SINCERITY

SINCERITY

Have you ever wondered why it is common custom to end our letters with the closing salutation, “sincerely yours?”  Actually, this practice has its roots in ancient Rome.  It originates from the historical fact that Roman sculptors would often conceal cracks (in what appeared to be flawless marble statues) with melted beeswax.

However, when the wax would eventually dry up and crumble, the disappointed purchaser would grow quite angry and seek compensation.  In order to protect their reputations, more qualified sculptors started guaranteeing their work as “sine sera,” which means without wax.  Thereafter the phase “sincerely yours” came into common usage.  

In American courtrooms, witnesses are sworn in by responding to the following question: “Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?”  Under federal law, perjury (lying under oath) carries a very stiff penalty of a fine and up to five years of imprisonment.

In the Kingdom of God, we are required by our Creator to be people of highest integrity.  As a matter of fact, God places such a premium value on honesty and sincerity that His Word declares: “He who works deceit shall not dwell within my house; he who tells lies shall not continue in my presence.” (Psalm 101:7)

Sincerity is an open heart that produces honest communication.

In certain circumstances, honesty might appear to have the capacity to work against our best interests.  But it is always the God-option, i.e. the only path that dedicated disciples determine to travel.  Any other road leads us far away from The One who is “the way, THE TRUTH, and the life.” (John 14:6)

Colossians 3:9-10

Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.

Always walk in truth.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

MUCH MORE THAN THIS

MUCH MORE THAN THIS

Have you ever looked critically into the mirror image of your life and wondered silently, “Is that all there is?  Could it be possible that I was created for much more than this?”

Consider the curious story of Eddie, the baby eaglet.  He entered this world by audaciously forcing his way out of a hard eggshell.  Later he learned that he would share a large nest at the top of a tall tree with his eaglet siblings.

One day a strong gust of wind blew by and the family nest rocked wildly from side to side – at one point tipping so far that poor little Eddie fell out of his nest and comfort zone.  Since he was not yet old enough to fly, Eddie spiraled down, down, down through the branches.  Amazingly, he landed safely atop a rabbit burrow at the base of the tree.  Standing erect, Eddie found himself situated among a group of young bunnies that had been born around the same time as he.

Rabbits may be good breeders, but they’re not exceptionally smart.  So no one seemed to realize that Eddie was actually a baby eagle. They all assumed him to be a rather odd-looking rabbit.  So Eddie was fully accepted into the family and grew up believing to be (and living as) a rabbit.  He learned the basics of hopping and jumping; and he lived in the family burrow, existing on a daily diet of grass and lettuce.

Predictably, all of his life Eddie struggled with a tragic sense of identity inferiority.  He simply did not look like other rabbits.  He was always the last chosen for hopping games.  And he was often terribly ill from eating green grass.

But his life was destined to experience a radical change.  Eddie and his rabbit siblings were out in the field playing when a dark shadow suddenly spread itself across the ground.  The rabbits looked up and spied a mighty eagle hurtling towards them with phenomenal power and speed.

With frantic squeals of fear, those rabbits ran as fast as they could for the undergrowth.  Eddie knew that he was a goner because he couldn’t run as fast.  His heart sank as he watched them reaching safety while he was still hopping around in the open field.  The mighty eagle drew closer and closer, until Eddie could feel its force right above him.  And just when Eddie had braced himself for the inevitable, he heard the mighty eagle cry out, “What are you doing hopping around on the ground like a rabbit?  You’re an eagle.  Spread your wings and fly!”

Quite startled by the shock of what was happening, but totally motivated by the eagle’s words, Eddie started to move those ‘useless’ things that were attached to his sides.  For the very first time, he stretched out his God-given wings and started flapping until he found himself lifting off the ground and soaring effortlessly through the heavens. That day Eddie discovered that he had never been designed to hop clumsily on the ground but to soar gracefully through the skies.

The same is equally true of us.  God thoughtfully created and carefully crafted us – with enormous dignity, honor and purpose – to be his very image and spiritual ambassadors on the earth.  However, we grow up in societies that tell us that we are something other than those magnificent creations made in the very likeness of God.  Nevertheless, on the miraculous day that we experience the new birth, we start to discover our true nature, that we can indeed reflect, renew, rise and soar, that we can become anything and everything that HE has designed us to be.

My friend, you are much more than this.  Discover your wings.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

THE OPPOSITIONAL VOICE OF JESUS CHRIST

THE OPPOSITIONAL VOICE OF JESUS CHRIST

In yesterday’s devotional, it was an honor and privilege to post some of the powerful words of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Reading them again caused me to reflect on Who HE is and who WE have become.

