Freedom of Religion?

 In this country we have freedom of religion. Unfortunately, once you proclaim religion, you lose your freedoms! It seems that people think Christians shouldn't meddle in politics. And what right does a Christian have in big business? Shouldn't Christians spend all their time in church talking about Heaven and God and "spiritual" stuff like that?! Politics should be left up to "worldly" people who are too smart to fall for all those religious fairy tales. And business, well.... aren't Christians supposed to be poor and sad? Isn't their reward in Heaven? Well then, leave all the gold and silver and those nasty greenbacks to us sinners! And what do they think they're doing nosing around in public education? They should worry about Sunday School and let us take care of "real" education!
The "separation of church and state" has become "separate all the church-goers from state matters and keep those Christians noses out of public affairs"! Why does my becoming a Christian mean I must stop being an American? And why are all other "religions" tolerated (even esteemed) while Christianity is mocked and hated?
I am an American AND a Christian! I will be heard! I will exercise my rights and fight for my freedoms until the day I die! I don't ask for favoritism, but I will not accept second-class citizenship! I will vote my faith and my morals! I will speak up for absolute truth and moral responsibility! I will stand in the gap for the weak and defenseless! I will not be forced into "political correctness; I will call sin SIN! Get used to it!

No Sense

Ever heard the old adage about someone "cutting off his nose to spite his face"? I've always liked that one! It's talking about someone who insists on doing something which, in the end, only hurts himself. Not very bright, huh?
That's the saying I think of when the liberals and atheists start talking about Christians and how the world would be better off without those "religious zealots". They mock and make fun of Jesus and the Ten Commandments and the Bible and morality and personal resposibility and pretty much everything Christians stand for.
But what would the world be like without Christians? It would be everyone doing whatever they pleased with no one to warn them or speak up for truth. The Bible talks about a time when "everyone did what was pleasing in their own eyes" and I suspect that's what would happen again. No truth, no right and wrong, no morals, no laws.... just everyone doing whatever they think is right, whatever pleases them. How long would society last?
Christians are the light of the world because they stand upon and stand up for the word of God. When the Christians are gone, evil will quickly prevail, having no one to hold it back. The world would do away with Christians and Christianity (and God for that matter) and destroy themselves in the doing. Cutting off one's nose in spite of one's face makes no sense.

High Places?

Ephesians chapter 6 talks about " spiritual wickedness in high places". Now, I know that chapter is concerned with the evil forces at work in heavenly realms, but doesn't that phrase seem awfully relevant to what's going on politically these days? Spiritual wickedness in high places; Sounds like our current political scene to me! Let's see... we have adultery, voter fraud, alcohol and drug abuse, rape, sexual harassment and abuse, racketeering, theft of public funds and misappropriation of public funds not to mention a total disregard for their constituency and the greater good of our country. Sounds like spiritual wickedness in high places to me!
It is a morality problem. It is a selfishness problem. It is a character problem. It is a heart problem.  It is an outward manifestation of an inward flaw. It is a spiritual thing. We keep waiting for "things" to change, but "things" only change when people change! People only truly change when God changes them. When God gives them a "heart" transplant, when He removes their old, selfish, evil heart and gives them a heart of compassion and mercy, people are changed and those people then make "things" change!
The Bible tells us to pray for those in authority so that we may all live in peace and prosper. We should be praying that God would save them and change their hearts. But, apparently, we would rather complain and bad-mouth than pray. Yes, I'm talking about Christians.
An old saying goes "You deserve what you allow" and we have allowed these spiritually wicked people to stay in high places too long. We need to pray for those in office now and vote them out if they refuse to change and be more careful next election to vote our faith and values and not our pockets!

