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.

My wife and I just celebrated our 43rd wedding anniversary. Yes, that is a long time. No, I can’t quite believe it. Yes, my age tells me it is true whether I want to believe it or not. For ou…

Source: Number Forty-Three

My wife and I just celebrated our 43rd wedding anniversary. Yes, that is a long time. No, I can’t quite believe it. Yes, my age tells me it is true whether I want to believe it or not.

For our celebration this year, we took a short trip to the mountains of North Carolina. We revisited some of our favorite places, and then journeyed to a couple of new places which quickly became new favorite places. We have always enjoyed riding along the Blue Ridge Parkway, and once again were amazed at the beauty of this small part of God’s creation.

The overlook at Craggy Gardens has always been a must see for us, and this trip was no exception.

We made several more stops at overlooks along the way, but our destination was one which we had passed by so many times in the past, but had never taken the time to stop. This trip was different: we stopped and enjoyed the magnificence and majesty of Grandfather Mountain. This will now be one of our favorites to revisit in the future.

Another favorite for us is the beauty of the waterfalls in Dupont Forest. Teresa and I have always loved waterfalls, and have been blessed to see quite a number in different parts of our beautiful country. We have seen Niagara, as well as the thunderous falls scattered through Yellowstone National Park, and so many along the stretches of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Each one has its own unique character, and each is breathtaking in its own way. The falls we hiked to in Dupont are gorgeous in their own right.

And then, there was one final stop. We had heard about the beauty of Pretty Place from friends, and we had actually been there once before, but the weather was horrible, and the entire area was saturated with fog, so we were unable to see the unbelievable panorama of this majestic sight.

A picture does not do justice to the view from this pinnacle. We are sitting at the end of the chapel which overlooks the valley below, and the rolling mountainside in the background. As we arrived at the chapel, a group of youth were singing praise choruses, and we were able to enjoy their voices rolling over the side of the mountain. We were blessed beyond measure to be able to see this moving sight, this slice of God’s creation, that created in us the desire to praise Him for His creative genius, and for allowing us to catch just a small glimpse of His creative power.

We were once again reminded of the word of the Psalmist that inform us that God’s creation is a continual testimony to His power, not only of creating, but also of maintaining. He set things in motion, and He oversees the day-to-day operation of His created order. Teresa and I celebrate the life He has allowed us to share for these 43 years, and are so blessed to be able to have traveled many roads together.

I love to read those great stories in the Bible of adventure, intrigue, and excitement. Stories that trace the steps, and journal the adventures, of those individuals who set their sights on living life to the full, even if it meant facing insurmountable odds and overwhelming obstacles. Their stories have been saved for each future generation to read, enjoy and learn. Learn what? What am I supposed to learn from the story of Abraham, or Moses, or Joseph, or Peter, Paul, Jesus, and countless others?

Well, there is a vast amount of lessons to be learned, but there is one that I would like for us to think about: just as certain as we see their stories unfold before us from the pages of Scripture, our stories are unfolding day by day and moment by moment. So, the question is, what is your story? If you were to sit quietly for a while and consider seriously your life up to this point, what story would you see unfolding as you mentally walked through the memories of your past?

Some would probably think that they really don’t have a story worth considering, much less one worth sharing. But I would dare to suggest that you would be wrong. Every life has a story, and every story is worth sharing.

As I sit here at the age of 64, and think back over my life, I might think that it is nothing compared with the life stories of others. But, you see, that is the problem. I should not compare my life with others. I should consider my journey, mentally journaling my life experiences, and strive to see the handprint of God in that journey.

Those great Bible stories relate vastly different life journeys for each of the characters, and yet there was one  common thread: the providence of God. They may not have known what God was doing at the time (I am convinced that they did not!) but they were making their life journey under God’s clear direction. They did not always know what lay ahead for them as they made their way through life, but God was always ahead, making the way.

So, what is your story? Are you a businessman/woman, a teacher, a brick mason, a car mechanic, a ditch digger, a gardener, a farmer, a housewife? It really does not matter what you DO, but what really matters is WHO you are. Your life story unfolds day by day. It may seem to be monotonous, boring, and uneventful. But it is YOUR story. I challenge you to take a few minutes and look back. If you look closely you will see His handprint. You will be able to detect that unseen hand of providence which has led you, and brought you to where you are now.

And now, I further challenge each of us to make our story known. Share it with your family, your friends, your work associates. Share it when you have the opportunity to strike up a conversation with that person you just met. Be sure to include in your story how you were totally unaware of God’s presence during each chapter of your journey, but that now, as you look back, you see His handprint everywhere. Let your story become His story.

When we begin to purposely look for His handprint, we will begin to see that life has not been monotonous, boring and uneventful. Rather, it has been a journey of walking His path, experiencing His appointments, and growing in our awareness of His presence.

