“The word of God is living and active.  It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”  Hebrews 4:12

Hebrews 4:12 has been on my mind for the past several weeks. As I listen to debate over bible interpretation surrounding gay rights and the uproar caused by the signing of the “Hate Crimes Bill” under the cover of a Defense Authorization, I wonder what God thinks of our political and social banter about His word.   I wonder what he will have to say to Bishop Spong the outspoken retired Episcopal bishop who said, “ I will no longer engage the biblical ignorance that emanates from so many right-wing Christians about how the Bible condemns homosexuality, as if that point of view still has any credibility….The world has moved on, leaving these elements of the Christian Church that cannot adjust to new knowledge or a new consciousness lost in a sea of their own irrelevance. They no longer talk to anyone but themselves. I will no longer seek to slow down the witness to inclusiveness by pretending that there is some middle ground between prejudice and oppression. “

Is he right?  I don’t believe so.  Does it matter?  To this present world not so much.  To God, I think yes.   Will we solve the arguement now?  No.  Can we move on and do more productive things for the Kingdom? YES!

It’s a sobering thought to know that your mind is wide open to God.  He knows your thoughts and he judges them according to His word.  He knows when your heart does not line up with your actions. We Christians are called to serve God with gladness and “singleness of heart.”  That is with one heart for our Father through his Son Jesus Christ.  We are not called to debate whether sexual preference is a right or whether homosexuals and transvestites will go to heaven.  We are called to serve the Lord, period.

While I believe Spong’s hermeneutics are wrong, I do agree however that we believers will do more for the King by moving forward with our spiritual walk by helping to win souls with the gospel than by getting caught up in an unwinable debate.  The Enemy would like nothing better for us to waste our time arguing the matter of sexual sin than spend it telling non-believers about the “Good News of Jesus Christ!”  Let’s stop arguing and start praying for the salvation of the lost and let God judge Bishop Spong.

My prayer.  Again Father, your word has humbled us and taught us that our attitudes need some adjustment, if we are to serve you.  Help us to love one another with the passion that you demonstrated to the Samaritan woman at the well.  Lead us Lord in paths of righteousness and make your word come alive in our hearts so that when we stand before You in Heaven You might say “well done good and faithful servant.  Welcome home!.”   In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

God—His way is perfect;   the word of the LORD is pure.    He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.  Psalm 18:30

Christians and unbelievers alike often cast their eyes heavenward when disaster comes seeking an answer to the age-old question,”Why does God let bad things happen to good people?”   I believe that the more interesting and certainly answerable question is, “Why am I not praising God, seeking His help, and waiting on His response when the bad times come?” 

 In the Book of Psalms, I find it most interesting to see where David was in his life journey when he wrote a particular Psalm.  Often he was in a cave or on the run when he poured out his heart and the heart of God in his writings. In the midst of chaos, David  almost always shouted  praises to the King.  The man had a heart for God and God had a heart for him.

 Psalm 18 appears twice in the Bible, once in the Book of Psalms and also in 2 Samuel 22.  This Psalm known as David’s song, reflects David’s life story.  It depicts David’s total reliance for God for the blessings and in the midst of trouble.  In his life David learned to praise God in all situations .  He went to his Father constantly in prayer even when he didn’t need anything from God!

How we could learn from this man of God!   David wasn’t perfect.  In fact,  he could be described as an adulterous murderer ( 2 Samuel 11).  However,  David  always held God in high esteem and even when he sinned, he immediately repented and asked for forgiveness.  David did not allow past sins and disappointments keep him from communicating with his Heavenly Father.   David confided in the Lord always and he found God  always faithful.  

Despite the consequences of his sin and the preponderance of his enemies, David was God’s anointed and they loved each other.  David praised God when Saul was trying to kill him and talked with his best friend when he was on top of the world.  David always had time for God because he loved Him.   What about you and me?  Do we continuously seek His face or do we ignore Him when “life is good,” and beg for help when troubles come?    Do we get mad at God when our prayers seem to go unheard or do we say thank you for not solving the problem in my feeble manner because your way is perfect?

