I'm a man of strong opinions. I wouldn't necessarily call myself "opinionated" in the sense of it being a bad thing, but I do have my opinions, which are deeply held and due to my diligence in seeking information, I believe I can change my opinions, when needed. I am also a man of strong convictions, insofar as I am unwilling to compromise my beliefs or opinions based upon the beliefs and opinions of others, solely to "fit in", as it were.
I dislike receiving political eMails from my friends, and absolutely loathe receiving them from special interest groups. I am capable of, and frequently exercise that capability, finding out the information I need to know about a candidate or an issue. Some of my friends have described me as fiscally conservative and socially moderate. Others consider me extremely conservative or extremely liberal. I do have a few opinions and beliefs that are what most people call liberal, in as much as they have to find a label to put on me.
I do not suffer those who allow the talking heads to shape their opinions or stands on the issues or candidates lightly. I believe far too many good men and women died to ensure the right of every individual in this great Republic of ours to enjoy the freedoms, privileges and responsibilities that come along with citizenship in The United States of America. I firmly believe each and every man and woman in this nation who is 18 years or older has the obligation to be politically active by researching the issues and candidates and fulfilling the responsibility to vote.
What I find most loathsome, however, is the way the political parties throw mud at the other party and the politicians in the other party. I find it abhorrent that the Republican party claims itself as the party of the Christian, yet they spew hatred, arrogance and poison on the people of this nation and spout lies regarding the members of the Democratic party. Yes, I do find the same actions on the parts of the Democrats to be vile, but the Democrats do not proclaim themselves to be the "Christian Party"! There are always things to dislike when it comes to the positions of politicians. That does not excuse, however, the bending of the truth of someone's affiliations, beliefs or political views, much less the outright lies that they tell about one another.
The worst part of it is, that we, as Christians, not only overlook these things, we support and even perpetuate them. I find that situation to be almost intolerable. We are to be the light of Christ unto the world yet we are using the tactics of the enemy while convincing ourselves that this is somehow "okay" with God. I'm afraid for many Christians when they stand before Christ on judgment day and have to face up to this standard they've borne.
I pray for the leaders of this nation, daily. The ones I agree with and most especially for the ones I disagree with. I pray for God's hand to guide them to the right decisions for this nation and His mercy upon them when they perform contrary to His will. And I pray for those who allow themselves to be led like lambs to the slaughter based solely upon political party membership. We are called to be separated from this world, for this world is not our home. We are, however, called to be responsible and good stewards of what we have been given in this life, and that includes those of us who were fortunate and blessed enough to be born as citizens of this great nation. But, we are not to become bogged down in the strife that is the political spectrum of this country. We are commanded by God to pray for, and to obey, our elected leaders, for they are in their offices by the grace and appointment of God; even the ones we disagree with. After all, how would we know the good ones without having the bad ones to compare them to?
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Embarking on God's Call
I've suffered horrendous, debilitating, intractable, insipid pain for the past 23½ years. God did deliver me from the pain for several months, earlier this year but it returned after they removed the hardware from my lumbar spine back in April during emergency surgery due to infection. Last week's appointment with the surgeon revealed the broken L4 vertebrae has begun slipping, which is causing even more pain. For many years I allowed myself to be deceived into thinking that I deserved this pain, and the complications that come with it. Thanks to my friend, Becky Fender, I came to realize that it was not deserved nor is it God's will for me to live in chronic, persistent pain from the base of my skull to my toes and all parts in between.
Over the years I've had good-intentioned Christians tell me that I just don't have enough faith, or there's some sin in my life I haven't repented for that causes this pain and the lack of healing. The truth is, I have lots of faith for a divine touch and miraculous healing. I've experienced miraculous healings in other areas of my body and life; as for the unrepentant sin, I can only laugh when someone says something like that.
Due to my inability to work, I spend most waking hours either on the computer or watching TV. This year has been especially egregious when it comes to not being able to do anything. Without the hardware to support the lumbar spine, pressure increases on the nerves, 2 of which have a condition called Arachnoiditis. That's where the chronic pain comes from. Also have 2 instances of the condition in the cervical spine (neck).
