I am an avid Dallas Cowboy’s football fan. During football season, there are many tell-tale signs that give me away. If you walk into my house, you will soon see my Cowboy’s Cave in which I have all manner of Cowboy’s memorabilia on every wall of the room. The walls in the room are painted silver and blue, with a Cowboy’s border dividing the colors. Outside my house will be my Cowboy’s flag, proudly displaying the team colors. On my vehicle will be a Cowboy’s trailer hitch cover, and Cowboy’s headrest covers. You will see me wearing Cowboy’s jerseys, shirts and tee-shirts all through the season. During the Christmas season, you will see a Christmas tree adorned in silver and blue.  I have been pulling for the Cowboys since 1963, and see no reason to change my allegiance. I consider myself a true fan, and not a fair-weather fan.

You can well imagine my excitement as I anticipated the big game between Dallas and Green Bay. It had all the markings of a classic struggle. Dallas, led by the rookie tandem of Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliot. This duo aided by the likes of Dez Bryant, Jason Witten, and Cole Beasley proved to be a formidable force during the regular season. Coupled with a powerful offensive line, this seemed to be the dream team Cowboy’s fans have been waiting for since the mid-90’s.

However, on the other side of the line of scrimmage was the Packers, led by the hottest quarterback in the NFL at this point in the season. Aaron Rogers has been playing lights out for the last several weeks. He had been picking apart every defensive secondary the Packers have faced in a couple of months. Yes, this was going to be a game for the ages.

Now, the purpose of this blog is not to give a play-by-play analysis of the game. Let it suffice to say at this point that the game proved to be all that it was expected to be, and more. In the aftermath of the game, after my heart stopped pounding and my pulse calmed, I began to analyze the game, and to give serious consideration to some obvious life lessons which I think we can glean from the analogy of a football game.

The game began with both teams showing the ability to move the ball, and score on their opening drives. Good start! However, the Cowboy’s offense seemed to be stifled for the next several possessions, while the high-powered Packer offense clicked off three straight touchdowns, taking a commanding lead. Much like life. There are those chapters of life in which we experience the adrenalin pumping excitement of everything exploding with success, but then everything quickly coming to a screeching halt. For a while, it might appear that everything is imploding, that we are going to get caught in the debris and rubble of the crumbling walls, and never be able to recover.

The Cowboys could have become demoralized, disillusioned, and paralyzed. Just as we can do in life. We may be experiencing great strides of success, and the future might look bright, when all of a sudden things take a drastic turn, and failure looms large on the horizon. We might think all is lost. We might be tempted to give up, cave in, walk away.

Or, we can assess the situation, make necessary changes, adapt and move on. In life, just as in football, there are successful scoring drives, and then there are devastating losses, such as a fumble, or an interception, or a missed field goal, etc. Yes, these are hurdles that we must deal with if we are to move past them and learn from them. But they don’t have to be an end in and of themselves. They are learning opportunities, teachable moments, in which we can glean much needed counsel on how to handle future episodes of failure and adversity.

In one sense the loss for the Cowboys was an end – it ended their season, it ended their dream of making it to the big game, and the possibility of once again being Super Bowl champs. But it is not the end. Cowboy’s fans are now looking with excitement and anticipation to next year, anxiously anticipating what the Prescott/Elliott tandem will be able to pull off with a year’s experience behind them.

And for those of us who have had a set-back of some sort, we, too, can look forward with excitement and anticipation as to what we might be able to learn from the set-back, and allow God by His amazing grace to work in our lives to use the experience for growth toward maturity. It is, by the way, His promise to work in all things for the good of those who love Him. So, fellow believers in Jesus Christ, take heart, and allow Him to continue to mold us into His image.

Thanks, Cowboys, for a great season, and for motivating me to learn lessons from the analogy of a football game.

The following is a response to a letter in our local newspaper (The Lancaster News, Lancaster, SC).

I appreciate the fact that in this country we continue to have the freedom to share our opinions and thoughts in a public forum such as the editorial column of local newspapers. I appreciate the fact that it offers citizens a forum in which they can share their beliefs, and even have a debate of sorts as to why we believe the way we do. Having said that, I appreciate the fact the Sheila Bickford took advantage of her freedom of speech to disagree with my statements in a previous guest column.

