TRY HARDER—TRY SMARTER—TRY WISER—HOW?

FIRST—TRY HARDER—Just work harder, longer, more.  Most Americans are in this group.  Times are tough.  Times are uncertain.  Hold onto what you’ve got.  If you have a job, do anything to keep it.  If you have to, get a second job.  Sacrifice (even your dreams) to put food on the table and pay bills.  Hope things get better.  Don’t waste your limited time and energy to think about things you can’t do anything about anyway.

SECOND—TRY SMARTER—Work smarter, not harder.  Pick the best advisor and learn how to beat the system.  Get a job that is recession-proof.  Make only guaranteed investments.  Learn from others’ mistakes.  Play your cards right, and you don’t have to sacrifice.  Believe in yourself.  Be confident.  Don’t share all your secrets, and you’ll come out ahead.

THIRD—TRY WISER—Wiser is usually confused with working harder and working smarter and believing in yourself.  Truth is, wiser includes working hard and working smart, but not depending on yourself for success.  “Wiser” is not even a common word these days because it suggests principles from outside ourselves.  It implies learning something from older people—people that younger folks may not consider successful.

This calls for another paragraph.  In America we’ve gone for half a century of progress, mostly smooth sailing, and a universally accepted formula:  get a good job, get good stuff, get good insurance, get a good retirement, it’s yours because you earned it, enjoy it because you deserve it.

There have been very few glitches to this pattern for most people, until now.  We hear that the current economic policies are unsustainable, yet individuals seem to have few choices for fundamental change.  If the whole system blows, we’ll just deal with it then.  In the meantime, we try harder and think we’re trying smarter.

So, where does this leave trying wiser?

If we took time to stop, sit, and listen to older people who learned contentment apart from the current focus on finance, we would be better prepared for the days ahead.  The greatest challenge for older people is finding anyone who will appreciate their wisdom, receive it, and apply it.

If you find a person who has learned to live out “Godliness with contentment,” do everything you can to build a relationship with that person and spend a lot of time with him/her.

If you find a person who can honestly say, “Having food and clothing, let us be content,” choose to let that person influence you.

Greater speed does not contribute to wisdom.

Hard work may contribute to wisdom.

Smart does not equal wise.

“Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”

ALL CHILDREN NEED . . .

All children need a father and a mother.

We do well to not ignore or intentionally try to alter that fact.

 

All children have a father and a mother.

We cannot change that fact.

 

Any attempt to change what God did and what God said, doesn’t work and brings pain and destruction and disaster.

 

God had the first Word.

God has the last Word.

Don’t get caught in the middle against His Word.

MARRIAGE—WHOSE IDEA?—WHOSE DEFINITION?

I’m sharing a letter here that I sent today to the pastor of a solid Bible church where I went for nineteen years.

 

Today, as the Supreme Court reviews DOMA and PROP 8, I think of your message about 4 1/2 years ago on persecution.  You spoke of people you ministered to around the world who lived with severe, direct persecution and who lost loved ones.  You made it very real, at least to me.

You also said we did not have persecution in our country.  Yes, we had a lot to be thankful for.  But while you were speaking that Sunday morning, I was thinking of Jim Garlow and many others in California who were experiencing persecution first-hand, because they were publicly defending Biblical marriage (PROP 8).  I cannot see God calling Christian leaders to anything less.

I do not know what is happening next, but one of my greatest concerns is that pastors are not preparing Christians for persecution.  If we are not wrestling with the issues that burdened Bonhoeffer, we may have people asking us questions we can’t answer.

If you will, turn to    AWordforThought.com    and read 3-9-13,   then do a search for all articles on   “persecution.”   I just re-read them myself, for the first time.

In case you get involved reading, there are two articles on the   “remnant.”

It is my goal that something I say or write may save one or two of the remnant from falling away when persecution comes.

God Bless You.  Stand.

Larry Michalk

ATTRACTION – ACTION – RIGHTS – DEMANDS – DOMINANCE

The militant homosexual agenda is not about health, happiness, love, and equality, because it never stops there.  It is about power and control, and it destroys anyone and anything that is not supportive.