Now, having said all that, I do believe that God works ALL things for good for those of us who love Him! I don't know how He will make this into good, but His will and plan for me only includes good. Over the past few years I've been able to help others who are just beginning the long road that is chronic, insipid pain. One was a little old lady in her twilight years who had developed chronic pain and was considering having a pain pump implanted. My doctors asked me if I would consider speaking with her because she was terribly frightened. I do think I helped her, and I pray she's finding some relief from her pain.
The one thing I know for sure about this pain is that it's intent is to keep me from doing what God has called me to: music. Music for His glory, for exhorting my fellow Christians and even to teach through song. Despite basically being confined from doing anything, I can still write, and I have. I've written some amazing lyrics over the past few months, and I know beyond any doubt that those words came directly from the Throne: I was merely the vessel God used to bring them into creation.
So, I ask for your prayers for healing, for anointing, for doors opening. I know God can, and will, make a way!
Over the years I've had good-intentioned Christians tell me that I just don't have enough faith, or there's some sin in my life I haven't repented for that causes this pain and the lack of healing. The truth is, I have lots of faith for a divine touch and miraculous healing. I've experienced miraculous healings in other areas of my body and life; as for the unrepentant sin, I can only laugh when someone says something like that.
Due to my inability to work, I spend most waking hours either on the computer or watching TV. This year has been especially egregious when it comes to not being able to do anything. Without the hardware to support the lumbar spine, pressure increases on the nerves, 2 of which have a condition called Arachnoiditis. That's where the chronic pain comes from. Also have 2 instances of the condition in the cervical spine (neck).
Now, having said all that, I do believe that God works ALL things for good for those of us who love Him! I don't know how He will make this into good, but His will and plan for me only includes good. Over the past few years I've been able to help others who are just beginning the long road that is chronic, insipid pain. One was a little old lady in her twilight years who had developed chronic pain and was considering having a pain pump implanted. My doctors asked me if I would consider speaking with her because she was terribly frightened. I do think I helped her, and I pray she's finding some relief from her pain.
The one thing I know for sure about this pain is that it's intent is to keep me from doing what God has called me to: music. Music for His glory, for exhorting my fellow Christians and even to teach through song. Despite basically being confined from doing anything, I can still write, and I have. I've written some amazing lyrics over the past few months, and I know beyond any doubt that those words came directly from the Throne: I was merely the vessel God used to bring them into creation.
So, I ask for your prayers for healing, for anointing, for doors opening. I know God can, and will, make a way!
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Texas Governor's Call For Day of Prayer - 6 August 2010
I applaud Texas Governor Rick Perry for calling on all 50 governors of the United States to gather in Houston on 6 August for a day of prayer "seeking God's guidance to deal with the problems facing our nation, to invite the presence, power and person of Christ to fill our nation and turn the hearts of millions to righteousness, peace and joy in Him, to see real change across our nation that only God can perform."
I hope they'll also pray that God will instill in each and every person, Christians especially, a sense of love for our neighbors; the brotherly love that Christ commanded us to have. The kind of love that "suffers long and is kind; that does not envy; does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love that never fails", like that Paul wrote about in 1 Corinthians.
Paul wrote: "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing." Too many of our politicians, leaders, and yes, even too many pastors, preachers, teachers and members of the Church are nothing more than sounding brass, clanging cymbals!
Love for one another is one of the most imminent things Christ taught, and commanded. Love was the basis of what God did when He sent His Son to live, and to die, for us. John 3:16 starts out with, "For God so LOVED the world". Without love, we would have no hope, no future, no chance. And God not only demonstrated love, and commanded us to love, He DEMANDS that we love. The Bible uses the term "neighbor" or "brother" in telling us whom to love, and those words are subsequently defined as "every man, woman and child" on the planet. He even went so far as to tell us that to love those who love us is not enough, because even the sinner does so. He explained that loving those who don't love us, or those who hate us, is the true love He wants us to have.