We are facing difficult times.  Recession, job loss, and terrorism are on virtually everyone’s mind.  What will we believers do in these troubling times?  Will be fold our arms and scowl and say how can You do this to me?  Or, will we praise Him and show our unsaved neighbors how much we love our Father and desire to seek Him always?  Brothers and sisters in Christ, the world is watching us and deciding, do I want to be a part of God’s Kingdom or continue the way of the world?   Be the hands and feet of God, who’s ways are perfect and who’s Word is pure.

My prayer.  Father, we love you and we praise you even in the midst of troubling times.  We may not understand your ways but know they are perfect.  We may not enjoy our temporary discomfort but we know that you are with us because you love us.  Teach us to wait on you Lord because your ways,  NOT ours,  are perfect.  In Jesus name we pray, Amen!

“The Lord hears the prayers of the righteous.”  (Proverbs 15:29)

Yesterday I wrote how God answered prayer in the case of the  Texas Planned Parenthood director who resigned and joined the ranks of the pro-life movement.  The apostle James writes, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16), and  today another answered prayer was revealed,  as yet another Abortion Clinic has closed its doors, this time in Florida.  After an investigation by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) it was determined that the center’s lab license had been expired for 413 days – a violation of state law which resulted in a retroactive fine of $1,000 per day ( totaling $413,000).  “In lieu of paying the fine, the Community Health Center decided to shut down,” said Tiffany Vause, AHCA press secretary.

Praise God, “from whom all blessings flow!”  

According to the 40 Days for Life website this is the fifth such closing at a site where a 40 Days for Life prayer vigil has occurred.  “In addition to the Pensacola facility, a Planned Parenthood clinic in Kalispell, Montana announced its decision to close its doors, citing a decline in business as the reason for the closure. That clinic was the site of a 40 Days for Life prayer vigil last spring.”

While babies are still killed at an alarming rate in the United States and around the world, the prayers of the righteous saints are being heard by God and He is moving to put an end to the terror.  According to LifeNews.com,  Planned Parenthood did about 160,000 abortions in 199,  receiving approximately $160 million in total taxpayer funding from various levels of government. In the fiscal year which ended September 30, the organization received $350 million which was an increase of $13 million from the previous year.  Doubling the government slice of the “family planning” pie, has resulted in double the number of abortions (approximately 320,000) in 2009!

I am convinced that God is angry and he will begin to show us His face in more ways in the coming days.  As the saints fall to their knees and humbly approach the throne of grace, God will continue to move.  Now is not the time to ease up, the opposition to life is very strong and shows no signs of retreat in the war against the unborn.  We live in exciting and dangerous times but as children of the light we must take our place on this earth as the hands and feet of God.  Jesus Christ paid the price to make us righteous before the Father and with that gift comes to opportunity to serve Him and bring Heaven down to earth. 

Babies are not killed in Heaven and they must not be killed on earth.  Therefore, continue to pray and watch what God is going to do next.

Often those in the trenches, praying for an end to the atrocity of abortion, do not see much tangible fruit in the physical realm.  Usually we rely on our faith that in the spirit realm the Holy Spirit is working unseen to change the hearts of those who participate in the abortion industry either as providers or clients.  However, on October 2, 2009 God chose to show us physically the fruit of our prayer!

Abby Johnson, the former director of a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic in Bryan, Texas has resigned and joined forces with the Coalition for Life, the pro-life group that started the 40 Days for Life nationwide prayer vigil.  This ladies and gentlemen is not just a career change, it is a transformation of a heart by God manifested through the prayers of His people.  When I read that upon witnessing an abortion on ultrasound, an observation that was not a normal part of her day, Ms. Johnson immediately thought to herself, “…never again.” I knew this circumstance must have been arranged by God to encourage His saints.

