Lord,
I come to You today with a heavy heart for the many people suffering. I lift up the grieving mother saying goodbye to her son today who died way too soon. I lift up other grieving parents with swollen eyes and broken hearts trying to put their lives back together after the death of their children. You see their grief. You see their broken hearts. You see the hole in their souls. Only You can help these through this dark valley of the shadow of death.
I lift up those who are about to lose to their mind. The pain is too intense. The frustrations mount daily as well as the anxiety and there does not appear a way of escape. I ask You to help them hold on for another day. I ask You to intervene and give them both relief and peace. That is not hard for You.
I lift up those weighed down with the cares of this world. I lift up those who have been pummeled by life and they have no more strength. Jesus, You are their strength. I ask You to renew them today.
I lift up those so discouraged they cannot even find another prayer to pray. They are out of words and the best they can manage is tears. Thank You for being able to interpret those tears. I ask You to step into their lives and reveal Yourself in a fresh way.
Many are battling cancer. They have fears and concerns. Their loved ones are also concerned. Cancer is not so big a mountain that You cannot move it. I ask You by the simple act of Your will to rebuke cancer and give healing. I ask You to cast out every cell of cancer in the bodies of those suffering and desperate for a miracle. I thank You that You are still in the miracle business.
I lift up those suffering silently in abuse and nobody knows. I ask You to be their refuge and Deliverer. I ask You to heal their wounds and emotional trauma. I ask You to protect them and set them free.
I lift up those who feel like giving up. O, Lord,please put perseverance in them. I ask You to encourage them with visible proof that You have not forgotten them and that You are at work.
Finally, I lift up those drowning in a sea of financial crisis. I lift up those who see no way out of their dilemma. You are a mighty Provider. I ask You to rescue those in need. You know the needs. You have unlimited resources to meet all their needs and I ask You to do that in Jesus name. Amen.
Monday, July 13, 2015
Sunday, July 12, 2015
War
Do you love people enough to fight for them? I am not referring to fighting physically. I am talking about going to war in prayer on behalf of people you love. I am talking about doing true battle in intercession for family and friends.
There is a type of warring that means carrying deep burdens, feeling the pain of other's suffering, and entering into their sorrows through fervent praying. There is a warring wet with tears, sleepless nights, agonizing groans, and persevering persistence to never give up.
Parents do this for children. Spouses do this for their soul mates. Friends do this for friends. Pastors do this for their flocks. Prophets do this for nations.
Do you love people enough to war for them. In Genesis 18 Abraham loved his nephew, Lot, enough to intercede asking God to spare the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah to spare his nephew. The angels sent to destroy the city told Lot in Genesis 19 they could not destroy the city until he and his family left.
Do we love people enough to war for them on our knees. This is the highest form of battle. Prayer closets and bedrooms become war rooms and fields of battle as parents fight for the spiritual well being of their families. Prayer rooms are battle fields in churches where the well being of local communities are fought for.
In small obscure places around the world and with people you have never heard of or have never seen, war is daily taking place. I thank God for some women who West Texas who continue to pray for me. I thank God for a pastor's wife who saw me as a troubled teen and warred for me. I thank God for my great uncle who warred for me in towns hours away from where I lived. I thank God for the many people who have prayed for me over the years. The battles have been intense. The spiritual attacks have been relentless. Those who have warred for me have not wearied in the fight.
Now it is an honor when God burdens me to go to war for people. There are many I fight for daily. I feel their rebellion, suffering, burdens, sorrows, temptations, failures and trials. I love them and I because of that love I war for them. Keep fighting for those you love.
There is a type of warring that means carrying deep burdens, feeling the pain of other's suffering, and entering into their sorrows through fervent praying. There is a warring wet with tears, sleepless nights, agonizing groans, and persevering persistence to never give up.
Parents do this for children. Spouses do this for their soul mates. Friends do this for friends. Pastors do this for their flocks. Prophets do this for nations.
Do you love people enough to war for them. In Genesis 18 Abraham loved his nephew, Lot, enough to intercede asking God to spare the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah to spare his nephew. The angels sent to destroy the city told Lot in Genesis 19 they could not destroy the city until he and his family left.
Do we love people enough to war for them on our knees. This is the highest form of battle. Prayer closets and bedrooms become war rooms and fields of battle as parents fight for the spiritual well being of their families. Prayer rooms are battle fields in churches where the well being of local communities are fought for.
In small obscure places around the world and with people you have never heard of or have never seen, war is daily taking place. I thank God for some women who West Texas who continue to pray for me. I thank God for a pastor's wife who saw me as a troubled teen and warred for me. I thank God for my great uncle who warred for me in towns hours away from where I lived. I thank God for the many people who have prayed for me over the years. The battles have been intense. The spiritual attacks have been relentless. Those who have warred for me have not wearied in the fight.
Now it is an honor when God burdens me to go to war for people. There are many I fight for daily. I feel their rebellion, suffering, burdens, sorrows, temptations, failures and trials. I love them and I because of that love I war for them. Keep fighting for those you love.
Thursday, July 9, 2015
Not Content But Content
You say in all my circumstances I should be content,
How can this be when my heart is broken and rent,
Over wayward souls who don't know You and are lost,
When Christians will not follow unwilling to pay the cost?
When the Bride of Christ has sullied her wedding dress,
In the filth of hypocrisy and sin instead of righteousness?
How can my heart be content in the midst of such pain,
Among those who suffer beyond what words can explain?