And loving someone means you don't try to harm them; you don't try to limit their rights and freedoms; you don't try to exclude them or deny them. In fact, loving them means you diligently work to make certain they have all the advantages, all the rights and freedoms that you, yourself, may not enjoy. Think of the way you love your child, your parent, your siblings: would you do anything to harm them? Deny them? Exclude them? NO!
Too often we Christians think in the terms of the worldly concept of "tough love"; that's not Christ's love. That concept is a way to justify not doing everything you can for the person you claim to love. It's a way to appease yourself by claiming you love them, but doing something that hurts them or excludes them. When you love someone with everything you have, you forgive them their mistakes, you forgive them when they do something that hurts you. And when we forgive the way Christ tells us to, we FORGET the offense we're forgiving. The idea that we can forgive and not forget is ludicrous. What if God practiced that type of forgiveness? What if God practiced the type of love that we profess to have? Who among us would have any hope?
I pray this day of prayer will bring about the goals that have been stated, but I also pray that it brings about a new sense of love and forgiveness and acceptance among the church. That we become the type of lovers that God is. That we become willing to love, forgive, forget and embrace our fellow man the way Christ loved, forgave, forgot and embraced us on the day He hung on that cross to deliver us and provide us the means to a relationship with the almighty God who created Heaven and Earth for OUR benefit and use.
I pray each and every person in this world will not only experience this type of love, but will practice it. If that happened, all wars would cease, all strife would end and joy would finally be a global experience.
I hope they'll also pray that God will instill in each and every person, Christians especially, a sense of love for our neighbors; the brotherly love that Christ commanded us to have. The kind of love that "suffers long and is kind; that does not envy; does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love that never fails", like that Paul wrote about in 1 Corinthians.
Paul wrote: "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing." Too many of our politicians, leaders, and yes, even too many pastors, preachers, teachers and members of the Church are nothing more than sounding brass, clanging cymbals!
Love for one another is one of the most imminent things Christ taught, and commanded. Love was the basis of what God did when He sent His Son to live, and to die, for us. John 3:16 starts out with, "For God so LOVED the world". Without love, we would have no hope, no future, no chance. And God not only demonstrated love, and commanded us to love, He DEMANDS that we love. The Bible uses the term "neighbor" or "brother" in telling us whom to love, and those words are subsequently defined as "every man, woman and child" on the planet. He even went so far as to tell us that to love those who love us is not enough, because even the sinner does so. He explained that loving those who don't love us, or those who hate us, is the true love He wants us to have.
And loving someone means you don't try to harm them; you don't try to limit their rights and freedoms; you don't try to exclude them or deny them. In fact, loving them means you diligently work to make certain they have all the advantages, all the rights and freedoms that you, yourself, may not enjoy. Think of the way you love your child, your parent, your siblings: would you do anything to harm them? Deny them? Exclude them? NO!
Too often we Christians think in the terms of the worldly concept of "tough love"; that's not Christ's love. That concept is a way to justify not doing everything you can for the person you claim to love. It's a way to appease yourself by claiming you love them, but doing something that hurts them or excludes them. When you love someone with everything you have, you forgive them their mistakes, you forgive them when they do something that hurts you. And when we forgive the way Christ tells us to, we FORGET the offense we're forgiving. The idea that we can forgive and not forget is ludicrous. What if God practiced that type of forgiveness? What if God practiced the type of love that we profess to have? Who among us would have any hope?
I pray this day of prayer will bring about the goals that have been stated, but I also pray that it brings about a new sense of love and forgiveness and acceptance among the church. That we become the type of lovers that God is. That we become willing to love, forgive, forget and embrace our fellow man the way Christ loved, forgave, forgot and embraced us on the day He hung on that cross to deliver us and provide us the means to a relationship with the almighty God who created Heaven and Earth for OUR benefit and use.
