Tonight, I watched the Huckabee show on the Fox News Network. One of his guests was Chuck Colson, who spoke about the Manhattan Declaration. My understanding of this is that a group of 125 evangelical leaders got together and signed a document declaring to our government leaders, "Hey, we want our country to go back to it's Christian roots. These are: life, from conception to natural death; sanctity of the marriage & family, and our religious liberties." They pledged to disobey any government laws that violate these principles.
I'll tell you, that takes guts! That is so inspiring, to be able to risk getting arrested, fined, having your good name smeared through the mud, in order to obey Jesus command to "Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's and unto God the things which are God's." Standing up for Christian principles is tough in this so-called tolerant world, but we need to do it, in order to honor and obey God. As I always say, it's better to be considered politically incorrect in this world, then to face God and explain to Him why I believed the devil's lies, so I could stay "politically correct" and love the world.
So I signed the Declaration and took the pledge of allegiance...to THE LAMB OF GOD, WHO TAKES AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD! No matter what happens to me, whether financially, physically or whatever, I WILL NOT compromise my spiritual values of life, family and religious liberties, so I can chummy up to the world and lose eternal rewards in heaven. I encourage all of you to take a stand for LIFE, LIBERTY AND FOR JESUS CHRIST TODAY!
For more information about the Manhattan Declaration, please visit manhattandeclaration.org/index.php
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Lo, I Am With You Always...
Yesterday was a historic day in the United States of America. By a vote of 220 for, 215 against, the House of Representatives passed a landmark health care reform bill. When it is merged with the Senate version and a final bill is ready for President Obama's signature, it will change our health care system as we know it. While I applaud our government officials' good intentions to make health care affordable and available to a large number of Americans, I'm still bothered by some of the provisions of this bill.
First of all, I'm concerned about the length of this bill itself. At over 2000+ pages, there's no possible way that anyone could read this entire bill while falling asleep. I'm not sure how many of the representatives have read the ENTIRE BILL. I believe that in order to vote on a bill as important as this one is, they should read it all first, which I'm sure a few of them did, as evidenced by the debates tonight.
Another thing that bothers me is how my existing health care coverage will be affected. I don't want to lose my doctor or be unable to get any necessary medical tests or treatments that he believes that I need. Under the health care bill, a health care czar, along with an advisory board, would make the decisions about who would get what type of medical care. If you're elderly or on disability, you're going to be in real trouble, because your Medicare benefits will also be affected.
Finally, I'm outraged at the thought that Americans can lose their liberty and be labeled as criminals just because they don't buy health insurance. Under this plan, if you don't have insurance, you'll be required to buy it. If you don't, you'll be fined $250,000 or sentenced to up to five years in federal prison. Imagine making license plates for having no insurance. That's outrageous!
Basically, this bill is a bad deal all around. For that reason, a lot of Christians and I were praying for it to fail. Obviously, our prayers were not answered in the way that we wanted. When I was asking God to intervene and not let this bill pass, I was reminded of Jesus' words in the second half of Matthew 28:20, "Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age." I think that God wanted to let me know that no matter what happens, with this health care bill or other events, He will always be with me, guiding and protecting me from harm. I don't need to worry about what the future may hold, for tomorrow will worry about itself, according to Matthew 6: 34. I just need to trust in God no matter what happens, now or in the future. He is in control, even when it doesn't seem like it.
Have a blessed day!
First of all, I'm concerned about the length of this bill itself. At over 2000+ pages, there's no possible way that anyone could read this entire bill while falling asleep. I'm not sure how many of the representatives have read the ENTIRE BILL. I believe that in order to vote on a bill as important as this one is, they should read it all first, which I'm sure a few of them did, as evidenced by the debates tonight.
Another thing that bothers me is how my existing health care coverage will be affected. I don't want to lose my doctor or be unable to get any necessary medical tests or treatments that he believes that I need. Under the health care bill, a health care czar, along with an advisory board, would make the decisions about who would get what type of medical care. If you're elderly or on disability, you're going to be in real trouble, because your Medicare benefits will also be affected.
Finally, I'm outraged at the thought that Americans can lose their liberty and be labeled as criminals just because they don't buy health insurance. Under this plan, if you don't have insurance, you'll be required to buy it. If you don't, you'll be fined $250,000 or sentenced to up to five years in federal prison. Imagine making license plates for having no insurance. That's outrageous!
Basically, this bill is a bad deal all around. For that reason, a lot of Christians and I were praying for it to fail. Obviously, our prayers were not answered in the way that we wanted. When I was asking God to intervene and not let this bill pass, I was reminded of Jesus' words in the second half of Matthew 28:20, "Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age." I think that God wanted to let me know that no matter what happens, with this health care bill or other events, He will always be with me, guiding and protecting me from harm. I don't need to worry about what the future may hold, for tomorrow will worry about itself, according to Matthew 6: 34. I just need to trust in God no matter what happens, now or in the future. He is in control, even when it doesn't seem like it.