How can I be content Lord in this rebellious defiant nation,
Who has forgotten we only exist because of Your creation?
I am not cotent my Lord when loved friends s drift further away,
Turning their backs and hearts on You and giving the Devil his day?
How can I remain content when sin still creeps into my heart,
When I am prone to wander and so quickly from You depart?
Jesus You alone are the only source that can make me content,
May my pursuit of You and living a holy honoring life never relent?
Jesus with You I am learning daily how to become contented,
While living with a broken burdened heart You have extended.
How can this be when my heart is broken and rent,
Over wayward souls who don't know You and are lost,
When Christians will not follow unwilling to pay the cost?
When the Bride of Christ has sullied her wedding dress,
In the filth of hypocrisy and sin instead of righteousness?
How can my heart be content in the midst of such pain,
Among those who suffer beyond what words can explain?
How can I be content Lord in this rebellious defiant nation,
Who has forgotten we only exist because of Your creation?
I am not cotent my Lord when loved friends s drift further away,
Turning their backs and hearts on You and giving the Devil his day?
How can I remain content when sin still creeps into my heart,
When I am prone to wander and so quickly from You depart?
Jesus You alone are the only source that can make me content,
May my pursuit of You and living a holy honoring life never relent?
Jesus with You I am learning daily how to become contented,
While living with a broken burdened heart You have extended.
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Inquiring The Lord
Lord, I paused in the middle of my day,
To inquire of You and seek Your way,
I asked Your counsel about Your will,
What You purpose while standing still,
I need to clearly hear Your guiding voice,
Before each decision making my choice,
Praise You Lord because You still speak,
It is Your voice alone I continually seek.
To inquire of You and seek Your way,
I asked Your counsel about Your will,
What You purpose while standing still,
I need to clearly hear Your guiding voice,
Before each decision making my choice,
Praise You Lord because You still speak,
It is Your voice alone I continually seek.
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
The Prophet
In the early winter of 1991 I was a student at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. I found the whole experience boring. It was only my second semester but I already wearied of classes on Old Testament and New Testament history, Hermeneutics, Baptist History, and others. I wanted to get out and actually start doing something beside read, write papers and take tests.
Most days after class I went to the library and made my way to a little niche on the second floor. Once there, I laid text books aside and took out treasured copies of books written by Vance Havner and Leonard Ravenhill. On that second floor the Master of the Universe began to teach me other things and I worked on His Master's Degree.
This morning I have two books written by those prophets of the Lord open on my desk. I have the tattered volume A Treasury of Vance Havner: Twentieth Century Prophet as well as a worn copy of Ravenhill's book, America Is Too Young To Die. God has used both books numerous times in my life over the past twenty-four years.
It seems like yesterday I got lost on the second floor of that library in thought, prayer, and dreams as I read those two men. Havner wrote:
I do not call myself an evangelist or a Bible teacher. My ministry is revival
rather than evangelism but the term revivalist never appealed to me. There should
be full time prophets who speak for God to the nation and to the church. The true
prophet has slight regard for forms and ceremonies. He is disconcerting to the
system and irritates those who seek only to maintain the status quo. He is not
remotely interested in being "in" with the rich, wise, mighty or noble. The prophet
is essentially a rebel. Jesus was a rebel against the lifeless established religion
of His day. To equip such men, God usually endows them with a streak of
stubbornness and a disinclination to follow beaten paths. This makes them
unpopular with the prevailing set up of their day. We need a prophet
who will go to the woods with his Bible and learn what God is thinking. pp.165-167
When I read that I highlighted all those words. I then took out my pen and wrote these words in the margin, "God, I want to be that man."
The prophet is different in many ways from the pastor. The prophet is often a loner preferring to keep company with God rather than with people. The prophet preaches hard. He is a servant of God, on mission for God, declaring a fresh word from God. Prophets are men of prayer. They agonize over the sins of their generation. They fearlessly call the church and nation to repentance. Prophets are not popular. They are often labeled as too hard, too negative, too aloof, too controversial and too uncompromising for the mainstream religious establishment. Prophets are needed mouthpieces for God to thunder against sin and call people back to God and holiness of living.
Ravenhill wrote about prophets in America Is Too Young To Die. I think people would agree God anointed and consecrated him to be one of those prophets. Ravenhill listed several characteristics of prophets. Of prophets he wrote: "Compromise is not known to them. He has not price tags. He lives in the heights with God and comes into the valley with a "thus saith the Lord." He lives in splendid isolation. He has a heart like a volcano and his words are as fire. He hides with God in the secret places but he has nothing to hide in the marketplace. We need a God sent prophet!" pp. 24-25
Prophets upset the status quo. They rock the boat of apathy and hypocrisy. They ruffle the feathers of the religious establishment. They afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted. America needs prophets on the scene again.
We are past the time for polished pastors who offer sterile sermon series week after week. We are past the time for tickling the ears to keep the peace. We are a nation adrift in a seal of immorality. We are a nation bent on leaving the God we once loved and revered. We are a nation of religious imposters giving lip service to our faith but rarely giving the heart service of prayer and evangelism. We are a nation littered with houses of worship but not near as many true churches.
In a day when churches have become big business and small ministry we need a voice crying out in the wilderness, "REPENT!" We desperately need a prophetic voice calling America back to holiness of living and to forsake the hootenannies of hollywood lifestyles and philosophies. We need courageous prophets who preach to please God and not for profits. We need prophets who cannot be silenced by promotions or endorsement. The only promotion the true prophet needs is Heaven and the only endorsement he needs to be anointed of God.