Asking the Wrong Question

"If there's a God, then why is there so much pain and suffering in the world?" I hear that question in one form or another almost daily. People reason that if there's a God, and He is good and loving, then there shouldn't be any pain or suffering. I say we're asking the wrong question. The better question is "Since there is a God, why isn't there more pain and suffering?" There is a God and He is holy, perfect, just and righteous. We sinned against Him; We committed treason against His authority; We attempted to overthrow His government in favor of our own! So, why isn't there more sickness, disease, pain and suffering? Why doesn't a holy, righteous God exercise His right to judge us and allow the evil we brought into this world through our sin to ravage us and destroy us? Are we innocent..... absolutely not! Do we not deserve the death penalty..... Of course we do! So why are things not worse than they are? Because God is a God of love, forgiveness and patience. He has every right to convict us and pronounce judgment upon us. He has every right to turn away from us and let this evil we brought about overwhelm us and destroy us. And yet... He saw fit, in mercy and grace, to make a way of redemption; A way to turn from our sin and be forgiven and cleansed from unrighteousness. The fact that there is no more sickness, disease and suffering than there is is proof positive that God exists. There is a God who is intervening in human affairs and holding back evil so that it can't flourish as it would. God's hand stays back the evil and keeps us from being as bad as we could be. God is patiently enduring our rebellion, waiting for those who would to come back to Him. But, it won't be that way forever..... time is running out.

Sometimes

I look the part
blend in with the rest of the church crowd
I know the routine
I could list all the bible studies in town
watch christian TV
I know all the preachers...their cliches
been born again, without a doubt I know I'm saved
 

But sometimes I hurt and sometimes I cry
sometimes I can't get it right
no matter how hard I try
sometimes I fall down
stumble over my own disguise
I try to look strong
as the whole world looks on
but sometimes alone I cry.

"Sometimes I Cry" - Jason Crabb 

The words to that song really speak to me. I've been there. You walk through the world with a smile on your face and a "Thank you, Jesus!" on your lips, but behind the mask there are tears. You know that people are watching and you always want to shine a light in the darkness. You want everyone to see Jesus in you. You want them to be encouraged. 

But sometimes, at home, all alone and behind closed doors, the mask comes off and the tears are pouring down. It's not that the Christian life is too hard or too strict and we're certainly not trying to be fakes. It's just that, sometimes we are trying so very hard to be like Jesus and failing so miserably. It seems like the closer you get to Jesus, the more you notice you're not very much like Him.

I know I'm saved through Jesus' blood and I know that He lives in me and loves me. But I want so desperately to reflect perfectly His character and love to the whole world and sometimes I notice that I'm not doing it very well at all. The tears are not tears of sadness or of pain, but of frustration.  I know that if they see the real Jesus, they'll love Him. But the only way they'll ever see Him is in His people.

There is no plan "B".... God has ordained that salvation comes through the "foolishness" of preaching. Men and women preaching Jesus, not just with their words, but with their lives. We want to make sure we do it right. Eternity is at stake.

My Life is His Life

My life belongs to God. He gave it to me and He keeps it going. It is not mine to do with as I please and it is not the devil's to steal away from me. God gives life and everyone who lives owes gratitude to God.
Someday my life will be over. It is at God's discretion as to when that will be. When He decides it is time, it will be time.... and that's alright. The devil can't scare me with threats of death because I know he can't take my life; God is the one who "gives and takes away". And I know that God's will is perfect and everything He does is just what's good for me.
I hope to live a good long time yet and I have every reason to believe I will, but God knows what's best and I defer to His judgment completely. He says in Jeremiah 29:11  "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." That's good enough for me.

Are You Sure?