Ms. Bickford seemed to be offended that I, a conservative, Bible-believing minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, would state that I would cast my vote for Donald Trump. For the sake of clarity, I would simply ask Ms. Bickford, and others, to consider the following points:

·         With a Clinton administration, we would continue to see the slaughter of innocent, unborn children. The Bible teaches clearly and unmistakably that every child conceived in the womb is a creation of God – a creation that bears the image of God Himself. The Bible teaches that every life is important to God, and should be important to us. How could anyone who believes the Bible to be the guide for life vote for someone who embraces this culture of death.

·         With a Clinton administration, we would continue to see the deterioration of the family. It was God who established the family unit – a man and woman, united for life for the purpose of companionship, mutual encouragement, and procreation. The argument from the LGBT community might be that same-sex partners can experience companionship and encouragement, but they cannot possibly procreate, at least not without some intervention through genetic intervention or manipulation.

·         With a Clinton administration we would continue to see the national debt rise, as she has stated numerous times that she would raise taxes so that those who are living off the government might continue to do so, while adding multitudes of others to the roles of the entitled. The Bible teaches clearly that if a person will not work, they are not to eat. There are those who are sincerely in need and should be helped, but for those who are capable of earning their own way, the government should not provide what they could earn themselves.

·         With a Clinton administration, we would continue to see illegals come into our nation, taking jobs away from honest Americans who only want to provide for their families. We would continue to see an acceleration of crime, as drugs continue to come into our country through wide open borders. And worse yet, we would continue to see the possibility of terrorists coming into this country through an un-vetted process of immigration.

·         Finally, with a Clinton administration, we would continue to see the proliferation of lying to the American people. We have yet to hear Ms. Clinton speak forthrightly about her 33,000 deleted emails. We have yet to hear her speak about her involvement in the Benghazi murders. We have yet to hear her speak about her own vicious words caught on tape.

With a Clinton administration it would be more of the same liberal agenda that we have seen for the past eight years, with an ever-increasing agenda of more liberal policies that will continue to destroy our beloved nation.

Ms. Bickford, I stated clearly in my previous column that I am truly disgusted with both candidates, and sincerely wish we had others for which to vote. But, all things considered, Donald Trump has promised he will close the borders to illegals; push for an overturn of Roe v. Wade; appoint supreme court justices who would stand by the constitution, and not enact laws that contradict the clear mandates of that document; lower taxes, which would result in an economic boost for our nation; and bring to justice those who willingly and knowingly break the law. All things considered, I believe the choice is clear. My vote still goes to Donald Trump.

I am just as disgusted as most Americans when I consider the choices we have for the highest office in our land. When I think of Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, I wonder how we got to this point in our great nation. Are there not any better candidates out there? Are there not those who have better records, better morals, better character? Are there not some who would be better suited for the office of president?

Think with me for a moment about Hillary Clinton. In essence, she simply promises more of the same. If elected, she will continue the same liberal agenda as Obama. She will continue to grow the national debt by reckless spending. She will continue to murder innocent unborns with her dedication to abortion rights. She will continue to expand the entitlement society which has grown by enormous proportions under the Obama administration. She will continue to undermine the family structure in this nation with her agenda to legitimize and legalize same-sex marriages. Hillary Clinton will destroy America! Plus, as if that is not enough, she is a proven liar in covering up and then lying about 33,000 deleted emails from a private server, and she is still under investigation concerning her role in the Benghazi murders.

Does that mean I am a supporter of Donald Trump? Certainly not! I am a constitutional conservative, which sets me miles apart from Mr.  Trump. I have more than once scratched my head in perplexity over the fact that he won the Republican nomination with very little real competition from the established Republican party. He is a far cry from traditional, conservative, Republican principles and policies.

That, in my estimation, is the real reason behind Trump’s popularity. The Republican party has left the American people. For the past eight years we have had a Republican majority in both the House and the Senate. They have had every opportunity to stop much of the liberal agenda of the Obama administration, and yet, the liberal minority has run rough-shod over the Republican majority. Those of us who hold to conservative values feel as if we have been completely deserted by our representatives. So, when a radical like Trump comes along, masses are drawn to him because of his promises to bring about true change if elected. Now, we hear a recording of statements made by Trump in a private conversation eleven years ago. That, in and of itself, should not be grounds for disqualification. I wonder if Hillary Clinton would like her private conversations to be played for all to hear. How many of us would like every private conversation from our past made public knowledge. Of course, the argument is that none of us are running for the highest office in the land.