I pray each and every person in this world will not only experience this type of love, but will practice it. If that happened, all wars would cease, all strife would end and joy would finally be a global experience.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Child Abuse is No Excuse for a Life Wasted
I am a survivor of childhood abuse. Though there were intermittent episodes before the age of 13, the real, constant and violent abuse began after my step-mother left my dad for the final time just one month after my 13th birthday. With his long-time punching bag gone, I became the designated heir of his violence, anger, hatred and beatings. I can remember the first one so vividly, it could have happened yesterday afternoon. We were at his girlfriend's home and while they were in the living room watching TV, I was in her daughter's bedroom playing cards. Suddenly I heard his angry voice calling me to get in the living room; the timbre of his voice, and the venom that permeated it, were foreign to me, at that time. Despite knowing he was angry, I walked down the hall without fear because I had never experienced what was about to unfold, although I'd witnessed similar violence as he beat his former wife.
When I got to the living room, his girlfriend was sitting on his lap in the recliner. He asked me if I had told his girlfriend that he had beat my step-mother and I answered yes, because I had told her that and he had beaten his wife. Then he asked me why I had told her that, and I answered that I told her because it was true. He stood up so suddenly, his girlfriend wound up sprawled across the floor, and he struck me so hard with the back of his fist I flew across the room and landed in the hallway. I don't know how long he pummeled me with his fists or kicked me with his cowboy boots, but I do recall his girlfriend, her daughter and oldest son were all trying to get him to stop, even trying to grab his arms to keep him from striking me. All I could think, after it was done, was that he had just proven that what I had said was true, despite his protestations that it wasn't.
I tell this story to make this point: I suffered physical, emotional, mental and spiritual abuse at the hands of my father for many years. My father had two modes of dealing with me: beating me or neglecting me; there was no in-between. I was shuttled back and forth between his sister, his parents, his girlfriend and a broken down motel on Bossier City's infamous strip for almost 5 years. Yet, despite all of that, I did not grow into a monster, myself; I don't kill people, I don't steal or cheat. I still suffer consequences of those years, but the fact is, I am responsible for my own actions and behaviors. When I do something wrong, it's not because I was abused, it's because I chose to walk a path that led me to a place where I did not measure up to society's standards, or I missed the mark to achieve complete acceptability of my behavior.
Too many people have stood in courts in this country and claimed they are murderers, rapists, thieves, etc., because they were abused as children. Hogwash! They are those various types of criminal because they chose to be and their offering up the excuse of abuse is merely their attempts to minimize their culpability and any punishment they may face. You see, I have the choice to live my life reacting to what I endured as a child, or to live my life acting under the guidelines and rules that govern decent, civilized people. No memories of my abuse could ever justify perpetuating behaviors which bring harm to others.
I will say that my attitudes and behaviors are still influenced to some degree by what I went through as a child, but I make the choice on whether to behave poorly or with character, to obey the laws of the land or rampage my way through life trampling on the rights, hearts and feelings of others. It is my decision, and my responsibility alone. I pray, frequently, for God to remind me where I came from, to help me live my life in the here and now and to prepare, today, for what will come to me tomorrow. The biggest hurdle I have faced in my life was to let go of the bitterness, anger and hurt of my youth; but I realized that those feelings were mine to embrace or to let go of. No one could make me live my life with them, and no one could take them away from me; it was my choice on what to do with, and about, them.
Yes, childhood abuse has a lasting effect on its victims. The entirety of their lives will be shadowed by those events, but that doesn't mean they have to live their lives as victims forever. Each individual has to make the choice whether to live with it or live by it. I chose to live with it: using it as a catalyst to make me more compassionate, more helpful, more sensitive to those around me and to spur me on to do good in this world.
I had some great, loving people in my life who showed me the other side. They lived their lives in ways that gave me an insight into how to live a positive, upstanding and productive life. For them, I am eternally grateful. And I pray God will continue to guide me into His light and His righteousness. He has never once forsaken me or failed to meet my need. And He has helped me overcome the disadvantages of my youth in order to be the man I am today who continues to seek the good and the right, so that I can make positive difference in another person's life. And maybe, just maybe, to be one step closer to the man that He wants me to be.