Have a blessed day!
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Leaning On God Despite Life's Circumstances
Today is not a very good day for me. I found out that I won't qualify for the swine flu shot when it becomes available to more groups of high risk people, because even though I'm under 65 years old, my medical condition is too well controlled to be considered a chronic condition. For a while after hearing that, I felt like maybe my life wasn't worth anything, since the government didn't think it was.
But then I got to thinking, I'm not a child of the government, I'm a child of God. While I may consider my life to be important because I know God thinks it is, there are many other people out there who's lives are just as important. So instead of feeling sorry for myself for being unable to get protected against the swine flu, I need to just trust in God to keep me healthy and to heal me if I do come down with it.
I'm not saying that this is an easy task, but it's necessary to maintain a positive attitude and not fall into deep depression. God always takes care of me and will continue to do so. I just need to lean on Him. No matter what happens to me, whether now or in the future, God is in control!
But then I got to thinking, I'm not a child of the government, I'm a child of God. While I may consider my life to be important because I know God thinks it is, there are many other people out there who's lives are just as important. So instead of feeling sorry for myself for being unable to get protected against the swine flu, I need to just trust in God to keep me healthy and to heal me if I do come down with it.
I'm not saying that this is an easy task, but it's necessary to maintain a positive attitude and not fall into deep depression. God always takes care of me and will continue to do so. I just need to lean on Him. No matter what happens to me, whether now or in the future, God is in control!
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Worrying About The Future
I'm thinking about the future today. Frequently, I worry about negative things that might happen to me in the future. Where will I live? How can I afford to live on my own? What family issues will cause me stress? What if I develop medical problems because I've been obese most of my life? What if Jesus comes back and I'm not ready for him yet? What if this or that happens?
As you've probably guessed, these constant worries and fears cause me lots of stress right now. As a result, I feel depressed and anxious a lot and bury my emotions in late night binge eating episodes. I know that this is not a healthy way to live, so I know that I need to change, but how?
Well, one way that I can change is to follow the advice of my friends and supporters at my Overcomers in Christ support group, who advised me to remember that IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT ME! It's about serving God in the ways that He leads me to. When I focus so much on myself, I put me on the throne of my life instead of God. What I need to do is to surrender every part of my life, including my worries and fears, over to Him. After all, He controls my future.
Second, there are ways that I can prepare for that future. I can recommit myself to eating right and exercising to lose the excess weight, so that I don't develop the health issues that plague my family tree. I also can prepare a budget and save money, so that when the time comes to move out or buy a more reliable car, I'll be able to do so. I can organize my personal belongings, so that I can have less clutter and work around the house. I can do a lot of things to prepare for the future.
Ultimately though, I can accept the reality that my future is not in my hands. It's in God's hands. Therefore, I need to stop worrying about the future and focus on today. God's Word says "Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about it's own things. Sufficient for the day is it's own trouble." (Matthew 6:34, NKJV)
What about you? Do you worry about the future? I advise us all to ask God to help us commit our future to Him and lay our worries at the foot of the cross. Only He can provide rest and peace for our minds and souls.
Heavenly Father, I thank and praise You for showing us the need to trust our future to You. Enable us to obey Your Word in Jesus Name, Amen!
Note: For more information about the Overcomers in Christ ministry, visit their website at www.overcomersinchrist.org
As you've probably guessed, these constant worries and fears cause me lots of stress right now. As a result, I feel depressed and anxious a lot and bury my emotions in late night binge eating episodes. I know that this is not a healthy way to live, so I know that I need to change, but how?
Well, one way that I can change is to follow the advice of my friends and supporters at my Overcomers in Christ support group, who advised me to remember that IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT ME! It's about serving God in the ways that He leads me to. When I focus so much on myself, I put me on the throne of my life instead of God. What I need to do is to surrender every part of my life, including my worries and fears, over to Him. After all, He controls my future.
Second, there are ways that I can prepare for that future. I can recommit myself to eating right and exercising to lose the excess weight, so that I don't develop the health issues that plague my family tree. I also can prepare a budget and save money, so that when the time comes to move out or buy a more reliable car, I'll be able to do so. I can organize my personal belongings, so that I can have less clutter and work around the house. I can do a lot of things to prepare for the future.