Left with the choice between Clinton and Trump, many are saying they simply won’t vote. Or, if they do, they will vote for an independent, or write in someone else. In my estimation, either of these alternatives is a waste of a vote, except in the sense that it makes a personal statement of principle, which perhaps is not a bad idea.

However, unless something drastic happens to remove one or the other, or even both, of the present presidential candidates, one of them will be sitting in the oval office in January. So, what are we to do? Let’s consider for just a moment a much bigger picture than that of Clinton and Trump.

Let’s consider for a moment the appointment of Supreme Court justices. There is already a vacancy that will be filled by the next president, and there is the possibility that one or more vacancies will arise during the next president’s four-year term of office. This (these) appointments will set the direction of this nation for the foreseeable future. We all know that Clinton will appoint those who lean far to the left, whereas Trump promises to appoint those of a more conservative stance on issues. This should be a major consideration as we go to the polls.

Then, let’s consider the enormous debt that has been heaped upon the American people during the last eight years, with the promise of Hillary Clinton that with a Clinton presidency we can expect more of the same. Trump promises that he would work diligently to promote business and commerce which would put the nation back on a favorable economic trajectory.

Further, let’s think for a moment about the legitimizing and legalizing of same-sex marriages. Under a Clinton administration same-sex marriages would become federal law. The nuclear family, viewed by many (myself included) as the very back-bone of our society and culture. This would result in a deterioration of the very fabric of America life.

Finally, let’s consider the fact that with a Clinton presidency we would continue to move headlong into the culture of death that has been embraced by the Democratic party. Abortion, infanticide, and euthanasia would continue to be the course of the day, and would expand exponentially under her administration. Trump, on the other hand, promises to be a president who would be pro-life, and would work toward overturning Roe v. Wade.

Bottom line, I wish we had a different choice. I honestly wish that something would cause both parties to somehow come up with a way to have candidates with more character, more morality, more ethical moorings. However, left with the choice which seems to be the one we will have in November at the polls. I feel that Trump would be the better choice.

My final thought is that whichever candidate is ultimately elected, our country is in desperate need of God’s intervention, because it appears to this writer that whichever it is, we are in for difficult days ahead. God help us to wake up to what is really important  – turning back to Him, for He is our only hope

We have heard the promise from both major party presidential candidates: “Let’s make America great again.” And, I am sure that most Americans would love to see America restored to its former state of greatness. Both candidates are making promises of enormous proportion, most of which the American people know is nothing more than empty rhetoric and political posturing. They are both vying for the vote of the American population, and when one of them is finally sitting in the oval office it will soon become painfully obvious that their promises were completely void of the power to back them up.

Please don’t misunderstand: I am sure that both candidates actually mean to prove true to their word. But we have seen the same thing happen time and again in previous elections. Promises are made, offices are gained, and the promises are soon forgotten or explained away.

Do we really want to see America restored to its former greatness? Are we willing to make the sacrifices that are necessary to make it happen? Then I have the formula. Spiritual renewal! A return to the values, principles, and precedents set by our founding fathers. I have stated this in several previous blogs, and I will continue to state it as long as I have breath in my lungs, and strength in my fingers to type the words. Hillary Clinton is not the answer! Donald Trump is not the answer! Jesus Christ, Son of God, King of kings and Lord of lords is the only hope for America!

I realize that in our pluralistic society, and our all-embracing idea of political correctness, that it is narrow-minded and bigoted to state that there is only one true religion, but that is exactly what Jesus Christ claimed. In one of the most clearly stated principles ever stated by Jesus, He said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” He did not say that He was A way, or A truth, or A life. He is not one of many. He is exclusively and singularly THE way, truth and life. The argument of one religious belief as opposed to another is not the issue here. It is not the argument of one religion against another, or one denomination against another, or one religious movement against another. It is the argument of Jesus Christ, the only person who has ever lived, died and conquered death by coming forth from the grave against all other religious movement leaders who lived, died, and whose remains are still safely tucked away in some earthly tomb, grave, or mausoleum. If I am going to put my confidence in anyone, I am going to side with One who was able to back His words up with the indisputable authority to conquer death!

