October 27, 2016

"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way." 1 Timothy 2:1-2   

No doubt some of you feel the same about all the ads, debates and news shows about the candidates. This has been the ugliest Presidential campaign of my lifetime.

So, what should campaign weary Christians be doing just 12 days from election day?

"First then, I urge supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people"

We need to be praying!

Supplications are heartfelt requests for God to provide something that you deem essential. It might be protection for the candidates. It may be for wisdom and courage for you. It may be for a fair and just election.

Prayers are requests made in accordance with God's Word and His will.

Intercessions are prayers for the spiritual condition of our leaders and our nation. They are for calling upon God for His mercy upon our land. They are calling for salvation for our President and Congressmen and mayors and councilmen. Pray that evil be restrained and righteousness prevails.

Thanksgivings are just that! Thank God for the peace and freedom that we enjoy in this land. Thank Him that you were blessed enough to have been born in America. Thank Him for those who have served and sacrificed to preserve our freedoms.

We do not need political commercials or strategies or advisers, we need a divine and supernatural movement of God's Spirit upon our nation. That only comes through supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving!

Months and months of campaigning is less than two weeks from coming to a conclusion. Prayer is how you should be spending your time between now and the moment you walk into that booth.

What Has Happened To Our Media?

"The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him." Proverbs 18:17

Many times as a youngster I would hear Walter Cronkite sign off his nightly news broadcast, "And that's the way it is." 

And I would be content with the notion, "Ok, then, that's the way it is!"

Such is the power of the news media!

A smiling, bespectacled, grandfatherly, gentleman with a steady voice shaped the reality of world events of millions of viewers for the better part of a generation.

In his book, "Well Versed", the Rev. Dr. James Garlow makes the case for the biblical purpose of the media:

"The First Amendment guarantee of a free press is implicitly and theologically important. A free media exists for the same reason as the three branches of government. Each branch checks and balances the other - because the capacity for evil in the human heart. Jeremiah 17:9 summarizes it as well, "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" 

An objective media performs an incredibly important function of independently challenging power with truth. This balance only works, however, if the media is not in bed with the government or being intentionally antagonistic."

So, what has happened to our media?

Let me offer several observations based on these brief comments from Dr. Garlow.

First, as truth has become relative it has become pliable and the majority of the media has ceased reporting truth and begun contorting it to fit their worldview and social or political agenda.

Second, when you fail or refuse to challenge corruption with truth you will eventually be corrupted by power. The saying is true, "Power corrupts" and the media has largely sold out to the politically powerful.

Third when you bend the truth and fail to defend the truth you soon lose sight of the truth and start believing your own lies.

Such is the pathetic state of the "mainstream media" today and the media is paying a price for it in terms of a major decline in trust and credibility. 

Do you trust the media?

Neither do I?

So, what do we do?

Stay anchored in the truth of God's Word and speak the truth to the corrupt power-brokers who try to shape the nation's reality.

Don't allow your heart or mind to become corrupted by the lies and misinformation being propagated by much of our modern media outlets.

In the words of the Apostle Paul, "Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness," Ephesians 6:14

The people of God and the Church of Jesus Christ is the final repository of truth on planet earth. Our nation needs us more now than it ever has! There will be a high price to pay as we stand for the truth and speak the truth against political power, but it is why God has placed us in the world.

And that's the way it is!

October 25, 2016

^"For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone." Ephesians 2:14-20

In fourteen days we will go to the polls and choose between two flawed and imperfect candidates. One of them will lead us for the next four years and have a significant impact on our daily lives and future.

But, thank God, we get the privilege of casting a vote and having a voice in the eventual outcome!

That great freedom was purchased for us by the bravery, sacrifice and blood of courageous patriots throughout the generations who loved freedom more than life. Think of them when you cast that ballot on Tuesday, November 8.

What a blessing we have as Americans! Only by the grace of God were we born in this great land. Therefore, it behooves us to be responsible citizens so we can pass the blessings of this great nation to the next generation and continue to be a blessing to other nations around the world.

Those of us who are Christians have an added responsibility to be exemplary citizens of the USA because we are also citizens of another Kingdom - the Kingdom of God. You and I represent that Kingdom in this world.

Our citizenship in that Kingdom was also purchased by the blood of One Who loved our freedom greater than His life. Jesus, the Son of God, became the Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world. He did all He could to help bring the power and principles of His perfect Kingdom into this imperfect world. And as troubled as our world and our nation is, imagine what it would be like without the influence of Christians and biblical truth.

So, we hold dual-citizenship and we are called to bring as much of the Perfect Kingdom as we can into the fallen kingdom to preserve it and to persuade others to believe in Christ and enter the eternal Kingdom through faith in Christ.

I close with this challenge. Since you will spend the vast majority of your life in the perfect, holy, everlasting Kingdom of God, and since that is influenced by how you live in this perishing world, how should you live today? Which kingdom should you live for? Which values should you cherish? What should you love and who should you live for?