While so many in the arena of politics and in the realm of entertainment claim close connections to Christ (with such pride, audacity and ease), the teachings of Jesus are a stern rebuke to our societal values and lifestyles.

In effect, the message of Jesus is a perennial proclamation to us: ‘Don’t believe the hype!’  Don’t rely on the silver screen, the latest song lyrics, or a popular political movement for truth.  Indeed, they are all lying – all speaking only half-truths at best.

Jesus Christ declares that the poor in spirit are blessed, as opposed to the rich who (according to Him) will enter into His Kingdom with great difficulty due to a greater love for goods than for God.

Jesus Christ suggests that the mourners are blessed because they shall be surrounded and sustained by His comforting presence and power.

Jesus Christ contends that those who hunger and thirst for His righteousness are blessed because they find themselves seeking His face and fellowship, not dashing for dollars, rands, francs, yuans, rubles, pesos, pounds, or euros.

Jesus Christ challenges us all with two primary questions: 1) “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?”  2) “What will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:36-37)

I firmly believe that western civilization has morphed into a rat race for prosperity, prestige, positions and possessions.  And I am gravely concerned that the institutional church (not the invisible church) has become a co-dependent, compromising and willing partner in a material quest that leads us further away from the truth and distances us from our Creator.

So let’s resolve to do something radically different.  Let’s tune out any and all voices that contravene the message and mission of The Anointed One.  It goes without saying, but I will say it anyway: Christ is all! 

He alone is “the way, the truth and the life.” (John 14:6)  

HE ALONE…neither presidents, nor prime ministers, nor royalty, nor captains of industry, nor clergy, nor congress, nor courts, nor world-class athletes, nor superstar entertainers, nor anyone else.  

HE ALONE.

Anything else (no matter how gleaming its glow or attractive its allure) is only vain, secondary, destructive and futile. (Ecclesiastes 1:2)

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

WORDS OF THE MASTER

WORDS OF THE MASTER

JESUS said it…and that’s all we need to know.

Matthew 5:1-16

¹ And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. ² Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying: ³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. ⁵ Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. ⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. ⁷ Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. ⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. ⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. ¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ¹¹ Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.  ¹² Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. ¹³ You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. ¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  ¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Now, let’s just DO it!  Amen.  Amen.  Amen.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

THEY SAID YOU COULDN'T FLY!

THEY SAID YOU COULDN’T FLY!

Two of God’s creatures CANNOT DO what they routinely do. Bumblebees cannot fly at all due to their sheer weight and scanty wings. Neither can hummingbirds fly with the uncanny maneuverability that they routinely achieve. Oh, but they DO!

Let’s zoom in on the hummingbird, arguably one of God’s finest aviary and aeronautic achievements. Its flight capabilities even mystify scientists and its sheer beauty is nothing less than breathtaking. I recall the first time I saw a hummingbird. They move with such astounding speed that they almost appear to materialize out of thin air.

It is no exaggeration to state that their flight capabilities are miraculous. Hummingbirds can fly upward, downward, forward, backward and even sideways. They can stop on a dime and hover in midair. Their tiny wings flap so rapidly (an unbelievable 60 to 200 flaps per second) that their wings actually whistle. And get this: Hummingbirds can fly up to 60 miles per hour, rivaling the awesome speed of the cheetah, God’s fastest land animal.

Hummingbirds are incredibly tiny, actually the smallest bird in the world, but the strenuous flapping of their wings expends enormous amounts of energy. They have a very high metabolism and they feed almost constantly on insects and nectar, ingesting twice their body weight every day.

But we still don’t know HOW they do what they do!

Hummingbirds remind me of BELIEVERS. So many people just don’t ‘get us’ – do they? How did we survive that last earthshaking crisis? How do we have those genuine and peaceful smiles during moments of extreme pain, pressure, or personal loss? By now they thought we would give in, give out, or give up – but we didn’t, did we? And by the grace of God, come what may, we are still standing…yet flying.

So all I have to say is this: FLY, HUMMINGBIRD, FLY! Quite possibly they judged you by your perceived size; they wagered on what you could or could not do; they even cynically numbered the days of your career, your marriage, your ministry, or your life. They said you would never be able to get off the ground. You would be a failure. You wouldn’t survive. That's what they said. But look at you! Since you have ingested and internalized THE WORD, you are definitely flying - in spite of your origins, obstacles, or the opinions of others.