If this country ever hopes to be great again, then the answer is quite simple: return to Jesus Christ and the teachings of His word. This is not meant to be taken in a spirit of disrespect for those who disagree with my personal beliefs. This really has nothing at all to do with my personal beliefs. This has to do with the overwhelming sentiment of the vast majority of those who fought for the freedoms and liberties we have historically enjoyed as citizens of this great nation. A cursory reading of countless documents authored by those who sacrificed all for the establishment of this nation will clearly establish the unquestionable fact that they believed in order for this nation to survive and thrive it would of necessity have to maintain morals, values and principles which were clearly gleaned from the Christian world-view.

So, let’s demand of our leaders that we expect them to adhere to the precedents set by our founders. Let’s elect politicians who will commit to upholding the Judeo-Christian ethic which was the foundation of our early leader’s decisions. Let’s become a nation, under God, with an indivisible spirit which will once again restore America to true greatness.

I have spent much of this day as, I am sure, most Americans have: wondering how we have fallen so far, gone to such drastic lengths, taken such horrific strides, in developing the hatred, animosity, bitterness and malice as we see being fleshed out before us. How is it that we have reached the point that human life means nothing? That one human can wantonly, with pure malice, have such little regard for another human being that he/she can take another’s life without so much as a thought? Certainly, our hearts and prayers go out to the families of those slain police officers from the Dallas Police Department, and for those who were wounded in this senseless attack.

And yet, I don’t have to think very long to be reminded of the fact that this hatred and malice has been with us from the very beginning. It was in the early years of the existence of humanity, according to the Bible, that one brother, Cain, moved in a murderous rage, took the life of his brother, Abel. From that beginning, we have seen hatred grow more and more intense with each passing generation. History is filled with glaring episodes of man’s hatred against man, on the individual level, on the national level, on the international level, at different times focused on religious differences, political differences, idealogical differences, philosophical differences, racial differences, etc.

America has become a hotbed of “differences.” It seems that instead of being able to look at each other as human beings, we look rather at black, white, red, yellow, crying out that certain colors “matter” which would lead us to believe that other colors don’t. Why can’t we accept the fact that all lives matter? Why do we have to look at the color of a person’s skin to determine if that life matters or not? Why can’t we respect each other for who we are, and not base our opinions of one another on the pigmentation of skin?

I believe the answer is to be found in the Bible. It is there that we are told the story of how God created man in a perfect environment, and provided him with everything he would ever need. But man, in his pride and arrogance, decided that was not enough. He didn’t want what God offered: he wanted to be God! He wanted control, to make all decisions, to map out his own destiny. He chose to reject the good God intended, because he actually thought he knew better than God. Imagine that, the created thinking he was wiser than the Creator.

Now, some reading this might think that this is nothing more than philosophical/theological speculation that is beyond meaninglessness. However, I feel that this has always been the problem, and will continue to be the problem. When one claims that those of a certain skin color “matter,” is that not an indication that they are, at least to some degree, looking down on those who do not have that particular color? And is that not playing God? God is the only one who can make judgments of this nature, and His judgment is simply that He created all men equal. There is no such thing as white supremacy, black supremacy, etc, in God’s economy. Those distinctions are a creation of fallen man.

The fact of the matter is that God gave man a chance, and he blew it. I am not talking about Adam and Eve in that perfect garden paradise – I am talking about every one of us. We are all fallen in sin, and in desperate need of salvation. Yes, we need to be saved in the spiritual sense through the precious blood of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself as our substitute. But we need to be saved from ourselves. We need to see that our bitterness and hatred toward one another is simply because of our god-complex, which compels us to think that some are better than others.

No race, no ethnicity, no nationality, no political alliance, no international unions, will ever be able to change the human heart. Only the grace of God can do that. And it is only by the grace of God that we don’t see more of the atrocities being witnessed in our nation. For those of us who profess to be Christians, it is time for us to show the true love of God. To share the wonderful news of God’s gracious gift of salvation to those who would accept His Son.

Jesus warned of these perilous times, so they should not catch us off-guard. And He also instructed to be the light shining out in this world of spiritual darkness so that they may see their way out of that darkness into the light of His love and grace.

Several of my recent posts have focused on the subject of America’s pending judgment at the hands of God if we refuse to repent and turn back to Him. Recently, I had an interesting question posed to me as to how Christians are to prepare for this impending judgment. I will strive to answer that question in this blog.

