Reflections of the Journey thus far.

Vigilance

2012-02-08T10:42:00.000-08:00

Yesterday on the Military channel Riley and I watched WWII in color. The show was about the Allied push into Germany. Beginning in the winter/spring of 1945 elements of the American, British, and French Armies advanced from the south toward the Rhine river. From the north and east two Russian armies advanced toward the Oder river. In between the two rivers is the German heartland and the capital of Berlin.

WWII was an incredible and devastating time in world history. Every time I watch a show or read a book about that war I am always amazed at the magnitude of it. Entire continents were at war. The immensity of it all is staggering. As an example, as the Russians advanced on Berlin a total of 3.5 million men and women were armed about to fight one another. The Russian army was 2.5 million strong while Germany was defending Berlin with 1 million; as I said, staggering. This number does not include the other allied armies in the south or the other half of the war going on in the Pacific.

But then come the pictures of the Nazi concentration camps and the cities destroyed by bombs. People walking like zombies looking for some semblance of normalcy. Everything around them, devastated dead and dying everywhere, food and water, shelter scarce to non existent. And then we must realize that it was only about 80 years ago that all this occurred. Eighty years seems like a lifetime and in reality it is, but in the grand scheme of things it was just yesterday.

I suppose this post is one of reflection, thankfulness, and a call to vigilance. Reflection on the fact of the sacrifice of good men and the evil of bad men. Thankfulness for the God given gift of Peace in our land. And a call to be ever vigilant of what we have and to never take any of it for granted.

Why our marriage works (a personal testimony).

2012-02-02T09:32:00.000-08:00

This past January, Kathryn and I celebrated our 20th anniversary. Next to my salvation, marrying Kathryn was the best thing that could have happened to me. I know for a fact that she feels the same. Here are the main reasons why our marriage works:

1. Jesus is at the center. We are both believers and both of us understand that our relationship with Him must come before our relationship with each other.

2. We are best friends. It is true that men need men for friends and women need women for friends but a man and a woman who are married need to be best friends. Over the years, we have grown close to one another and confide in each other.

3. Our kids are not the center of our universe. We have four children. Two of them have married and no longer live with us. A third is in college and lives with us part time. The fourth will be a Sophomore in High School next year and will be on his own in no time. If we made our kids our center, we would be very lonely very quickly.

4. Outside of our relationship with Christ, we are the center of each other's universe. God designed it that way and I can tell you that is a grand and glorious plan.

5. Physical intimacy is EXTREMELY important. Once again, it is a Divine design and God intends for married couples to engage in it often.

6. We ALWAYS communicate with one another even when it really sucks to do so. Yes, we have disagreements and yes, sometimes they are some doosies. But we have found that silence is detrimental.

7. Both of us look forward to ageing together. We do not fear or loathe becoming old people, in fact, we both pray that God allows us to live and die together as old people (whatever "old people" looks like).

8. We say, "I Love You" to one another all the time. A husband and wife can NEVER say that to much to each other.

9. We have both been hurt in the past and we never take each other for granted. Both of us were married before and both of us suffered immensely. Accordingly both of us cherish one another deeply

I'm just a breath passing through this life. And I am thankful beyond words that I get to spend it with Ms. Kathryn. Thank you Father.

"Old man, look at my life, I'm alot like you were."

2012-01-31T08:24:00.000-08:00

My dad once told me he wanted to live to the age of 84. Unfortunately he died at 72 but his desire to live to 84 transferred to me. In fact, I think I would like to hit 85. One of my favorite Bible characters is Caleb. Caleb lived beyond 85 but his story is found in the book of Joshua. Joshua 14.6-15 is the story of Joshua giving land to Caleb. Caleb by this time was 85 and was looking not for a rocking chair but for the high country where the giants were.

What an incredible attitude toward life. As a Pastor friend once told me, "There is no such thing as Christian retirement." Caleb embodies that lifestyle. Even though he was considered "old" he never stopped going, doing, conquering, and winning. Hence my reasoning for living to 85. But of course only God knows when I will die. I may live to 85 or I may die on the way home today, regardless it is all in His will. I am telling you the truth when I say that I am actually enjoying getting older. Someone may say, "you say that now but just wait until you get to ____ age." But I am quite positive that I will have the same attitude then as I do now. In fact, I may end up being one of those jovial old men who laughs alot, not crazy or loony just happy. After all, the older I get the closer I get to Jesus.

But my prayer is that Kathryn and I grow old together and that at 85, I'm still hitting the heavy bag, hiking mountains, and killing giants.

Keep the Faith, God does.

2012-01-25T08:57:00.000-08:00

God is good to me. In spite of my personal struggles with sin God remains faithful, even when I am not. When we struggle with sin, what we are saying to God is that His provision for us is not good enough; in essence, we are disbelieving what He says in His word.

As an example, Romans 6.6 teaches that our flesh was crucified with Christ on the cross. The Greek meaning of that statement is "rendered powerless". So that the verse is saying our flesh was "rendered powerless" at the cross. Now the question is do I believe that or do I not believe it? I am a believer in Christ therefore I received at salvation all the benefits that go along with becoming a believer. Among those benefits is the defeat of the power of the flesh over my life. Therefore, when I fall into sin, when I do things that no one else sees but God, things that are sinful then what I am doing is saying to God, "I don't believe what you said in Romans 6.6. My flesh is still alive and at this point in time I have decided to listen to it instead of you."

OUCH!! that hurts yes? But as I said, God is good. In spite of my failures and struggle with sin He always does His part by remaining faithful to me. I may disbelieve Him sometimes but He never stops believing in me, do you know why?

Because when God looks at me He sees Jesus Christ. Why? because I am now the property of Jesus Christ. And since Jesus is the second member of the Trinity, God Himself, then God cannot deny Himself.

Consider 2 Timothy 2.11-13, "It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us; If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself."

We died with Him we will also live with Him. My flesh is considered dead by God. So also I must come to consider it dead/powerless. I will live with Him because He rose from the dead.

If we endure, we will also reign with Him. When we "walk by means of the Spirit" (Ephesians 5.18) we are not walking by the power of the flesh. When we are not walking by the power of the flesh, we are "getting it right" pleasing God and gaining reward; hence we are enduring. Our reward will be the privilege of co-reigning with Christ during the millennium.

If we deny Him, He also will deny us. No, this has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with losing our salvation, it has EVERYTHING to do with losing reward. To deny Christ is to dis-believe what He says (struggle with sin above). When we "deny Christ" we are walking in the power of the flesh not the Spirit. The result, LOSS OF REWARD. In context, the phrase prior to this one spoke of GAINING REWARD by endurance (walking in the Spirit). The logical flow would then state what happens when we "walk in the flesh" we LOSE REWARD He will deny it, take it away. BUT WE WILL NEVER LOSE OUR SALVATION. WHY??

If we are faithless He remains faithful because He cannot deny Himself. If we are faithless means again that we dis-believe what He says in His word. But even if we dis-believe He will remain faithful to us because it is IMPOSSIBLE for Him not to. At salvation, God imputes His Righteousness into the one who believes (Romans 5.10-11). The same life that brought Jesus Christ from the grave is now the same life that resides in the believer. Accordingly, God is in Heaven and God is in the believer. So denial of Himself is impossible.

It would be like me denying that my son is my son even thought his DNA proves that he is my son. ITS IMPOSSIBLE.

Take heart believer. Even when we sin and dis-believe what God says, He will remain faithful because of who He is not because of what we have done.

What is the big deal about Israel?

2012-01-19T07:17:00.000-08:00

Turn on the T.V. news any time during the day or night and it is almost guaranteed that at some point, there will be some kind of news about Israel. Threats, bombings, killings, kidnappings, all of it is part of daily life in the land of Israel. Everyone hates Israel. As of late even the leadership in the United States has turned a cold shoulder toward the nation of Israel. Iran and various terrorist groups want the nation destroyed. Why?

Go back in history to the founding of the nation by Abraham and you will find people trying to take them out. 722 B.C., 586 B.C., 70 A.D., 135 A.D. and most recently during the 19th and 20th century some nation somewhere has taken Israel out; destroyed the nation. Yet still the Jewish race is here. There are still Jews who are alive and well today. Why?

Why do people all over the world hate Jews? Why are they always in the news? What is the big deal about Israel?

Answer:

They are God's chosen people who will one day receive the benefits of the promises that God made to them. They will never go away because God promised that they would not. They will always be around now and forever. They made mistakes in the past for which God chastised them. The time is coming soon when things will get worse then ever for them but then God will set things straight because His Son, Jesus Christ, will return to make them so.

To all you enemies of Israel and the Jews. Get over it. Israel is going nowhere. Give it up, you will lose in the end. You will think that you have won but then you will be utterly destroyed.

What do Christians do about Israel? Is the nation at the present time apostate? Yup, sure is. Are Christians supposed to blow them off and do nothing? Nope, we are to pray for the Jews and the nation of Israel. Think about it. What does the Word of God command us to do for those who do not believe? Pray that they may become believers and see the light of the Gospel of Truth. What better people and nation to pray for then the Jews and the land of Israel. The promise of Genesis 12.3 still stands, God said to Abraham, "I will curse those who curse you and bless those who bless you". Pretty cut and dry to me. Support Israel and all is well. Don't support Israel and all will not be well.

November 2012

2011-12-28T13:32:00.000-08:00

I can't help it. I find myself having to comment on politics again, something I said I would not do anymore. But keep in mind that anything written on this blog comes from a Biblical perspective.

2012 is an election year. This coming November, America will once again elect a president. It will either be the incumbent (Obama) or one of about six GOP candidates. On this blog I wrote two entries about Obama. The dates are 09/16/08 and 11/04/08. Both of them are rather sarcastic but unfortunately just about everything in them has come true. I am by no means a prophet or something like that but I am a student of history. If Obama gets re-elected I highly suspect this country will be a completely different place four years from now. The man is a socialist pure and simple. He and his administration is taking this country down a road toward globalism.

As Christians we must always be aware of the aim of the enemy. Satan is subtle. We must keep in mind that the Bible prophesies of a one world government and a one world religion. When I see Obama trying his best to discredit our Constitution and drive us to globalism; and when I see him bow to a Saudi King, well I begin to wonder just who it is that motivates him. One thing I can tell you for a fact, it is not the God of the Bible much less Jesus Christ.

Regarding the approaching election. Anyone is better than Obama. This has nothing to do with Democrats or Republicans or any other political party. This has everything to do with the American way of life. Yes, it really is that serious. Yes, it really has come to that. The health care bill that Obama is shoving down the American throat is just the beginning. If he gets re-elected Obamacare will be instituted in full force. And after that, there will be more programs designed to give the government more control.

I leave you with a quote from a French Historian named Alexis DeTocqueville, he lived in the 1800s.

"After having thus successively taken each member
of the community in its powerful grasp and fashioned him at will,
the supreme power then extends its arm over the whole community.
It covers the surface of society with a network of small, complicated
rules, minute and uniform, through which the most original minds and
the most energetic characters cannot penetrate, to rise above the crowd.
The will of man is not shattered, but softened, bent, and guided;
men seldom forced by it to act, but they are constantly restrained
from acting. Such a power does not destroy, but it prevents existence;
it does not tyrannize, but it compresses, enervates, extinguishes, and
stupefies a people, till each nation is reduced to nothing better than
a flock of timid and industrious animals, of which the government
is the shepherd."

Consider these words well and vote Obama out of office.

History is cool.

2011-12-14T07:16:00.000-08:00

I remember when I was in college taking a course in Western Civilization. Since I am a history buff I absolutely loved it. The Professor, I think his name was Dr. Ridgely, gave tests in a unique way; at least it was unique to me. Instead of 50 or 100 multiple choice questions or something like that he gave us small booklets with about 10 lined blank pages. He would give five questions, we had to answer three of them.

A test question would be similar to this: "Describe the major events in Western Europe between 1800-1825?" or "List the reasons why the Nazi party was able to gain power in Germany?" Our answers would then be written like a short story describing said events. The course covered two semesters, I made an "A" in both courses. I was successful because I loved the subject and you had to STUDY to answer the questions.

