“Last Ounce of Courage” is another ‘must see’ movie. We all need to be inspired to stand up and fight for our all-important freedoms in America.
Be sure to see the movie.
TRUTH – – – LEVEL – – – OBEDIENCE
September 29, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Three words for thought—serious thought.
You will remember what they have in common.
TRUTH is not a range.
LEVEL is not a range.
OBEDIENCE is not a range.
There is an addendum to the last one:
TIMING OF OBEDIENCE is not a range.
LIFE – – – “BALANCED” OR “BIPOLAR” ?
September 27, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Balanced—Life As It Should Be
Bipolar—Life As It Is
Which brings greater happiness?
Is happiness the goal?
Is “balanced” the goal?
“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.” —–His Book
Most effort in life is spent trying to achieve balance.
Most advice from counselors directs us to work for balance.
What do we think balance looks like?
—smooth, fewer extremes, not too radical, not too placid
—financial: retirement will finally bring balance after a lifetime of work
—financial: savings, IRA’s, “guaranteed” income you can count on, balanced balance sheets
—emotional: the right advice, more advice, the right therapist, the right medication
—relational: friendships, “the” spouse to live with happily ever after
—physical: health, fitness, medical checkups, early detection or else, health insurance
—political: freedom, USA, July 4 parades (life as it should be, for a moment, balance)
—spiritual: a bit more challenging, but “I’ve designed a balanced god of my own”
OR, is balance a myth?
There seems to be a rationale on both sides.
1) Balance is a myth. Accept reality. Life isn’t fair.
2) Don’t accept life as it is. Fight. Overcome. Make your own balance.
Can you make enough money, save enough money, spend enough money, to make your money recession-proof, fire-proof, thief-proof, government-proof, greed-proof, death-proof?
Life Insurance is really Death Insurance—perhaps the only insurance with guaranteed conditions.
How many new books, how much new-and-improved advice does it take to answer life’s questions?
What can you do when other marriages last, and yours didn’t? Where is balance then?
Some people have health, some don’t; some have success, some don’t; some have an easier life, some have a very hard life; some are blessed with a wonderful relationship with Jesus, some miss it.
Is there a bottom line? Is there an answer to the question of “Life—Balanced or Bipolar?”
One thing I know. A simple answer will not come from my brain, or anyone else’s.
The Bible does not try to describe this life on earth as pretty. But it does give two guarantees for life.
ONE—We can have sure hope for life after this one (which counts much more and lasts much longer) if we accept Jesus and what He did for us, dying on the cross and coming back to life so we can too.
TWO—We have His promise to be with us all the way through the ups and downs, the joys and the tragedies, the bipolar of life as we know it.
Balance? Not now. Not yet. But more than balanced then.
GOVERNMENT – – – WHAT’S IT FOR? – – – WHAT’S IT GOOD FOR?
September 25, 2012 By Leave a Comment
“When the wicked rise [to power], men hide themselves; but when they perish, the righteous increase.” —–His Book
“Like a roaring lion or a charging bear, is a wicked ruler over a poor people.” —–His Book
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,
–That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government,” —–United States Declaration of Independence
“. . . governors, . . . sent by Him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of them that do well.” —–His Book
“Who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this.” (Queen Esther’s uncle, when she risked her life standing against evil.) —–His Book
“It is not possible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.” —–George Washington
TRUE TRUE TRUE
We clearly see the effects of both kinds of government. Let us do all in our power (and no less) for Godly government.
DASH DETERMINES DESTINY
September 25, 2012 By Leave a Comment
The shortest summary of anyone’s life occurs on your tombstone in the form of a dash ” – ” between two dates. Everyone in the world gets the same treatment—no one puts a longer dash or a shorter one on a tombstone, or thicker or thinner.
There are some ways we are all the same. We’re born, we live, we die. We leave a dash, whether we dashed through life or led a slow and easygoing life, whether we conquered the world or felt conquered.
But there is so much more to that dash.
The dash determines our destiny.
Before the first date, we were indeed nothing. Not so after the second date. No matter how hard we try—with intellect, with money, with philosophy, with power—none of us can escape awareness of something after the second date on our tombstone.
Personal now, for the first time since I’ve been writing here nearly a year: The dash determines your destiny. And that means you answering the question, “What shall I do with Jesus?”
Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”
Jesus said, “I am the Resurrection and the Life.”
Jesus said, “Follow me.”
Just talk to Him. Don’t wait till the dash is over. The second date is only the beginning.
FUTURE – – – “FUTURES” – – – OR “EAT, DRINK, AND BE MERRY . . . “
September 24, 2012 By Leave a Comment
What is the future? Is there a future? They even call something “futures” in the stock market.
Can we count on the future, in America?
OR
Should we indeed “Eat, drink, and be merry; for tomorrow we . . .”?