Prayer is answered and miracles do happen.  We may not always see it and in some cases we may never see answered prayer.  But, that does not mean that God is not working on behalf of his people to bring Heaven down to earth.  Let’s praise Him today for his mercy and his grace.  Let us thank him that 2000 babies are alive today because he rescued them through the prayers of his people.  Let’s thank him that we can welcome Abby Johnson who has emerged from the darkness and stepped into the light.  Let us thank Him for refreshing us and giving us the encouragement to get back into the trenches and fight some more on our knees.  Let us believe for even greater miracles ahead and for one day when no more babies will be killed at the hands of abortionists.

Maine voters rejected a previously adopted state law Tuesday (November 3, 2009) that  permitted same-sex couples to marry. The voter’s voice to repeal the law comes six months after the measure was passed by the Maine legislature and signed by the Democratic Gov. John Baldacci. Maine is the 31st state to oppose the unions in a popular vote.

This action in Maine, like California, and 29 other states is a strong statement regarding the will of the people over the will of the politicians who are representing them.  This vote points clearly to a divide in this country between its citizens and the ruling power backed by big business and strong political lobbies.  I pray that results like that in Maine be a signal to the power elite in Washington and Statehouses across the country that the people are no longer going to stand by and watch special interests and outsiders bring down this great country. 

 Jesse Connolly of Protect Maine Equality, a pro-gay marriage group stated, “We’re in this for the long haul…..until all Maine families are treated equally,” indicating that pro-gay lobby sees the vote in Maine as only a minor setback.  As citizens who believe in the natural and God-given order of the family and the institution of marriage, we must continue to lovingly teach our children what is right.  We must not push back against these initiatives in a mean-spirited or hateful manner, but we must steadfast in our beliefs in what  is right  and wrong regarding matters of sexuality.  The education establishment has already signaled that homosexual “rights” is on their radar screen and  have begun to indoctrinate public school children to shape the vote when they are 18.  Like Mr. Connolly the homosexual movement is in for the “long haul” to redefine the family and make it into their image against our will

The Progressive movement, while not prevalent in the majority of the population, certainly has the funding and the power to force the changes they desire upon the American people.  Like Stalin and Mao, they will do it through coercion, disinformation and indoctrination until their system dominates.  We as Christian parents must remain strong and, despite the coming persecution, fight for what we know to be right until we meet the Lord.  Your children and the next generation are at stake, don’t give up!

“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.” 2 Tim 3: 1-5

Consider Paul’s words and think back as far as you can recall.  When was the last time you can say about american business, religion or politics that the participants in them were NOT, lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God?

You can’t!

How then can we claim that America is a christian nation?  How can we hold out hope that under different leadership or a different dynamic, that we can return to a better time?  What era or time in America or the world for that matter would we return and find it a godly place?

Shall we wind the clock back to the good old 1940’s and 1950’s with Adolph Hitler, Mao Tse Tung, Josef Stalin, and Benito Mussolini?  Too soon!  What about to the days of slavery and the Civil War?  Yeah,  still not far enough.  How about the Crusades, certainly men were more civilized then?  Okay, perhaps we need to go all the way back to the days when Paul and Peter were spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Surely these times were full of love.  Surely there was no persecution and men were godly toward one another!

Oh, yeah!  “Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned,” sorry Paul, I forgot!  And remember Peter, he like Paul was crucified by Nero as was Andrew, and Matthew.  What about the rest?  Surely the other disciples found love and comfort in the bosom of their fellow-man.   

No!   James, the brother of John (already exiled to a deserted island), was beheaded.  Jesus’ brother James was thrown from the highest point of the temple and then beaten with clubs.  Jude, another of Jesus’ brothers, was executed with arrows and Nathaniel was flayed with knives and then beheaded.  Finally, Phillip was hanged and Thomas, who put his fingers in Jesus’ nail marks, was run through with a lance and left to die at Coromandel  in the east Indies.  No none were spared persecution and death in “the last days.”

When Jesus was with his disciples, he said to them, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)  Knowing that each would die on account of the gospel, Jesus comforted his followers with these words.  The peace which the bible tells us, “passes all (human) understanding,” Jesus gave to them and he gives to his children today if we will just receive it.