In a day when many pastors are glad handing the members for special favors the prophet can never be bought off. He will never be the puppet of wealthy members. Though kept off many influential conference platforms or out of many prestigious pulpits God has His plans and purposes to use the prophet.
While many evangelist are busy about building their slick gospel presentations and marketing methods to grow their ministry, the prophet does not seek self promotion. He seeks God on behalf of the nation and trusts God to promote him where He wills. The prophet makes no distinction from preaching in the backwoods or preaching in First Church in the city. He does where God sends without regard to large love offerings.
The prophet preaches for conviction. He writes to shake souls. He prays for a tidal wave of conviction to hit America and to shatter the order of worship in churches all over the land. The prophet prays in secrete and the Father who seeks in secret uses the prophet mightily in public.
America needs prophets. We do not need more professional pastors. We do not need more sanitized sermons. We need a, "Thus says the Lord." We need a fresh voice from God and not an echo of the passing fads of the prevailing church growth philosophies of the day.
I thank God from the depths of my soul for the education He agave me on the second floor of that library. He seated me at the feet of two masterful prophets in Vance Havner and Leonard Ravenhill. Now both are in heaven but their voices are not silenced. Their recorded sermons live on. Their writings live on. Yet, who will take up the prophetic baton from these departed. "Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Who can we send and who will go for Us?' Then I said, 'Here am I. Send me.'" [Is 6:8]
Most days after class I went to the library and made my way to a little niche on the second floor. Once there, I laid text books aside and took out treasured copies of books written by Vance Havner and Leonard Ravenhill. On that second floor the Master of the Universe began to teach me other things and I worked on His Master's Degree.
This morning I have two books written by those prophets of the Lord open on my desk. I have the tattered volume A Treasury of Vance Havner: Twentieth Century Prophet as well as a worn copy of Ravenhill's book, America Is Too Young To Die. God has used both books numerous times in my life over the past twenty-four years.
It seems like yesterday I got lost on the second floor of that library in thought, prayer, and dreams as I read those two men. Havner wrote:
I do not call myself an evangelist or a Bible teacher. My ministry is revival
rather than evangelism but the term revivalist never appealed to me. There should
be full time prophets who speak for God to the nation and to the church. The true
prophet has slight regard for forms and ceremonies. He is disconcerting to the
system and irritates those who seek only to maintain the status quo. He is not
remotely interested in being "in" with the rich, wise, mighty or noble. The prophet
is essentially a rebel. Jesus was a rebel against the lifeless established religion
of His day. To equip such men, God usually endows them with a streak of
stubbornness and a disinclination to follow beaten paths. This makes them
unpopular with the prevailing set up of their day. We need a prophet
who will go to the woods with his Bible and learn what God is thinking. pp.165-167
When I read that I highlighted all those words. I then took out my pen and wrote these words in the margin, "God, I want to be that man."
The prophet is different in many ways from the pastor. The prophet is often a loner preferring to keep company with God rather than with people. The prophet preaches hard. He is a servant of God, on mission for God, declaring a fresh word from God. Prophets are men of prayer. They agonize over the sins of their generation. They fearlessly call the church and nation to repentance. Prophets are not popular. They are often labeled as too hard, too negative, too aloof, too controversial and too uncompromising for the mainstream religious establishment. Prophets are needed mouthpieces for God to thunder against sin and call people back to God and holiness of living.
Ravenhill wrote about prophets in America Is Too Young To Die. I think people would agree God anointed and consecrated him to be one of those prophets. Ravenhill listed several characteristics of prophets. Of prophets he wrote: "Compromise is not known to them. He has not price tags. He lives in the heights with God and comes into the valley with a "thus saith the Lord." He lives in splendid isolation. He has a heart like a volcano and his words are as fire. He hides with God in the secret places but he has nothing to hide in the marketplace. We need a God sent prophet!" pp. 24-25
Prophets upset the status quo. They rock the boat of apathy and hypocrisy. They ruffle the feathers of the religious establishment. They afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted. America needs prophets on the scene again.
We are past the time for polished pastors who offer sterile sermon series week after week. We are past the time for tickling the ears to keep the peace. We are a nation adrift in a seal of immorality. We are a nation bent on leaving the God we once loved and revered. We are a nation of religious imposters giving lip service to our faith but rarely giving the heart service of prayer and evangelism. We are a nation littered with houses of worship but not near as many true churches.
In a day when churches have become big business and small ministry we need a voice crying out in the wilderness, "REPENT!" We desperately need a prophetic voice calling America back to holiness of living and to forsake the hootenannies of hollywood lifestyles and philosophies. We need courageous prophets who preach to please God and not for profits. We need prophets who cannot be silenced by promotions or endorsement. The only promotion the true prophet needs is Heaven and the only endorsement he needs to be anointed of God.
In a day when many pastors are glad handing the members for special favors the prophet can never be bought off. He will never be the puppet of wealthy members. Though kept off many influential conference platforms or out of many prestigious pulpits God has His plans and purposes to use the prophet.
While many evangelist are busy about building their slick gospel presentations and marketing methods to grow their ministry, the prophet does not seek self promotion. He seeks God on behalf of the nation and trusts God to promote him where He wills. The prophet makes no distinction from preaching in the backwoods or preaching in First Church in the city. He does where God sends without regard to large love offerings.
