Veteran's Day

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13

I'm old enough to remember when we got the day off for Veteran's Day. Of course, that was back when people were proud to be Americans and those who served in defense of their nation in one of the branches of the military were honored.

As for me and my house, we say, "Thank you veterans who put your life on hold and on the line to defend the freedom of the greatest nation to ever grace Planet Earth!"

I want to honor those from FredWes who served their nation with military service. At the risk of forgetting someone I want to personally thank Bob Heath, Chuck Baxter, Dale Taylor, Don Price, Mark Taylor, Matt Smith, Phil Otis and Sean McEntee for serving America!

God bless you!

In addition to the appreciation from your Pastor and the FredWes family I believe voters in American on Tuesday took a stand for you as well. Their ballot was, among other things, a statement of support for a strong military, respect for those serving and better care for the veterans who have served.

I'm thankful for a new administration who understands that you build a strong well-armed military in hopes that you never have to use it. You deploy your military across the globe strategically so that if you ever have to go to battle you fight over there and not here.

The past eight years serve as evidence of what happens when the U.S. vacillates in its commitment to a strong, well-trained and well-equipped military that  stands ready to defend the national interest of the United States. Because we had an administration who believed a small and weaker force who assure a more peaceful world we now need a larger and much stronger military force.

War is an unfortunate reality in a fallen world. It is a terrible, brutal, and devastating event that kills people and destroys stuff. Those who have actually fought in combat and know the horrors of battle are the ones who realize the need to do everything possible to build a military so powerful it will serve as a deterrent to aggressors and avoid conflicts.

Pray that with the rise of a more patriot and pro-military administration we will make our depleted Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corp great again.

God bless our veterans and God bless America!

November 10, 2016

"If any of you need wisdom, you should ask God, and it will be given to you. God is generous and won’t correct you for asking. But when you ask for something, you must have faith and not doubt. Anyone who doubts is like an ocean wave tossed around in a storm." James 1:5-6

The People of God came out by the thousands to pray and call on Him leading up to the Presidential election yesterday. I was among a crowd of over 10,000 who gathered on the steps of the State Capitol in Richmond to join Franklin Graham to pray for America and the Presidential Election. It was a memorable few hours that were deeply inspiring!

I also prayed online with Dr. Graham on Election Night Eve. During that online prayer meeting 150,000 joined together to seek God's will when the voting began the next morning. 

All across the Commonwealth and around the nation I know there were millions of people interceding for the election. So, it seems logical to assume the election of Donald Trump was God's answer to those prayers. If that is true as I suspect it is, the God's will was done.

Now that God's will has been revealed what are we to do? 

I suggest that since we know God's will we should pray for God's wisdom. 

We need to pray for God's wisdom for President Trump.

We need to pray for God's wisdom as he chooses his cabinet and advisers.

We need to pray for God's wisdom for Trump as he formulates his plans and policies.

We need to pray for God's wisdom as he begins meeting with Foreign Leaders from around the world.

You need wisdom. I need wisdom. Donald Trump needs wisdom to make good decisions during these days of transition for our new President. God promises to give the wisdom needed when we need it and give it liberally.

Pray for God's will and once you know His will begin to pray that He will give you His wisdom!

A Sobering Reminder

"And so, each of us must give an account to God for what we do." Romans 14:12

Well, praise God!

The people of America have spoken, especially the people of God. Evangelicals streamed to the polls in record numbers to hold Mrs. Clinton accountable for her illegal activities, her lies and her record of incompetence as a government official.

Whether she ever faces the full legal consequences of her massive corruption remains to be seen but at least she was not awarded the position of power she so greatly coveted.

The outcome of the election was much less certain when I originally wrote this post. I awoke to a much different reality that the one I feared as I posted these paragraphs. 

Because what I originally wrote is true and because it will remind us of what God has graciously spared us from, I will still publish what I wrote just prior to midnight.

As I record these thoughts the election results are still to be determined but the odds still favor Hillary Clinton even though Donald Trump currently leads with electoral votes.

If she is elected she will take office as the most corrupt and lawless person to ever assume the Presidency. Make no mistake, there have been some shady characters who occupied the White House (present occupant included) but none has been elected while being investigated by the FBI.

Should America elect Mrs. Clinton it will send a devastating and disgusting message to our Nation. 

First, she will be emboldened by the reality that rather than the American people holding her accountable for her crimes against America they have condoned it with their votes!

What do you think a lawless person will do when given the highest and most powerful position in the world? If she hasn't been held accountable before, who will call her to account then?

Second, will electing her send a chilling message that American people don't care about lawlessness? Or, does it imply they refuse to hold her accountable because they don't want to be held accountable? Either message would be very disheartening.

Third, her election will assure deeper and wider spread of corruption throughout the hallowed halls of our government, our courts, our justice department and our defense and intelligence agencies. In other words those institutions that have traditionally been responsible checks on lawlessness will themselves become unaccountable.

Finally, once elected I can imagine her launching aggressive actions against those few remaining institutions that still value accountability. Chief among those is the Church. The current administration has already bedeviled the Catholic Church and based on some of Hillary's previous remarks we can assume she will intensify those assaults on the Catholic Church and Christianity en mass.

But make no mistake. She IS accountable and will be called to account by a Holy God on the Day of Judgment. She may have her day and realize her life-long ambition at the pinnacle of power, but in so doing she will continue to run up her account before God.