Onlookers are astounded because they just don’t know what you know. One ‘hummingbird’ by the name of Paul said it so well: “I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME.” (Philippians 4:13)

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

THE NEW BIRTH: SCRIPTURAL EVIDENCE (Part II)

the new birth: SCRIPTURAL EVIDENCE (Part II)

The new birth in Christ is much more than a momentary decision or a singular experience.  It requires continuing commitment, dedication, diligence, faith and obedience to nurture and sustain that which has been brought to life in us by the operations of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus is more than our Savior.  JESUS IS LORD!  Once again, let’s allow the Word to speak for itself.  Ultimately, all personal opinions about what is right and what is wrong must come into alignment with the eternal and immutable Word of God.

John 13:35

By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.

II Corinthians 7:1

Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit.

HEBREWS 12:14

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.

Titus 2:11-14

¹¹ For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,¹² teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, ¹³ looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, ¹⁴ who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

I Corinthians 6:9-11

⁹ Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, ¹⁰ nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. ¹¹ And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

Ephesians 4:21-32

²¹ if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: ²² that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, ²³ and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, ²⁴ and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. ²⁵ Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. ²⁶ “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, ²⁷ nor give place to the devil.²⁸ Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.²⁹ Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹ Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. ³² And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Galatians 5:14-26

¹⁴ For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  ¹⁵ But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!

¹⁶ I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.¹⁷ For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, ²¹ envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.²⁴ And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

John 17:19

¹⁹ And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.

1 Thessalonians 4:3-8

³ For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; ⁴ that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, ⁵ not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; ⁶ that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. ⁷ For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. ⁸ Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given^[a] us His Holy Spirit.

I John 1:7-10

⁷ But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

⁸ If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

I John 3:1-2

¹ Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. ² Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

GOD’S ROMISES TO OVERCOMING BELIEVERS

He that overcomes…

(2:7) …will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

(2:11) …shall not be hurt of the second death.

(2:17) …will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knows save he that receives it.

(2:26) …to him will give power over the nations.

(3:5) …shall be clothed in white raiment and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

(3:12) …will I make a pillar in the temple of my God…and I will write upon him the name of God and the name of the city of God, New Jerusalem.

(3:21) …will I grant to sit with me in my throne.

(21:7) …shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

Revelation 22:12

And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

THE NEW BIRTH: SCRIPTURAL EVIDENCE (Part I)

the new birth: SCRIPTURAL EVIDENCE (Part I)

The new birth in Christ is much more than a momentary decision or a singular experience.  It requires a continuing process of commitment, dedication, diligence, sanctification, obedience and faith to nurture and sustain that which has been brought to life in us by the operations of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus is more than our Savior.  JESUS IS LORD!  Let’s allow the Word to speak for itself.  Ultimately, all personal opinions about what is right and what is wrong must come into alignment with the eternal and immutable Word of God.

John 3:1-18 (The Message Bible)

^1-2 There was a man of the Pharisee sect, Nicodemus, a prominent leader among the Jews. Late one night he visited Jesus and said, “Rabbi, we all know you’re a teacher straight from God. No one could do all the God-pointing, God-revealing acts you do if GOD weren’t in on it.”

³ Jesus said, “You’re absolutely right. Take it from me: Unless a person is born from above, it’s not possible to see what I’m pointing to—to God’s kingdom.”

⁴ “How can anyone,” said Nicodemus, “be born who has already been born and grown up? You can’t re-enter your mother’s womb and be born again. What are you saying with this ‘born-from-above’ talk?”

^5-6 Jesus said, “You’re not listening. Let me say it again. Unless a person submits to this original creation—the ‘wind-hovering-over-the-water’ creation, the invisible moving the visible, a baptism into a new life—it’s not possible to enter God’s kingdom. When you look at a baby, it’s just that: a body you can look at and touch. But the person who takes shape within is formed by something you can’t see and touch—the Spirit—and becomes a living spirit.

^7-8 “So don’t be so surprised when I tell you that you have to be ‘born-from-above’ —out of this world, so to speak. You know well enough how the wind blows this way and that. You hear it rustling through the trees, but you have no idea where it comes from or where it’s headed next. That’s the way it is with everyone ‘born-from-above’ by the ‘the Spirit of God.”

⁹ Nicodemus asked, “What do you mean by this? How does this happen?”

^10-12 Jesus said, “You’re a respected teacher of Israel and you don’t know these basics? Listen carefully. I’m speaking sober truth to you. I speak only of what I know by experience; I give witness only to what I have seen with my own eyes. There is nothing secondhand here, no hearsay. Yet instead of facing the evidence and accepting it, you procrastinate with questions. If I tell you things that are plain as the hand before your face and you don’t believe me, what use is there in telling you of things you can’t see, the things of God?