But the individual who is sincerely struggling with same-sex attraction, needs people who care enough to make a meaningful difference in his/her life, outside of sex.  That is the ingredient in success stories—identity as a person, not as gay.

Feelings—emotions—are not a stable basis for actions that endanger life and health and true love and blessed marriage with children.

Facts—truth—are clearly the foundation for stable families and cultures.

The benefit of any movement is whether it can stand up to reason and history and the well-being of righteous people.

FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS – – – SOMEONE YOU KNOW?

When I shared this with some friends today, it struck such a responsive note, that I decided to post it here.

 

Professional Counselors

Professional Counselees

We never hear about the families who try to get professional help, and still fall through the cracks.  Far too many fail needlessly.  Why?  Here is part of the answer—what happens too often:

The professional counselor gets what he/she wants—money for well-worded analysis and advice.

The professional counselee gets what he/she wants—support and understanding—while the crack widens.

CHRISTIANS – – – SLAVES ? – OR SERVANTS ?

Christians are clearly called to be slaves of Jesus, our Master.

Christians are clearly commanded to be servants of each other.

Yet, Jesus said He calls us His friends.

So, Christian slavery to Jesus and servant-hood to each other is voluntary—by choice, out of love, with thankfulness.

Also, Christians are told to “Fear God.  Honor the king.”  IN THAT ORDER!!!  We fear God first, then honor the king.  That settles the issue when you can’t do both.  God is a capital G – – – king is a little k (very little in comparison).

Therefore, Christians have no business choosing to be slaves of man.

And, the following passage compels us to take whatever action is necessary to stop the killing and slavery of others, when we know it is happening.  I cannot comment after I share it, because it is severely convicting—so just consider this as you read—Holocaust, Bonhoeffer, Abortion, Obamerica.  This was written to God’s people.

“If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.

Deliver those who are drawn toward death, and hold back those stumbling to the slaughter.

If you say, ‘Surely we did not know this,’ Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it?  He Who keeps your soul, does He not know it?

And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?”

WAR IS HELL

Military Conflict—WAR IS HELL

—Reasons for War  –  When your country is attacked or threatened  –  When your allies are attacked or threatened  –  When helpless people are attacked or threatened

—Mindset for War  –  “No man that goes to war entangles himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who has chosen him to be a soldier.”  –  The prerequisite for peace is victory

—Weapons for War  –  Whatever kills people and destroys things  –  Power, and willingness to use it  –  “. . . with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right . . .” —–Abraham Lincoln, after the war

—Comments—“Never, never, never, never, never, never, never give up.” —–Winston Churchill

 

Spiritual Conflict—WAR IS HELL

—Reasons for War  – You decided to follow Jesus.  –  “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”  –  “All that live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”

—Mindset for War  –  “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”

—Weapons for War  –  “Resist him (the devil), steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brothers in the world.”          “For the weapons or our warfare are not of the flesh but mighty of God for pulling down strongholds.”          “Take up the whole armor of God, to stand, . . .  gird your waist with truth, put on the breastplate of righteousness, shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit (Word of God), and prayer.”

—Comments—“It will be worth it all, when we see Jesus”

 

Marriage Conflict—WAR IS HELL

—Reasons for War  –  Two human beings  –  Expectations  –  Busy  –  “I’m right”  –  I’m tired”  –  Secrets  –  Sin

—Mindset for War  –  Desperation  –  Isolation  –  “I’ll show him”  –  “I’ll show her”  –  “I must prove . . .”  –  “What’s wrong with me?”  –  “What’s wrong with him/her?”  –  “You need help”

—Weapons for War  –  Secrecy (universally employed)  –  Just about anything will work.  –  No training necessary, but damage increases with practice.  –  Just do what comes naturally.  –  Destruction is easy and quick (Reconstruction is difficult and unnatural).  –  Fire extinguishers to fix the other person are often filled with gasoline (Damage is doubled, destroying both combatants).  –  Secrecy (extremely effective)

—Comments—Marriage Conflict is Spiritual Conflict, for the Christian couple.  There is no more significant place for the devil to attack and gain a foothold in Christians’ lives than in their marriage.  –  Conflict Resolution is an oxymoron, without outside help—from God, from people who care more about marriage for others than money for themselves.  –  You and I (ordinary people) must simply care enough to make a difference in someone’s life, in two people’s marriage.  –  If we know someone who needs help at home, then we are the ones to help.  Do it.

