Archive for the ‘Politics’ Category

And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed. Genesis 2:25

When God first created Adam and Eve He did not furnish clothing to them.  There was no need.  They were made in the image of God and walked in relationship with Him that you and I just can’t comprehend.  They had been created as adult beings but were actually children in the eyes of God.  They were innocent and they were good.

One of the things the Fall brought about was the loss of innocence.  This was an innocence that not only allowed them to have a perfect relationship with God; they actually perceived no difference between themselves and God.  They did not even realize they were naked.

jesus-creatorThe serpent exposed them to self-centeredness and one of the results was that loss of innocence that kept them from even realizing that they were different in ways that might need covering.

Just look at children.  All children start out with this same innocence I am talking about.  You can bathe most two year olds, whether the same sex or not, in the same bathtub and they will not notice any difference between them.  This changes in every kids life at a different age.  It changes when they are taught the differences.  A kid will ask certain questions and we give them certain answers.  Our answers will be based on our own notions about our differences.  Some kids can maintain a level of innocence longer than others because some parents are not as anxious about those differences themselves.

Another area where kids are innocent is race.  A small child can play with or have friends of different races and just never perceive any differences.  Again, this usually ends when questions are raised and the answers the adults give start a child along the path to what they think of their differences.  Innocence lost.

I heard a white evangelist say that if he could preach as well as T D Jakes, he would not mind having Jakes color of skin.  He also said at another time that he would not preach at a church that did not welcome blacks.  This actually happened to him and he followed this conviction.  My question is, why, if he does love people of color, doesn’t he see that his first statement is blatantly racist?  I know many “Christians” that are much more vocal in their racism also.

Don Imus went through a lot of strife for statements about “nappy headed” basketball players but insisted it was not meant as a racial slur.  And what about our presidents statement about a black being articulate.  He also said, or people said for him, that nothing was meant.  And even closer, I know white “Christians” that would have their children marry a white atheist rather than a black Christian.

Racism is alive and well in America in 2009.  It is not as bad as it was at another time, but it is far from gone.  And not only is this a white problem, it is also a black problem and a Hispanic problem and many others.  But what really saddens me and has to grieve the Holy Spirit is that the church is not exempt.

Even the best of us have to describe people like this.  “He was a very dynamic black preacher.”  Or, “She is a very beautiful black woman.”  Or many other racially charged descriptive.  What is wrong with just saying he was a dynamic preacher or she is a beautiful woman?  Why do we continue to see everyone as so very different than we are?  Aren’t we all God’s children with no differences between Jew and Greek, male or female, black or white?

I know that everyone that uses the divisive words for descriptions is not using them in a racially motivated way.  But we have to begin to see all people as the same, even with the obvious differences.  All people are worthy of our love because God loves us all.

We are going to inaugurate a man for president tomorrow.  It will be a historic moment because he will be the first “black” president.  Or at least it is being hailed that way.  Actually his racial identity is more along the lines that we all should be.  He has more than a few distinctive racial markers in his makeup.  But yet he is a man with one body.

The church is supposed to be one body.  We need to start acting like it.

Tomorrow will be a historic day and I for one am proud of this nation in this one thing.  This was not even thought possible just fifty years ago.  I doubt when Obama was conceived that any of his family foresaw this day.  Now we need to move on, tearing down more walls in our society, our culture, and our lives.  One day a “black man” will be elected president and we will just say that a “man” was elected president.  Or this is my prayer.

One day we are going to be with God.  I read that we will be clothed in white robes.  But I wonder if maybe we might just once again, be naked before God.  Innocence found.

Love you all

The people of this nation have spoken.  But what have they said?  They have said, in my opinion, “There is no God, and if there is I really do not have to pay any attention to Him.”

Before I go any further I want to say that I have held off this long before saying this because I have been consulting with my Father about what to say, or if I need to say anything at all.  I am convinced that I do need to.  And if you disagree, see me as judgmental, or as filled with hate, or as bitter, or any of a number of ways you could see me, I am not. 

I love you, I love Obama, I love all but, I love Jesus more.  So for Him I speak. 

It is no surprise that the lost have said there is no God.  That is why they are lost.  I used to believe the same thing.  And when I believed this, I hated you, I hated Obama, and I hated everybody else.  Unborn babies were nothing.  Starving children did not move me.  The poor and needy did not receive a thought.  I was my own god. 

It is a surprise to me that a whole lot of the self proclaimed body of Christ does not believe they have to pay attention to Him.  If eighty five to ninety percent of this nation is calling themselves Christians, (not my statistics), how in the world can a man who believes in the slaughter of the unborn be elected?  And he could not have been without a lot of those same people voting for him. 