The prophet preaches for conviction. He writes to shake souls. He prays for a tidal wave of conviction to hit America and to shatter the order of worship in churches all over the land. The prophet prays in secrete and the Father who seeks in secret uses the prophet mightily in public.
America needs prophets. We do not need more professional pastors. We do not need more sanitized sermons. We need a, "Thus says the Lord." We need a fresh voice from God and not an echo of the passing fads of the prevailing church growth philosophies of the day.
I thank God from the depths of my soul for the education He agave me on the second floor of that library. He seated me at the feet of two masterful prophets in Vance Havner and Leonard Ravenhill. Now both are in heaven but their voices are not silenced. Their recorded sermons live on. Their writings live on. Yet, who will take up the prophetic baton from these departed. "Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Who can we send and who will go for Us?' Then I said, 'Here am I. Send me.'" [Is 6:8]
Monday, June 29, 2015
This Is Not The America I Grew Up In
It is 2:51 a.m. and I cannot sleep. There is a heavy sorrow deep inside me like you experience when someone close to you dies. Only this time the grief is not due to the death of someone but due to the sinful condition of the United States of America.
This nation has gone adrift in a sewage sea of sin that breaks my heart. Sinful deeds once done in hiding are now openly flaunted. This is not the America I grew up in. With each passing year of my near fifty years on this planet I have seen changes taking us further and further away from God and His laws. .
My fifth grade teacher used to ask us a question each Monday morning after standing to say the pledge of allegiance. She always wrote "boys" on one side of the chalk board and "girls" on the other side.We all knew what she was about to ask. "Boys and girls, how many of you went to church yesterday?" There would be a show of hands and she tallied the votes making a little contest out of it. I remember how proud I was and how pleased she looked when I raised my hand on rare occasions. In hindsight, I can see Mrs. Mckinney served Jesus and no doubt prayed for our class. I never had a more encouraging teacher than her. I credit her encouragement, to this day, partly for the reason I love to write.
Could she get away with asking that question in a classroom today without repercussions. How many parents would pounce on her for introducing religion to their child. She would be reprimanded by school administrators or even fired such actions today. This thought grieves my heart.
I was not raised in church. We went occasionally. I cannot recall ever having attended a VBS as a child. I do remember the few times I want to church hearing the pastor preach from the Bible and thunder against sin. A far cry from much of church today.
I played ball with my friends in the neighborhood. Nobody heard of playing organized youth sports on a Sunday. Most stores were not even open on Sunday. I did not grow up in church but somehow I knew Sunday was different. I am amazed at how youth sports has become an idol in many Christian homes. Sunday is no longer considered a holy day, a sacred day set apart for worship and rest. It is a day to travel to the next tournament, play the next game, and hopefully win the next trophy. What message are parents sending to kids at this point. Baseball, softball, basketball, and volleyball are more important than God.
While visiting with a young lady at camp last week she told she was caught up in that life once. She never had time to go to church because she was always playing on a select team. She finally got tired of it all and walked away from playing sports all together. Today she and her husband are very active in ministry. What are the spiritual implications for this addiction to sports. One day confessed to me his regrets for allowing his child to play on Sundays. His exact words to me, "That destroyed her spiritually." Is the trophy worth that? This child wandered from the faith in later years before eventually returning to the Lord.
When I grew up select teams were when your best friends chose you to be on their team when you were choosing sides. We played whatever sport was in season in somebody's yard. Most of my childhood friends went to church on Sundays. They did come out play much on Sundays. I knew Sunday was different.
Today Sunday is just like any other day of the week. When I pulled into the neighborhood yesterday after church, I saw several Senior Adult men driving their golf carts loaded down with golf clubs after getting in a quick 18 holes before lunch. That is their life. They wake up everyday to play golf. They give no thought to matters of eternity. Many of them made it rich in their professional career and are enjoying their retirement years playing golf everyday. God and salvation do not mean anything to them. They think they will get to heaven based on the fact they are good old boys. Good old boys go to hell without Jesus.
When I cross the bridge over Lake Bridgeport on my way home from church each week this time of year, the lake is littered with boats filled with people fishing, skiing, tubing, and jet skiing. Many of them say they do not have to go to church to worship. They worship beside ice chests filled with cold beer. In the fall these people will worship at the shrine of the Dallas Cowboys or their local high school football team. In the summer they swear their allegiance to the Texas Rangers baseball team. Do they fear the Lord who will judge their souls at the end of life. How few consider that it is appointed unto man once to die and then comes judgment.
I grew up watching things on television like Batman, Mighty Mouse, The Justice League, Scooby Doo, and the Six Million Dollar man. We did not live in front of the television. We did not have a cartoon network Cartoons were a special treat on Saturday mornings. We played outside. We did not see being made to go outside to play as punishment . We hated being cooped up inside the house and dreaded rainy days. Today children sit in front of televisions or video games multiple hours a day. Subtly culture rubs off on them as they are conformed to the pattern of this world.
This is not the America I grew up in. I got odd jobs as a child to earn money for the things I wanted. I worked seven weeks to purchase a record player I had my eye on. See weeks I labored for that record player and I valued it because I did so. Everything was not handed to me. I bought a bicycle after weeks of recycling paper. I moved yards, helped with paper routes, and raked leaves. My family taught me the value of hard work. I see so many children and students who are given everything. These children grow up entitled , spoiled and lazy.How will they function as working adults.
