The Clock Is Ticking

Will Aug. 2 be another "Harold Camping moment?" Harold Camping is the goofball who said the world would end on May 21. Obviously, it didn't. Now, we have a goofball in the White House who is predicting a financial doomsday on Aug. 2 if he doesn't get his way to increase the debt limit.

Obama has been using scare tactics, saying the economy is going to implode if Congress doesn't come to an agreement on the debt limit by next Tuesday.

I wasn't alarmed in May when Harold Camping made his predictions that the world was coming to an end. And I'm not worried that the economy will shut down on Tuesday. Obama's fear-mongering is just more partisan politics. It's the same game he's been playing since he took office.

Sure, it will be bad news if a deal isn't reached by the Aug. 2 deadline. It will definitely hurt the economy. It will spook Wall Street, and stocks are sure to take a huge dive. (Is it too late for me to convert my IRA into an indexed-equity annuity?) The stock market is likely to tank if it thinks the U.S. is going to default on its loans, and a lot of hard-working people will lose a lot of money. And it will be Obama's fault.

There was a deal on the table last week, and Obama killed it. Since then, Republicans have presented two other plans. Obama promised to veto them before he even knew what was in them. He still hasn't presented any kind of deal himself. If he was smart, Obama would take the GOP's deal because he's too ignorant on economics to come up with a deal himself.

It looks like Obama is purposely trying to torpedo the economy so he can set up a socialist system. That's been his plan all along.

I'm not worried about an economic disaster next week, as Obama has predicted. The real economic collapse will come when Jesus returns and millions of Christians are evacuated from the planet. That will throw the entire world system into a tailspin for those who are left to try to run things.

Just as Harold Camping's timing was off about the return of Christ, Obama's timing is off now. All of this will come in God's timing, and the clock is ticking. Time is running out, so don't be caught unprepared for the day of the Lord!

Faith Under Fire

The Bible tells us to pray for our leaders. We need to pray especially for our Christian leaders because they are coming under attack more and more.

The media and other liberal groups came down hard on President Bush because he's a born-again Christian. They've done the same to Sarah Palin. Now, an atheist group is targeting Gov. Rick Perry to try to keep him from taking part in a prayer event next month in Houston.

Perry helped organize "The Response," a day of fasting and prayer. He's invited members of the Obama administration, governors and other state leaders to the event Aug. 6 at Houston's Reliant Stadium. But the atheist group filed a lawsuit, claiming Perry would be violating the separation of church and state if he takes part in it. The same group has tried unsuccessfully to block the National Day of Prayer.

You would think that even atheists would welcome prayers for our state and country. If atheists choose not to believe in God, that's their right. It's stupid and foolish, but it's their right. But why would anyone object to praying?

Perry is not backing down. Nor should he. He continues to stress the gathering's spiritual importance, saying he wants God's will to be done.

The press has had a field day with this and over other comments Perry made about wanting God's will in his own life. While considering a run for president, Perry said he believes this is what he's "called" to do. The media jumped all over him, mocking him for suggesting that God "called" him to run for office. I don't know about you, but I want leaders who have been called by God.

We need more leaders like Rick Perry. He is an unabashed conservative who clearly has no problem being public about his faith. I only wish we had more leaders like him in office.

I hope believers will stand up and show their support for the prayer event and for Perry. If we don't speak up now while we have the freedom to speak out, what will we do when this freedom is taken away? And if our heathen Muslim president is re-elected, I can almost guarantee that we will lose a lot of our religious freedoms.

Act now. Pray for our leaders, all of them. They need it, and America needs it, too!

Now We're Talking!

First, there was "The View," Barbara Walters' brainchild where five pushy, overbearing, opinionated women sit around a table discussing hot topics of the day. They debate, argue and get into catfights over the silliest things. Then, CBS came out with a copycat show, "The Talk." It has five other cackling hens, also sitting around a table, bloviating over the latest gossip out of Hollywood. Both shows are heavily slanted with liberal views.

Now, finally, there's a show for conservatives like me. Fox News Channel has started a new show, appropriately called "The Five." It uses a format similar to the other two talk shows, with five commentators at a table debating political and pop culture topics.

But unlike "The View" and "The Talk," the Fox program has men and women around the table, and it gives conservative and liberal viewpoints. A libertarian was also thrown into the mix for good measure. All I can say is, it's about time!

On the conservative end, former Bush press secretary Dana Perino gives the view from the right. On the left, USA Today columnist and my favorite liberal Bob Beckel argues the other side. I like Beckel. I don't agree with anything he says, but he's usually fair. He worked in the Carter administration. But, hey, we all make mistakes. One thing about Beckel, he sure can get riled up when he's debating conservatives! Sometimes, I think he must have a case of male PMS. Don't get so worked up, Bob!