This post is written in support of history. I read a newspaper article one time where teenagers were asked "what is your least favorite subject in school?" One of the answers was history because it has no benefit whatsoever. I beg to differ. History in my opinion is the most important subject taught in school. History teaches us about our past and the mistakes that were made that led to wars or major blunders that had far reaching effects. But history must be studied in it's purest form. History is not a compilation of opinions or interpretations that the author wants to publish. As an example, I am not the least interested in a person's opinion of why the Civil War began. What I want to know are the FACTS, the actions, the events that took place leading up to the Civil War.

Too often today, history is being revised to say something that it is not. Instead of getting the facts, kids today are getting political slants on what the author wants the kids to hear or see. This is a dangerous precedent. You can interview any of my kids and they will tell you that I constantly want to know what they are being taught in school regarding history. It is important.

Consider the protesters of the "occupy wall street" movement. Most of them, I believe are young college graduates. They have been told that big business and corporations are responsible for the economic mess we are in. They have been encouraged to protest the heads of big corporations because they make too much money. Yet, a study of history would reveal that our current economic crisis began with policies introduced by Teddy Roosevelt and expanded by Woodrow Wilson. Is that my opinion, not hardly, these are FACTS of recorded history.

My challenge to young people, learn the facts of history and then draw your own conclusions. Do not become a lemming and waste your time following some political ideologue.

And by the way, who cares how much money a CEO makes. It's none of my business nor is it any of yours. It's a waste of time and a distraction to worry about such things.

He will win

2011-10-13T10:25:00.000-07:00

Mark 10.32-34

His mind a swirling vortex of emotion, his road has finally led to this end. His fear and anticipation, so strong that he exudes it, breathes it. It hangs in the air like a pallor. The atmosphere is thick with the coming clash of good vs. evil. His whole life has been lived for this day that is fast approaching. He walks the road ahead of his faithful followers. They know that something is amiss. They can see it in his eyes, the can sense it in his face, they can feel it in his demeanor. The people, the common man who for months had watched him do incredible things now sense the fear and anxiety of the road he walks. He walks it alone for only he is worthy. The sun is hot, the dust is dry, but he walks on steadfast. He is sure of his mission. His resolve is unwavering. He will accomplish what he has set out to do. He will win the war. He will set things right. He will win. No one can stop him now. The host of hell will try but they will be defeated. His mind is set, his face is like stone, his body will obey, his will is the one which will overcome. And he will win. Since eternity past he has seen this road. He has always known that it was ahead of him. He has always known that his destiny was here, now, on this road outside the ancient city of Jerusalem. As he walks, he sees the fear of the people, he senses the anxiety of his disciples. His love for them is such that they will not understand until this road is walked. Love beyond human comprehension, yes, that is why he does it; that is why he walks it. And this love compels him, drives him to keep walking , ever higher, ever closer to the greatest event in creation. For 33 years now he has set aside his true nature. By his own choosing he has cloaked his divine power and privilege for the sake ofthose he loves. And now his love will at last be displayed in it’s fullest measure. It will require him to experience a pain and a terror he has never experienced. But he will do it none theless. He will endure. He will win. He has always known his father. He has always been face to face with his father. He and his father have always been in fellowship, a perfect relationship that goes beyond time. But he knows that for those he loves, that relationship must for a time be broken…and it scares him beyond reason. This is the source of his fear and anxiety. It is not the physical pain he will endure but the anticipated brake in fellowship with his father. But he will do it, he must do it, he willfulfill the mission for which he came. And so he walks the road ever onward to his destiny. He will win.

Faith requires a first step

2011-10-04T10:20:00.001-07:00

It is early fall in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The nights are a little cooler and the days are not hot but just warm, usually the low 80s during the day and the mid fifties at night. The leaves have not yet changed color but they will soon. We had a hot dry summer which makes for less color in the fall. Bow season opened four days ago. We have seen deer but have not been able to shoot at any just yet. High school football is a weekly delight. In our case, for now, it is Junior High football on Thursday's but it is a great privilege to see our son playing every week.

Our other son is a freshman at Ouichita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, AR. He also is doing well studying Music Theatre all of which is paid for by way of scholarships; scholarships which he earned.

Soon, we will be burning fires almost every night. Sitting on our back porch enjoying incredible sunsets in the quiet and serenity of the rural Ouichita mountains. I am blessed beyond reason. I am married to an incredible woman, we have all four of our kids no more than an hour away from our house. I am doing the job that I love more than anything, that is teaching the Word of God and Pastoring a church full time.

The world we live in is full of uncertainty yet the world in our neck of the woods is more than I could ask for. I do not have the time to go into how my family and I ended up here but know that it came about as a result of putting feet to our faith.

Coming here was truly a step into the unknown but time has proved that it was the right decision to make. If anyone reading this is faced with a decision, know that the one that demands faith is the right one to make. God never promises a smooth road or even a clear path. What He does promise is that faith will be rewarded.

Hebrews 11.1, "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."

How do I make Jesus Christ Lord of my life?

2011-05-24T09:39:00.000-07:00

Salvation is putting faith in Jesus Christ and His work on the cross. He died for the sins of mankind and was resurrected three days later. Putting faith in these facts saves a person for eternity. But what about after salvation? What about the Christian life/walk for the time we have left before physical death? Do we rely on ourselves and our ability to be good? Is this how we "walk by faith"? Is this how we make Jesus Lord of our lives?

Back to the phrase above "Jesus Christ and His work on the cross". Understanding what that "work" entails is vital to understanding the Christian life/walk. Paul tells us in Romans 6.6 that our old sin nature, the old man, the flesh, was crucified with Christ on the cross so that it (the old man) might be "done away".

Oh, wait a minute, you mean the cross can help me after salvation? The answer is yes...most definitely.

The phrase "done away" in the Greek literally means, "rendered powerless". Accordingly, the flesh, the old sin nature became inactive on the cross with Christ. But here is the kicker...YOU HAVE TO CHOOSE EVERY MOMENT TO CONSIDER IT SO. God nailed your sin nature and mine to the cross but we MUST believe it to be so, (Romans 6.11), and then yield our nature to the control of the Holy Spirit, (Romans 6.13).

You see, not only is salvation "faith alone in Christ alone" but the Christian life/walk is still "faith alone in Christ alone". It is the Holy Spirit who supplies all the power to save us and to grow us into the likeness of the humanity of Jesus Christ.

By this means and this means only will Jesus Christ become Lord of my life or your life.

Consider also:
Ephesians 4.21-24
Romans 13.14
Colossians 2.11
2 Corinthians 10.3-5

The Warrior-King

2011-03-05T05:53:00.000-08:00

Watching people protest at the funerals of fallen soldiers is a despicable thing. But what is worse is discovering that the protesters are members of a Christian (Baptist) church in Kansas. I have not taken the time to investigate the motivation of these people and frankly, I don't care. Anyone who protests deceased soldiers, for any reason, needs to be examined for a mental illness.

I would love to know what the Biblical reasons are for their protest. I would love to debate them on whatever passage of Scripture they use as the basis for their insanity; maybe that will happen one day.

I am a Christian. I am a believer in Jesus Christ and have a personal relationship with Him. Jesus is the Son of God and is presently seated at the right hand of God in that vast and incredible realm we know as heaven.

In the Bible, Jesus has many titles attributed to Him. In Revelation 22.16, He is, "the root and descendant of David, the bright morning star". In Revelation 5.5, He is, "The Lion of the tribe of Judah". In Daniel 2.35, He is, "the Stone cut out without hands".

I could go on and on but I want to zero in on one Title found in the Old Testament that fly's in the face of the protesters of fallen soldiers. Joshua 5.15 states, "The Captain of the Lord's host said to Joshua, Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy. And Joshua did so." In context, Joshua and the armies of Israel are about to take the city of Jericho. Joshua looks up and sees a man standing opposite him holding a sword. A study of the passage reveals that man to be not an angel, but what is called a "Christophany" (the pre-incarnate Christ).

The literal translation of "the Captain of the Lord's host" is "Lord of the Angelic armies". Jesus Christ, in this passage is the Commander of a vast host of angels all drawn up for war. Excuse me, but does that not sound like soldiers drawn up for battle.

My point is this. Throughout His word God, draws parallels between the realms of humanity and angelic creation. Many times those parallels speak of soldiers, battle, war, commanders, etc..things that we understand in military terms.

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul uses military terms and pictures to make his point about spiritual truth (Ephesians 6.10-17 is one example). When Christ returns at His second advent there will be literally millions of people who have refused His mercy who will fall dead at His word (Revelation 19.15).

The U.S. military has long stood on the foundation of freedom. It is not oppressive it does not seek to enslave anyone only help to provide a better way of life. World War 2 would have been lost without the intervention of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Westboro Baptist Church, when you protest a soldier at a funeral remember that the very One you claim to represent, Jesus Christ; is known as the Greatest Soldier, Warrior, Commander and King in the created universe.

Friendship

2011-02-03T13:08:00.000-08:00

The saying goes that, "a friend sticks closer than a brother". What is it that makes a friend so special? What is it that makes friendship something that every human wants and needs? I think it is acceptance. A true friend takes you for who you are and nothing more. If you have problems, addictions, oddities, or some kind of weirdness about you; a friend does not care. If you are not perfect or if your job is nothing special a friend pays it no mind. I can say without a doubt that I have had a handful of true friends in my life. People who "accept" me in spite of my many oddities.

Now consider this. If I can accept a person for who they are and that person can accept me for who I am, how much more can Jesus Christ accept us for who we are? Jesus is truly the friend who sticks closer than a brother. He "accepts" us right where we are. All our weirdness's, problems, addictions, oddities and obfuscations (to be evasive, unclear, confusing; and yes, I had to look it up); He even accepts us when we mess up, fall off the apple cart, go off in the toolies, hit rock bottom... Through it all, He is present and ready to meet us right where we are. Never forget that Jesus is not only God, but He is God in the flesh. He became intimately familiar with all our infirmities and troubles for He endured them Himself. He can honestly say; been there, done that, defeated it.

And that is a very good thing.

Absolutes.

2010-04-20T07:34:00.000-07:00

Guess I may end up in jail one day.

Since I believe in absolutes I will most likely be labeled a nutjob, old fashioned, bigot, narrow minded, a homophobic and a racist. Since I believe that the God of the Bible is the One true God, and since I believe the only way to spend eternity with Him is by way of His Son, Jesus Christ, I will become a religious right wing nut. Since I believe that Jesus Christ will one day return and defeat the enemies of the Cross by shedding the blood of millions (see Revelation 14.20), I will probably be labeled a member of a right wing extremist group.

Since I am not progressive, since I believe that history repeats itself, since I think "enlightened men" are in the dark, then I will be considered old fashioned and "behind the times". Since I believe that God created all nations to be sovereign from one another and that the promotion of a one world government is against His principles, I will be considered dangerous and probably put on some watch list somewhere.

Since I like guns, like to shoot guns, buy guns, teach people how to shoot guns, and support the death penalty; I will be labeled, again, a right wing extremist.

Since, when it comes to my faith, I am not afraid to "rock the boat" and speak what I know to be facts from Scripture, I will be looked upon with contempt and may become the target of a jihad.
Since I think the whole "prosperity gospel" movement is a sham from hell, I will be labeled unloving, unforgiving, and unenlightened. The "progressive pastors of prosperity" can go right on deceiving the masses but I know their message for what it is, like I said, a sham from hell.

There is no one I need or want to impress. I could care less what people think about me. I DO care what Jesus Christ thinks of me. He is the one I must one day stand before. So join me if you will and become a member of the body of Christ. Persecution is guaranteed but the eternal benefits are beyond comprehension.

Run Forrest run.

2010-02-22T20:28:00.000-08:00

I watched "Forrest Gump" tonight, this was my 4th or 5th time watching the movie. I love that movie. Forrest represents all of us in one sense or another. He is simple in everything he says yet his observations are profound. Everything he does are things that are, on the surface, common yet he excels in all of them. Yes, it is just a story, a novel, a fairy tale but the character speaks to all of us.

Why is it that we cheer and clap when the nobody gets the prize. Why is it that we love to see the "little guy" get the reward, the "underdog" win the game. Forrest, who in the movie has a low I.Q. succeeds at all he does. Have you ever wondered why that appeals to us.. I think it has something to do with "beating the odds". Forrest knew that he was "slow" yet he never let that get in the way of what he wanted to do. And everything he did he did it 100% all the way, no holds barred, no holding back.

Lt. Dan remained his "Lt." in spite of continuous ridicule. "Jenny" remained his lady love in spite of continuous rejection. Ahh, it is just a movie, but it explodes with truth, honesty, compassion, romance, and most of all...love.