I hesitate in the name of love and unity to write this.  But in the name of true love and real unity I must.  The Jesus who snatched me from the jaws of death and hell could not possibly be happy with the choices made yesterday.  If you believe differently, then you do not know the same Jesus.  And I really want you to. 

Understand this.  I am not saying McCain was the right choice either.  In fact, I voted for neither.  And if he had of won I would be writing about him.  The things that would make me believe in his need for salvation would just be based on other issues.

There is a whole lot of angry, bitter Christians out there today.  Then there are a lot of people actually calling for prayer for the new POTUS.  In that I am in agreement.   But not with their focus. 

The focus of the prayers that have been called for are not proper.   J. Lee Grady has tried to give us a list of specific prayers to be prayed here.  My problem with this and many other of the suggestions out there today is that no one is saying to pray that Obama be saved.  On one forum I suggested it and a believer was shocked. 

Why in the world can we not recognize that just because someone declares something, it does not make it true? The Jesus I met and now serve, instilled a compassion and love in me that causes me to feel physically sick over the rampant murder of the unborn.  And I truly, truly, used to not care.  If that is what Jesus makes me feel, then why wouldn’t I believe that Obama does not know Him?

Look at Grady’s 3rd suggestion and tell me how in the world a man that does not know God can use His wisdom?

We are losing this war because we are not focused on the right things.  Those things are the things of God, and exposing what and who is not of God.  We are called to battle.  Whether we answer the call or not is totally up to us.

If you don’t like any of this or think I am something I am not, then so be it.  I will be in good company.

Because I love our president-elect I will pray for him.  I will pray that he meets Jesus Christ.

Love you all

Today is the day we find out if the world ends.  That dreaded election that has most everyone upset thinking that there is actually no good choice.  Be that as it may, I choose to ignore it myself.  I will be checking in here and watching a TV show and reading my bible. Whatever happens, I will still serve the Lord.

Saying that, I expect less response today for this Town Hall discussion because most will be glued to their favorite news channel, experiencing all the ups and downs that make them feel alive and involved.  If only Jesus made us feel that way? 

This may be a little fun and a little easy today.  But for those who want to participate, I hope it will be interesting.

Let’s discuss alien life.  Some people are adamant in their belief that there is life on some distant planet.  Others disagree vehemently.  What do you think?

Do you believe that there is intelligent life out there in the vastness of the universe or did God only place life here?

If you do believe in alien life, how do you reconcile it with the gospel?

And finally, just because of what day it is, which candidate would you want to be POTUS in the case of a visitation from outer space?

And a thanks again to Pink Floyd for the title.

Okay.  Have at it. 

Love you all.

Tomorrow, some of the people in this country will vote.  Whatever candidate wins will bring about a new direction.  He will be placed in office by the ones who bought into his rhetoric the most.  Whoever has motivated the most people to follow his empty promises will win. 

I have not tried to use my space here to push any agenda except the agenda of Christ.  I sincerely do not believe that any political party has His agenda in mind.  And that is okay.  Jesus knew the worldly kingdoms would never seek to merge with the Godly Kingdom.  Instead, He warned repeatedly about the danger of trying to merge His Kingdom with the worlds. 

I do not think that any politician on the national scene is concerned in the least about the things of God.  I wish this was not so.  And I wish the people of God would realize the seriousness of forsaking our mission, which is personal, and relying on government to do it for us. 

Being absorbed with “self” is nothing new.  It was there in the beginning.  But it just seems to be so much more powerful today.  Is there anyone out there concerned with the destination of lost souls?  Is there anyone out there concerned with fulfilling our mission of making disciples?  Is there anyone willing to sacrifice on a personal level instead of relying on government?

I don’t know if I am doing enough.  I surely don’t know if you are.  I am tired of sounding so pessimistic and it feels like all I write is words of warning. 

I watched the people of God for so many years to see the faults, the hypocrisy, and the reliance on anything other than God.  I am now one with you in this great Kingdom.  And I see it as great only because of our King, not because of us. 

I know that almost every election is looked at as the one that is the most important of all time.  This one is shaping up to be that one, for real.  We are either going to vote in a man who will not really get anything done, or we will vote in a man that could take this country further down the path to destruction.  You decide who’s who. 

The pessimism is not my heart though.  I am optimistic because I know to whom I have given my life.  I have given it to Jesus Christ, my King.  No matter what happens in this nation, in this world, I know my destination.  I am safe, secure and will be taken care of. 