Pray for our new President, Donald J. Trump! Now that he has been entrusted with the highest office in the land, God will hold him to account for how he governs and wields the power that the majority of Americans has placed in his hands.

Also be assured, you are accountable to God as well! 

November 8, 2016

"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." John 10:10

Those who have not yet cast their vote will do so today. It is Election Day in America!

 Like you, after voting I will be tuned into the radio, internet and TV all day receiving updates on the voting trends and tallies. Perhaps by late in the night or in the morning hours of Wednesday we will know who the 45th President of the United States will be.

As usual, American voters will decide between two candidates who each claim their vision for America's future will make life better for the American people. Each voter will decide if he prefers more government, higher taxes, and less freedom or smaller government, lower tax rates and more individual freedom. And, in addition, he must decide which candidate is more believable and most capable of delivering on his promises.

Well, I have formed my opinion and have made my decision how I will cast my ballot. I feel good about my choice.

I hope my candidate wins. But regardless of the outcome of the election, I am confident about my life and my future! My confidence is not grounded in what a Hillary Clinton Presidency would do or what a President Trump might do, my confidence rests on what Jesus already HAS done!

Jesus, the Son of God, born of a virgin and the Word become flesh came promising a better life to those who would believe in Him. And not just a better life but an ABUNDANT life - a life that is fulfilling and forever - the life of faith!

As an American and someone who takes citizenship seriously, I will rest my hopes on a candidate I believe will be most likely to improve life in America. But I will rest my faith in Jesus for this current life and in the life to come!

November 7, 2016

"May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven." Matthew 6:10

As believers with dual-citizenship in heaven and on earth, we have a sacred duty to represent heaven's values in our earthly culture.

One of the ways you can do that is by participating in the National Presidential election tomorrow!

Vote!

Vote vote!

Vote vote vote!

Vote vote vote vote!

Vote vote vote vote vote!

Vote vote vote vote vote vote!

Vote vote vote vote vote vote vote!

Vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote!

Vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote!

Vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote!

Vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote!

And, call several other friends and family and invite them to vote as well!

Kingdom Hunger

"Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled." Matthew 5:6

The words hunger and thirst in Matthew 5:6 suggest a deep, profound, even painful desire that increases with desperation until it is fed.

That's how the kingdom citizen pursues righteousness should be both recurring and ongoing. When you eat a sandwich at lunch, it may hold you for a while, but it doesn't satisfy your hunger for the rest of our lives, Your appetite for righteousness should keep growing. When you lose your appetite for the Lord and His kingdom, when you're just as content with the world's junk food as you are with the Word of God, something is wrong.

Kingdom hunger is:

• an unquenchable desire to know Him;
•  a desire to be free from sin because sin separates us from God;
• a desire to be free from the power of sin and controlled by God's Spirit;
• a desire to be free from the desire for sin and eager to please the Father;
• a desire to be like Jesus.

How do you seek righteousness? We let God show you who you really are. You do away with the pretense. As long as you think you're better than most, you are not hungry for righteousness. Spiritual fulfillment begins with an awareness of your spiritual bankruptcy. You must remove anything that dulls our spiritual appetite, whether it's overtly sinful or not. It might be NFL football, or boating, or a harmless hobby, but if it gets in the way of your pursuit of righteousness, it needs to go. Kingdom hunger demands it.

This requires real sacrifice, but it results in real satisfaction because those who orient their "hunger and thirst" in the direction of righteousness are guaranteed to find themselves "filled". When was the last time any sin left you feeling that way?

Are good things in your life keeping you away from the best God Has to offer? 

Seek His righteousness.

November 4, 2016

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

God uses imperfect people because all people are flawed. If He only used perfect people there would be no one available.

Here is a short list of well-known imperfect people that were used by God:

• Abraham -Was old.
• Elijah – Was suicidal.
• Joseph – Was abused.
• Job – Went bankrupt.
• Moses – Had a speech problem.
• Gideon – Was afraid.
• Samson – Was a womanizer.
• Rahab – Was a prostitute.
• Samaritan Woman – Divorced.

I am glad God uses flawed people because I am a flawed person. Realizing that makes it easier for me to vote for Donald Trump when I go to the polls on Tuesday.

Here are some reasons why I can vote for him:

1. He has promised to nominate conservative judges to the Supreme Court. I believe he will.

2. He has promised to repeal and replace Obamacare with a market-driven approach. I believe he will.

3. He has promised to enforce the immigration laws and the border. I believe he will.

4. He has promised to give education back to the states. I believe he will.

5. He has promised to lower personal income taxes and corporate taxes. I believe he will.

6. He has promised to defend the Second Amendment and protect gun rights. I believe He will.

7. He has pledged to protect religious freedom and I believe he will.

8. He has said he will rebuild and modernize the military. I think he will.

9. He has promised to restore respect for law and order. I think he can do it.

10. He will assemble an all-star cabinet and top-notch advisers.

11. He will stand for life.

12. He will open up the energy segment of our economy and create jobs.

13. He will lift many job-killing government regulations and create a friendlier environment for job-creation.

14. Electing Trump will be a slap down of the liberal media and shake up the D.C. establishment.

I believe for these reasons Trump will be good for America. And, I, the flawed man I am have no qualms voting for another imperfect fellow.

You are flawed, too!

But don't make the mistake of neglecting to vote. It is your duty as an American and your responsibility as a Christian.