There is a lesson in that for us all. Forrest was "slow" yet he focused on whatever the task was at the moment and gave his all. He did not care about social expectations or norms, he did not care about what people thought about him or his shortcomings, he did not care about the odds or failures...he just focused and got the job done.

Perhaps there is more to the "simple life" than meets the eye.

A Tribute to Grammy Lees.

2009-12-13T18:35:00.000-08:00

This is a tribute to Leabelle Cody, born May 8th, 1911; died December 13th 2009.

Ms. Cody's great uncle was Buffalo Bill Cody. Ms. Cody married Forrest Lees Sr. who was a Navy Pilot stationed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on December 7th 1941. Officer Lees was the first U.S. Navy pilot in the air on that fateful day. Ms. Cody, who married Forrest and was now Mrs. Lees, was hanging laundry in her back yard which was on a bluff; a bluff that overlooked the Pacific Ocean. With her in the yard that morning were two boys (ages 7 and 6). The 7 year old (Forrest Lees Jr.) was climbing a tree. He and his mother watched, as a large number of strange planes flew over their house headed for the Navy base.

The boys dad who was also Mrs. Lees husband also saw that formation of planes as they flew toward Pearl Harbor. He was in a plane, above the formation, on a training flight with a new pilot. He took a pipe out of his mouth, tapped the pilot next to him on the shoulder, and said, "those are not American planes, they are Japanese".

Over the next several hours, America was attacked and the Pacific fleet devastated by the Japanese Navy. Officer Lees survived. He returned home and gave his wife a revolver with three bullets. He told her, "don't let them take you alive". One bullet each for her and the two boys. Mrs. Lees and the boys were later evacuated to a commercial freighter which took them to San Francisco, they spent the entire trip on the deck of the ship. Mrs. Lees and the boys left their house in Hawaii with nothing but the clothes on their back. They arrived in California with nothing more than a dime which Mrs. Lees used to call relatives to come and get them.

Over the next four years, Officer and Mrs. Lees did not see one another; Officer Lees was busy serving his country in defense against the enemy. The two of them were reunited and went on to have three more boys.

Mrs. Lees first son, Forrest Lees Jr., married Sally May North. Forrest Jr. was the 7 year old boy in the tree, on Hawaii, who watched the Japanese Navy on it's way to attack Pearl Harbor. Forrest Jr. went on to become a Navy Pilot who won the Distinguished Flying Cross in Vietnam. Forrest Jr. and Sally May had five children, four girls and one boy. The third child born was a girl named Kathryn Anne Lees. On January 11th 1992 Kathryn married me, but that is a story for another day.

This post is in remembrance of Kathryn's grandmother, Leabelle Lees. I had the privilege of meeting "Grammy Lees" on several occasions. I remember her as a beautiful woman from another time and place. A time and place of honesty, substance, beauty, integrity, and genuineness that is rare today. She lived, on this planet for 98 years...WOW...that is a long time. She and Forrest Sr. had five boys who went on to become successful men.

These are my memories of what Kathryn has shared with me and what I have observed concerning Grammy Lees. What a life.

Grammy Lees died on December 13th, 2009.

I know that Kathryn is a relative of Buffalo Bill Cody because she shoots better that I do.

Oh, by the way, Grammy was a believer. I will see her again. I LOVE IT...

Content

2009-11-19T10:11:00.000-08:00

The saying goes, "the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence". That is not always the case. In fact, it has been my experience that the way things are often end up being the better side of the fence to live on.

I am not talking about striving to succeed in a business or desiring to "get better" at something. These are good things to do and to pursue. I am talking about being satisfied with what you have. If you have opportunity to gain wealth, or get a better job, or move to a different place or whatever, great..but do not get to the point to where you are never satisfied. That is a vicious cycle that never ends. Always wanting more, always wanting to "change", always wanting "what the other guy has". I have known people in my life who think: "if I just found another man/woman, I would be happier" or "If I just had a better job" or "a better car" or etc...Those people, most of them are not any happier and in some cases they are more miserable than before.

I think that living life by the principle of the long haul does a person good. I am 45 years old. I am getting grey hair on the sides and back of my head. It takes longer to recover after a good workout. It is harder to lose weight than it used to be. I need a new pair of glasses because my eyesight is changing so rapidly. But you know what, I am content. I am happy right where I am. I am in this life for the long haul. I may die in the next five minutes or I may die 40 years from now. I don't know and I don't worry about it. Why, because I am learning what Paul learned 2000 years ago, he wrote, "Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

For Paul, the key to his contentment was found in his relationship with Jesus Christ. It was that relationship that allowed Paul to be "content in all circumstances". When I choose to make my relationship with Christ my goal, I am content with my life. On the other hand, if that relationship with Christ is not in order, or is not my priority, I become miserable and dis-content. It really is that simple.

Change, as we are seeing in the headlines every day is not always a good thing. I am getting older and will one day die. But my relationship with Christ will last for eternity. Hmmmm...I think I will put all my hopes and dreams in His hands. Man, it feels better just saying it.

The end of the lord of the flies.

2009-05-21T10:20:00.000-07:00

In Matthew 12.27, Jesus refers to satan as "beelzebul". The Aramaic root of this word is, "Baal-zebul" which means, "lord of the fly". Baal-zebul was a Philistine deity worshipped at Ekron. Therefore, the people that worshiped "baal-zebul" were in reality worshipping satan. But notice the meaning of "baal-zebul"..."lord of the fly". We all know that flies gather on dead things. So also, satan brings only death. He is the lord of the flies because like flies he is associated with death.

Jesus, on the other hand is life and has conquered death. He came into the world for one purpose only and that was to do the will of the Father. And the will of the Father was to impute the sins of the world onto Jesus Christ who in turn would die twice. He would die spiritually and pay for the imputed sins of the world. From noon until 3 p.m. is when this occurred. This is when the world was covered with darkness (the darkness of a cave) for three hours and Jesus screamed in agony because for the one and only time in the history of creation, He was separated from the Father. And then He died physically (at a time He chose, Luke 23.46) and was buried in a tomb.

Three days later He rose from the dead. Not because of what He had done but because of who He is. He had fulfilled the will of the Father through His death and burial. Paying for the sins of the world was an act of divine love (John 3.16). Rising from the dead (1 Corinthians 15.20) was inevitable because Jesus is God in the flesh (John 1.14).

The lord of the flies has been defeated by the Lord of eternal life. One day death itself will be defeated (Relation 20.13-14) and the lord of the flies will join death in the lake of fire (Revelation 20.10).

Acts 16.31, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved". And everyone who exercises faith alone in Christ alone will be imputed with the same resurrection power that raised Jesus from the dead. And then you will only die once (physically) but never twice (spiritually).

That, my friends is something to shout about...

The Pulpit is not for Wimps..

2009-05-11T09:38:00.000-07:00

1 Corinthians 16.13-14, "Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all you do be done in love".

Gene Cunningham, a Pastor-Teacher and a friend of mine was teaching at a youth camp a couple of years ago. I remember him teaching from the passage above. In my Bible, I wrote down the following points from that lesson.

1. Be alert-for danger.
2. Stand firm-be ready to fight in the faith.
3. Act like men-be courageous.
4. Be strong-work against resistance.
5. All done in love-Sacrifice yourself for someone else.

He taught this verse to a group of men and male teenagers. He was making the point that a Godly man displays the principles above in his daily life.

I then read this article and realized that far too many men who occupy pulpits in this country today have forgotten what being a man of God entails. As Pastors, Teachers, and Evangelists, our job is to "TEACH" the Word of God...period.. I am fed up with wimpy, feel good, pandering pastors in this country who teach a touchy-feely Jesus. Men who tell their congregations what they want to hear instead what the Word of God states. As the author of the article writes, "the pulpit is not for wimps." Indeed, it is not.

Time grows short. As each day passes, we grow closer and closer to the rapture of the church. The lines are being drawn and each person must decide where he/she stands. As for Pastors, there is only ONE side we stand on and it better be the side of truth. For we have been given the responsibility of leading people in the ways of God, and we better get it right. There is absolutely no excuse for any man who stands in a pulpit to teach anything other than the truth as it is laid out in the Word of God.

In his first letter to Timothy (who was a young pastor-teacher) Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit wrote this, "Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which He will bring about at the proper time He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen. 1 Timothy 6.12-16.

He concludes the letter to Timothy with this verse, "O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding world and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called "knowledge", which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith". 1 Timothy 6.20-21.

Pulpits in this country (not all) are full of men who speak empty and worldly chatter and false knowledge.

Pastors:

Fish or cut bait. Play or sit on the bench but good grief get it right.

The Borg

2009-05-03T17:29:00.000-07:00

How many of you have ever watched Star Trek? How many of you have ever watched the Star Trek remade that came out in the early 2000s? Do you remember Patrick Stewart who played Captain John Luke Picard of the star ship Enterprise, I do. He played the part beautifully. One of my favorite episodes was his fight against "the Borg". The Borg were a collective of half human half robot creatures that thought, acted, and responded to the same "signal". A signal that originated from some alien intelligence whose goal was the "assimilation" of anyone or anything in their path. They travel across the galaxy in a ship shaped like a cube. As they come to another spacecraft or planet they say one thing, "resistance is futile, surrender, or you will be assimilated".

In our world today we have our very own equivalent of the borg. Welcome to the U.N. (United Nations). The goal of the U.N. is the assimilation of the planet. They want every nation to join "the collective" and become a part of the global village.

In America the borg came calling at the turn of the century under the guise of "progressivism". And the sole desire of the progressive is to join the United States of America with the Borg...I mean the U.N.

I quote http://gunslingersjournal.blogspot.com/ below regarding this insanity.

They've Been To College. They Know Better.
The Progressive Statists in Washington will not be happy until every single facet of your life is under their control. Regulating individual liberty out of existence is their goal.

Never doubt it.

Here is their latest target. We will have No. Way. Out.

But one.

Read, my dears, the history of Progressivism. I suggest you start with this book:

American Progressivism: A Reader, by Ron Pestritto

Recognizing Progressivism, which leached into our public sphere about the turn of the last century from German universities via the American "elite" who attended them, helps to understand exactly what went wrong with our country, and why we have the "In the Public Interest/Social Justice/Bobble-Headed Boob as "President" who never met a person he didn't want to regulate.

And why Republican presidents.....aaaaaaahchewbush (God bless me)...have taken us down the same road, only a little more slowly.

Progressivism: The idea that government should run everything...because we've outgrown the Founders' nonsense of "tyrannical" government. We've "progressed", and government is now the only way that we can create the paradise on earth that all progressed and enlightened people want....collectively....don't you know.

Now....note, this is out of Germany. At the turn of the last century. Before Hitler.

Does anyone see the irony here? And yet, even the advent of the Nazi Government...making everything so nice for all its citizens...didn't make the irrational Progressives doubt their own propaganda.

The Progressives still believe that government control of all facets of life is not only the FASTEST way, or the BEST way, but the ONLY way to create the sort of happy, free, fulfilling life for all... that the Founders intended...but foolishly imagined their limited government would supply for all people in all ages.

Silly Founders. They were so limited. So short-sighted. So parochial. So Provincial.

And their stupid Constitution, which limits glorious government is the bane of the existence of Progressives. And they will do whatever they can get away with to undermine, distort, ignore and eventually, discard it.

International Law Treaties, anyone??

Read. Learn. Fight.

Obama is the dull, petulant, frustrated, scurvy face of the New American Progressive.

You have to be controlled so that those who know better can create the perfect society...in spite of your backward, selfish, individuality that undermines the perfection of the socially minded, cooperative collective. You only imagine you want individual freedom and independence because you have not "progressed" or "evolved" enough to understand what is really best for you. And since your so recalcitrant...you have to be made to "cooperate" for your own good.

But once you've been assimilated into the collective, you're going to be so content...and realize that they were right all along. But in the meantime, your criminal, anti-social insistence on "individual liberty" is just PISSING THEM SERIOUSLY OFF.

And it has got to stop.Welcome to the New America....that ZerO is busy "remaking".

The Gunslinger

And Mark says:

Jeremiah 33.3, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord".

DHS Document and it's implications for U.S. citizens.

