Election Day 2016 is still over a year away, but every day we're being bombarded by the latest poll results predicting the winner. One poll has Trump winning over Hillary. Another one puts Biden as the winner, and still another has Rubio winning.
The prognosticators have it all wrong. The real truth is this: No matter who ends up in the White House, NO ONE wins!
The candidates themselves don't win. The next president will inherit the big mess left by Obama. He (or she) will get the $18 trillion deficit created by Obama's careless spending. He'll have to deal with the turmoil in Iraq and Afghanistan. He'll have to fix the health-care debacle and the illegal court ruling on the definition of marriage. That can't be a winning situation.
We, the people, don't win either. No matter who we elect, Democrat or Republican, we will continue to see our rights being taken away. From our freedom of speech to freedom of religion to gun rights, we're seeing our freedoms slip away because of political correctness. It's sad when illegal immigrants have more rights than natural born citizens. In the end, no one wins.
It's not all bad news, though. There is still hope. That hope is God! I've read the end of the book. God ultimately triumphs. If we're on his side, that makes us the true winners!
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Monday, October 12, 2015
Listen Up
In this week's Bring the Rain series at church, Pastor Lynn asked the question "Are you listening?" He showed how the rain comes through answered prayers. That's how God gets the rain to us, but we have to be paying attention and recognize His voice.
Pastor Lynn used the story of Samuel to illustrate this. As a young boy living in the temple, Samuel heard someone calling him. Thinking it was Eli the priest, Samuel got up and went to Eli. Each time, Eli said, "I didn't call you. Go back to bed." After the third time, Eli realized it was the Lord speaking to the boy. He told Samuel if he hears someone calling him again, he should say, "Speak, Lord, your servant is listening."
That should be our response, too. When we pray, we should say, "Speak, Lord, your servant is listening." That should be our prayer every day. Then, we should wait for God to speak. God wants to speak to us every day. The question is: "Are you listening?"
God speaks to us in many ways. It can be through reading our Bible, through the words of songs or sermons or through other people. Sometimes, it comes through dreams and visions or through that still, small voice on the inside of you.
The bottom line is this: God wants to speak to each one of us. He wants to bring rain into our lives. He wants to fulfill the promises, which is the rain. We have to be in tune to His voice by listening If we really want the rain of God. then we must ask ourselves, "Are you listening?"
That should be our response, too. When we pray, we should say, "Speak, Lord, your servant is listening." That should be our prayer every day. Then, we should wait for God to speak. God wants to speak to us every day. The question is: "Are you listening?"
God speaks to us in many ways. It can be through reading our Bible, through the words of songs or sermons or through other people. Sometimes, it comes through dreams and visions or through that still, small voice on the inside of you.
The bottom line is this: God wants to speak to each one of us. He wants to bring rain into our lives. He wants to fulfill the promises, which is the rain. We have to be in tune to His voice by listening If we really want the rain of God. then we must ask ourselves, "Are you listening?"
Saturday, October 10, 2015
Words of Wisdom
"When we have done our best, we also have to learn that we still need to rely on God. Our best -- no matter how good -- is incomplete if we leave God out of the picture." That sounds like something a preacher would say. You wouldn't expect to hear a politician say that, but that's exactly what Ben Carson said.
Those words are not only good advice but also show the character of the man who said them. Carson recognizes that he can do nothing without God. That's probably why Carson is such a brilliant surgeon. He uses his knowledge and skill to do his best but then relies on God to help him be the best.
That applies to our Christian walk too. We can try our best to be a "good" person, but our best still falls short. We have to have Christ to make us right with God. When God looks at us, he doesn't see our shortfalls if we have relied on Christ as our savior. God only sees his sinless Son He makes the difference in our lives.
Carson's words show that he knows where his strength comes from. If he's elected, I think Carson would look to God to help him make good decisions. That's what this country needs.
Character counts, whether it's Democrats or Republicans. Ten of the Republican candidates for president have conceded that same-sex marriage is the "law of the land." They have kowtowed to five unelected judges on the Supreme Court rather the fight for the real definition of marriage.
I'm thankful that we do have a few godly men running for president. Besides Carson, we have Mike Huckabee, Ted Cruz and Rick Santorum in the race. Any one of them would be a good and godly leader. We've seen what happens when we elect a godless heathen as president. Now, it's time to elect a real Christian to the presidency.
Those words are not only good advice but also show the character of the man who said them. Carson recognizes that he can do nothing without God. That's probably why Carson is such a brilliant surgeon. He uses his knowledge and skill to do his best but then relies on God to help him be the best.
That applies to our Christian walk too. We can try our best to be a "good" person, but our best still falls short. We have to have Christ to make us right with God. When God looks at us, he doesn't see our shortfalls if we have relied on Christ as our savior. God only sees his sinless Son He makes the difference in our lives.
Carson's words show that he knows where his strength comes from. If he's elected, I think Carson would look to God to help him make good decisions. That's what this country needs.
Character counts, whether it's Democrats or Republicans. Ten of the Republican candidates for president have conceded that same-sex marriage is the "law of the land." They have kowtowed to five unelected judges on the Supreme Court rather the fight for the real definition of marriage.
I'm thankful that we do have a few godly men running for president. Besides Carson, we have Mike Huckabee, Ted Cruz and Rick Santorum in the race. Any one of them would be a good and godly leader. We've seen what happens when we elect a godless heathen as president. Now, it's time to elect a real Christian to the presidency.