The zany Greg Gutfeld is the libertarian on the panel. He's a political satirist and humorist who's good for a little comic relief when the debate gets a little too heated on the show. His blog, The Daily Gut, is always interesting. The other two hosts, Andrea Tantaros and Eric Bolling, fall somewhere in the middle and help keep the discussion fair and balanced.

Fox News made a good move when it put "The Five" on in the timeslot where Glenn Beck's show aired. I miss Glenn Beck's rants, and Beckel is certainly no Beck, but "The Five" promises to be a great show with fair debates. Not like the drivel on "The View!" I hope "The Five" does well in ratings and becomes a prominent show on Fox's already popular lineup. Catch it if you can, I think you'll like it!

Take Heed

What will it take for some people to wake up? My Bible reading this morning was in Isaiah, where the prophet is warning the Israelites to forsake their sins and return to the Lord. God gave the Israelites warning after warning through the prophets, yet the people persisted in doing evil and worshipping idols.

Isaiah 65:11-12 really caught my attention. It says, "I called but you did not answer. I spoke but you did not listen. You did evil in my sight and chose what displeases me.”

In every age and nation, the Lord leaves those who persist in doing evil and despise the call of the Gospel. It's our choice, whether we are going to ignore God's warnings or whether we will turn away from our sins and return to the Lord.

We are all in a battle. I heard one preacher say, "the devil has a trap specifically designed to fit your foot." Satan knows our weaknesses, and he wants to bring us down. It's a constant battle that we fight all our lives. Sometimes, we fall. I fail to live up to God's standard more times than I care to admit, but God's grace is there in those times to lead us back. When we get off track, it's His love that calls us to come back and make things right.

We must answer the call. Isaiah 66 says there will be judgment for those who don't heed the warnings. It says, "They have chosen their own ways, and they delight in their abominations; so I also will choose harsh treatment for them and will bring on them what they dread."

Even with such stern warnings, the Israelites still would not turn back to God and repent. They continued to worship their idols. Many of them were taken into exile because they didn't listen to the warnings.

What's it going to take for people today to wake up and see the warning signs? God is so merciful and compassionate, and He gives us so many chances. He even sent His Son to show us the way. Now, it's up to us whether we're going to follow Him. The judgment is coming to the earth one day, but if we have surrendered our lives to God we have nothing to fear.

Will you heed the warnings? Remember, if you stay ready, you never have to get ready!

Deal or No Deal

Obama is up to his tricks again. Dirty tricks. Republicans and Democrats have been locked into a battle over the debt limit for weeks. Now, Obama is trying to scare senior citizens, saying they may not get their Social Security checks in August if the debt ceiling isn't raised. He's hoping seniors will flood their congressmen with calls urging them to vote to raise the debt.

It may be working. Some senior citizens are really afraid they won't get their check next month. Many of them rely on these checks just to survive. I want to get my Social Security check, too, but I'm not falling for Obama's scare tactics.

First, it's just not true that Social Security checks will be withheld in August. Obama lied. There is enough money coming into the government to cover Social Security and the salaries of our military servicemen.

Second, I'm not relying on the government for my living. If something happens to stop my check, God will provide! He has always met my needs, and I know He is faithful.

Shame on Obama for trying to scare people and hold seniors hostage in the debt dilemma! If anything has to be cut because the government can't pay its bills, it should be Obama's salary and the pay of congressmen.

After paying into Social Security all their working lives, senior citizens have a right to expect their checks. It's THEIR money.

I hope a deal can be reached by the Aug, 2 deadline to keep the government from shutting down, but it must be the right deal. Republicans should stand their ground on no new taxes and balancing the budget. A deal can be reached if Obama would get off his high horse and do what's best for the country. If he doesn't, he will pay a high price for it in the next election!

Mini-makeover

I love watching "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," especially when the team is building a house to make things easier on the family of someone with a disability. I'm amazed at some of the conveniences the team builds into a house to help people with disabilities become more independent in their own homes. I've often wished they would come to my house!

Now, we're getting our own mini-makeover of sorts. A Missions team is in Pampa this week, building ramps for several elderly and disabled families. My mom will be getting one of those ramps at her house.

Volunteers are here from all around Texas to build the ramps as part of a Missions project of the Methodist churches. There's about 100 youths and sponsors working here this week with the R.O.T.C. (Reaching Others Through Christ) program. We met some of the volunteers at a cookout last night before the workers begin construction on the ramps today.