October 24, 2016

"Jesus replied, “Haven’t you read that in the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female’? (Genesis 1:27)  He said, ‘That’s why a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife. The two will become one.’ (Genesis 2:24) They are no longer two, but one. So no one should separate what God has joined together.” Matthew 19:4-6

It's just 15 days away from the most crucial election in my lifetime, perhaps in the history of our nation, I am sharing vital issues to consider when choosing your candidate.

An issue of importance to Christ-followers and of significance to a large segment of Americans in general is the sexual orientation issue.

I plan to support a candidate who defends traditional definitions of gender identities. While I stand prepared to befriend or minister to anyone at anytime anywhere I also stand for the biblical truth regarding gender. I love Jesus and Jesus loves people, all people. He even loves me.

In Chapter Eleven of "Well Versed" Dr. Garlow offers biblical perspective on the sexual orientation and gender identity issue:

"At the ESPYS, Caitlyn Jenner said, 'Trans people deserve something vital; they deserve your respect.' Caitlyn's statement spoke to what the gay and transgender movement are truly after - approval, acceptance, and outright affirmation for their behavior. The radical LGBT cause demands this affirmation, even if that means infringing on other's freedom of thought, religion and speech. They are not looking just for respect. They are demanding that everyone agree with their behavior choices."

I recommend you purchase the book and read the rest of this chapter. He shares a chilling story of a fellow California pastor who has been persecuted through the legal system for his biblical stance on this troubling issue.

To reiterate, we can and will love and respect every person God brings into our area of influence or responsibility. However, we are bound by God's Word to stand for the true definition of gender identity. That is a line we draw in the sand.

I would simply ask transgender people to extend the same courtesy to me and respect my sincere belief. If they truly want to resolve the tension over this controversial issue they can simply return to us the personal respect we pledge to them.

There is one Presidential candidate in this election who will protect Christians from the assault on religious freedom waged by the radical transgender people and there is one who won't.

You must do your research and discover the clear distinction between the candidates so you can vote to protect religious freedom and traditional definitions of gender identity.

October 23, 2016

I get daily email articles from Outreach and they are always good. This one is especially good and timely for us. Thom Rainer is a former pastor who now does surveys and research to help strengthen local churches. I pray you will find it a bit challenging but mostly encouraging! You will notice I added several comments in the margins.

What Non-Christians Really Think about Christians

By

Thom Rainer

These surprising insights about what non-Christians can profoundly impact your outreach.

One of my greatest joys in research is talking to and listening to those who clearly identify themselves as non-Christians. Don’t get me wrong—I’m not celebrating their absence of faith in Christ. My joy comes from listening to those who don’t believe as I do, so I might be better equipped to witness to them.

Over the past several years, my research teams and I have interviewed thousands of unchurched non-Christians. Among the more interesting insights I gleaned were those where the interviewees shared with me their perspectives of Christians.

In this article, I group the seven most common types of comments in order of frequency. I then follow that representative statement with a direct quote from a non-Christian.

Read these comments and see if you learn some of the lessons I learned.

1. Christians are against more things than they are for.

"It just seems to me Christians are mad at the world and mad at each other. They are so negative, they seem unhappy. I have no desire to be like them and stay upset all the time." (OUCH!)

2. I would like to develop a friendship with a Christian.

"I'm really interested in what they believe and how they carry out their beliefs. I wish I could find a Christian who would be willing to spend some time with me. (OUCH AGAIN!)

3. I would like to learn about the Bible from a Christian.

#“The Bible really fascinates me, but I don’t want to go to a stuffy and legalistic church to learn about it. I would be nice if a Christian invited me to study the Bible in his home or at a place like Starbucks.”

4. I don't see much difference in the way Christians live compared to others.

I really can't tell what a Christian believes because he

doesn't seem much different that other people I know. The only exception would be Mormons. They really seem to take their beliefs seriously. (GOD HELP US!)

5. I wish I could learn to be a better husband/wife/dad/mom, etc., from a Christian.

"My wife is threatening to divorce me, and I think she means it this time. My neighbor is a Christian, and he seems to have it together. I am swallowing my pride and asking him to help me. (SEE THE POWER OF GETTING IT RIGHT?)

6. Some Christians act like they always have it all together.

“Harriett works in my department. She is one of those Christians who seems to have a mask on. I would respect her more if she didn’t put on such an act. I know better.

   7. I wish a Christian friend of mine would invite me to church with her/him.

“I really would like to visit a church, but I’m not particularly comfortable going by myself. What is weird is that I am 32 years old, and I’ve never had a Christian invite me to church in my entire life.”

Do you see the pattern? Non-Christians want to interact with Christians. They want to see Christians’ actions match their beliefs. They want Christians to be real.

In one study we conducted, we found only 5 percent of non-Christians are antagonistic toward Christians. It’s time to stop believing the lies we have been told. Jesus said it clearly: “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest” (Luke10:2, HCSB).