2009-04-18T08:26:00.000-07:00

I recently read a document published by the Department of Homeland Security titled: Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment. The document details the current "threat" in America of the resurgence of right wing extremist groups in the continental U.S.A. A right wing extremist group is usually a well armed, small group of individuals who propagate an ideology centered in nationalism or racism. Neo-nazi's, skinheads, etc.. fall into this category. The report warns that, because of the election of the first African American President and the down turn in the economy, these groups are seeking new recruits in the form of returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan who are disenheartened by the current state of the union. However, when one reads the document it is apparent that the current definition of "extremist" covers a wide variety of the U.S. population.

For example, the document indicates that the increase in the purchase of firearms and the "stockpiling" of ammunition may be indicative of the rise of right wing extremism. The increase in the purchase of firearms and ammunition can be directly linked to bills and policies that have been introduced or are about to be introduced by the current administration.

These bills such as the labeling of every bullet appear to me to be more Government infringement on our right to bear arms. Yet the Department of Homeland Security labels the rise in the sale of firearms and ammunition as a red flag indicator of the rise in right wing extremism. Therefore, according to DHS (Dept. of Homeland Security) if I buy more bullets I could easily fall under the umbrella of right wing extremism.

On pg. 4 of the document under the heading, "Economic Hardship and Extremism" you can read the following statement.

"Anti government conspiracy theories and "end times" prophecies could motivate extremist individuals and groups to stockpile food, ammunition, and weapons. The teachings also have been linked with the radicalization of domestic extremist individuals and groups in the past, such as violent Christian identity organizations and extremist members of the militia movement."

I'm not really sure what the DHS is trying to say with the reference to "end times" prophecies. I am currently teaching the book of Revelation at our church. The book has much to say on the "end times" of the current dispensation. Perhaps I'm being paranoid but it is not a far fetch for me to be labeled a right wing extremist because I am teaching what the Bible has to say about the "end times".

As a part of good planning for unexpected natural disasters such as earthquakes or hurricanes, a person will normally "stockpile" food and other items such as ammunition for hunting game etc. This to me and everyone I know is common sense.

So now, If I stockpile food and ammunition and teach the book of Revelation what am I; a man of common sense following the leadership of the Holy Spirit or a radical right wing extremist who is a member of a "violent Christian identity" organization.

Finally, the report closes with the assessment that "lone wolves and small terrorist cells" embracing violent right wing ideology are the most dangerous domestic terrorism threat in the U.S. Oh, OK, I guess all those violent Mexican drug gangs and members of Al-Queda crossing our southern border are not that big of a deal.

To read the document itself go here and click on "DHS Rightwing Extremism Report" on the center of the page.

I am a follower of Jesus Christ. He and He alone holds the destiny of this country and this world in His Awesome and Capable Hands. I have no idea how long Jesus will delay before He raptures His church Home. But I do know that the pressure on His Church will increase "as the day approaches". I do not put my trust in any government or man made institution. I put my trust in my Savior and King, Jesus Christ. And you know what...that brings me great Peace.

So cheer up, smile, and enjoy the ride.

God In The Flesh.

2009-03-31T14:33:00.000-07:00

Philippians 2.5-8

"Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."

Lots of people believe that Jesus existed. Many religions teach that He was a great teacher and a good moral person. Islam even teaches that Jesus will return as the enforcer of the programs of the Mahdi. So to many, Jesus was a great man but nothing more and He certainly is not God. However, the passage above teaches something different altogether. In teaches us that Jesus is completely God and completely man in one unique person.

The phrase "in the form of God" and "to be grasped" could be paraphrased as: "Who, though of the same nature as God, did not think this something to be exploited to His own advantage". Jesus possesses the same nature and attributes of God yet while He was on the earth, He did not exploit His Divine power to His own advantage.

But instead He "emptied Himself" and took the form of a "bond-servant". The self emptying of Christ is the veiling or cloaking of His divine attributes. The phrase "bond-servant" in the Greek implies, "one who gives himself up to anothers will, devoted to another to the disregard of one's own interests". So now we see that Jesus Christ never lost His divine nature but He chose, willingly to cloak it while He was on the earth. He then humbled Himself to the will of His Father, He gave Himself up to the will of another. And the will of the Father was for His Son to take on the form of a man and ultimately die on our behalf.

The Creator became one of His creatures.

Jesus Christ went beyond that. Not only did He veil His deity, not only did He humble Himself by becoming a man but He went so far as to die on our behalf. The Creator became one of His creatures and then allowed those creatures to nail Him to a cross on which He died.

Three days later, Jesus Christ was resurrected from the dead. He is currently sitting at the right hand of God and will one day return to establish His kingdom on the earth.

Jesus Christ is God in the flesh. That is what separates Christianity from the religions of men.

The Long Dark of Moria.

2009-03-12T16:44:00.000-07:00

In the movie "The Two Towers" which is a part of the "Lord of the Rings" triology there is a scene where Gandalf leads the fellowship (those who chose to take the ring to Mordor) into the Misty mountains. The decision is made to go under the mountains through a tunnel that was constructed by the Dwarves. The place they enter is called "Moria". It is dark, musty, scary and frought with danger. As the fellowship begins the journey Gandalf sums up the mood of those around him and states, "and so begins the long dark of Moria".

Along about 900 A.D., Europe entered what became known as the dark ages. It was a time of serfs and lords, of papal authority and ignorant parishoners. It was a time of inquisition in the name of God. Disease and pestilence killed millions. Most of the population sank and slumbered into a miserable existence. Personal hygiene was non existent. The God given ability of ingenuity was a distant dream of another lifetime. Kings palaces were rife with corruption and a total inability to rule with fairness and justice. For hundreds of years life in Europe became a living hell. It was a time of violence and death. A time of bloodshed and heartbreak. Europe had entered the long dark of Moria.

Gandalf and the fellowship reach a point in their journey where a great and evil demon of another age, a Balrog, is awakened. The fellowship runs from the Balrog who in turn gives chase. The fellowship reaches a bridge called Khazak Doom. Gandalf sees the fellowship safely across and begins to cross himself. At the halfway point, he stops and faces the Balrog. The Balrog is many times the size of Gandalf. It exudes fire and heat and wields a great flaming sword and a whip made of fire. Gandalf armed with his wizard's staff and sword tells the Balrog, "You shall not pass....go back to the shadow". The Balrog raises it's flaming sword and brings it down on the Wizard. Gandalf stands his ground and blocks the strike and then raises his sword and staff together and strikes the bridge which makes the rock shake and shudder. Again Gandalf staes, "You shall not pass". The Balrog steps on the bridge, the bridge crumbles underneath it's weight and rock and demon fall into the abyss below. Gandalf turns to walk across the remaining bridge when suddenly the firery whip of the Balrog wraps around his leg and pulls him into the abyss. His last words to the fellowship, "run you fools....". The fellowship makes it through but without their leader. He has given his life to protect the fellowship.

In the Dark Ages there was a ray of hope. There was a company of men who still possessed honor, integrity, and fortitude. These men were known as the Knights of the Middle Ages. They lived by a code of conduct. This became known as the Knights code of Chivalry, it is:

The Ten Commandments of the Medieval Code of Chivalry:

Thou shalt believe all that the Church teaches, and shalt observe all its directions.
Thou shalt defend the Church.
Thou shalt respect all weaknesses, and shalt constitute thyself the defender of them.
Thou shalt love the country in the which thou wast born.
Thou shalt not recoil before the enemy.
Thou shalt make war against the Infidel without cessation, and without mercy.
Thou shalt perform scrupulously thy feudal duties, if they be not contrary to the laws of God.
Thou shalt never lie, and shalt remain faithful to thy pledged word.
Thou shalt be generous, and give largesse to everyone.
Thou shalt be everywhere and always the champion of the Right and the Good against Injustice and Evil.

Since the Knights were human they were not perfect. But at a time in human history when society was off the chain, the Knights provided a sense of decency and loyalty to a cause bigger than themselves. And beyond that, they treated women with respect and courtesy.

Like Gandalf the Knights stood in the gap to protect the fellowship.

Enough is Enough

2009-02-26T21:06:00.000-08:00

The message below was written by a long time family friend, the Reverend Dr. James Brettell. Dr. Brettell met my dad in 1962 on the island of Trinidad. At that time, both of them were in the Navy. My dad was the Chaplain on the Navy base in Trinidad, Dr. Brettell was a Navy Corpsman. Dr. Brettell became a believer in Jesus Christ under my dad's ministry.

Dr. Brettell prefers to be addressed as Dr. Jim.

Dr. Jim wrote the message below. Please read it. I pray that everyone who reads it will comprehend the truth of what he writes.

Beloved friends,

Enough is enough. I have sent the following e-mail to my Congress-persons. Many in Congress have gone to Web-mail rather than e-mail, and some you would like to send to cannot be reached. If you are not in their district it’s nigh impossible to contact them without going through the U.S. mail, calling them by phone, or faxing them. My e-mail follows. It represents my thoughts as a citizen, who just happens to be a Christian and a Pastor.

Resting in Him,

Dr. Jim

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Beloved Congress-person:

I am 74 years old. I am a born-again Christian, a Pastor-Teacher, teaching God’s Holy Word to any who will hesitate long enough to listen. However, I write to you as a citizen of the United States. I am neither a Democrat nor a Republican. I am a conservative by choice. I am not persuaded by conservative talk-show hosts. I am an independent thinker. I need no one to tell me what to think or how to think. I am able to do that on my own. I have done so; I am doing so; and I’m quite disturbed.

I have given 9 years of my life in service to my country in the United States Navy. I served at the Naval Hospital in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, about a quarter of a mile from the now infamous prison. I have been inside that prison as a free-world sailor – but back around 1959, and that was before our President, Barack Obama, was born.

Barack Obama is my President. I will honor him as such, but I reserve the right to disagree with him – and contrary to popular opinion, if I happen to disagree with him, that does not make me a racist.

In addition, you, too, are an elected official responsible to represent your constituency. You were not elected to “vote your conscience,” although that idea is stated by many in your position. You are there to represent me and/or your constituents.

Are you blind? Do you suffer from spiritual myopia? Can you not see where this nation is headed? To this latter question, it appears that the answer is “No.”

If there is any truth to the following paragraph, I am overwhelmed with grief. I am not a violent man. I have not ulterior motives; but two weeks or so ago, I told my wife that I believe we are headed for a tax rebellion in this country. Lo, about a week later I learned that someone was being interviewed on the radio in the State of Arkansas and the one being interviewed had already collected 2,000 signatures in support of a tax rebellion. A few days later, I heard of another person somewhere on the east coast doing the same thing. Get it clear in your mind, there is opposition mounting out here at the grass roots level the likes of which you are not going to appreciate. It’s beginning. It’s here. It’s on the scene, and those of you in position of leadership had better get your eyes open and your heads on straight. You are either politically and economically naïve – I would hate you use the word ignorant – however, if that word describes you as an individual as someone who “just doesn’t get-it,” I suppose it would not hurt to use it.

Let's review some of our President’s most recent actions since he was inaugurated:

* His first call to any head of state as president was to Mahmoud Abbas, leader of Fatah party in the Palestinian territory.

* His first one on one interview with any news organization was with Al Arabia television.

* He ordered Guantanamo Bay closed and all military trials of detainees halted.

* He ordered all overseas CIA interrogation centers closed.

* He withdrew all charges against the masterminds behind the USS Cole and 9/11.

* Now, we learn that he is allowing hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refuges to move to and live in the US at American taxpayer expense.

On another thought -- throw-in the following:

“H.R. 40: Commission to Study Reparation Proposals for African-Americans Act”

You’ve got to be kidding me. I have read the entire text of H.R. 40. I had nothing to do with slavery in this country. No one alive today had anything to do with slavery in this country; and you are going to spend 8 million dollars to study whether or not the U.S. Government should apologize for slavery that ended in 1865. Excuse me. How ignorant do you think I and others are out here at the grass roots level? And you’re going to consider whether people alive today should receive some form of remuneration for something that ended in 1865. Excuse me once again.

Some of the highest paid people in this country are African-Americans – just check the pay-checks of contemporary athletes.