Before we begin trying to answer, however, I feel that it is necessary to give a Biblical foundation for those who would believe that judgment will never come to America. There are those who buy into the rhetoric of empty promises made by politicians who are vying for their vote. For example, in our present presidential campaign, we have one candidate who promises to make America great again by implementing sweeping change, while the other candidate promises to stay the course which has been set during the last eight years of our present president. Both, in essence, are promising better days ahead for our nation. And yet, just a simple glimpse at the present state of affairs reveals to us that we are not on a path to greatness, but rather we are on a collision course toward destruction. Our economy is teetering on the brink of collapse. Racial tensions are running high. The political spectrum is grim, as we see our nation divided like never before. Social issues run contrary to the clear teachings of Scripture. Morality  – well, morality has been replaced with an anything goes mentality. In many instances right has become wrong and wrong has become right.

The root cause of this (from this one individual’s perspective) is that we as a nation have turned our backs on God, and therefore have brought God’s judgment on ourselves. So, now back to the question under consideration: how are Christians to ready themselves for God’s hand of judgment. First, don’t let it catch us unaware. The Bible gives ample warning to those who have once lived a Biblically enlightened life, and then turn away from Biblical truth to embrace the ways of the world. There are many conditional promises of God in the Bible. These conditional clauses are in the form of, “If you….then I.” For example, God told the people of Israel, “If you will obey Me, then I will bless you; but if you disobey me, then I will withhold my blessings from you.” On occasion, those conditional promises took on a very sobering tone: “If you refuse to obey Me, then you will experience My wrath.” The present day spiritual climate of America is a far cry from obeying the principles of God’s Word, so based on these conditional promises of God we can see clearly that we are ripe for judgment. So, believers should never be caught off guard and unaware of impending judgment.

Second, we must understand that when God’s judgment falls on a nation, it falls on the entire nation. God does not miraculously build a wall around believers to protect them from national judgment. Rather, the entire nation suffers, righteous and unrighteous alike. There are certainly physical precautions that can be taken. Food can be stored away in the likelihood of food shortages caused by destruction of crops from weather catastrophes. Provisions can be kept for long periods of time if the food supplies have been properly prepared for long-term storage. There are those who would suggest making sure that you are properly protected by having an arsenal of weapons and ammunition in case of rioting in the streets. I realize that I am speaking of extreme conditions, but when one reads the Old Testament and notes how desperate the people of Israel were during times of God’s judgment, then the likelihood of this happening in America is not such a hard-to-believe eventuality.

Finally, and absolutely of most importance, is to make sure that we are prepared to meet God. In the Old Testament book of Amos, God is revealing to His people the reality of impending judgment. Amos reveals prophetically the horrific atrocities which are coming, and yet, the most sobering word of preparation is this: “Therefore, prepare to meet your God, O Israel.” My question for you today is this: Are you prepared to meet God? Whatever happens in this life, regardless of how awful it might be, is nothing in comparison with meeting God without having a relationship with Him through His Son, Jesus Christ.  We may meet Him through a time of national judgment, or we may live to a ripe old age and meet Him after a long, productive life. But know this: each and every one of us WILL meet Him. Jesus made it possible for us to be prepared for life and death through giving His life as a sacrifice for us. Have you trusted Him as your personal Lord and Savior? If not, you are not prepared to meet God. You will meet Him, you will just not be prepared. The Bible teaches clearly that “every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God.” You have the choice of doing that now, in preparation for eternity, or doing it later, just before hearing the words, “Depart from Me, I never knew you.” The choice is yours. Please, I beseech you in the name of our Lord Jesus, trust Him today so that you will be prepared for that coming day of judgment.

Joseph Stalin is quoted to have made the following statement: “America is like a healthy body and its resistance is threefold: its patriotism, its morality, and its spiritual life. If we can undermine these three areas, America will collapse from within.” Let’s consider each of these three areas in light of our present day.

Patriotism is defined by the Cambridge Dictionary Online as “the feeling of loving your country more than any others and being proud of it.” There was a time in which patriotism ran high. The vast majority of Americans seemed to be extremely proud to be a citizen of this great country. We were proud to stand and pledge allegiance to the flag that represents us. We showed  our pride in so many ways. And thankfully, there are still those of us who are proud to be American. But the scene is growing far too commonplace where we see individuals abusing the flag. Some put it on the ground and walk on it. Others spit on it. Still others curse it, and yes, there are even those who burn it. In the estimation of this writer, patriotism is at an all time low. One part of Stalin’s formula to see America collapse from within.