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
Immersed
This was Week 3 of the Bring The Rain series at church. Pastor Matt gave the sermon this past Sunday and talked about going deeper in our relationship with God. In this series, we've learned that water (or the rain) symbolizes the Holy Spirit, and we should immerse ourselves in the river of God.
The text this week was Ezekiel 47:1-5, where the prophet Ezekiel had a vision of a man leading him into the water.
The lesson in this is that when we first come to God, we began wading in the water. But we shouldn't stay in the shallow water all of our Christian lives. As we grow in God, He will lead us to go deeper in the river, first in water up to our ankles, then up to our knees, then up to our waist, and finally until we are totally immersed in the water.
That should be our goal: To become so immersed in God that He totally consumes every area of our lives.
The text this week was Ezekiel 47:1-5, where the prophet Ezekiel had a vision of a man leading him into the water.
"Measuring as he went, he took me along the stream for 1,750 feet and then led me across. The water was up to my ankles.
He measured off another 1,750 feet and led me across again. This time the water was up to my knees. After another 1,750 feet, it was up to my waist.
Then he measured another 1,750 feet, and the river was too deep to walk across. It was deep enough to swim in, but too deep to walk through."
The lesson in this is that when we first come to God, we began wading in the water. But we shouldn't stay in the shallow water all of our Christian lives. As we grow in God, He will lead us to go deeper in the river, first in water up to our ankles, then up to our knees, then up to our waist, and finally until we are totally immersed in the water.
That should be our goal: To become so immersed in God that He totally consumes every area of our lives.
Monday, October 5, 2015
Who's Judging Who
Is he or isn't he? There's been a lot of debate over whether Barrack Hussein Obama is a Muslim. Some say he's a Christian. Others say only God knows what's in a man's heart, and we shouldn't judge whether he is or he isn't.
I agree that only God truly knows a man's heart. But you can tell a lot about a man by his outward actions. Whatever is in a person's heart is what's going to come out. I had a teacher once who would always say, "Garbage in, garbage out."
If you want a more scriptural way of saying it, Matthew 7:16 puts it this way, "You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?"
Also, Proverbs 20:11 says this: "Even children are known by the way they act, whether their conduct is pure, and whether it is right."
That doesn't mean we have the right to go around judging people. No one is perfect. We all struggle with sin and temptation, and we always will until we get our glorified bodies. But there are certain tell-tale signs.
Look at Donald Trump. He said he believes in God, yet he also said he's never asked God to forgive him for anything. That should tell you a lot. If we don't confess our sins, God can't forgive us.
The popular "Fan or Follower" books and video from a few years ago showed that a lot of people are fans of Jesus, but very few are true followers. Sadly, our churches are full of Jesus fans. Trump may be a fan, but his actions don't line up with the Bible that he likes to carry around.
As for Obama, I don't know if he's a Muslim. I know he doesn't live like a Christian. I think he's just a heathen.
I agree that only God truly knows a man's heart. But you can tell a lot about a man by his outward actions. Whatever is in a person's heart is what's going to come out. I had a teacher once who would always say, "Garbage in, garbage out."
If you want a more scriptural way of saying it, Matthew 7:16 puts it this way, "You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?"
Also, Proverbs 20:11 says this: "Even children are known by the way they act, whether their conduct is pure, and whether it is right."
That doesn't mean we have the right to go around judging people. No one is perfect. We all struggle with sin and temptation, and we always will until we get our glorified bodies. But there are certain tell-tale signs.
Look at Donald Trump. He said he believes in God, yet he also said he's never asked God to forgive him for anything. That should tell you a lot. If we don't confess our sins, God can't forgive us.
The popular "Fan or Follower" books and video from a few years ago showed that a lot of people are fans of Jesus, but very few are true followers. Sadly, our churches are full of Jesus fans. Trump may be a fan, but his actions don't line up with the Bible that he likes to carry around.
As for Obama, I don't know if he's a Muslim. I know he doesn't live like a Christian. I think he's just a heathen.
Saturday, October 3, 2015
God's Timing
September came and September went, and we're still here. Prophecy watchers and many Christians, including myself, believed something big, possibly the rapture, would happen in September 2015. The month ended, and everything is seemingly the same. But take a closer look and you can see the rumblings of change taking place around the world.
From the huge plunge in the stock market to Christians being jailed for their biblical beliefs, we're seeing signs of rapid change. Then on Sept. 30, the last day of the month, Russia began airstrikes into Syria, possibly the opening salvo leading up to world war.
Persecution of Christians is becoming more widespread right here in America. October began with a crazed gunman opening fire at a community college in Oregon. Before shooting his victims, he asked them what religion they are. If they said 'Christian,' they were killed.
Just because the rapture didn't occur in September, it doesn't mean we should stop watching for Jesus' return. Man's calendar may be a little off. God's calendar is the one that matters, and the next big event on His calendar IS the rapture!
Don't lose heart. God is seldom early, but He's never late!
From the huge plunge in the stock market to Christians being jailed for their biblical beliefs, we're seeing signs of rapid change. Then on Sept. 30, the last day of the month, Russia began airstrikes into Syria, possibly the opening salvo leading up to world war.
Persecution of Christians is becoming more widespread right here in America. October began with a crazed gunman opening fire at a community college in Oregon. Before shooting his victims, he asked them what religion they are. If they said 'Christian,' they were killed.
Just because the rapture didn't occur in September, it doesn't mean we should stop watching for Jesus' return. Man's calendar may be a little off. God's calendar is the one that matters, and the next big event on His calendar IS the rapture!
Don't lose heart. God is seldom early, but He's never late!
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