I grew up around black people. Some of my closest friends in high school were black teammates. We got along. We hd each other's backs. When our high school football team played towns known for racism some of black friends were fearful to get off the bus. I told them to walk behind me and I would fight for them if need be. They were my friends. We did not see everything as black vs white. I was honored when several of them asked me to be in a picture at our Senior prom. I was the only white guy in it. I still count that as an honor.
Today the media is quick to sir up racial tensions by what they air on the news and the way they cover a news story. There are some very disturbing things going like the shootings at the Bible study a short time ago racially motivated. At times it feels we are taking steps backward in race relations. The ground is level at the foot of the cross. The color of a person's skin does not matter there. The love of Jesus ran red at the cross as He shed his blood to forgive us all of sin. Why not focus on that color.
Politicians cannot save America. No matter how slick they are or how outlandish their campaign promises are they will never be able to restore America to what she used to be. Only God can do that. Only God can bring people to conviction and move them to repentance. Only God can turn hearts away from idolatry, pleasure seeking, bigotry, greed, strife, immorality of every shape, and arrogance. Only God can usher in a wave of revival and spiritual awakening that restores this nation to our roots. Only God can reorient our priorities to Him. Only God can heal and save this nation from self destruction.
I still love America. I would not want to live anywhere else. I would be a liar, though, if I did not call out the sin of our nation and pretended all was well to keep the peace.
This nation has gone adrift in a sewage sea of sin that breaks my heart. Sinful deeds once done in hiding are now openly flaunted. This is not the America I grew up in. With each passing year of my near fifty years on this planet I have seen changes taking us further and further away from God and His laws. .
My fifth grade teacher used to ask us a question each Monday morning after standing to say the pledge of allegiance. She always wrote "boys" on one side of the chalk board and "girls" on the other side.We all knew what she was about to ask. "Boys and girls, how many of you went to church yesterday?" There would be a show of hands and she tallied the votes making a little contest out of it. I remember how proud I was and how pleased she looked when I raised my hand on rare occasions. In hindsight, I can see Mrs. Mckinney served Jesus and no doubt prayed for our class. I never had a more encouraging teacher than her. I credit her encouragement, to this day, partly for the reason I love to write.
Could she get away with asking that question in a classroom today without repercussions. How many parents would pounce on her for introducing religion to their child. She would be reprimanded by school administrators or even fired such actions today. This thought grieves my heart.
I was not raised in church. We went occasionally. I cannot recall ever having attended a VBS as a child. I do remember the few times I want to church hearing the pastor preach from the Bible and thunder against sin. A far cry from much of church today.
I played ball with my friends in the neighborhood. Nobody heard of playing organized youth sports on a Sunday. Most stores were not even open on Sunday. I did not grow up in church but somehow I knew Sunday was different. I am amazed at how youth sports has become an idol in many Christian homes. Sunday is no longer considered a holy day, a sacred day set apart for worship and rest. It is a day to travel to the next tournament, play the next game, and hopefully win the next trophy. What message are parents sending to kids at this point. Baseball, softball, basketball, and volleyball are more important than God.
While visiting with a young lady at camp last week she told she was caught up in that life once. She never had time to go to church because she was always playing on a select team. She finally got tired of it all and walked away from playing sports all together. Today she and her husband are very active in ministry. What are the spiritual implications for this addiction to sports. One day confessed to me his regrets for allowing his child to play on Sundays. His exact words to me, "That destroyed her spiritually." Is the trophy worth that? This child wandered from the faith in later years before eventually returning to the Lord.
When I grew up select teams were when your best friends chose you to be on their team when you were choosing sides. We played whatever sport was in season in somebody's yard. Most of my childhood friends went to church on Sundays. They did come out play much on Sundays. I knew Sunday was different.
Today Sunday is just like any other day of the week. When I pulled into the neighborhood yesterday after church, I saw several Senior Adult men driving their golf carts loaded down with golf clubs after getting in a quick 18 holes before lunch. That is their life. They wake up everyday to play golf. They give no thought to matters of eternity. Many of them made it rich in their professional career and are enjoying their retirement years playing golf everyday. God and salvation do not mean anything to them. They think they will get to heaven based on the fact they are good old boys. Good old boys go to hell without Jesus.
When I cross the bridge over Lake Bridgeport on my way home from church each week this time of year, the lake is littered with boats filled with people fishing, skiing, tubing, and jet skiing. Many of them say they do not have to go to church to worship. They worship beside ice chests filled with cold beer. In the fall these people will worship at the shrine of the Dallas Cowboys or their local high school football team. In the summer they swear their allegiance to the Texas Rangers baseball team. Do they fear the Lord who will judge their souls at the end of life. How few consider that it is appointed unto man once to die and then comes judgment.
I grew up watching things on television like Batman, Mighty Mouse, The Justice League, Scooby Doo, and the Six Million Dollar man. We did not live in front of the television. We did not have a cartoon network Cartoons were a special treat on Saturday mornings. We played outside. We did not see being made to go outside to play as punishment . We hated being cooped up inside the house and dreaded rainy days. Today children sit in front of televisions or video games multiple hours a day. Subtly culture rubs off on them as they are conformed to the pattern of this world.
This is not the America I grew up in. I got odd jobs as a child to earn money for the things I wanted. I worked seven weeks to purchase a record player I had my eye on. See weeks I labored for that record player and I valued it because I did so. Everything was not handed to me. I bought a bicycle after weeks of recycling paper. I moved yards, helped with paper routes, and raked leaves. My family taught me the value of hard work. I see so many children and students who are given everything. These children grow up entitled , spoiled and lazy.How will they function as working adults.