My heart grieves though for those that are deceived.  Those that do think they are voting in a change for the better.  I do not pretend to be prophetic but, I will say this, no matter who is elected tomorrow it will not be for the better. 

Do not rely on this world, or its leaders, or its policies, or its agendas for your joy and peace.  Become a citizen of the only eternal Kingdom.  Then you will have peace.

So, as far as tomorrow goes, vote if you want.  Then let God have it.  If enough are aligned with His precepts and principles, He will work it all out the way it needs to be.  After you vote, let it go.  Don’t give in to letting it become the obsession for the day.  Whoever gets the most votes will win and after you are done voting, you have no more say in the matter. 

So why not give the rest of the day to God and go talk about Jesus to someone rather than talking about Obama or McCain.

Love you all

There was once a group of people that were led by a loving, just ruler.  He had their best interests at heart and He provided for them in all ways.  Materially, physically and spiritually.  He was stern at times but always quick to dispense mercy and grace. 

But the people were not happy.  Their ruler was not like the rulers that surrounded them in other kingdoms.  Their ruler was never seen and chose to give out His instruction through other men and sometimes directly to individuals.  And His main goal for His people was to spread the knowledge of who He was, all of His love, mercy, grace, provision and instruction, to all people. 

This ruler was the perfect ruler but He was not good enough.  The people He tried to lead wanted something else.  They wanted a king that was a man from among themselves.  This ruler, who by now you know was God, warned them that it would not work out the way they wanted.  But He gave them what they wanted.  He gave them Saul.

From that very first earthly king, things never went the way they should have.  There were a couple of good kings to the Israelites, but none of them ever came close to keeping them in proper relationship with God.   

This post is my response to the questions I put forth on Tuesday.  And for all who responded I seriously thank you and value your input.  I am not being pretentious in saying what I am about to say.  These are new thoughts for me, after spending lots of time in prayer over these issues of voting and the choices laid out before us. 

We are ambassadors of our own King if we have chosen to be a part of the Kingdom of God.  We are supposed to serve Him and His Kingdom.  But instead we seem to think it is the Government of the United States job to uphold our ways and laws.  We seem to think that it is actually the reverse of the way it is.  That this country and its rulers are the ambassadors.  Jesus told us that we are of another Kingdom.  And He told us, while we are here to give to this kingdom what belongs to it but to give to our Kingdom what belongs to Him. 

As Shelly said, even the rulers we think are the right ones turn out to be something other than what we perceived. 

We happen to be in a country where we have been given the “right” to vote.  This “right” has been given by the Constitution, not God.  There is simply no justification that I can find for anyone saying that we are obliged to vote.  God allows it but would not require it. 

And this is the most important part of this post.  If we are going to exercise our “right” to vote, then we better vote for that person that lines up mostly with the heart of God.  If we do not, then we will be held accountable for that vote. 

But as for the question I proposed, I do not believe a person of another faith, even if that person might not make it to eternity with us, cannot have a heart closer to God than someone who declares themselves Christian.  And surely they might be better able to run this country.  

And if you haven’t seen what I am implying yet, I am not sure we should even be concerned with voting.  And know that I expect to get some flak from this.

We have a King.  And instead of listening to Him and doing as He says we waste, yes waste, our time in all the intricacies of the political process. 

Just answer this.  Have you spent as much time talking about Jesus as you have talking about McCain or Obama?  Have you spent as much time reading the bible as you have reading the reports on either of the candidates?  Have you spent as much time seeking Truth as you have the latest sound bite or lie about any politician?

When God calls someone to do something, He knows they can get it done.  Not necessarily that they will.  There is no way in the corrupt system we have now in the US of A, that a politician can be Holy and be an effective leader of this nation at the same time.    Therefore I do not believe God is trying to put any of them in the position.  And He really does not have to. 

God anointed Saul as king.  He anointed David as king.  Then He anointed Jesus as King.  We do not need another. 

I wish these facts were not so.  I wish we could vote the right candidate in and all of the terrible things going on in this nation, which grieve and anger our Lord, would be made right.  But even more, I wish that we would try to start doing what He wants us to do.  Then we could change this nation.  It is never going to be up to the elected officials to bring about the Godly change we need.  It is going to be up to us. 

2Ch 7:14  if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

The people of God must do these things.  Not the House, or the Senate, or the Judiciary, or the President, but only the people of God.  We want to blame everybody but ourselves.  And like when God called all the people to clean themselves up and come up the mountain to meet Him, we want someone, maybe another Moses, to do it for us. 

God help us and have mercy on those we have failed to reach.

I love you all so very much

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