Morality was Stalin’s second area of American health. Again, turning to the Cambridge Dictionary, we find that morality is “a personal or social set of standards for good and bad behavior or character, or the quality of being right or honest.” Our nation was founded on the principles gleaned from the Bible. Therefore, our understanding of right and wrong, good and bad, were taken from that timeless Book. It is obvious that many of the standards of morality based on Scripture have been discarded, and replaced with beliefs based on human intellect. Just a few examples will suffice to show this beyond debate, at least for those who believe the Bible to be our standard. Abortion, perversions of human sexuality (homosexuality, pre-marital sexual activity, sexual relations outside of marriage, living together outside marriage, etc.), alcohol and drug abuse, child abuse, and so many others are all examples of the break from Biblical morality. We are living in a day and time in which we seem to have embraced the mentality that there is no such thing as a moral absolute. Everyone is free to decide what is right for themselves. The second part of Stalin’s formula to see America collapse.

And finally, he noted the spiritual life of America. Again, let’s be reminded that this nation was founded as a Christian nation. No one was forced to embrace Christianity, as everyone has the right to choose for himself/herself what religion, if any, they decide to embrace. However, it was clearly understood by the founding fathers that this nation would only continue to succeed as long as these foundational Biblical principles remained intact. Those who chose to embrace a different religion were treated as equals, but were expected to abide by the governing principles which gave guidance and direction to this nation.  Now, it is obvious that Christianity is being systematically removed from American life. Yes, those of us who continue to choose to embrace Christianity as our personal faith are still allowed to worship God freely and publicly. However, it only takes a cursory glimpse at the direction our country has moved over the past few decades to show that we are anything but one nation under God.

America is on a course of self destruction. The very things that have made America great are now being undermined and dismantled. Is it any wonder that our nation at present is more divided than at any other time in our history, with the exception of the civil war period. May God help us make the hard choices which would correct our path, and set us once again on a course toward greatness. This will only happen if and when we return to our patriotism, our morality, and our spiritual life based on the Word of God.

We have just witnessed another horrific example of how depraved man is. A lone gunman walks into a bar and opens fire. When it is over, fifty people are dead, and more than that number are wounded. Our prayers go out to the families of those who were murdered, and to those who survived. Our prayer is that they will find their peace in Jesus Christ.

And now, all the questions begin to emerge. Why? Why do horrible things like this happen? What would motivate someone to carry out such a despicable act? How could someone have such a calloused heart? And, of course, the one on the top of everyone’s list: Why didn’t God prevent this from happening? And the list of questions goes on and on.

There are those who will try to politicize this awful act of terror. Those on the left politically will call it a hate crime, and use it to espouse their views on stricter gun laws. Those on the right will call it an act of terror, and will use it to further their agenda of stricter laws on immigration.

What I would like to hear representatives from either side of the political spectrum say is this. Within the heart and soul of every human being is the potential of committing all manner of evil. Most never will, but some do, as we have seen once again.

We might look at this act of terror and buy into the anti-Muslim propaganda which would have us believe that every individual adherent to the Islamic religion is bent on the destruction of everyone who disagrees with them. I realize that there are passages in the Koran which clearly stipulate acts of Jihad against all infidels (any non-Muslim). And I realize that history will bear out the truth of sheer hatred between Muslims and non-Muslims. But, I also believe firmly that those perpetrators of this sort of wickedness are part of the radical wing of Islam that has become known as ISIS.

Now, having stated the obvious, let me turn to what may not be quite so obvious. It may come as a shock to some, but these acts of terror are clearly spoken of in the Bible. Jesus warned that there would come the day in which men’s hearts would become hard, cold, and calloused. He stated that there would be those who would actually think they were doing the will of God by wantonly killing others. Clearly, this is the belief of radical Islam. They strongly believe they are doing the will of Allah in killing anyone and everyone who does not adhere to their religious belief. This includes all who are deemed infidels by Islamic belief, which, in essence, is everyone who is non-Muslim.