I grew up around black people. Some of my closest friends in high school were black teammates. We got along. We hd each other's backs. When our high school football team played towns known for racism some of black friends were fearful to get off the bus. I told them to walk behind me and I would fight for them if need be. They were my friends. We did not see everything as black vs white. I was honored when several of them asked me to be in a picture at our Senior prom. I was the only white guy in it. I still count that as an honor.
Today the media is quick to sir up racial tensions by what they air on the news and the way they cover a news story. There are some very disturbing things going like the shootings at the Bible study a short time ago racially motivated. At times it feels we are taking steps backward in race relations. The ground is level at the foot of the cross. The color of a person's skin does not matter there. The love of Jesus ran red at the cross as He shed his blood to forgive us all of sin. Why not focus on that color.
Politicians cannot save America. No matter how slick they are or how outlandish their campaign promises are they will never be able to restore America to what she used to be. Only God can do that. Only God can bring people to conviction and move them to repentance. Only God can turn hearts away from idolatry, pleasure seeking, bigotry, greed, strife, immorality of every shape, and arrogance. Only God can usher in a wave of revival and spiritual awakening that restores this nation to our roots. Only God can reorient our priorities to Him. Only God can heal and save this nation from self destruction.
I still love America. I would not want to live anywhere else. I would be a liar, though, if I did not call out the sin of our nation and pretended all was well to keep the peace.
Sunday, June 28, 2015
Has America Passed The Point Of No Return?
Since the pilgrims landed on this soil God has been good to America. When the colonies strayed away fromGod and Bible truth, the Lord sent George Whitfield to America to usher in the First Great Awakening. In subsequent years God also called men like Dwight Moody, Charles Finney, Billy Sunday, and Billy Graham to preach the gospel and turn the masses back to Christ. The Lord has been merciful in His dealings with the United States of America.
The United Sates of America is blessed with abundant resources. Our nation rose to become a super power under God's provision and protection. His blessings have been evident. Millions have been saved under the protection of religious freedom and gospel preaching.
This has not been enough to keep this nation on the right path. America has turned in large part from her Creator and Sustainer. The currency may read, "In God We Trust," but the truth is
this nation arrogantly has turned away from God and His ways. America bows at the idols of man made religions, empty philosophies, and morality of her own choosing.
Fewer and fewer people outside and inside the church still hold to the infallibility and inerrancy of God's word. Young preachers are taught principles of higher criticism in essence undermining the authority of God's word. Certain passages are called into question such as the virgin birth of Christ, the miracle of the parting of the Red Sea, whether Noah and the ark really happened, and whether there is only one way to salvation through Jesus or multiple ways to salvation. People in the pews have mixed cultural beliefs with Bible doctrine giving more credibility to culture.
On top of this, pagan culture denies absolute truth. Some teach that truth is relative. If there is no absolute truth the Bible is no longer valued as an authoritative book. The ten commandments become the ten suggestions. In addition, many preachers have gotten away from preaching Bible truth. They no longer give sermons but present "talks." Small fragments of Bible passages are taught mixed with common sense and pop psychological ideas of cultural icons like Dr. Phil, Dr. Oz, Ellen, and Oprah.
When individuals, educational institutions, churches, and culture at large devalue the authority of God's word, the end result is a society where anything goes. There is no longer a standard for right and wrong. Boundaries can be redefined. Truth becomes relative to what people choose to believe for themselves.
Sin is no longer classified as sin. The boundaries have been redrawn. The Bible is seen as an antiquated book by many. Fornication is just having sex. Adultery has become an affair. Homosexuality is an alternative lifestyle. Deceit, greed, and coveting are now just getting ahead. Malice is just politics, and rebellion is labeled as people thinking for themselves.
Many times America has been lead astray from God. Numerous times God has graciously intervened and brought the nation to repentance and spiritual awakening. We need it again but have we drifted too far away this time. Have we crossed the point from which there is no return.
In 1962 the Supreme Court decided that institutions like public schools could not force people to pray. A devout Atheist pushed this case and won. Today the masses readily accept that you cannot pray in school. In 1973 the Supreme Court ruled that abortions would be legalized. On June 26, 2015 the Supreme Court ruled to legalize Homosexual marriages.
Society wants to soften this by calling them same sex marriages. The Bible calls this sin homosexuality. [Lev 20:13] [Rom 1:24-28] [I Cor 6:9-11] [I Tim 1:8-11]
I have a job to do. As defined in [II Tim 4:1-2]] my job is to preach the word. I am not at liberty to preach my opinions. I am not at liberty to preach only what people want to hear. I have an obligation to preach truth from the Bible even if it is politically incorrect. The popularity of the message has no bearing on the topic. I am still one of the old fashioned preachers who believes in the inerrancy and infallibility of God's word. His word is God breathed or God inspired. [II Tim 3:16-17] I have heard all the arguments against this view. On this hill I choose to stand and die. God's word holds authority for me, for the family, for the local church, the community, and every country. It is my job to teach and preach this unadulterated word.
The United Sates of America has in large part rejected the authority of God's word and no longer complies with God's law. This is a slippery slope. Sin is still sin and there is only one Supreme Court Justice that matters and His eternal justice and judgments do not fail. Nobody escapes unscathed if they reject Jesus and Bible truth.