Ultimately though, I can accept the reality that my future is not in my hands. It's in God's hands. Therefore, I need to stop worrying about the future and focus on today. God's Word says "Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about it's own things. Sufficient for the day is it's own trouble." (Matthew 6:34, NKJV)
What about you? Do you worry about the future? I advise us all to ask God to help us commit our future to Him and lay our worries at the foot of the cross. Only He can provide rest and peace for our minds and souls.
Heavenly Father, I thank and praise You for showing us the need to trust our future to You. Enable us to obey Your Word in Jesus Name, Amen!
Note: For more information about the Overcomers in Christ ministry, visit their website at www.overcomersinchrist.org
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Thoughts About Volcanoes & Hell
Tonight I was sitting on my sofa watching a Discovery Channel program about volcanoes. As the red hot lava flowed and white smoke billowed from the side of a mountain, I thought about the Biblical description of hell. Some Bible verses speak of hell as being full of fire and brimstone. This would be a rather hot place, which is one reason why I don't tell people to go there.
Another reason why I don't do this is because I know what hell really represents, eternal separation from God. Anyone who hasn't received Jesus Christ as his or her personal Savior will one day end up in this awful place. I don't envy the person who dies without Christ and find themselves entering eternal death with no hope of escape from the torment. I've heard people joke about meeting loved ones and playing card games in hell. Not only is this not funny to me, but I can't imagine people trying to play cards while sitting in the lake of fire, as described in the book of Revelation.
There is good news about all of what I've written here. If you ask Jesus into your heart & accept Him as your personal Savior, then you won't have to worry about hell, because you won't ever go there. Jesus died on the cross for your sins. His salvation is God's free gift to you, which cannot be earned by good works. In order to accept His gift, you need to do four things:
1. Admit that you're a sinner. Everyone sins, there's no one who doesn't sin.
2. Confess your sins to God and repent (turn away) from them.
3. Humbly acknowledge your need for a personal Savior and that Jesus died FOR YOU.
4. Pray to accept Jesus as your personal Savior and ask Him to help you turn your life around to live according to God's will.
After completing these steps, then it's a good idea to go to a Bible believing church, pray and read the Bible everyday. Start with the Gospel of John, followed by Romans, then 1 John. Try to memorize, meditate and study God's Word as much as you can, so that you can hide it in your heart and defeat the devil's attacks. Above all, tell people about what Christ has done for you.
Whatever else you do, DON'T WAIT TO MAKE THIS IMPORTANT DECISION! God's Word says that "NOW is the day of salvation". Your eternal life is at stake.
If you have any questions about all of what I've written here, they can be answered at www.gotquestions.org.
Have a blessed day!
Another reason why I don't do this is because I know what hell really represents, eternal separation from God. Anyone who hasn't received Jesus Christ as his or her personal Savior will one day end up in this awful place. I don't envy the person who dies without Christ and find themselves entering eternal death with no hope of escape from the torment. I've heard people joke about meeting loved ones and playing card games in hell. Not only is this not funny to me, but I can't imagine people trying to play cards while sitting in the lake of fire, as described in the book of Revelation.
There is good news about all of what I've written here. If you ask Jesus into your heart & accept Him as your personal Savior, then you won't have to worry about hell, because you won't ever go there. Jesus died on the cross for your sins. His salvation is God's free gift to you, which cannot be earned by good works. In order to accept His gift, you need to do four things:
1. Admit that you're a sinner. Everyone sins, there's no one who doesn't sin.
2. Confess your sins to God and repent (turn away) from them.
3. Humbly acknowledge your need for a personal Savior and that Jesus died FOR YOU.
4. Pray to accept Jesus as your personal Savior and ask Him to help you turn your life around to live according to God's will.
After completing these steps, then it's a good idea to go to a Bible believing church, pray and read the Bible everyday. Start with the Gospel of John, followed by Romans, then 1 John. Try to memorize, meditate and study God's Word as much as you can, so that you can hide it in your heart and defeat the devil's attacks. Above all, tell people about what Christ has done for you.
Whatever else you do, DON'T WAIT TO MAKE THIS IMPORTANT DECISION! God's Word says that "NOW is the day of salvation". Your eternal life is at stake.
If you have any questions about all of what I've written here, they can be answered at www.gotquestions.org.
Have a blessed day!
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Misplaced Priorities
I was watching the Hannity show tonight and saw something there that was really sad. There is a large group of farmers in California who cannot irrigate their crops, so their farmland has turned into a drought area. The reason for this? It seems that some fanatical environmentalists found a two inch smelt fish there that was getting caught in some of the farm irrigating equipment, so they brought a lawsuit to have this endangered species of fish protected by stopping the irrigating. Now there's no more irrigating, no more crops, less food grown locally, which means the U.S. has to import fruit from overseas. All because of one little FISH!