October 22, 2016

"Lord, who may dwell in your sacred? Who may live on your holy mountain? The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart; Whose tongue utters no slander, who does not wrong to a neighbor and casts no slur on another; who despises a vile person but honors those who fear the Lord; who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind; who lends money to the poor without interest, who does not accept a bribe against the innocent. Whoever does these things will never be shaken." Psalms 15:1-5

Another key issue of the 2016 Presidential election is the pending appointments of justices to the Supreme Court. One more liberal-leaning justice will swing the Court to the left and dramatically change the laws of the land. One conservative judge will make a conservative majority and provide protection for the Constitution.

In Chapter 19 of Dr. Garlow's book "Well Versed", he deals with the topic of the Judiciary.

"Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy's June 26, 2015, writing in "Obergefell v. Hodges" was quite possibly the strongest attack on Christians and Christian values ever written by a sitting Justice in a majority opinion. In it he accused Christians of animus - that is, hatred or hostility - for believing what has been believed for the last 5,000 years of Judeo-Christianity and what is declared clearly in the Bible: marriage is defined as a union of one man-one woman.

The purpose of the Supreme Court - the judicial branch - is to determine the constitutionality of a law. It cannot create a law, nor even demand a law. The limitations placed on the judicial branch are quite clear in the Constitution; it is the legislative branch - the Congress which creates laws. Neither can the President - as the executive branch. The President can only enact the laws made by the Congress. Executive orders are not mentioned in the U. S. Constitution, although Presidents make, on the average, around sixty executive orders per year.

How did the five majority justices come up with their June 26, 2015? In effect, five justices interpreted the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution - designed to ensure freed slaves were not denied citizenship status - to redefine marriage based on sexual orientation. They saw the Fourteenth Amendment as granting them the privilege to redefine an institution which had stood for five thousand years.

The Fourteenth Amendment was also used in the egregious Roe v. Wade decision of 1973. Seven justices concluded then that it guaranteed a woman the "right to privacy" that trumped the unborn child's right to be recognized as a person. Without personhood, the child was relegated to the status of property that had no legal protections.

Let's be clear. The issue we are now discussing is not a mere academic issue. The greatest abuses in America recently have been at the hands of the Supreme Court justices. Due to their life-long terms, the consistent proclivity to disregard the intent of the words of the Constitution, and their recent obsession with consulting European governments and legal documents rather that respecting the intent of our own Constitution, the Supreme Court is one of the greatest dangers to the future of the nation."

When I think about how crucial it is that the next justices appointed be conservatives whose decisions are guided by the original intent of the U.S. Constitution I have to vote for the Presidential Candidate who is most likely to appoint justices like that.

Shouldn't that be a major consideration for you as well?

Why Elections Matter

"For I was hungry and you fed me; I was thirsty and you gave me water; I was a stranger and you invited me into your homes; naked and you clothed me; sick and in prison, and you visited me." Matthew 25:25-26

Let me preface my comments on immigration by asserting this, "Anyone who walks in the doors of FredWes will be loved, respected and ministered to regardless of where they came from or how they got here!"

That is simply a fact!

The immigration crisis is a key issue in the 2016 Presidential election as it should be. National sovereignty is essential to the security and survival of a nation and unchecked immigration threatens both of those. In fact, unchecked immigration is an invasion.

Think about it, the debate on illegal immigration ought to end at the word "illegal" shouldn't it? At a moment in our national history when law and order are on a precipitous decline why should we allow the invasion of more "illegals".

Please understand that my concern is not directed at the people crossing our borders illegally. Who can blame them for seeking a better life? My concern is with this administration who created this crisis to serve their selfish political agenda. 

Here is what they are up to and why the border must be secured and immigration laws observed.

1) Soon after assuming the Presidency, the Obama Administration took the unprecedented action of moving the Census Bureau into the White House. Why would they do that? They did to identify the areas in the U.S. that vote conservatively so they can flood those areas with immigrants who can change the demographics. It's about inflating their voting rolls and consolidating power. With that strategy it is only a matter of time until they have a one party system.

2) Flooding the nation with good but poor, uneducated and unskilled people will produce a new class of dependents that will need and use Government assistance thus allowing massive Government expansion. With printed money and borrowed money needed to massively expand the welfare, healthcare and social security demands our deficit will continue growing dragging down our economy.

3) Overwhelming our nation with hard-working but low skilled workers who will settle for sub-standard pay will further damage our economy by lowering wages and make it more difficult to find jobs for entry level Americans.

4) The steady stream of illegal undocumented immigrants pouring into our nation is unfair to those who have immigrated legally and are patiently working through the expensive process of acquiring legal citizenship status.

I haven't mentioned the communicable diseases that are brought within our borders or the potential for increased crime or terrorism.

I hate lawlessness and I despise the exploitation of disadvantaged people.

This is why elections matter! 

Before you cast your vote, carefully study each candidate's positions on the important issue of immigration.

God help us!