In our society the vocal minority have won the day. They succeeded in changing the mindsets of the media, academia, judiciaries, and politicians. THEY DID NOT CHANGE GOD OR HIS STANDARDS! THEY NEVER WILL!
Take a long look at what God calls sin. Wickedness, greed, evil, envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice, gossip, slander, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobey parents, unloving, untrustworthy, unrighteous, fornication, idolatry, adultery, homosexuality, theft, coveting, drunkenness, swindling, immorality, kidnapping, lying, perjury, love of self, love of money, lovers of pleasure, ungrateful, unholy, and without self control. You can read these lists for yourself in [Rom 1:24-28] [I Cor 6:9-11] [I Tim 1:8-11] [II Tim 3:1-5] Each and every listed action is counted a sin by God. Each and every person will be called into account for such things. Each and eery one of these sins are just as offensive to God as the others.
So called Christian people fornicate just like pagans. Church members gossip just like the lost people. Deacons are greedy just like deceptive CEO's. Pastors swindle just like corrupt business owners. It is all sin. ALL OF IT. It does not matter what the President says, how Congress votes, or how the Supreme Court rules. Sin is still sin in God's eyes and there will be a day of reckoning and accounting.
Homosexual pastors and homosexual churches fool themselves. Homosexual people may flock to liberal churches and open minded preachers to get married but they fool themselves. God will never recognize and approve of what He has already called sinful. Homosexuals are loved by God and not beyond His grace. They can be forgiven, saved, and delivered by the power and blood of Jesus Christ. It is a total fabrication to think God approves of homosexuality.
God has blessed this nation and warned this nation but have we listened? Have we repented? Have we humbled ourselves before Him and turned our hearts back to Him? I think we all know the answers to those questions.
At what point does America push God too far? At what point does God say enough is enough. At what point will America defy and rebel against God so belligerently that God sends judgment. We call sin a right of free choice, we legalize what God has declared illegal and unlawful, we approve of what God disapproves, and we embrace what God shuns as offensive. AMERICA WILL REAP WHAT WE SOW. WE HAVE REAPED TO THE FLIESH AND WILL ONE DAY REAP CORRUPTION AND DESTRUCTION.
While churches gather preachers to tickle the ears the storm clouds of God's impending judgement are brewing. His wrath will not be held back from this nation forever. My admonition is to warn the nation to repent and return to God with great urgency. I know it is not a popular message. Neither was Noah's message of impending judgment. Nobody listened until the flood waters ascended drowning everyone. God's prophets each met with rejection for peaching an unpopular message of repentance. In some cases nobody listened. God's judgement came and even the righteous remnant were caught in it. Neither do I expect this message to gain great approval and I certainly did not deliver it to become popular or for promotion.
Most of you reading this claim to be followers of Jesus. You may say you have not committed those sins previously listed. You may convince yourself you are not guilty. I say for every Bible believing Bible preaching church who did not have corporate prayer meetings to plead for revival and for this nation to repent, the blood of the nation is on all our hands.
While the vocal minority won the day spreading their message, too many in the church remained tight lipped about the gospel of Jesus Christ. The blood of this nation is on our hands. Church members who openly accepted compromise in their homes are now reaping rebellious children who are turning away from the church. Their blood is on the parent's hands. For every divided congregation quibbling over a few dollars and power to control the church you are guilty of majoring on minor things and turning many away from the faith. Their blood is on your hands.
Has America passed the point of no return? Only God knows the answer to that. The hour is dark and the sinful condition of this nation and the church is critical. May church houses become war houses of intercession for America. May sanctuaries become battle grounds of prayer and petitions. May God have mercy on this nation one more time sending a tidal wave revival of repentance and spiritual awakening. Turn America before we pass the point of no return.
The United Sates of America is blessed with abundant resources. Our nation rose to become a super power under God's provision and protection. His blessings have been evident. Millions have been saved under the protection of religious freedom and gospel preaching.
This has not been enough to keep this nation on the right path. America has turned in large part from her Creator and Sustainer. The currency may read, "In God We Trust," but the truth is
this nation arrogantly has turned away from God and His ways. America bows at the idols of man made religions, empty philosophies, and morality of her own choosing.
Fewer and fewer people outside and inside the church still hold to the infallibility and inerrancy of God's word. Young preachers are taught principles of higher criticism in essence undermining the authority of God's word. Certain passages are called into question such as the virgin birth of Christ, the miracle of the parting of the Red Sea, whether Noah and the ark really happened, and whether there is only one way to salvation through Jesus or multiple ways to salvation. People in the pews have mixed cultural beliefs with Bible doctrine giving more credibility to culture.
On top of this, pagan culture denies absolute truth. Some teach that truth is relative. If there is no absolute truth the Bible is no longer valued as an authoritative book. The ten commandments become the ten suggestions. In addition, many preachers have gotten away from preaching Bible truth. They no longer give sermons but present "talks." Small fragments of Bible passages are taught mixed with common sense and pop psychological ideas of cultural icons like Dr. Phil, Dr. Oz, Ellen, and Oprah.
When individuals, educational institutions, churches, and culture at large devalue the authority of God's word, the end result is a society where anything goes. There is no longer a standard for right and wrong. Boundaries can be redefined. Truth becomes relative to what people choose to believe for themselves.
Sin is no longer classified as sin. The boundaries have been redrawn. The Bible is seen as an antiquated book by many. Fornication is just having sex. Adultery has become an affair. Homosexuality is an alternative lifestyle. Deceit, greed, and coveting are now just getting ahead. Malice is just politics, and rebellion is labeled as people thinking for themselves.