There's something wrong when overzealous environmentalists put farmers and other people out of work because they place an animal's life above a human's one. Why can't they remove the animal and place it in a protected environment and allow landowners to keep their land? I thought it was the PEOPLE who owned the land, not animals.
While the Bible does say that we have dominion over animals and to take care of them, I don't think that God meant for us to elevate them above mankind. God didn't create animals in His own image. The Lamb of God wasn't born to a mother sheep in the stable. The Holy Spirit didn't come down in flames of fire on the heads of animals at Pentecost.
No, God didn't put animals above us. He made us human, so that He could send His son Jesus Christ to die for us and our sins and inherit eternal life. He wants all of us to accept His free gift of salvation and make a decision for Christ today. I've made my decision to follow Christ and give Him priority in my life.
Have you made your decision yet? If not, I encourage you to go to http://www.gotquestions.org/way-of-salvation.html
to find out more about how special you are to God and how to accept Jesus as your personal Savior. Decide today whether you want Jesus to have higher priority in your life. Whatever you do, don't wait to make this decision, because "now is the accepted time, behold now is the day of salvation."
Have a blessed day!
There's something wrong when overzealous environmentalists put farmers and other people out of work because they place an animal's life above a human's one. Why can't they remove the animal and place it in a protected environment and allow landowners to keep their land? I thought it was the PEOPLE who owned the land, not animals.
While the Bible does say that we have dominion over animals and to take care of them, I don't think that God meant for us to elevate them above mankind. God didn't create animals in His own image. The Lamb of God wasn't born to a mother sheep in the stable. The Holy Spirit didn't come down in flames of fire on the heads of animals at Pentecost.
No, God didn't put animals above us. He made us human, so that He could send His son Jesus Christ to die for us and our sins and inherit eternal life. He wants all of us to accept His free gift of salvation and make a decision for Christ today. I've made my decision to follow Christ and give Him priority in my life.
Have you made your decision yet? If not, I encourage you to go to http://www.gotquestions.org/way-of-salvation.html
to find out more about how special you are to God and how to accept Jesus as your personal Savior. Decide today whether you want Jesus to have higher priority in your life. Whatever you do, don't wait to make this decision, because "now is the accepted time, behold now is the day of salvation."
Have a blessed day!
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Citizen of America, Citizen of Heaven
What's going on in America today? It sure seems like we're heading down a dismal road of economic ruin, suppression of civil liberties and restrictions of Constitutional freedoms of speech, press, assembly & religion. Patriotic Americans are being called names for standing up for their rights. Politicians are being called on the carpet for speaking (or in one case, yelling) the truth.
This sounds like a plot from some horror movie, yet it's very real. On his program tonight, Glenn Beck even quoted Ephesians 6:12 NIV to describe it: For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
I agree that it's difficult to live in America while we're dealing with greedy government leaders who seek to have total control over us. What's really important though is that those of us who are born again Christians are not really citizens of the United States of America or any other country on earth. Because Jesus died for us and we've accepted Him as our personal Savior, we are citizens of heaven and have eternal life. One day, when the time is right, Jesus will come again to take His people home to heaven and then judge the kingdoms of this world.
Until then, we need to pray for everyone to come to know Jesus as their personal Savior, including our government leaders. We also need to tell people about Him, no matter what negative consequences we will suffer.
---------------------------------
Father God, I thank You for sending Your Son Jesus Christ to die for me and for everyone else. Encourage and help us to reach out to those who are hurting by living our lives for You and telling people about Your Son, Jesus Christ. Also help us to pray for our government leaders, that they may make wise decisions and listen to their citizens's concerns. In Jesus name, I pray, Amen.
This sounds like a plot from some horror movie, yet it's very real. On his program tonight, Glenn Beck even quoted Ephesians 6:12 NIV to describe it: For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
I agree that it's difficult to live in America while we're dealing with greedy government leaders who seek to have total control over us. What's really important though is that those of us who are born again Christians are not really citizens of the United States of America or any other country on earth. Because Jesus died for us and we've accepted Him as our personal Savior, we are citizens of heaven and have eternal life. One day, when the time is right, Jesus will come again to take His people home to heaven and then judge the kingdoms of this world.
Until then, we need to pray for everyone to come to know Jesus as their personal Savior, including our government leaders. We also need to tell people about Him, no matter what negative consequences we will suffer.
---------------------------------
Father God, I thank You for sending Your Son Jesus Christ to die for me and for everyone else. Encourage and help us to reach out to those who are hurting by living our lives for You and telling people about Your Son, Jesus Christ. Also help us to pray for our government leaders, that they may make wise decisions and listen to their citizens's concerns. In Jesus name, I pray, Amen.
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