Times are bad and, brothers and sisters,  they will get worse.  The bible promises it and history confirms it.  The last days began when Christ was born and two thousand years later they are still with us and they will worsen until Jesus comes back for us.  Until then, we must  keep our eyes on Jesus and not let ourselves be caught up in the deception and the lies.   Forget making millions of dollars in real estate and struggling to climb the corporate ladder.  Don’t trouble yourselves with the empty words of politicians more concerned with their own advancement than doing what is right.  Don’t be afraid of the swine flu, HIV, or cancer, trust the Lord and follow him into eternity. 

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life.”  (John 14:6)  He did not say I will find a way or the truth, he said he WAS the way and the truth.  In Him is life.  Life cannot be found from any other source especially a welfare check, the lottery or a bigger home.  All of these things are deceptive and will lead you away from the true source of life.  Don’t fall for the lie and the empty promise.

My prayer.  Father, we live in difficult days as your word has predicted and our experiences confirm.  Help us Lord when we stumble, trusting earthly promises which deceive and lead us away from the Way, the Truth and the Life.  Lord, forgive us in our folly and put us back on the path when we stray.  Give us Lord your supernatural peace and help us to realize that we, being full of the Holy Spirit, are kings and priests and it is our godly conduct that will bring heaven down to earth and breathe life into dry and thirsty souls longing to drink of your living water.  In Jesus name I pray, Amen!

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.” (Romans 1:18-23)

This is one of the most powerful  and in my view often overlooked  statements in the Bible.  It rings however, so true today.   Men and women have been blinded to the fact that without Jesus Christ they can never be reconciled to God.  They can never approach his throne in prayer and will never enter the Kingdom of heaven.  God is mad at his children because of their sins.  We stand unrighteous before him unless we except his free gift of salvation given to us through the death of his Son Jesus Christ on the cross. 

Religion cannot save us and good works are useless.  It is Christ and Christ alone who can grant us access to our Creator.  I plead with you all this weekend as you worship in your churches, watch sports, or spend time with your family to consider the reality of God’s wrath against all mankind.  Give heed to Paul’s letter to the Romans and remember that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him will not perish (under God’s wrath) but will have everlasting life.” John 3:16

Praise Him!

Paul writes, “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,…”  Young Pastor Timothy knew that his future would be filled with danger at every turn as long as he proclaimed the gospel of Jesus Christ and lived a godly life.  While many Christians around the world still face death for their beliefs, most Americans have never  had to face such physical threats.  However, the days will soon be here in the United States, where living your life for God, will grow increasingly more uncomfortable.

Over the past twenty-five years there has been a slow build up of threats and suppression of free speech surrounding Christian opposition of abortion including, most recently, Pastor Walter Hoye (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/21/BAGO16KF9J.DTL) arrested for not maintaining a required 100 yard buffer imposed by the city around an abortion clinic.  Pastor Hoye claiming his free speech rights were violated by the ordinance was only interested in distributing information about abortion  alternatives.  On November 11, 2008 the City Pulse of Lansing Michigan reported that anarchists infiltrated Mt. Hope Church and terrorized the congregants because their Christian beliefs countered theirs.  According to the new report (http://www.lansingcitypulse.com/lansing/article-2302-gay-anarchist-action-hits-church.html) the gay activist group Bash Back stated the church was “complicit in the repression of queers in Michigan and beyond.”   Matt Barber, commenting in a 2008  Worldnet Daily article on opposition to California’s Proposition 8 Banning Gay Marriage in the state, ” Even more troubling – something the mainstream media refused to cover – are the many threats of violence against Christians and other supporters of Prop 8 popping up on numerous homosexual websites and elsewhere. Some homosexuals have even called for churches to be burned to the ground. In California, some of those churches have already been vandalized.” 

It has been a slow burn in the United States when compared to the atrocities to Christians around the world for centuries but the frequency and the severity seems to be on the rise.  And with recent federal legislation approving public school indoctrination of children into homosexual acceptance the possibility of future confrontation is sure to increase and give rise to more anti-Christian activity. 

Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.  But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” Matthew 19:29-30  Stay tuned brothers and sisters in Christ and stay strong, our reward is in heaven if we endure until the end!