When I got to the living room, his girlfriend was sitting on his lap in the recliner. He asked me if I had told his girlfriend that he had beat my step-mother and I answered yes, because I had told her that and he had beaten his wife. Then he asked me why I had told her that, and I answered that I told her because it was true. He stood up so suddenly, his girlfriend wound up sprawled across the floor, and he struck me so hard with the back of his fist I flew across the room and landed in the hallway. I don't know how long he pummeled me with his fists or kicked me with his cowboy boots, but I do recall his girlfriend, her daughter and oldest son were all trying to get him to stop, even trying to grab his arms to keep him from striking me. All I could think, after it was done, was that he had just proven that what I had said was true, despite his protestations that it wasn't.
I tell this story to make this point: I suffered physical, emotional, mental and spiritual abuse at the hands of my father for many years. My father had two modes of dealing with me: beating me or neglecting me; there was no in-between. I was shuttled back and forth between his sister, his parents, his girlfriend and a broken down motel on Bossier City's infamous strip for almost 5 years. Yet, despite all of that, I did not grow into a monster, myself; I don't kill people, I don't steal or cheat. I still suffer consequences of those years, but the fact is, I am responsible for my own actions and behaviors. When I do something wrong, it's not because I was abused, it's because I chose to walk a path that led me to a place where I did not measure up to society's standards, or I missed the mark to achieve complete acceptability of my behavior.
Too many people have stood in courts in this country and claimed they are murderers, rapists, thieves, etc., because they were abused as children. Hogwash! They are those various types of criminal because they chose to be and their offering up the excuse of abuse is merely their attempts to minimize their culpability and any punishment they may face. You see, I have the choice to live my life reacting to what I endured as a child, or to live my life acting under the guidelines and rules that govern decent, civilized people. No memories of my abuse could ever justify perpetuating behaviors which bring harm to others.
I will say that my attitudes and behaviors are still influenced to some degree by what I went through as a child, but I make the choice on whether to behave poorly or with character, to obey the laws of the land or rampage my way through life trampling on the rights, hearts and feelings of others. It is my decision, and my responsibility alone. I pray, frequently, for God to remind me where I came from, to help me live my life in the here and now and to prepare, today, for what will come to me tomorrow. The biggest hurdle I have faced in my life was to let go of the bitterness, anger and hurt of my youth; but I realized that those feelings were mine to embrace or to let go of. No one could make me live my life with them, and no one could take them away from me; it was my choice on what to do with, and about, them.
Yes, childhood abuse has a lasting effect on its victims. The entirety of their lives will be shadowed by those events, but that doesn't mean they have to live their lives as victims forever. Each individual has to make the choice whether to live with it or live by it. I chose to live with it: using it as a catalyst to make me more compassionate, more helpful, more sensitive to those around me and to spur me on to do good in this world.
I had some great, loving people in my life who showed me the other side. They lived their lives in ways that gave me an insight into how to live a positive, upstanding and productive life. For them, I am eternally grateful. And I pray God will continue to guide me into His light and His righteousness. He has never once forsaken me or failed to meet my need. And He has helped me overcome the disadvantages of my youth in order to be the man I am today who continues to seek the good and the right, so that I can make positive difference in another person's life. And maybe, just maybe, to be one step closer to the man that He wants me to be.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
The Blame Game
I'm so sick of "the blame game" that has become ubiquitous in this world. Politicians blame the other party; Congress blames the President; the President blames the Congress; corporations blame the government; the government blames the taxpayers; everyone blames everyone else -- no one is willing to step up and admit that we are all responsible for the situations we find ourselves in, as a nation.
As voters, each and every one of us is responsible for the government we have, and the decisions they make. We put them in office, and we've left them in office, so whatever they've created or destroyed in this country is our responsibility. Don't like the direction the country is going? Vote those who have been in office for the past umpteen hundred years out and put someone in who has fresh ideas. Didn't vote? Then you have no right to complain!!
And let's all remember there are some things our government and its leaders have no control over. Everyone is hating the price of gasoline right now; trust me, I hate it BIG TIME. When it takes more than 15% of my monthly income to fill my tank, it HURTS! But, I also know that the President and the Congress don't have any control over the price of gasoline or the price of oil. Yes, they can influence the price of oil a little bit by releasing more of the fuel that is held in reserve, but for the most part the price of oil, and hence the price of gasoline, is out of their jurisdiction. So is the cost of groceries. Inflation, on the other hand, is something the politicians can influence.
