashion but what's important.” I can’t think of anything more important to the future of our beloved nation than freedom. If we fail to keep first things first in America, then nothing else may matter.

 

 

 

FEELINGS

In 1975 Morris Albert, a Brazilian singer, and one-hit wonder, popularized the song “Feelings.” Actress and performer Julie Andrews once stated that this song was too difficult to sing simply because it had no meaning behind it. I agree, and may I mention that the topic of “Feelings” is a big deal these days! The uniqueness of this moment in history is amplified by the current trend of thinking that feelings are all that matters. The problem is that stubborn and unwanted facts often get in the way of feelings. To complicate things further, feelings are now rising to the occasion of being perceived as more important that fact!

Tony Perkins observed, “Now, even Scrabble isn't safe. You can forget the triple word score on at least 236 "slurs" the North American players association is stripping from the group's lexicon. The goal, these gamers say, is to make the game “friendlier” for all types of people. Of course, no one has seen the official list of "potentially offensive" words -- leaving many to wonder if this new vocabulary is just W-O-K-E. George Orwell used to say that if you control the language, you control the people. And the fringe has certainly taken that advice to heart, putting a bullseye on phrases as pedestrian as "peanut gallery," "no can do" and the ever inflammatory "eenie meenie miney moe." But is it working? New polling says no. If anything, a growing number of Americans -- including an impressive number of prominent liberals -- think the cancel culture has worn out its welcome.” 

Mark Hemmingway said, “If you want to blame someone for this unrest, try academia. It's our colleges and universities who created this chaos by allowing certain Marxist theories to take hold of U.S. campuses. In the last 20 years, it's reached critical mass," he pointed out. So much so that "the point of education [is now] to rectify injustice and to create activists, not to impart knowledge. And I definitely think that that has taken hold among younger people that haven't really even, frankly, been that well educated on competing ideas regarding basic things like free speech or free enterprise. And that's a problem. They've been taught that [only] one set of ideas only is correct."

If I read the scriptures correctly, Eve had a feeling! The problem was, she was operating on fake news! In the book of Genesis, we find that after some persuasion she felt that she could follow those feelings and do what she liked. The problem was that God had the facts and regardless of how strongly she felt it would be a good thing to follow her feelings however the outcome was inevitable. Disobedience to God’s will and design for His creation always brings a separation from the creator himself.  Paul McHugh, MD, University Distinguished Service Professor of Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins Medical School writes, “In a way, it’s reminiscent of the Hans Christian Andersen tale, The Emperor’s New Clothes. In that tale, the Emperor, believing that he wore an outfit of special beauty imperceptible to the rude or uncultured, paraded naked through his town to the huzzahs of courtiers and citizens anxious about their reputations... He continues, I am ever trying to be the boy among the bystanders who points to what’s real.”

There is an even more important aspect of this discussion worth noting concerning feelings and fact. The fact is that no one loves and cares more for each human being more than the one who lovingly created each man, woman, boy, and girl! Listen to the Message paraphrase… “God spoke: “Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature so they can be responsible for the fish in the sea, the birds in the air, the cattle, And, yes, Earth itself, and every animal that moves on the face of Earth.” God created human beings; he created them godlike, Reflecting God’s nature. He created them male and female. God blessed them: “Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Earth! Take charge! Be responsible for fish in the sea and birds in the air, for every living thing that moves on the face of Earth.”

You see, God made us each distinct, and recognizably different from each other. There is no one else just like you. Think of that! God created you and he did so with a perfect plan in mind. You and I were not a knee jerk reaction but were intelligently designed to experience a divine plan that God himself has set in motion. Any deviation from His design can only bring sadness and discouragement. Finally, God made us with a purpose in mind. Not only a plan he wants us to experience but also a real purpose for living that goes beyond our feelings and our desires but to realize a life our creator has wished for us to experience! The prophet Jeremiah described it this way… “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” And that my friend is more than a feeling… It’s a fact!