What about black advancement in all arenas of life: The President of the United States, Congressmen and Congresswomen, Supreme Court Judges, Cabinet Officers, Governors of States, Mayors of Cities, professional athletes, college professors, school teachers, military officers at the highest level, radio and television personalities, and we could go on and on. Give me a break, sirs. Don’t talk to me about discrimination. Life is tough, and then you die. The problem in our country is not discrimination. We have a morality problem – and it’s rampant among all races and permeates our entire society from the halls of Congress to the streets of the smallest city in the U.S. Shall we begin by listing some examples in the halls of Congress? Oh, excuse me. I forgot. Government leaders forget, and are absolved of guilt. It’s me that goes to jail for the same “oversight.” Sorry, a mental lapse on my part. Is it any wonder that government official’s approval rating is so low – and plummeting about as fast as DOW Jones.

The housing crisis and the banking crisis in this country was not caused by that “fumbling/bumbling” George Bush. You’ll find the source of the problem with the “group” that forced banks to loan money to people who didn’t qualify and could pay. Hhhhmmmmm???? I wonder who that “group” that was?

I have a prediction – and we’ll see just how free my speech really is. The present liberal bias in our country will last four years – just long enough for President Barack Obama and our present liberal Congress to completely destroy the freedoms of the people they were elected to serve. Keynesian economics will destroy capitalism and the free-market economy. Government will seek to control every area of our lives. The conservative element in our country will react with such things as tax rebellion and strong rhetoric that the liberals of this country will seek to put-down or silence – by legislation or other means. It won’t work. There are those out here who will once again die for their personal freedom. I am one of them. Death is the only way to completely stifle personal freedom and shut the mouths of opposition. Don’t think for a minute that the thought of being put to death to preserve the personal freedom guaranteed by our Constitution is a hasty and irrational thought. I had already penned this thought, and lo, just yesterday, I learned of a popular blog site where someone had written a statement that went like this: “How can we get rid of them?” – meaning the conservative element in this country – not the ones who hate government or hate government officials, but the ones that loathe government and government officials whose mind-set seeks control.

Here’s my prediction: You will see a rise of rhetorical opposition to Presidential and Congressional liberalism. That opposition will come from the conservative side of America. The liberals will be thrown-out of office in four years and supplanted by renewed and vigorous conservatives, and when the political and economic pendulum swings back toward conservativism, the liberal element of America will head for the streets in revolution that will approximate civil war. I’m talking about blood in the streets – not invasion from outside, but American against American – freedom haters against freedom lovers. Can you not see it coming? Or don’t you really care?

I am opposed to the so-called “stimulus” bill. I refer to it as “economic Viagra” – a poor substitute for the real deal.

I am asking you to consider the Constitution that you swore to uphold, and you can begin by voting to get government out-of-the-business of the peoples of America. You are sworn to protect us, not from ourselves, but from outside aggressors. GET OUT OF OUR BUSINESS. The ship-of-State is sinking, and those of you in Congress are a huge part of the problem. Get-it-together or you’ll sink with the ship you are sinking.

I, as a citizen of the United States, will support you when I believe you are right, BUT I, as a citizen of the United States, will oppose your thinking when I believe you are wrong. I will pray that God will give you the moral courage to stand against Congressional decisions that oppress the freedoms of the grass-roots American – people just like me.

In closing, you ought to see what has happened to my wife’s 401K after 40 years of work in the corporate world – and George Bush is not and was not the problem. Perhaps Congress needs to look in the mirror.

Respectfully,

Jim Brettell

(private citizen)

P.S. And please, do not have one of your staff members respond with a computerized response that does not address anything I have said in this e-mail. Thank you for this consideration.

Words Are Important

2009-02-24T06:48:00.000-08:00

There is an online journal that I read on a regular basis at: http://www.withchrist.org/journal09a.htm

When you get a chance, please read the article on the site dated 02/23/09.

Choices are everywhere. Say for example I want to buy some cough medicine for a cough. I go to the store and discover that there are dozens of brands of cough medicine. Not only are there many different manufacturers but I can choose different flavors; grape, cherry, lemon etc.. On top of that I can choose if I want the drowsy or non-drowsy formula. How about breakfast cereal? Need I say more.. Choices are everywhere.

Now, with the idea of choices in mind I urge you to visit a book store sometime soon and look at Bibles. You will discover dozens of choices. There is the King James version, the New International version, the New American Standard Bible, the Living translation, the Message...these barely scratch the surface of what is available for purchase. And among these different versions there is a further division of translations and paraphrases. A translation generally stays close to the original language of the Bible (Hebrew, Greek) whereas a paraphrase attempts to make the Bible "more readable", that is easier to understand.

In the article above the importance of words becomes crystal clear. The most vital thing on this planet is the Word of God. The Bible is the road map for life. It is the document that God has placed in the hands of believers for the church age. Jesus is not currently walking among us. We do not call down fire from Heaven as Elijah did. We live by the Word of God (the Bible) under the direction of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Therefore, Words Are Important.

Read the article, it is short and right on the money.

Pay Attention

2009-02-18T21:32:00.000-08:00

I grow weary of the Governmental malarkey. I am sick of both parties, both of them have lost the identity of who they are and what they represent. What happened to "Representative Republic", where did that form of government go...? Since when have we become a "Democracy"..what a crock..A democracy by definition is "mob rule", nothing more. Our leaders (do they have any idea what true leadership looks like?) think they know what is best. They think that MORE government will solve our problems. They think that taking away our right to bear arms, and our right to free speech, will make America a better place....And please don't call me a "right wing wacko" because I mention "the right to bear arms" and "freedom of speech". Tell me....Mr. government knows what is best.....what will you do when the bad guy comes? Will you "dialogue" with him...will you "threaten him with a lawsuit" as he does whatever he pleases?

Guess what....I will shoot him with my gun or I will kick his criminal a&^ to sleep, but I will win.

PAY ATTENTION AMERICA.....our government DOES NOT have your best interest in mind. They have THEIR AGENDA in mind, nothing more.

You can call me whatever you want...but, I challenge you, four years from now to ask yourself...Do I, as an individual American, have more freedom than I did four years ago?

Mark it down..the date is 02/18/09. Four years from now..how are things?

Four years from now I may be dead, or raptured, or incarcerated, or an invalid, or doing what I'm doing now, or any number of things...but whoever reads this..ask yourself. Am I "more free" or "less free" today, than I was four years ago.

What is "Freedom". Freedom is the ability to make your own choices without the intrusion of ANYONE OR ANYTHING. Socialized ANYTHING from the government is an INFRINGEMENT on your freedom, BEWARE of the enemy at the gates.

And pay attention to the subtle things. Not the obvious, but the subtle. Evil creeps....It does not attack unless it knows it has the advantage. It the meantime, it creeps. Slowly...it moves in, its goal being to make you, or society "compromise" until the line between right and wrong becomes blurred. And when it has made you or society "compromise" it attacks and kills.....

Our government, for the last 100 years (at least) has been "sneak attacked" by the enemy. When America becomes 100% dependant on the government for ANYTHING...then America is no longer a free nation.

Mark It Down People.

A Tribute To Our Dad

2009-01-28T07:04:00.000-08:00

One of the most influential people in my life has been my dad. I want to write a tribute to him and the huge affect he has had on my life through the years. My brother and sisters all have different things to say about him and obviously I can only write about him in my own words. So, this blog entry is about him, the greatest dad a boy could ever have.

He was born in LaFollette, Tn. on January 22nd, 1926. He grew up in the mountains of northeast Tn. As a teenager, he once saved a friend from drowning in a creek and his singing voice was magical. He also played football in the days of leather helments without a facemask.

He has a split in his bottom teeth to prove it.

In 1944 at the age of 19, he joined the U.S. Navy. While in bootcamp in Great Lakes, Michigan, his platoon was granted a 72 hour leave. He hitch hiked all the way to LaFollette, gave my mom an engagement ring, and then hitch hiked back. He was assigned to Halsey's 7th fleet in the Pacific theatre of operations. He was with the fleet during the infamous storm that became known as "Halsey's Typhoon". During the storm, he spent 72 hours straight in the engine room helping to maintain the ship's headway in 60'-70' waves. When battle stations were called my 19 year old dad would man a 20mm anti aircraft gun shooting at dive bombing Japanese aircraft. He was with the fleet during the battle of Okinawa providing fire support for the Marines who were taking the island.

In 1950, he left the Navy in order to get his degree of divinity from Southern Theological Seminary. He re-entered the Navy in 1953 as an officer in the Chaplain Corps. During these years, my sister Becky, brother John, and sister Jody were born.

In 1966 he was sent to Vietnam as a chaplain assigned to the first Marine division. He spent a year on the beach in a place calleed "Chu-Lai". He would conduct sunday services and counsel Marines who were daily engaged in bloody and horrific firefights. He would also help collect dog tags off of marines who had died. He was a constant source of comfort and help to men who desperately needed it. He did a second tour of Vietnam in 1968, this time in Da-Nang. He never did talk about Vietnam much and knowing what I know now, I don't blame him. He did tell me of the time when early one morning, as the men were walking out of their tents, a good friend of his stepped on a mine which blew his legs off killing him. Dad also came across a marine who had died in a firefight. This marine happened to be the son of a fellow chaplain who was a good friend. My dad saw death and destruction up close and personal yet through it all, he was loved and honored by the men he served with. They looked to him for strength and answers in the hell known as war; and he was always there for them.

After his tour in 1968, dad returned to the states for good. He was now a Lt. Commander and eventually became a Captain. In 1977, he retired from the Navy with 33 years in service. He became a Pastor of a Baptist church in St. Mary's Ga. I remember him as an incredible Bible teacher and the best pastor that church ever employed. There are bad memories of that church because of what they did to him, but that is a story for another day. I choose to cling to the good times I had learning and growing spiritually under his instruction.

In my childhood, I remember my dad as a kind man whom I did not want to disappoint. My relationship with him was always a good one. He was always patient and loving toward me. During the turbulent years of my divorce and the time after when I entered the years of self induced misery and a frantic search for happinness, he (and my mother) were always there to lift me up, I will be forever grateful for that.

My dad always gave me wise counsel even though many times, I did not listen. He lived his faith. He understood doctrine to duty and his faith had feet. As the years went by, my dad's health deteriorated. In spite of it all, he maintained a positive attitude and was always ready with a quick joke or word of encouragement. He is the most kind and generous man I have ever known. He possessed a quiet strength that never wavered. He, more than any other person I have known, became like Christ in His humanity. My dad was a person who never criticized, always lifted up, provided wise counsel, led by example, lived what he believed, and underneath it all he had what it took to get the job done. He possessed what every man wants and that is the ability to always come through no matter what the circumstances.

On a beautiful October day, the 12th of the month in 1999 my mother called us to say that my dad had fallen. I remeber driving to the house 10 minutes away, rounding the corner and seeing a police officer running from his car into my dad's house. I remember going in the house and seeing my dad lying on the floor in the bathroom next to the tub. I remember cradling his head in my arms and looking into his eyes. I remember seeing a brief moment of recognition and then seeing his eyes go slightly in different directions. I remember feeling a sense that if he could, he would have said, "Its ok son, your turn has come, be the man, take care of your mother, I'll see you on the other side"..

Rescue took him to a hospital where we discovered he had suffered a massive hemmorrage in his brain. Looking at the x-ray, it was obvious that he was done. I remember that moments after they took him off the vent, he stopped breathing. I remember our family standing in a circle around his bed and my wife leading us in a verse of "Amazing Grace".

If I can be half the man that my dad was then I will have accomplished something worthwhile in this life.

It Is Finished

2009-01-20T16:28:00.000-08:00

No, this is not a slam on President O'bama. This post is centered in the person of Jesus Christ.

"It is finished" are the last words Jesus spoke before he left this world. The word "finished" in the Greek indicates the paying of a debt. Therefore, when Jesus stated, "it is finished" He acknowledged that the sin debt of the human race had been paid in full. Jesus Christ left the throne of Heaven, became human, lived among us, and then took on a debt that we could never pay. This debt that He took on cost Him His life, and beyond that it cost Him seperation from His Father. Never in all of created history has Jesus been seperated from His Father yet that is exactly what happenned that day. And when the last of the sins of the human race were poured out on Him, He could say, "IT IS FINISHED" once and for all, for all eternity.

If the debt has been paid in full, and it has, then the issue for the human race is, "do you believe in what Jesus did?" period..Do you believe that His sacrifice on the cross and His subsequent resurrection three days later is sufficient to make amends with God?