My prayer.  Father strength our resolve as our troubles increase.  We worship you and give you praise and thanksgiving for the opportunity to serve You no matter the consequences.  I pray in earnest for believers who are suffering under persecution throughout the world.  May You receive all the glory through this present affliction.  In Jesus name we pray, Amen!

The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. Genesis 12:1

I don’t trust God with all my being.  I trust money before Him, I trust my job before Him, I trust myself and my own ability over Him.  If all were taken away from me like was taken from Job, I would find myself angry, afraid and completely alone without the security blanket of “my stuff.” 

God  is awakening the American Church to the reality that none of us completely trust God.  Look at the events that surround us today.  We are completely up in arms because our retirement  portfolio’s have been depleted and we are afraid that the government is going to take our health insurance away from us.  The talking heads and the interest groups keep us cowering in fear that we are going to be left hungry and poor, we will be homeless and jobless without hope for our selves and our children.  Talk even among believing Christians is completely devoid of God’s power.  We fear man more than we respect God.

Proverbs tells us “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”  If that is true, which I know it to be, then we should not be afraid of our environment, rather we should be trusting in our Creator that he knows our situation collectively and individually and he has all things well in hand.  Rather than shaking our fist at the radio and the television every night, we should be rejoicing and praising the name of Jesus because he has already told us how things will end.  Jess has paid the price and now he wants us to act like it and follow Him where He leads!

God told Abraham to leave everything he knew and follow him into a country he did not know and into surroundings which were completely foreign.  He said leave your comfort zone son and follow me and I promise:

“I will make you into a great nation
       and I will bless you;
       I will make your name great,
       and you will be a blessing.” Gen 12:2

What about you and me?  Why are we reading this but still sitting on the sideline scared of the unknown.  The time of the end is nearer than it was when we first believed Paul said in his letter to the Romans.  It is not time for us to sit still and watch, it is time for us to get into the game and participate in God’s plan of redemption. 

God said to the Church at  Laodicea, “ I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” (Rev 3:15-16)  God wants us to be on fire for his Word and for the work he has for us to do while we are on this planet.  He doesn’t want us to be so so, on the fence or lukewarm.  He wants us to be as excited for Him as we are at our favorite sporting event or when we buy the ultimate outfit or pair of shoes!  If we are neither hot nor cold in our walk with Jesus, he will as promised spit us out of his mouth!

My prayer.  Father forgive me for being a lukewarm, afraid to trust you Christian.  Change me Lord so that I can serve you with an on-fire passion.  Teach me to grieve for the things you grieve over and love like you love.  Use me for your Kingdom and let your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.  In Jesus name I pray, Amen!

In Paul’s first letter to his young protege, Timothy, Paul warns him to be wary of false teachers who use religion for their own personal glory and enrichment.  Paul emphasizes that these men, promote controversy and detract from proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ and his work on the cross.  Paul said, “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.” 1 Timothy 1:15-16

Paul reminds all in church leadership and who assume the awesome responsibility of pastoral care, that the gospel must be the primary focus of our work and that it must be proclaimed with passion and great care to those who are in need of its redemptive power.  Those of us who Christ redeemed from an eternity of separation from God because of our sinfulness, through his work on the cross, have received the message of the cross and now must share it with the rest of the world. 

The sins (yours and mine) which separated us from God, were levied upon God’s only Son Jesus Christ, who willingly took them all to the cross and died on our behalf.  That, deaar freinds is the best news one could ever receive.  And one’s faith in that act of love by Jesus Christ is all that God requires for the world to be reconciled to Him again.  Faith in Jesus Chirst and him alone and repentence from sin begins a new relationship with the Father and the Son which is empowered by the Holy Spirit. 

Let us remember when sharing the good news with friends, family and even perfect strangers, that we like them were lost in our trespasses and sins and that it was our faith in Jesus and what he did on the cross that brought us back into a right relationship with God.  And it was by the proper sharing of the gospel by a fellow believer who went before us that God used to bring the message of salvation to us.  It is time we return the favor and be obedient to Jesus’ call to “go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” Mark 16:15