We hear two perspectives about the future today, and a vital third is missing.
ONE—The predominant perspective we hear today is promises—promises that are supposed to give us hope—but promises that are not based on facts or reality—promises that still sway the masses and influence elections.
—It’s good to take the wealth and spread it around.
—We’ll get your education if you can’t afford it.
—We’ll save your company (if . . . )
—We’ll make everyone equal financially.
—We’ll take care of you from womb to tomb (and skip anything or everything in between—your choice?, our choice?)
—We’ll make it a right for you to live any lifestyle you want, no matter what the consequences.
Promises worked for one election. All it takes is one more.
TWO—The second perspective, getting more widespread distribution every month, is facts—facts that tell us we are going over the cliff—facts that tell us we are intentionally being led over the cliff—and facts that tell us we will soon be pushed over that cliff by the same leader.
—The “leader” hates America.
—The “leader” listened to his pastor for two decades, cursing America.
—The “leader” chose terrorists and communists for lifetime mentors.
—The “leader” is purposely plunging the economy and the country over the limit with debt.
—The “leader” rejects our Judaeo-Christian foundation and heritage and embraces everything Muslim.
—The “leader” repeatedly and increasingly snubs our close ally, Israel.
Facts have now armed many Americans. Will there be enough?
THREE—The unheard third perspective includes promises based on facts, plus action—promises that last, on sure foundation—facts that have stood true for thousands of years—and hope in the middle of a call to action that will not be easy.
—Benjamin Franklin said, “The longer I live, the more I am convinced that God governs in the affairs of men. If a sparrow cannot fall without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?”
—John Adams said, “This government will only work for a moral people; it is totally unfit for any other.”
—It worked, until now, for the above reasons. They acknowledged God, and every time Americans and American leaders turned to Him, He rescued us from crises, and prospered us.
—“The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” “I will bless them that bless you (Israel), and I will curse them that curse you.” —–His Book
—And now, the rest of the quote in the title—the bottom line: “If the dead do not rise, ‘Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.'”
These promises based on these facts, plus action, made America different. Will we turn back to faith and freedom, inseparable?
Most of the world around us seems to live by that last part only (“eat and drink, for tomorrow we die”), because they have no lasting hope. Most people disregard the Bible and the God of the Bible. And that explains the mess we’re in.
BUT GOD said there is hope for resurrection, because of Jesus.
Muslims hope for the return of their god if they kill themselves fighting us.
Christians hope in the true Messiah’s return—and we have a directive to go about doing good in every way we can. And that includes standing against evil.
DELIGHTFUL MEDITATION (part 2)
September 22, 2012 By Leave a Comment
(As requested)
“. . . And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.”
. —–His Book (Psalm 1)
WHEN GOD DOESN’T FIT
September 17, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Do you ever feel like saying, “Why, God, Why?”
I can’t imagine anyone never saying it in a lifetime.
I also notice that “It’s Not Fair” is not just for kids to say.
Something is definitely wrong with this world. Does that mean something is wrong with God?
I have listened to answers all my life, and read good books like When God Doesn’t Make Sense and When Your Rope Breaks. Yet, it can still be very hard when life backs you into a corner and everything blows up in your face.
My personal conclusion is like this:
First, the longer I live, the more I realize how much bigger God is than I am. He knows all, including answers to questions I don’t even know how to ask properly. Fact is—God doesn’t fit—He doesn’t fit into our brain. He will not change to fit the billions of different expectations of every human being, including mine.
Second, the longer I live, the more I find comfort reading the Bible. I have graciously been given a personal relationship with the author. I don’t deserve that relationship. It doesn’t fit my expectations or answer all my questions. But it is true, and it makes all the difference in the world.
STRIKE ONE—STRIKE TWO—STRIKE THREE
September 14, 2012 By Leave a Comment
ONE
When the United States started widespread catering to the homosexual agenda, God lifted his hands off this country. “God gave them up.”
TWO
When the United States elected BHOB*, God clenched His fist over this country. “Be not deceived, God is not mocked.”
THREE
When the United States turns its back on Israel, God will bring his clenched fist down on this country. “I will curse them that curse you [Israel].”
This week looks like the beginning of strike three:
—–The leader of the United States has no time to meet with the leader of Israel.
—–Coordinated attacks on American embassies and killing Americans have increased.
*Barack Hussein OBama—Say BHHHOB aloud and it sounds like the warning for Christians in the 2008 election: “Beware of sheep’s clothing.”
VOTE ! – – – VOTE ! – – – VOTE !
September 14, 2012 By Leave a Comment
“Choose you this day whom you will serve.” —–His Book
Vote November 6, 2012 !
O – – – In God We Trust (keep the United States of America)
or
O – – – In Allah We Trust (establish the United Muslim States of Obamerica)