^13-15 “No one has ever gone up into the presence of God except the One who came down from that Presence, the Son of Man. In the same way that Moses lifted the serpent in the desert so people could have something to see and then believe, it is necessary for the Son of Man to be lifted up—and everyone who looks up to him, trusting and expectant, will gain a real life, eternal life.

^16-18 “This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.

I John 3:1-24

¹ Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. ² Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. ³ And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. ⁴ Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. ⁵ And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. ⁶ Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. ⁷ Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. ⁸ He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. ⁹ Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. ¹⁰ In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. ¹¹ For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, ¹² not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous. ¹³ Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you. ¹⁴ We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. ¹⁵ Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. ¹⁶ By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. ¹⁷ But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? ¹⁸ My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. ¹⁹ And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. ²⁰ For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. ²¹ Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. ²² And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. ²³ And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment. ²⁴ Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.

I John 5:4

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

Stay tuned...more to come tomorrow!

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

ANY NATION CAN FALL

ANY NATION CAN FALL

The USA is now at a critical juncture, perhaps a tipping point in our nation’s history.  How so?  Since 1962, we have marginalized Christ’s influence in public schools via the termination of daily prayer and scripture reading.  We have committed genocide on an unborn generation (more than 54 million innocent babies) since the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision in 1973.  We have passed laws that limit parental authority while promoting the disintegration of marriages and families.  We have legalized sexual identities and lifestyles that are expressly prohibited by our Creator.  And all of this has been done under the guise of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

The lessons of history must be learned, understood and applied.   Otherwise they will be repeated.

For example, The Roman Empire was one of the greatest to ever rule the world.  For hundreds of years the Romans dominated the Mediterranean and built magnificent cities and roads while imposing the “Pax Romana” upon all those whom they had conquered.  The power of Rome seemed unassailable.

For centuries Rome reigned supreme as a superpower, convinced of its superiority over any conceivable enemy.  However, in the first decade of the fifth century A.D., Romans awakened to find Alaric, king of the Visigoths, standing at their gates with an awesome army.

The citizens felt it would be preposterous that any enemy to think that Rome would fall to its power.  Envoys were sent out to conduct negotiations and persuade King Alaric to move away.  They warned that an attack on Rome would be met by the overwhelming force of Roman legions.

Alaric’s reply was quite simple: “The thicker the grass the more easily scythed.”

Soon the envoys realized Alaric would not be fooled by empty threats.  What then would be the price of his departure?  Alaric explained that his soldiers would march into Rome and seize all the gold, silver and anything else of value that could be removed.  They would also free every barbarian who had been enslaved.

The envoys became hysterical. “But what would that leave us?” they demanded.

“Your lives,” Alaric replied.  And with that Rome’s centuries as an apparently unbeatable superpower came to a bitter end.

Today, AMERICA must repent posthaste of our prideful arrogance and abominable transgressions or stand in danger of the judgment and wrath of Almighty God.  My daily prayer is “God bless America, land that I love…”  But we cannot override the will and Word of God which clearly says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” (Psalm 33:12) America, let’s return to Him – before it is too late.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

PHILOSOPHY OR FAITH?

PHILOSOPHY OR FAITH?

Believers must take care in an age where pluralistic thinking is embraced enthusiastically by the majority of society.  Simply defined, PLURALISM means opposing points of view are equally valid, which means ethical standards and moral absolutes become obsolete and politically incorrect. 

Nowadays humanistic philosophies and traditions seem to be running rampant, even in the institutional (not the invisible) church.  Far too many have adopted an ala carte faith in which people grant themselves the right to choose the quality, quantity and character of their connections to Christ.  However, even a superficial look at the condition of our nation (and others) offers clear evidence that our way is simply not working.

During my studies at Yale, I read the works of the philosopher David Hume.  He had a skeptical view of the supernatural, specifically of the possibility of miracles.  Hume believed that miracles were so improbable that it is virtually impossible for a rational person to believe in them.  In his view, to believe that a miracle occurred would require the testimony of people of such great learning that they could not possibly be deceived, of such good character that they could not be deceitful, of such high reputation that their loss of face (if they were found to be deceitful) would be overwhelming.  Furthermore, any valid miracle would have to be performed publicly so any fraud would immediately be detected.  I am happy that Jesus does not agree.

Unhappily, many adherents of Christianity have adopted a cynical and faithless worldview.  The Apostle Paul warned the Colossian Church: “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.” (Colossians 2:8)

Let’s not allow our consciences to be morphed by vain philosophies, the media, or special interest groups.  The truth is simple.  It doesn’t matter how many flags we wave, or whatever agenda they serve.  The only thing that matters is what GOD says.  So dust off your Bible because His will is His Word.  Period.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!