Many times America has been lead astray from God. Numerous times God has graciously intervened and brought the nation to repentance and spiritual awakening. We need it again but have we drifted too far away this time. Have we crossed the point from which there is no return.
In 1962 the Supreme Court decided that institutions like public schools could not force people to pray. A devout Atheist pushed this case and won. Today the masses readily accept that you cannot pray in school. In 1973 the Supreme Court ruled that abortions would be legalized. On June 26, 2015 the Supreme Court ruled to legalize Homosexual marriages.
Society wants to soften this by calling them same sex marriages. The Bible calls this sin homosexuality. [Lev 20:13] [Rom 1:24-28] [I Cor 6:9-11] [I Tim 1:8-11]
I have a job to do. As defined in [II Tim 4:1-2]] my job is to preach the word. I am not at liberty to preach my opinions. I am not at liberty to preach only what people want to hear. I have an obligation to preach truth from the Bible even if it is politically incorrect. The popularity of the message has no bearing on the topic. I am still one of the old fashioned preachers who believes in the inerrancy and infallibility of God's word. His word is God breathed or God inspired. [II Tim 3:16-17] I have heard all the arguments against this view. On this hill I choose to stand and die. God's word holds authority for me, for the family, for the local church, the community, and every country. It is my job to teach and preach this unadulterated word.
The United Sates of America has in large part rejected the authority of God's word and no longer complies with God's law. This is a slippery slope. Sin is still sin and there is only one Supreme Court Justice that matters and His eternal justice and judgments do not fail. Nobody escapes unscathed if they reject Jesus and Bible truth.
In our society the vocal minority have won the day. They succeeded in changing the mindsets of the media, academia, judiciaries, and politicians. THEY DID NOT CHANGE GOD OR HIS STANDARDS! THEY NEVER WILL!
Take a long look at what God calls sin. Wickedness, greed, evil, envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice, gossip, slander, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobey parents, unloving, untrustworthy, unrighteous, fornication, idolatry, adultery, homosexuality, theft, coveting, drunkenness, swindling, immorality, kidnapping, lying, perjury, love of self, love of money, lovers of pleasure, ungrateful, unholy, and without self control. You can read these lists for yourself in [Rom 1:24-28] [I Cor 6:9-11] [I Tim 1:8-11] [II Tim 3:1-5] Each and every listed action is counted a sin by God. Each and every person will be called into account for such things. Each and eery one of these sins are just as offensive to God as the others.
So called Christian people fornicate just like pagans. Church members gossip just like the lost people. Deacons are greedy just like deceptive CEO's. Pastors swindle just like corrupt business owners. It is all sin. ALL OF IT. It does not matter what the President says, how Congress votes, or how the Supreme Court rules. Sin is still sin in God's eyes and there will be a day of reckoning and accounting.
Homosexual pastors and homosexual churches fool themselves. Homosexual people may flock to liberal churches and open minded preachers to get married but they fool themselves. God will never recognize and approve of what He has already called sinful. Homosexuals are loved by God and not beyond His grace. They can be forgiven, saved, and delivered by the power and blood of Jesus Christ. It is a total fabrication to think God approves of homosexuality.
God has blessed this nation and warned this nation but have we listened? Have we repented? Have we humbled ourselves before Him and turned our hearts back to Him? I think we all know the answers to those questions.
At what point does America push God too far? At what point does God say enough is enough. At what point will America defy and rebel against God so belligerently that God sends judgment. We call sin a right of free choice, we legalize what God has declared illegal and unlawful, we approve of what God disapproves, and we embrace what God shuns as offensive. AMERICA WILL REAP WHAT WE SOW. WE HAVE REAPED TO THE FLIESH AND WILL ONE DAY REAP CORRUPTION AND DESTRUCTION.
While churches gather preachers to tickle the ears the storm clouds of God's impending judgement are brewing. His wrath will not be held back from this nation forever. My admonition is to warn the nation to repent and return to God with great urgency. I know it is not a popular message. Neither was Noah's message of impending judgment. Nobody listened until the flood waters ascended drowning everyone. God's prophets each met with rejection for peaching an unpopular message of repentance. In some cases nobody listened. God's judgement came and even the righteous remnant were caught in it. Neither do I expect this message to gain great approval and I certainly did not deliver it to become popular or for promotion.
Most of you reading this claim to be followers of Jesus. You may say you have not committed those sins previously listed. You may convince yourself you are not guilty. I say for every Bible believing Bible preaching church who did not have corporate prayer meetings to plead for revival and for this nation to repent, the blood of the nation is on all our hands.
While the vocal minority won the day spreading their message, too many in the church remained tight lipped about the gospel of Jesus Christ. The blood of this nation is on our hands. Church members who openly accepted compromise in their homes are now reaping rebellious children who are turning away from the church. Their blood is on the parent's hands. For every divided congregation quibbling over a few dollars and power to control the church you are guilty of majoring on minor things and turning many away from the faith. Their blood is on your hands.
Has America passed the point of no return? Only God knows the answer to that. The hour is dark and the sinful condition of this nation and the church is critical. May church houses become war houses of intercession for America. May sanctuaries become battle grounds of prayer and petitions. May God have mercy on this nation one more time sending a tidal wave revival of repentance and spiritual awakening. Turn America before we pass the point of no return.
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