We've become a society that doesn't take responsibility for our own actions and sues every one and every firm at the drop of a hat. I read just yesterday that Spanish farmers are suing Germany because of comments made by German officials about the source of this new, deadly strain of E.coli, which they traced back to vegetables coming from a particular region of Spain. Because of that announcement, the sales of vegetables dropped significantly, so the farmers are now suing. Reminds me of when beef ranchers sued Oprah because she said something along the lines of she wouldn't eat a hamburger during the mad cow disease epidemic a few years back.
One of the tenets of my faith says that I have to admit my sins and errors and ask forgiveness for them. Nowhere does it say I should find someone else to blame for my shortcomings and mistakes. But, Jesus also teaches that we are to love everyone as He loves us. Well, love does no harm to others, either by suing or blaming them for my mistakes. Sort of makes sense, then, if I love everyone, I will take responsibility for my actions, instead of blaming someone else for them, and I will try to do better in the future to not make those mistakes, again, or similar ones.
It's time we grow up as a people and stop expecting others to shoulder our responsibility; and stop allowing politicians to blame everyone but themselves for the mess our political arena is in, today. Let's hold them each accountable for their own misdeeds, and give them the credit when they deserve it.
As voters, each and every one of us is responsible for the government we have, and the decisions they make. We put them in office, and we've left them in office, so whatever they've created or destroyed in this country is our responsibility. Don't like the direction the country is going? Vote those who have been in office for the past umpteen hundred years out and put someone in who has fresh ideas. Didn't vote? Then you have no right to complain!!
And let's all remember there are some things our government and its leaders have no control over. Everyone is hating the price of gasoline right now; trust me, I hate it BIG TIME. When it takes more than 15% of my monthly income to fill my tank, it HURTS! But, I also know that the President and the Congress don't have any control over the price of gasoline or the price of oil. Yes, they can influence the price of oil a little bit by releasing more of the fuel that is held in reserve, but for the most part the price of oil, and hence the price of gasoline, is out of their jurisdiction. So is the cost of groceries. Inflation, on the other hand, is something the politicians can influence.
We've become a society that doesn't take responsibility for our own actions and sues every one and every firm at the drop of a hat. I read just yesterday that Spanish farmers are suing Germany because of comments made by German officials about the source of this new, deadly strain of E.coli, which they traced back to vegetables coming from a particular region of Spain. Because of that announcement, the sales of vegetables dropped significantly, so the farmers are now suing. Reminds me of when beef ranchers sued Oprah because she said something along the lines of she wouldn't eat a hamburger during the mad cow disease epidemic a few years back.
One of the tenets of my faith says that I have to admit my sins and errors and ask forgiveness for them. Nowhere does it say I should find someone else to blame for my shortcomings and mistakes. But, Jesus also teaches that we are to love everyone as He loves us. Well, love does no harm to others, either by suing or blaming them for my mistakes. Sort of makes sense, then, if I love everyone, I will take responsibility for my actions, instead of blaming someone else for them, and I will try to do better in the future to not make those mistakes, again, or similar ones.
It's time we grow up as a people and stop expecting others to shoulder our responsibility; and stop allowing politicians to blame everyone but themselves for the mess our political arena is in, today. Let's hold them each accountable for their own misdeeds, and give them the credit when they deserve it.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Sowing Discord and Tension By Political Parties and Others
I have long lamented the fact that no one heeded the calls, and warning, of our first President, George Washington, in his farewell speech at the end of his term. During his Presidency, Washington and the other framers of the Constitution and of the Republic, itself, often warned of the dangers of political parties. In the 1790's most Americans remained convinced that political parties were a detriment to good government. The founding fathers had neither desired nor planned for the rise of political parties. James Madison argued that one of the strongest points of our Constitution was that it would prevent the development of political parties. Most Americans assumed that should political parties come into power they would act strictly on selfish goals at the expense of the American people. Sound familiar?