The ramp is really going to help both Mom and me! I'm not saying Mom is getting old, but it's been getting a little harder for her to climb the steps on her porch. She's even fallen on the steps, so I'm glad she's getting a ramp. It will help me, too, when I go to her house with my scooter.

I've written before about the portable ramp I use now to get into her house. It's not very safe because it doesn't have handrails, and it is pretty steep. I have to get up enough speed to get over the bump at the threshold. It's fine going into the house, but coming out I can almost go airborne if I hit the bump just right! The metal ramp makes quite a racket, too, when I come flying out the door and hit the metal. Almost sounds like a plane taking off.

So no more "Dukes of Hazzard" dare-devil stunts once we get the new ramp.

I'm thankful to the youth volunteers of these churches who are giving their time and labor to build it. And thanks to the friend who submitted our name. You all are a big blessing to Mom and me, and the ramp is really going to make a difference in our lives!

Where's The Justice?

The hot topic this week has been the Casey Anthony trial. The jury's verdict of 'Not Guilty' of first-degree murder or manslaughter shocked the country. I think she's guilty of killing her 2-year-old daughter, but who knows for sure.

TV commentators say there wasn't enough evidence to convict her. So, today, the judge sentenced her on the charges of lying to the police, and Casey Anthony will walk free within months. How sad!

This case is a tragedy on many levels. It's a tragedy that a beautiful 2-year-old girl was murdered and her body thrown away. It's an even bigger tragedy that the killer will never be punished, not in this life anyway. This verdict is a travesty of justice. The jury acquitted her because there wasn't enough physical evidence. But there was certainly enough circumstantial evidence to connect Casey to the killing. The jury just needed to use common sense to connect the dots.

The justice system worked in one way. Casey was tried by a jury of her peers. We had one nutcase being judged by 12 other nuts!

The verdict in this case points to another problem in our society. Today, people are afraid to judge anyone else because "it might make someone feel bad." It's called hate speech or intolerance if a preacher speaks out against sins like drinking and homosexuality. I hear it all the time. People say, "Don't judge me!" or "You're intolerant!"

We're not to judge hypocritically or self-righteously, but as believers, we ARE to test everything to see if it lines up with God's standards. The Bible repeatedly tells believers to evaluate carefully and choose between good and evil. We can love our brother but not his sins. We should be intolerant when it comes to sin, whether it's in our own lives or someone else's.

Ephesians 5:3 says, "But among you there must not be even a hint of immorality... for this is improper for God's people." Verse 5 warns that "no immoral or impure person has any inheritance in the kingdom of God."

So we are called to judge between good and evil. One day, all will stand before God, the ultimate judge, and give an account for how we lived our lives. On that day, there will be justice because God is the one true and just judge over all.

For Heaven's Sake

This is my article from this month's church newsletter...

*****

There's a saying, "Too heavenly minded to be any earthly good." But if you turn that phrase around, you could ask, "What on earth are you doing for Heaven's sake?" I think God asks that about us sometimes. As believers, what are we doing to spread the Gospel?

God gave us the Great Commission and commanded us to “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to all creation. ... and make disciples of all the nations.”

I wondered how I, a believer in Jesus Christ, can fulfill this commandment. I likely will never travel the world. I have difficulty even speaking. So what can I do to take the Gospel into the world? What can any of us do?

There's a lot we can do if we just let God use us. God has given each of us an assignment in life, and He's given us the gifts and abilities to complete our assignment. But we have to be willing to do the work. We have to step out and do what He's called us to do.

Romans 12:6 says, "We have different gifts, according to the grace given us." The Bible then says if your gift is teaching, then teach. If it is serving, then serve. If it is encouraging, encourage. If it is helping to meet the needs of others, then give generously. If it is leadership, then govern diligently. If it is showing mercy, do it cheerfully.

Every believer has at least one gift, but ALL believers are called to be a witness.

God wants to use His people to touch the lives of our friends, our family, our co-workers. He wants to use us to change our generation. This means stepping out to do what God has called us to do.

For me, it might be sharing the Gospel by writing in the newsletter or in a blog. For someone else, it might be witnessing to someone in the aisles of the grocery store. And for someone else, it might be visiting a sick friend in the hospital.

The point is, we must be busy using the talents and abilities God gave us instead of being idle and hoping someone else will witness to that friend. We have opportunities every day to reach out to others. If we fail to do our assigned tasks, not only will we miss out on a blessing but someone else might miss out on heaven.

Only you can complete the assignment God has for you, so let's get busy to make a difference for Heaven's sake!