You do not need to prayer the sinner's pray, or make Jesus Lord of your life, or walk an aisle, or be baptized or any of the other things that MEN require us to do. According to the Bible all that is required for salvation is "Faith alone (nothing more) in Christ alone (no one else)". When a person SIMPLY BELIEVES in Jesus Christ that person is saved for all eternity by the SOVEREIGN CHOICE OF GOD not by anything that person does. You see, God is the one who decided that faith alone in Chrit alone was the requirement for salvation, not men. Anything added to it is "of men" and therefore false.

Israel vs. Hamas

2009-01-04T12:41:00.000-08:00

Israel has invaded the Gaza strip. Hamas, a Palestinian terrorist organization, which is based in the Gaza strip has refused to hold up a bargain it made with Israel. Hamas was to cease hostile action against Israel. Israel in turn would allow them (Palestinian people) to live and work in the Gaza strip. But alas, Hamas has not kept the deal. For the past several months Hamas has continually launched mortars and rockets into the heartland of Israel. After numerous warnings, Israel had no choice but to respond with force.

Hezbollah, which is a terrorist organization funded by Iran, is threatening to open a new front on Israel's northern border. Hamas hopes that this will lead to a regional war involving Hezbollah, Syria, and Iran all teaming up against Israel. If Iran attacks Israel the U.S. may get into the fray. There are currently two U.S. carrier groups sitting in the Persian Gulf. As time goes by, the world will continue to become a powder keg that could go off at any time.

The issue for Israel has been and always will be land. No matter what the media or heads of state believe (including the U.S.) Israel was promised the land it occupies, plus a great deal more by God, in the book of Genesis. But, since most world leaders, media outlets, and the population in general does not believe in the God of the Bible, we will continue to see violence in Israel. Violence that will become more and more volatile and deadly until the entire planet is engulfed in wars and turmoil that will become the tribulation.

Pretty picture, no it is not but it is the truth. As believers in Jesus Christ the greatest weapon we possess is prayer. It has been said that prayer moves the hand that moves the world. Our greatest asset is to continually go before the throne of grace seeking Gods' provision and guidance. In the crazy times in which we live, pray for wisdom, discernment, peace, protection, opportunity, and above all Grace which comes from the Father. As the rapture approaches and times get tough opportunities to witness for our King will increase exponentially. Stay in the Word, be led by the Holy Spirit, love one another, and follow our Warrior-King Jesus Christ to fields of victory and triumph which He has prepared for those that love Him.

Dispensations

2008-12-02T14:09:00.000-08:00

In a nutshell dispensation is a word that is used to describe how God administers different time periods of human history. There have been several dispensations that have already played out. Each dispensation is established by Divine decree. Divine decree is the plan for angelic and human history that was established by God in eternity past. In order to understand the Bible it is necessary to interpret it dispensationally. Each dispensation has a purpose, a failure, and a solution. The purpose in each dispensation is the glorification of God. The failure in each dispensation is always traced to humanity, and the solution for the failure is always found in Gods' grace.

Human history can be summarized in the following dispensations or ages.

1. Adam prior to the fall in the garden of Eden is known as the age of innocence.

2. From the fall in Eden to Abraham is known as the age of conscience.

3. From Abraham to Pentecost 30 A.D. is known as the age of Israel.

4. From Pentecost 30 A.D. to the rapture of the church is known as the church age.

5. From the rapture to the second coming of Christ is known as the tribulation or Daniels' seventieth week, or the time of Jacob's trouble.

6. From the second coming of Christ to the end of human history is known as the age of Christ or the millennium.

Each dispensation represents a different phase of the trial of Satan that began in eternity past. All of the objections raised by Satan are being systematically rebutted in the courtroom of Heaven. The witnesses called to the stand in each age are those humans who choose Gods' plan over Satan's'. In every dispensation the solution is found by exercising faith in the Son of God.

After the fall in the Garden of Eden the promised redeemer was known as "the seed of the woman" (Genesis 3.15). In the age of Israel the Messiah/Redeemer was foreshadowed in the various offerings and rituals found in the Mosaic law. The great juncture in human history is that time when Jesus of Nazareth was born as the God/man of Heaven. He is the seed of the woman and the Messiah of the Old Testament. With His life, death, burial, resurrection, and present session at the right hand of God; sin and death were defeated and the angelic conflict was won.

All of the dispensations of human history are centered in the Person and work of Jesus Christ. We presently live in the age of grace or the church age. This age is unique in that all three members of the Trinity (God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit) indwell every believer in Jesus Christ. But only those believers born during the church age (30 A.D. to the rapture of the church, which has not happened yet) can partake in this Grace provision of God. In every dispensation the issue is faith alone in Christ alone. So everyone in every dispensation who exercises faith in Christ is saved for eternity. Those of us of the church age are known as joint heirs of Christ. What a blessing to be born and saved in this period of human history. Undeserved grace, that is God in action.

From the rapture to the second coming of Christ is that seven year period known as the tribulation. The church (the body of Christ) will not be here. The tribulation will be the greatest time of suffering in human history. In Matthew 24 Jesus said that "if those days were not shortened no one would survive". They will be shortened by the physical return of the resurrected Jesus Christ to the earth. His return will institute His 1000 year reign on earth. After the 1000 years the end of human history will occur.

Dispensations answer questions such as; "why in the Old Testament are women to be stoned for adultery but in the New Testament they are not". The old and new testaments are different dispensations and therefore subject to a different set of rules for living. The old testament was under the Mosaic law, the new testament is governed by the new testament epistles.

This is a brief synopsis of dispensations. I could go into various Bible passages that support this view. However, my goal on this blog is to scratch the surface of various doctrines..

The Day Mankind Died.

2008-11-11T16:19:00.000-08:00

Now for the death of humanity.

There is a theory among Theologians called "The Gap Theory" which states that there is an undetermined amount of time between Genesis 1.1 and Genesis 1.2. Personally, I think it is not a theory but a fact. Genesis 1.1 tells us that God created the Heavens and the earth. When God creates, it is good and perfect. So why does the next verse read "Now the earth became a wreck and a ruin" (that is what the original Hebrew states). What made the earth a wreck and a ruin? How did God's good creation become wrecked and ruined? The answer is the fall of Lucifer which I discussed in my last entry. When he fell, it all went to hell in a handbasket.

Therefore, the account of Genesis ch. 1 is not "the creation" of the earth but the "re-creation" of the earth. It was restored to its former perfect state for the purpose of resolving the angelic conflict. And then God introduced the lower creature, Adam, into the picture and the trial of Lucifer son of the morning began in earnest. God told Adam and Eve to rule the earth and enjoy it. His only requirement was to not eat of the fruit of the tree of good and evil. This tree was placed in the middle of the garden and was to be left alone. Along comes Lucifer who convinces Eve to "give it a try". He took the truth of Gods' word and twisted it to be something it was not. This is always how he works. Eve was deceived, ate the fruit, and died spiritually. Adam on the other hand sinned with his eyes wide open. He chose the creation (Eve) over the Creator and he too died spiritually. The question is, what happened, why did they die?

When Adam and Eve disobeyed God they immediately experienced spiritual death. Spiritual death is seperation from God. The intimate fellowship between God and the first humans came to a screeching terrible halt on that fateful day. Not only would man die spiritually but he would also die physically. So man died twice that day, the spiritual death being far more devasting than the physical death.

But God, in His grace provided a way out. Genesis 3.15 is the promise of the Savior that would one day come. And Adam and Eve, if they would exercise faith in that promise, would regain their spiritual life. When God provided covering for Adam and Eve, he used animal skins. This means that the blood of an animal had to be shed. The blood of that animal provided atonement for the sin of Adam and Eve. Accordingly, God, by providing the animal skin, recognized their faith in His promise. One day, the ultimate sacrifice, The Son of God, would pay the price for the sins of the human race. This is the Gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ. His sacrifice on the Cross did way more than atone for sins. His sacrifice PAID for the sins and removed the penalty of spiritual death. But, every man must decide for him or her self to believe in Jesus Christ. The question is: Will you as an individual believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross, paid for your sins, was in the grave, and was resurrected three days later. When an individual exercises faith in that fact God immediately gives that person eternal life and re-establishes the relationship that was lost.

This promise is true no matter what period of time in human history you live. It is always faith alone in Christ alone.

In the garden, the human race died. God provided the solution by way of Jesus Christ who give life.

Next time: Dispensations.

Angelic Conflict

2008-11-08T07:06:00.000-08:00

In the book of Isaiah ch.14 and Ezekiel ch. 28 is the record of the fall of Lucifer. Isaiah tells us why he fell, Ezekiel tells us how far he fell and what he fell from. Lucifer was the most beautiful and intelligent creature to ever come from the hand of God. He did not have a tail, horns, or a pitchfork. He was in fact the most beautiful holy angel God created. His intelligence is unmatched among created beings in the universe. He is first and foremost. The key though is that he "was created" by The Creator. His original position was that of ceremonial guard of the throne of Jesus Christ. Imagine the guards at Buckingham palace, they stand guard at the front gate but it is more for show than anything. So also, Lucifer's supposed power and position was for show more than anything; since when does God need anyone to "guard His throne"..

But alas, it all went to his head and he decided that he wanted to "be like God", take over heaven, rule Jerusalem, and rule the angels. This was his fall. His pride got the best of him. So the beautiful intelligent Lucifer was sentenced to the lake of fire. The Bible indicates that lucifer appealed his sentence saying, "how can a loving God sentence one of His creatures to the lake of fire?" the response of the Father, "sit back a minute and I will show you". And along came human history. But for now, lets stay with the fall of lucifer a little longer.

The Bible tells us that Lucifer managed to convince 1/3 of the angelic host to take part in his rebellion against God. Can you imagine, of the billions of created angels 1/3 decided to follow lucifer. This is an indication of his powers of persuasion. Think about it, the angels in the very presence of God decide to follow the renegade in his folly...No wonder men are so blind today.

All of these events occurred in eternity past, before mankind was created. A period of perhaps millions of years. So you see, this conflict between good and evil started long before man was even created. How arrogant of men to think that they are the beginning of the battle. But, mankind plays a vital role in the resolution of the conflict. You see, men were created with the same ability to choose as the angels. As the angels who fell chose against God and the angels who did not fall chose for God, so also mankind has a choice to make; and it is centered in the person of Jesus Christ. When we as humans choose to believe in Christ then the fallen angel, who is the more intelligent creation, could have but did not. And God is justified in sending that fallen angel to the lake of fire. By the way, Hebrews ch. 2 tells us that a message of salvation was offered to the angelic host. That means that sometime in eternity past, that 1/3 of the angels that chose against God had the opportunity to right the wrong decision they made. We are not told specifically what the message of angelic salvation was but I would imagine it was centered in the person of Christ as well.

So you see, life really is a battle. You and I were born in the middle of the greatest conflict in the universe. Is it any wonder that life on this planet is so messed up.

Next time, we will look at the fall of man in the garden of Eden.

A new leaf

2008-11-07T11:02:00.000-08:00

I realized recently, by way of the Holy Spirit, that writing about politics is a waste of time. Therefore, unless I am led otherwise, I no longer plan to write anything related to politics. Instead, I want to make this blog a place of refuge for the downtrodden and hopeless. I want to talk about the Bible and the incredible story found there. A story that is true and happenning as I write.

At our church we are currently studying the "types of Christ in the Old Testament" on Sunday mornings and the book of Revelation on Wednesday nights. I have taught the types of Christ before yet I am amazed once again how much of the O.T. shadows Jesus Christ. A type is a foreshadowing of something. So types of Christ are shadows, signposts, arrows, etc. in the O.T. that point to the Messiah. It is important to remember that salvation in any dispensation of human history comes by way of Jesus Christ. In the O.T. the beliver looked forward to Messiah who would one day come to provide salvation to any and all who believe. So also in the c/a (the one we are in now) believers look back to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ (O.T. Messiah) and the salvation which He won. From the days of Adam salvation has always been by faith alone in Christ alone.

The Lord made me realize that there is plenty of talk on the internet about politics and all things worldly but not nearly enough about what really matters, that being, a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It is much better for me to teach Bible doctrine on this blog instead of spouting about socialism and all that other stuff.

I think sometime in the next day or two I will begin with the Angelic conflict and go forward from there. My goal is to teach in such a way that it will seem more like reading a story as opposed to point by point. After all, God's story is one that is most awesome and interesting indeed. The Great and Holy God of creation, the King of the universe creates a race of beings known as angels. These angels have the ability to choose good or bad. All is wll until one chooses to put himself on a pedastal and become like God. Well, that is the beginning of the angelic conflict.