George Washington pleaded for political neutrality. In his address, he stated, "The alternative domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid anormities, is itself a frightful despotism. Sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purpose of his own elevation, on the ruins of public liberty."
I love the final paragraph, which turned out to be prophetic: "It serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration. It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms, kindle the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and insurrection." His warning and description in his words is a perfect description of our country today, because of political parties. But, he was more direct in earlier comments.
"I have already intimated to you the dangers of parties in the State. Let me now take a more comprehensive view, and warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party generally.
"This spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable from our nature, having its root in the strongest passions of the human mind. It exists under different shapes in all governments, more or less stifled, controlled or repressed; but, in those of the popular form, it is seen in its greatest rankness, and is truly their worst enemy."
I find it disturbing that so many Christians are speaking such hatred and malice in their calls for the political arena. The Bible says we fight our battles on our knees, and our fight is against principalities and powers of darkness, not against other human beings; even doing so in the name of concern for our country, when we speak hate and bitterness and animosity toward others because of their political beliefs, we are falling far short of the standard we are supposed to bear.
I love my country, and I want to see it prosper and to be a place where every person on the planet can point as an example; however, my heart is not in America, it's in God's Kingdom. I long for the day when we shall be swept up into His heaven, but until then, I will work to see that America is the best she can be by loving and encouraging my brothers and sisters, as well as those whose political agenda may be different from my own. After all, as my Mammaw used to say, "you draw more flies with honey than you do with vinegar."
George Washington pleaded for political neutrality. In his address, he stated, "The alternative domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid anormities, is itself a frightful despotism. Sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purpose of his own elevation, on the ruins of public liberty."
I love the final paragraph, which turned out to be prophetic: "It serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration. It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms, kindle the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and insurrection." His warning and description in his words is a perfect description of our country today, because of political parties. But, he was more direct in earlier comments.
"I have already intimated to you the dangers of parties in the State. Let me now take a more comprehensive view, and warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party generally.
"This spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable from our nature, having its root in the strongest passions of the human mind. It exists under different shapes in all governments, more or less stifled, controlled or repressed; but, in those of the popular form, it is seen in its greatest rankness, and is truly their worst enemy."
I find it disturbing that so many Christians are speaking such hatred and malice in their calls for the political arena. The Bible says we fight our battles on our knees, and our fight is against principalities and powers of darkness, not against other human beings; even doing so in the name of concern for our country, when we speak hate and bitterness and animosity toward others because of their political beliefs, we are falling far short of the standard we are supposed to bear.
I love my country, and I want to see it prosper and to be a place where every person on the planet can point as an example; however, my heart is not in America, it's in God's Kingdom. I long for the day when we shall be swept up into His heaven, but until then, I will work to see that America is the best she can be by loving and encouraging my brothers and sisters, as well as those whose political agenda may be different from my own. After all, as my Mammaw used to say, "you draw more flies with honey than you do with vinegar."
Monday, May 23, 2011
The Rapture and False Teachers
Once again the world was captivated by the supposed prophecy of a false teacher who claimed he knew the exact day and hour the rapture would happen. The prediction was that the rapture would begin at 6 pm local time in New Zealand and "roll" across the planet so that each time zone would see the return of our Lord at 6 pm local times. Despite his claims, this false teacher ignored several scriptures that warned us to not follow after those who try to make this claims and Jesus' clearly stated instruction that only God, the Father, knows the day and hour in which the trumpet will sound and the eastern sky ripped open so that Jesus can claim His Bride!
It greatly saddens me that in the last few months people sold everything they owned and gave this man more than $200 Million. He has become mega-wealthy in earthly treasure by preying on the hopes and longings of Christians who are eager to take that trip to Paradise. I'm sure if it grieved me so greatly, it had to have ripped the heart of Christ! Especially considering He gave us such clear warning to beware of these false prophets.