 

WAR IS HELL—War is inevitable.—Victory is essential.—Winning is worth it.

PERSECUTION COMING – – – DON’T MISS IT

(This is heavy.  This is serious.  This is real.  Brace yourself.  Take heed.)

Wow, is that title an attention-getter—or true?

Now, who in their right mind would not try to avoid persecution?

So, how do you avoid persecution?

And, who is in their right mind—now, and when persecution does come?

But, we live in America, with guaranteed religious freedom?

Answers:

First question – – – I hope the title got someone’s attention, because it is true.  I am talking about real suffering for following Jesus Christ as your only Savior from sin—the only Truth and the only Way to heaven—because the Bible said so.  It has to be that clear, and it will be the precise dividing line to determine who gets persecuted.  Don’t miss Jesus, and you won’t miss persecution.

Second question – – – In my right mind I do not want persecution.  It hurts.  It’s not fun or funny.  You suffer.  You may be tortured.  Many die.  But not wanting persecution does not mean trying to avoid it.  I might make provisions to survive during the coming persecution.  I may hide for safety, or help others hide (The Hiding Place story of Corrie Ten Boom in Germany).  But when the time comes, I pray that I will not deny following Jesus—and that time starts now—potential persecution starts now.

Third question – – – Here is how to avoid persecution.  You do have a choice.  You can choose not to follow Jesus, and deny that you are a Christian.  But that may or may not work, if you have acted like a Christian before.  So, who do you want to be true to?   Persecutors hate Christians and phonies.

Fourth question – – – Right mind may not be what you think.  Better stake your life on something more stable than what you think.  There is a lot of mental gymnastics going on already, with most people creating a mindset of safety and security—basically designing their own god to suit themselves and stay out of trouble.  PC Christianity sounds smart, but it is stupid and makes God throw up, literally—He said so.  Lukewarm Christianity won’t cut it with God, and it won’t comfort with persecution.

Fifth question – – – The mainstream, downstream, government Department of Media may not have informed you that our Constitution, our First Amendment, is being trashed now.  And Christians are specifically singled out for religious persecution, while others get a pass.  A lot of new wording in the U.S. and the U.N. means freedom for everything except Christianity.

 

This article was prompted by something I heard a few minutes ago on American Family Radio, encouraging us to educate our children about the imminent persecution of Christians in America.  I have four children, a son-in-law, two daughters-in-law, and two grandchildren so far.  So I wrote this for those nine reasons.  (I prayed for each of you by name just now, as I often do.  “Be There”—I hope you remember what that means.)

The best way I know to be truthfully informed and realistically ready:

—–Read Your Bible

—–Listen To AFR Talk

STOCK MARKET – – – VALENTINES DAY

“She loves me – – – She loves me not – – – She loves me – – – She loves me not . . . ”

It never did me much good plucking the petals off of sunflowers when I was growing up on the farm, but I did it anyway.  I guess it did keep the dream alive, and I have known love for real, and also . . .

I don’t know how old I was when I first noticed the reporting of stock market fluctuations become a daily news item.  My paper degree is not in finance, but even back then I thought it strange that people would hover over the daily financial flip-flops that their life depended on, like a daily tracking of an unstable and volatile love relationship, and reacting accordingly.

I conclude that business, finance, and love depend on commitment for the long haul, not jumping in and out with every up and down.

She loves me – – – She loves me not – – – is for the birds – – – or, I guess, the flowers.

But then again, Jesus said to take an example from the birds and the flowers, and not to worry.

I guess that means not to worry about money, or love.

VALENTINES DAY 2013

” L O V E   N E V E R   F A I L S “