Please understand that I am not in any way justifying the actions of those who would carry out such horrific acts of terror. I am not! I am simply stating that for the student of the word of God, these acts of terror should not cause us to doubt God, or lose our faith. Rather, it should give us more confidence in the accuracy of the word of God as we see clearly that Jesus revealed these things would happen long before they occurred.

Some will see this act of terrorism as an obvious judgment of God against the homosexual community in America. However, there is a much larger scope of this event. We should not see it as an act of judgment against any one segment of our society, but as an act of divine judgment against a nation that has turned its back on God. We should understand that this is probably a harbinger of things to come. The only hope we have is for this nation to turn back to God in a spirit of sincere confession of our sin, both corporately and individually.

Let me close by once again appealing to every believer in Jesus Christ to unite our hearts and spirits in prayer for those personally affected by this act of terrorism. Let’s pray for healing, physical and spiritual, for those who were wounded. Let’s pray for God’s grace of salvation to be experienced by those who see from this event that life is brief, and that our greatest need as humans is to be prepared for our own impending death. This is accomplished by turning by faith and repentance to the only One who can provide forgiveness, hope, and comfort.

The primary season is over (finally!) and the stage is set for our November presidential election – unless, of course something happens that would change the present set of circumstances. So,…

Source: The Stage is Set

The primary season is over (finally!) and the stage is set for our November presidential election – unless, of course something happens that would change the present set of circumstances. So, in retrospect, let’s give some consideration to the past several months of debates, debacles, and deliberations.

The debate season was a series of circus events. There was name calling and trash talking as the candidates went after each other with total abandon. Very little respect was given as brash interruptions were made as one candidate bullied his/her way into the discussion. The debate moderators seemed to be at a loss when trying to gain control of the unruly and disrespectful candidates. Some accused others of being “un-presidential”  in the way they conducted themselves in the debates. They were rude, and even crude, in the way they treated one another on this national platform.

What are we to make of this? How are we supposed to decipher, through all the confusion left in the wake of such vicious personal attacks against one another, what to believe from any of them? I do not claim to be one who has greater insight or understanding than anyone else, so the following observations are simply one individual’s attempt at striving to make sense out of the non-sense.

My first observation is this: what we have witnessed over the past several months is what happens when a nation removes God from the political process (or any other process, for that matter). Several candidates running for the Republican nomination made attempts to focus on their personal faith, and how important that was for one running for the highest office in the land, but they were quickly reminded that faith had no place in the political arena. The candidates running for the Democratic nomination had nothing at all to say about faith’s role in the process. This all seems rather strange when we consider how important the Christian faith was to our founders, as well as those who followed through the years as leaders of this nation.

Somewhere along the way, we seem to have misplaced God. From our founding fathers focus on the providence of God in leading to the establishment of this nation, to the present day lot of politicians who have the mindset that religion and politics cannot mix, we have completely lost our way. In what appears to be an attempt by modern day politicians to become all things to all men, we seem to have pushed God to the side and are now striving to tolerate everyone except Christians. Whatever happened to the old idea that if anyone wanted to make this nation their home, they were more than welcome to come, but they were expected to embrace American culture instead of expecting America to bend over backwards to accommodate theirs? And yet, it appears that is exactly what our present day lot of politicians demand. This is the very reason that Christianity is being systematically removed from the political scene, and the public square.

My second observation is closely tied to the first: when a nation turns its back on its religious and spiritual foundation, it opens itself up for all sort of confusion and misunderstanding. I am certainly not suggesting that those who come to this country from other parts of the world in which they practiced the disciplines of another religion must reject their religion and become Christian, but I am suggesting that they accept the fact that this is a Christian nation which operates by principles gleaned from the Bible. And yet, we see the demand that Americans embrace their religious beliefs and practices while giving no regard for those that guided this nation from its founding.

My final observation: if this nation continues on the present course, then I see nothing but trouble ahead. I realize that there are many who would disagree with me, and I respect your right to your opinion as I hope you respect my right to mine. The Bible makes clear what a nation might expect if it once embraced the teachings of the Bible and then reject it for some other religion. God’s hand of judgment will not be long in coming. This pattern is clearly established in God’s Word.

My prayer is that we will come to our spiritual senses and return to our spiritual foundation so clearly set forth in the documents of our founders. I long for the day when we are once again one nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all.