If you are interested visit again sometime.

Hello O'bama, Goodbye America (if he wins)

2008-11-04T10:51:00.000-08:00

For all you Obama supporters out there, you wanted change; you got it. I hope you all enjoy your life of servitude to the "glorious leader". He will lead you to the socialist utopia you all desire. At last, you can enjoy government healthcare, government retirement, government jobs, and higher taxes. Oh, and dont worry about America fighting on foreign shores anymore. Our new leader will "dialogue" with our enemies and invite them to sing Kumbaya around the campfire. And if anyone attacks us, he will try to discover the reasons why, make changes, and appease them.

And the best part is, you get to "cleanse" the masses who dont follow the glorious leader. Thats right, you get to participate and be a good citizen in getting rid of those who oppose the government. Your day has finally come....All those crazy Bible believing Christians will finally be dealt with. All those darn idiots who are preaching that Christ is the only way to Heaven. All those loony capitalists who believe in earning money and actually making more than someone else (the audacity), they will finally be sucked into the great socialist machine that America will beocme. And lets not forget your kids: They will become members of the "O'bama youth" and grow up learning and practiceing good socialist behavior. Karl Marx would be so proud of them..

Wow..what a life. How wonderful "change" is..

I wish this post was not true but I believe that it is. I honestly believe that within 4 years, the landscape that was the U.S.A. will be changed forever. The last Capatilist society on earth will have disappeared. But to end on a good note:

Never forget that Jesus Christ controls history. Nothing, absolutely nothing happens without His permission. Daniel 2.21 states, "It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives knowledge to men of understanding". Accordingly, we must never forget that absolutely everything that happens on this planet is a part of His Sovereign will. I LOVE IT....... If O'bama wins so be it. God is still in control.

Who?

2008-09-16T10:15:00.000-07:00

I guess here, on this blog I can speak my mind. I am sick to death of politics and political posturing. I can tell you that I do not support the democratic candidate for president; not becasue I am a republican but because the democratic party has become the Socialist party of America. I support FREEDOM above any form of Government. The Democratic ticket wants to take your freedom and mine away from us. They want me and those like me to shut-up and go away. They have NO CONCEPT of what freedom looks like and, in fact, want nothing to do with it. It's the same old story and it makes me sick.

By definition, Socialism is:
so·cial·ism
Pronunciation:
\ˈsō-shə-ˌli-zəm\
Function:
noun
Date:
1837
1: any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods2 a: a system of society or group living in which there is no private property b: a system or condition of society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state3: a stage of society in Marxist theory transitional between capitalism and communism and distinguished by unequal distribution of goods and pay according to work done (Merriam-Webster on line dictionary).

Listen to the rhetoric of the democratic candidate. He sounds like a spokesman for Carl Marx. They want bigger government, re-distribution of wealth, and no private property; (unless of course the property in question is owned by them). Socialized health care, socialized retirement and socialized property are classic hall-marks of Karl Marx and his best disciple Vladimir Lenin. Look at the "communist manifesto" paying special attention to "the 10 planks of the communist manifesto" near the bottom of the link. Looks familiar, yes?? Pay close attention to the third part of the definition above: "a stage of society in Marxist theory transitional between capitalism and communism and distinguished by unequal distribution of goods and pay according to work done" Apparently, the Democratic candidate desires to continue the direction away from capitalism and toward communism by way of the machine of socialism. But then I have to remember that most people under the age of 30 have never even heard of socialism, communism or capitalism and therefore can not relate to anything that I am saying. I am just another one of the politically incorrect warmongering bigots that does not see the need for "change". Change that is as defined by the socialist/democrats.

This country most definitely needs change, but that change will only occur from within by the life changing presence of Jesus Christ. But then that is also an unpopular name as well. Politics and Religion. The two dirtiest words in the world.

I dont really give a flip about the politics. I dont vote for people I vote for the ideas they represent.

But in the end, no matter what happens in Novemeber, I am on the winning side. Not because of political parties or the men that run them but because I have a personal one on one relationship with JESUS CHRIST. No political party or zealous religious nut can take that away from me. You want good news, here's some: "For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will seperate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord"

A tribute to Police Officers.

2008-07-20T13:49:00.000-07:00

One of the greatest professions on this planet is the Police Officer. Only those who are in the profession, retired from it, or married to someone in it can appreciate what a Police Officer does. I have spent the last 17 yrs. of my life in law enforcement so I know that of which I speak. Police officers have a multi-facted job. They give new meaning to the term "multi-tasking". He or she is expected to be a mediator, counselor, consoler, writer, speaker, fighter, and a shooter (among many other things) at any given moment. He or she has to decide in a split second which course of action will eliminate the threat, without hurting himself or anyone else in the periphery.

Police work truly is like a box of chocolates; on any given call you never know what you are going to get. Any call can go from simple to life threatening in a moment's time. He or she must always be ready for anything and everything all the time. A traffic stop can turn into a gunfight, a dispute can become a fight for your life, I could go on and on..

But I write this as a tribute to all the men and women in this country who are police officers. We have a brotherhood/sisterhood that is almost mystical. Perhaps it is because we put our lives on the line everyday for the public and our fellow officers. We do and see things that no one else has seen or done. You are special, never forget that.

It has truly been one of the greatest honors of my life working in Jacksonville Florida as a Police Officer. I will never forget the people I worked with and the supervisors I worked for. I was blessed to always have professional caring people around me all the time.

Zone 5, watch 4, gold squad. The E.T. unit. Zone 3, watch 6, blue squad. Zone 3, watch 2 and 3, gold squad. You guys and gals are the best. Stay safe always.

I will always remember and pray for all of you, not just those I worked with but everyone who straps on a gunbelt everyday to serve and protect.

I can tell you for a fact that my congregation will always remember the men and women of law enforcement; for, every Sunday, when we meet I will be thinking of you. And I will lift you up before the Father in the name of the Son by the power of the Spirit; asking Him to watch over you, protect you and lead you to a personal relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ.

Remember, the greatest warrior in history is Jesus Christ. The term "Lord of Hosts" in the Old Testament literally means, "Lord of the angelic armies". He is the one who we all serve, whether we believe it or not, He is..

Romans 13.4 says this, "For he (the police officer) is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil (criminals), be afraid; for he (the police officer) beareth not the sword (deadly force) in vain: for he is a minister of God (God ordained our profession), a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil"

You gotta love that...........

As I move on in my life to other things, remember that you are loved and missed.

Vincit Omnia Veritas
(Truth conquers all)

Time magazine and the tree

2008-04-24T07:36:00.000-07:00

Click on this link http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,20080428,00.html to see the latest from Time magazine. The editors of the magazine have once again blundered into sacred American ground. Ground that was won with American blood. The photo depicts a famous scene from WWII, the raising of the flag on Iwo Jima.

In February of 1945 approximately 70,000 U.S. Marines invaded the island of Iwo Jima. Iwo Jima is a small dot in the vast Pacific ocean. It is a dormant volcano that is composed mostly of black sand, rock, and sparse jungle. Defending the island were 22,000 Japanese soldiers. The Japanese army had dug an elaborate system of underground catacombs and interconnecting tunnels. They created deadly crossfire avenues so that practically every square inch of the island was covered with fire lanes from artillery, mortars, machine guns, and rifles. The prize of the island was an airfield. The advancing American armada marching across the Pacific needed the airfield to refuel bombers and to house advanced fighter escort squardron's.

The Japanese defenders were ordered to fight to the death with the goal of every soldier to take 10 Americans with them. They knew they would never leave the island alive. Over the next 36 days, the Marines and the Japanese fought to the death. The battle became one of the bloodiest in all of modern history. 21,000, yes 21,000 Japanese soldiers died. The Marines lost 6,300 dead with thousands more wounded and maimed for life. After just 2-3 days, the island became a giant open sepulchre with dead and decaying bodies everywhere. The stench was unimaginable. The battle became one of small groups of Marines taking the fight to the enemy, inch by deadly inch. Men went days without sleep. At night, the Japanese would carry out sneak attacks armed with bayonets and knives. They would slip into foxholes and slit throats as they could. They would take Marines hostage and torture them to death. But in the end, the indomitable spirit of the U.S. Marine won the day.

The raising of the flag on Mt. Surabachi sent a message of hope to families back home in the states. People could see through the photograph that the U.S. was winning the war, and would soon be victorious. The flag represented the bloody sacrifice and bitter war that our forces in the Pacific and in Europe were fighting for the cause of freedom. It is just a photograph but it had a real and true meaning behind it.

And then comes Time Magazine............who sees fit to replace the American flag with.....a tree..all in the name of "earth day".

WHAT A DISGRACE TO THE AMERICAN MILITARY.

I love trees, I love forests, I love mountains and lakes and oceans and everything beautiful that God created. But when a tree replaces the American flag in a photograph that still has meaning today...that is going to far.

But then the editors at Time magazine will do what they want. Why, because they are free to do so. And why are they free to do so.....

Because better people then them are willing to fight for that freedom everyday.

So its ok Time magazine, you go right on printing what you want. Our military is made of better stuff than you and they can take it.

Beware of false teaching

2008-01-26T06:18:00.000-08:00

I have read several articles lately dealing with proliferation of false doctrine. False doctrine has been around since the dawn of human history. However, today we have a deceptive insidious form of false doctrine that is creeping into every aspect of our lives. From public schools to churches, from military doctrine to banking laws; every aspect of life is under the attack of the enemy. In a nutshell, this form of false doctrine does two things.

1. It convinces us that deep down, we are good and don't really need God.
2. It promotes a different form of thinking away from freedom and absolutes; and toward community and relativity.

According to this teaching, all men are good. We are not really sinners in need of a Savior but actually can achieve a god-like status by discovering our inner self and then developing that self by way of harmonizing with those around us and with the universe. If this sounds familiar it is. It is a more exotic form of mysticism. The Biblical truths of sin and good vs. evil are watered down to the point of non-existence. God becomes whatever you want him to be.

This false doctrine also promotes a different from of thinking. In school I was taught reading, writing, and arithimetic. All these subjects require known facts and rules in order to work. Literally, 2 + 2 = 4, you don't end sentences with prepositions etc.. Today, the trend is toward holistic thinking. Holistic thinking involves your perception of things not facts. However you perceive something to be then that is what it is for you. If in your perception the holocaust never occurred then that's ok, because you are exercising your perception.

This form of false teaching involves famous T.V. personalities such as Oprah Winfrey (google what she is teaching on her daily XM radio broadcast). World leaders, media moguls and famous church leaders are in on the gig. Many churches who call themselves Christian have bought into this deception lock, stock, and barrel.

This deceptive form of thinking will be the perfect tool for the antichrist. At some point, he will step onto the world scene and easily take the reigns of the world and drive it to destruction. The concept of globalism and unification is rampant the world over. He will unite the world and give it exactly what it wants.

God calls us to live as free individuals. It is true that we are to support and love one another. To look out for each other and to worship together. But our unity is based completely on the person of Jesus Christ. It is He who unifies us as a body of believers. It is the presence of the Trinity in our lives that makes us "one in Christ". As the rapture approaches, we will see more and more people falling away from the true faith. The deception will become world wide and millions will want nothing to do with Jesus Christ. For His teaching of absolutism and the narrow way to eternal life will not fit into their "perception" of reality. He will become too harsh and too unforgiving. And that means that you and I who are true believers, advancing to maturity will become hated as well.

But thats ok, because we know the outcome.

Harpazo

2008-01-23T13:56:00.000-08:00

The word "harpazo" is a Greek word that means "snatched away, saved from imminent danger". The word appears a handful of times in the New Testament. One of the passages in which it is used is 1 Thessolonians 4.17. The passage promises that Christians will be "caught up" and saved from imminent danger. The imminent danger from which we will be saved is the tribulation. The church will not go through the tribulation, period. We who are believers in the church age will be caught up into the clouds and meet Jesus Christ face to face. This is a promise found in the New Testament.