I was sitting in the doctor's office and quite frankly I was scared. I was nauseous, sweating and my arms were aching. Oh, and my heart was beating at 149 beats per minute. I thought I was having a heart attack. The doctor had just run an EKG and taken blood and was away in the lab checking the results. I was praying.
Now, I know that some of you who read this don't believe that God talks to people anymore. And I know that many will say it was stress or fear or some emotional experience I was having.... but this is what happened. I remember saying as I prayed "Thy will be done". I guess it's partly a habit, partly just how I learned to pray, but I always ask as humbly and truthfully as I can that God's will be done. I know that His will is perfect and what I want isn't always what I need. Anyway, just as I finished saying "Thy will be done" I heard the Holy Spirit speak to me. There was no audible voice (at least I don't think there was) , it was right there inside me. But it was more than a thought or an idea; It was a voice! It wasn't coming from my head, but from my spirit. The voice said "If it's my perfect will that you die right now, here in this doctor's office, will that be still alright with you?".
I don't know what shocked me more, the fact that the Holy Spirit was speaking to me or the question He asked! I started to answer "yes, Lord" (like a good Christian should?) but I couldn't. This wasn't the time for a "Christian " answer, but for a serious, heartfelt, truthful answer; Would I still want God's will to be done even if I knew that meant my death?
I sat there and thought about it. I was still alone and still scared and my heart was still racing. I asked myself if what I had been praying was true or was it just what I thought God wanted to hear me say. I searched my heart and decided that yes, I did want God's will to be done, even if it killed me. So I said out loud "Yes, Lord I do want your perfect will to be done, even if it means I have to die right here. I don't want to die right here, I want you to heal me. I want you to make this heart calm down and this fear go away, but I want your will to be done even more. I am yours, do with me as you please."
I took that prayer very, very seriously. I didn't know for sure what was going to happen to me. Suddenly, a peaceful feeling engulfed me. I didn't stop hurting, nor did my heart stop racing, but I felt at peace. I knew that I really did want God's will to be done and although I wanted to live, I would gladly die right there. God forced me to take stock of my own heart and judge my own words! I knew that live or die, I would be just fine!
I'm telling you what happened and I will allow you to make of it whatever you will. I know that God gave me a great gift that day; He gave me insight into my own heart such as I have never had before and may never have again. Just knowing that I trust Him beyond any doubt, even with my very life, has changed me. It has strengthened me. It has given me peace way down inside.
There are some things we just can't learn when everything is going great. When there's no trouble, no suffering, no worries and no pain, it's easy to speak "Christianese" and give the pat answer. But when the sponge gets squeezed, we find out what's really inside of it.

Sick and Tired (of being sick and tired)

I've been sick for a little while now. For the last 7 months I've been getting sick, being sick or getting over being sick. I'm sick of it! But, believe it or not, it's done me good!
Being this sick for this long has made me take a hard look at pretty much everything I thought I knew and believed; about me, about life, and also about God. In sickness, the Holy Spirit has taught me more in 7 months than I learned the last 25 years of my Christian life! It's a hard way to learn, but it sure is effective!
It's been a while since my last post and I've really missed it. But, it's hard to think about much else when you feel so poorly in your body. I want to share some of the things I've learned and I promise to do so shortly.
I'm thankful that our Heavenly Father loves us so very much that He is willing to allow us to suffer (as He suffers watching us suffer!) and learn and grow, rather than allow us to be ignorant and complacent in peace and wellness. That's real love! But He promised that the good work He has begun in us, He will finish. Let His perfect will be done.... whether it feels good or not.

Jesus Song

If Jesus were to have written a song for His people to sing, I think it would have gone a lot like this:

Let me be a little kinder, let me be a little blinder
To the faults of those around me let me praise a little more.
Let me be when I am weary just a little bit more cheery
And think a little more of others and a little less of me.

Let me be a little braver when temptation bids me waver;
Let me strive a little harder to be all that I should be.
Let me be a little meeker with the brother that is weaker.
Let me think more of my neighbors and a little less of me.

Let me be when I am weary just a little bit more cheery;
Let me serve a little harder for those I'm striving for.
Let me be a little meeker with the brother that is weaker
And think a little more of others and a little less of me.


May we all take these words to heart and let them guide us into the life of Jesus Christ. May we esteem others as greater than self; May we love our neighbors as ourselves; May we always have a pleasant smile and be able to offer words of encouragement to everyone we meet. And may this song be brought to mind every time we don't.

Proof

Proof is never enough for the man who refuses to be persuaded. If a person does not want something to be true bad enough, no amount of proof will change their mind. That person will never acquiesce to truth.
Some Christians think they have to prove that there's a God. But, God doesn't command us to prove His existence. God says in Romans that everything He has created proves His existence and no man has a legitimate excuse to doubt His existence. We are called to preach the good news of Jesus and the good news of the kingdom of God. Trying to prove God's existence is unnecessary and, as far as some people are concerned, impossible.
If there is a God, then He has the right to make demands upon His creations. He has the right to rule over them. If a person doesn't want to be ruled over, then that person doesn't want there to be a God who can rule over them and therefore will not accept your proof of God no matter how legitimate or compelling it is.
Tell people the good news of Jesus the Christ and let the Holy Spirit do His part. He is the one responsible for convicting the world of sin, not you or me. Pray and preach, leave the rest to God.