And now all those who bought in have to completely start over because they literally sold or gave everything they had away. And they face ridicule, or worse, they'll face condemnation, from friends and loved ones who may turn away from The Truth because of this latest fiasco brought on by this man. We must unite in prayer for these people, and we must show compassion and love to them. We must also be diligent to live our lives in such a way that non-believers will not be seduced by the enemy over this episode.
I did find it ironic that this prediction was dated for the very week that Israel celebrated it's 63rd Anniversary of being reborn as a nation. An anniversary of great Biblical significance: in the prophecy of Daniel, Gabriel told Daniel there were 2 periods of time that would precede the 1,000 year reign; the first was for 63 "weeks" and the second for seven. We know the seven refers to the seven years of tribulation and that is timed to begin after the 63 "weeks" following Israel's rebirth.
We must always be ready for Christ's return, just as He taught in the parable of the virgins: half kept their lamps filled with oil while the other half allowed the oil in their lamps to run dry. Only those who had kept the oil filled in their lamps were taken by the bridegroom, leaving those without oil alone and lost. We must keep our lamps shining, trimmed and filled. Let the light of Christ shine through us, through our lives, so that those who are lost will find their way to the cross and Christ's love and redemption.
Over the next few weeks, you will likely meet someone who was deceived by this false prophecy, and I pray that you will deal with them compassionately and in love. They are hurting, and many are disillusioned as a result of this. They need to be grounded in the Word and have the truth revealed to them, not only by Holy Spirit but by us, as well. Loving them, consoling them, teaching them, guiding them into the revelation of God's truth, love and salvation.
I pray each and every Christian on this planet will be blessed above and beyond all their imaginations can dream of. I know I am! Even if God never gave me another blessing, I've received so much from Him, through Him and by Him that my life is completely transformed and changed. I long for the day when I will meet Him face to face, but until that day arrives, I will continue to walk in His truth, in His will and abide in His Spirit.
Peace and love to you all.
It greatly saddens me that in the last few months people sold everything they owned and gave this man more than $200 Million. He has become mega-wealthy in earthly treasure by preying on the hopes and longings of Christians who are eager to take that trip to Paradise. I'm sure if it grieved me so greatly, it had to have ripped the heart of Christ! Especially considering He gave us such clear warning to beware of these false prophets.
And now all those who bought in have to completely start over because they literally sold or gave everything they had away. And they face ridicule, or worse, they'll face condemnation, from friends and loved ones who may turn away from The Truth because of this latest fiasco brought on by this man. We must unite in prayer for these people, and we must show compassion and love to them. We must also be diligent to live our lives in such a way that non-believers will not be seduced by the enemy over this episode.
I did find it ironic that this prediction was dated for the very week that Israel celebrated it's 63rd Anniversary of being reborn as a nation. An anniversary of great Biblical significance: in the prophecy of Daniel, Gabriel told Daniel there were 2 periods of time that would precede the 1,000 year reign; the first was for 63 "weeks" and the second for seven. We know the seven refers to the seven years of tribulation and that is timed to begin after the 63 "weeks" following Israel's rebirth.
We must always be ready for Christ's return, just as He taught in the parable of the virgins: half kept their lamps filled with oil while the other half allowed the oil in their lamps to run dry. Only those who had kept the oil filled in their lamps were taken by the bridegroom, leaving those without oil alone and lost. We must keep our lamps shining, trimmed and filled. Let the light of Christ shine through us, through our lives, so that those who are lost will find their way to the cross and Christ's love and redemption.
Over the next few weeks, you will likely meet someone who was deceived by this false prophecy, and I pray that you will deal with them compassionately and in love. They are hurting, and many are disillusioned as a result of this. They need to be grounded in the Word and have the truth revealed to them, not only by Holy Spirit but by us, as well. Loving them, consoling them, teaching them, guiding them into the revelation of God's truth, love and salvation.
I pray each and every Christian on this planet will be blessed above and beyond all their imaginations can dream of. I know I am! Even if God never gave me another blessing, I've received so much from Him, through Him and by Him that my life is completely transformed and changed. I long for the day when I will meet Him face to face, but until that day arrives, I will continue to walk in His truth, in His will and abide in His Spirit.
Peace and love to you all.
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