There are some who believe that the church will be raptured halfway through the tribulation. Others believe that the rapture will occur synonomous with the second coming of Christ at the end of the tribulation. Still others believe that Jesus will not come back until mankind makes it all right for Him to do so. However, when one interprets the Bible dispensationally and literally it becomes clear that the rapture will indeed take place 7 years prior to the second coming of Jesus Christ. The 7 years between the rapture and the second coming will be the tribulation. The tribulation will be the absolute worst time in all of human history. Billions will die and the earth will be ravished beyond comprehension. Jesus promised that if those days had not been shortened, no one would surive.

If you are a Christian and disagree with what I have said please write back. If you are a Christian and agree with what I have said please write back. If you are an unbeliever the only issue for you is to exercise faith in the Son of God, Believe, nothing else.

The moochers

2008-01-09T03:49:00.000-08:00

Recently, my son who is a freshman in high school, was accused of being a racist. The accuser was....his teacher. The discussion in class that day revolved around illegal immigration. At some point my son made the statement, "all the illegal immigrants crossing our southern border are moochers". His teacher immediately called him a racist in front of his classmates. Was I upset, you bet; did I want to confront the man..uh YEA!! but then a superior of mine made me realize that my direct involvement would appear that I was the "hammer" behind my son's statement. So I will probably say nothing except to tell him to quit accusing my son of being racist.

On to the real issue. Illegal immigrants who cross our borders are just that, "ILLEGAL immigrants". Certainly, many of those who cross contribute to the work force in a big way. I have seen Mexican nationals working like dogs and doing an excellent job at what they do. But crossing our borders without going through the proper channels is wrong. I have no problem whatsoever with people from other countries entering the U.S. as long as they beocme U.S. citizens. But alas, when we have a congress that encourages illegal entrance, well, that problem speakes for itself.

Anyone who uses our health system and other government services free of charge is a moocher. Therefore, it is not only some of the illegal immigrants who are mooching but a vast majority of our own citizens.

You want to live in our country, great. Do it legally and get a job.

Choose this day whom you will serve

2008-01-03T03:35:00.000-08:00

If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, a battle rages within you every moment of every day. It is a battle between your OSN (old sin nature) and the indwelling Holy Spirit. Before you were saved, you were a dichotomous person. That is you possessed two parts, a body and a soul. After salvation you became a trichotomous person possessing a body, soul, and a spirit. Your spirit was "regenerated" by the Holy Spirit and became the Divine receptor organ to learn and apply Doctrine. But the old man, the old sin nature is still there. Your OSN will be dealt with at physical death, in the mean time, the battle rages.

Life is about choices. Every day we are faced with myriads of them. And it always boils down to making good choices or bad ones. If we are under the leadership and yielded to the Holy Spirit, we make good choices; if we are under the influence of the OSN, we make bad ones. So choose this day, whom will you serve? The OSN or the Holy Spirit.

Christmas

2007-12-24T09:34:00.000-08:00

Jesus Christ:

Came through the seed of a woman.

1. Genesis 3.15, “And I (God the Father) will put enmity between you (satan-the serpent) and the woman (Eve), and between your seed (those who would reject Christ) and her seed (Jesus Christ); He (Jesus Christ) will crush your head (the defeat of sin/satan at the Cross) and you (Satan) will bruise His heel (the suffering and physical death of Jesus Christ).
This passage is a promise of two things:
A. Jesus Christ, the second person of the Trinity would at some future date take on the form of a man and be born as a baby.
B. Satan would be defeated by way of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.

He will be a descendant of Abraham.

2. Genesis 18.18, “Abraham will surely become a great and mighty nation, and in him all the nations of the earth will be blessed”
a. Abraham is the father of the Jews. From Abraham came the nation of Israel.
b. Abraham became a blessing to all nations because His offspring would ultimately be Jesus Christ born through Mary. And Jesus Christ blessed all nations because through Him, all men have the option of eternal life, not eternal separation from God.

He will be a descendant of Isaac, Abraham’s son.

3. Genesis 17.19, “But God said, “No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him”
a. Abraham’s son by way of Sarah will be Isaac. Through Isaac will come Jesus Christ.
b. Only through Christ can an everlasting covenant be established.

He will be a descendant of Jacob the son of Isaac and grandson of Abraham.

4. Numbers 24.17, “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near; a star shall come forth from Jacob, a scepter shall rise from Israel, and shall crush through the forehead of Moab, and tear down all the sons of Sheth”
a. At a future date, a star will come forth from Jacob and a scepter shall rise in Israel. The star and the scepter in this passage is a reference to Jesus Christ.
b. Through Jesus Christ, all the enemies of Israel will one day be defeated.

He will descend from the tribe of Judah. Judah was one of the twelve sons of Jacob.

5. Genesis 49.10, “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the rulers staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes, and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples”
a. Shiloh means literally, “to him to whom it belongs, tranquility”. This is a reference to Jesus Christ for only He can bring about tranquility and only He is worth to carry the rulers staff and scepter.
b. The obedience of the peoples will come about at the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ to the earth.

He will be born of a virgin.

6. Isaiah 7.14, “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign; Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel”
a. Jesus would be born by way of a woman, and she will be a virgin. The sin of Adam passes down through the man, yet Jesus will not have a human father.
b. Immanuel means, “God with us”. For Jesus will be completely God and completely man in one unique person.

He will be a child who will one day rule the world from the throne of David as the unique God-man.

7. Isaiah 9.6-7, “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be wonderful counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of Peace on the throne of David and over His kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will accomplish this”
a. The child born was Jesus Christ.
b. He will not govern the nations until He returns the second time at the end of the tribulation.
c. At that time, He will re-establish peace on earth for He is the only one who can make it happen.
d. This same one who was born a little tiny baby; He will be known as “the wonderful counselor”, the Mighty God, Eternal Father, and the Prince of Peace.
e. He will rule the earth from Jerusalem on the ancient throne of King David. He who was the ancestor of David will be the King of David.
f. Psalms 110.1, “The Lord (God the Father) says to my (David) Lord (God the Son) Sit at my (God the Father) right hand until I (God the Father) make Your (God the Son) enemies a footstool for Your (God the Son) feet”

The place of His birth.

8. Micah 5.2, “But as for you Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One (God the Son) will go forth for Me (God the Father) to be ruler in Israel His (God the Son) goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity”
a. Jesus was born in Bethlehem
b. He is recognized in the passage as the eternal Son whose goings forth have been since eternity past. Why? Because He is God who will be revealed in the flesh.

Every one of these prophecies came true to the last detail. They were written 1500 to 700 years before Christ was born.

If you are still breathing then it is not to late to become a believer in Him. Faith alone in Christ alone.

Citizen Soldiers

2007-12-22T15:49:00.000-08:00

"People sleep peacefully at night only because rough men stand ready to violence on their behalf"

-Orson Wells.

I heard a new song last night at the movies by the band "3 doors down". It is called "citizen soldiers" and can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJRthpxDM10. It is a tribute to our national guard, who, in normal life are ordinary citizens with regualr jobs; but who are also members of our armed forces ready to go to war when needed. Many of the forces presently fighting in Iraq are members of national guard units across the country. They have taken leave from civilian life to fight for our country.

In WWII, most of the fighting force in Europe were "citizen soldiers" hence, the title. They dropped everything, left the life they were used to and went to war against the Nazi war machine. Thousands died, thousands more were wounded and maimed, and all of them did not see family members for years. The Germans were defeated due mainly to the efforts of the common man willing to give all for a cause.

There is a line from the song by "3 doors down" that says, "the strongest among us may not wear a crown". And that, my friends, is it in a nutshell. Heros, real heros are normal people willing to give all in the name of freedom.

You never know when your time will come.

2007-12-22T14:39:00.000-08:00

The past month in Jacksonville has seen two industrial accidents in which people died. The first involved a multi-story concrete garage that collapsed. One man was killed as a result. The second was a fuel tank that blew up killing four people and injuring about 14 more. The tank was located at a fuel additive facility in which chemicals are mixed with fuel to produce the additive. For reasons unknown (at least for now) one of the tanks blew up sending flames 600' into the air. The percussion was felt as much as a mile away; breaking windows and knocking people down. Both of these events were obviously unplanned and unforseen.

None of these people planned to go to work and die. None of them knew that day that it would be the last day on earth and the last day of this life. My prayer is that they all were believers in Jesus Christ. For, if they are, the moment they died, they were immediately face to face with Jesus Christ. That is why it is so very important to, "get your soul straight" as the saying goes. Everyone of us could die at any time. The Bible tells us that we all have an appointed time to live on the earth, and after that, the judgment. The question that must be answered; which judgment will you be a part of? Will it be the Bema seat judgment or will it be the Great white throne judgment.

The Bema seat judgment is for beleivers only and will take place in Heaven during the tribulation. The great white throne judgment is for unbelievers only and will take place at the end of human history.

Salvation is simple. Faith alone in Christ alone. Thats it, nothing more. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.

So, be ready. You never know when your time to leave this earth will come.

Justice today vs. yesterday

2007-12-21T21:10:00.000-08:00

I had occasion to arrest a juvenile for stealing a car, running from me, resisting me and then, subsequent to arrest, being in possession of marijuana. Do to the fact that he was a juvenile he was released to his parents that same day. He was not placed in secure detention even though he had taken a vehicle that belonged to an elderly woman. He ran from the police and then resisted arrest and then, he had "weed" on his person. Ha, no big deal we will just give you a court date.

That is the state of the current justice system, at least where I live. I would challenge you to go to http://www.oldbaileyonline.org/html_sessions/T18321129.html/ and see for yourself how things used to be. The link is an actual court docket for a given day in England in 1832. We are way to lax on criminals today. Men and women in law enforcement are social workers and psychiatrists and psychologists and counselors and myriads of other things. But most importantly, we enforce the law. And when the justice system does not back us up; well.... it sucks..... Romans 13 makes it clear that our job as police officers is to ENFORCE the law. If you have a hard time with that, get over it and take it up with God. And please, don't start on me with the "bad cop" syndrome. We are FAR harder on ourselves and our co-workers than most corporations. When we arrest someone, we take away their freedom. That is a very big deal...

At least today you don't lose your life for burglary. Hell,,most burglars today are let go in a day or two....... You want less crime? you want to feel safe again? Then tell your local state attorney's office and judges to ENFORCE THE LAW....you would be amazed at what would happen to the crime rate. And by the way, I have no problem with the general public being armed. If the jack man knows that his potential target is armed, he is less likely to try and rob him.

Well, I've said my piece for now.

c u next time.

Israeli vs. Arab..how bout Isaac vs. Ishmael

2007-12-20T06:37:00.000-08:00

The Arab Israeli conflict began 4000 years ago with the offspring of Abraham. Abraham had a son by way of Hagar, his hand maiden, named Ishmael. He had a second son by way of Sarah, his wife, named Isaac. God promised Sarah she would have a son. She decided that God was not working by her timetable so she told Abraham to lie with Hagar and have a son through her. He did and therefore disobeyed the Lord. The Bible tells us that the Arab nations came into existence through Ishamael. Israel as we know came into existence through Abraham and subsequently, Isaac. That is why both the Jews and the Arabs recognize Abraham as their father. The Bible also tells us that there would always be enmity between the sons of Isaac and the sons of Ishmael. It will continue until Jesus returns at the end of the tribulation. Trying to establish peace in the middle east is a noble endeavor, however, it will not happen until Jesus makes it happen.

So when you see the talking heads in the media, politicians, and world leaders exahusting themselves trying to establish peace in Israel; remember, what God told Abraham long ago.

Sheep, sheepdogs, and wolves.

2007-12-19T12:32:00.000-08:00

Choose this day what you will be, a sheep, a wolf or a sheepdog. The sheep are the weak, the frail, the victims. The wolves are the one's who pray on the sheep and the sheepdogs are the ones who pray on the wolves. It is all in the attitude and the way you carry yourself. The bad guys look for people who appear unsure of themselves. They are opportunistic and always look for the advantage. If you look timid, scared, and nervous you may become a target.

1. Walk with your head up always aware of your surroundings.
2. Walk with confidence.
3. If approached by someone, look them in the eye.
4. Always be aware of escape routes and things (anything) that could be used as a weapon.
5. Avoid dark places.
6. If in unfamiliar surroundings, stay in well lit places where people are.
7. Use common sense.
8. If you have to fight, do whatever it takes to win.
9. Try not to go places all alone unless you have to.
10. Be nice until its time not to be nice and then get really, really, mean and nasty..

These are just suggestions. We live in a fallen sin infested world. There are lots of good people out there but there are also bad ones.