Did you notice the shift? Did you notice the subtle (or, not so subtle by the standards of some) change from being a republic to being a monarchy? Did you notice the change from a government of the…

Source: King Obama

Did you notice the shift? Did you notice the subtle (or, not so subtle by the standards of some) change from being a republic to being a monarchy? Did you notice the change from a government of the people, by the people, and for the people, to that of a monarch who bypasses all balance of power in order to impose his personal agenda on the American people?

Of course, we can’t place all the blame on our president. It is true that he shows no regard, and gives no respect, to the other branches of government which, when working properly, keeps any one branch from running rough-shod over the others. However, it is also true that the congress and senate have not done their jobs in keeping things in check. One would think that, since we have a republican majority in both houses of congress, there would be more accountability from one branch of power to the other. But it seems that those who identify themselves as constitutional republicans run scared when the president makes one of his decisions which affects all Americans without going through the proper chain of authority. Thus, the blame is to be shared by those who oppose the president’s tactics, but who do nothing to hold him in check.

Let’s think about the president’s most recent display of abuse of power. In his effort to push the LGBT agenda on the nation, he has ordered (not in the form of a new law, but in the form of a recommendation) that all public schools across the nation embrace the practice of allowing students to choose the restroom of their choice. Even though he says this is not a new law, he does warn that states which choose to go against this “recommendation” open themselves up for federal education budget cuts. This is nothing more than an enforcement of what he calls a recommendation.

Is it any wonder that this presidential political season has proven to be so chaotic? Is it any wonder that Donald Trump has successfully run his campaign on the promise that he will do something about this present state of affairs? Is it any wonder that American Republicans are saying, in effect, let’s get rid of those in office who are unwilling to stand up for the constitution in the face of a monarch who gives no regard to that most important of all American documents? Is it any wonder that American Republicans are fed up with the do-nothing bunch which is now occupying the seats of congress?

Let me hasten to the point of this rambling. The people of the United States of America look to our elected officials to see to it that the constitution is upheld and enforced. However, it has become painfully obvious that most either don’t know what the constitution says, or, even worse, do know what it says and still purposely ignore it. They need to be held accountable. Of course, the accountability would be working effectively if the balance of powers was enforced. But, since it is obvious that this balance of power is now completely out of balance, it is time for the American people to get involved. So, just how are we to do that? Let me suggest three things that we can all do.

First, be sure to use our right to cast a vote for the candidate(s) of our choice. As a Christian, my vote should be determined by Biblical principles which would guide me in choosing a candidate who best follows the ethical and moral demands of Holy Scripture. I must guard myself against being duped by empty promises and radical rantings of those who pursue political office.

Second, get personally involved in the political process. Are you a Christian who is fed up with the way things are locally, in your state, and in our nation? Perhaps God would have you get involved by running for office so that you can make a difference. If you don’t feel that you are qualified to run for an office, then strive to influence those who are in office. Use your phone to call your representatives to voice your opinion when key issues are being debated in the halls of congress. Call your state representatives to voice your concerns. Use a public forum such as a personal blog on the internet or by writing letters to the editor of your local newspaper. There needs to be a groundswell of grass root Americans who are willing to let their voices be heard.

Third, pray!  As a Christian, I am admonished to pray for those who are in office. It is my spiritual obligation to seek God’s will in all affairs of life. Praying for those who will occupy those seats of authority should be uppermost in our minds. It is imperative that we commit the minds, hearts, and wills of those in office to the Lord, and pray that He would give wisdom and guidance as they lead our nation.

My journey began in October, 2015. It started with a cough; a simple, nagging cough. Over the counter cough remedies were the rule of the day. However, they did not produce the desired results, and when the cough began to keep me (and my wife) awake through the night, I felt it was time to seek medical attention. So, mid-October I made my first visit to my family physician. After the examination, I was told that I had bronchitis, and was written a prescription for an antibiotic, and a cough suppressant.

The two-week antibiotic finished, the cough medication depleted, and yet the cough persisted. So, trip number two to the family physician. Another exam, another diagnosis of bronchitis, and another round of antibiotics – this round a little more powerful. I was assured by my physician that many times these persistent coughs could last for a few weeks before they would eventually subside.

Again, the two-week round of high powered antibiotics finished, and again, the cough medication gone, and again, the cough persisted. As a matter of fact, this time the cough had actually worsened. However, due to my hard-headedness, and my confidence in my family physician, I made yet another trip to his office. This was now into the year 2016, and the cough was continuing to grow worse and worse. Many nights were spent with little to no sleep due to the cough which had now grown so intense that my entire body ached from the excessive coughing spells. Once again, I was assured by my doctor that all was well, that there was not need for undue concern, and that he was confident that the cough had just about run its course.

Once again – antibiotics. Once again – cough suppressant. Once again, the diagnosis of bronchitis. And, once again, the cough continued to worsen. Finally, my wife decided enough was enough. She made an appointment for me to see a pulmonologist, who did something my family physician had never even suggested: a chest x-ray. Immediately upon viewing the x-ray, he made an appointment for me to have a bronchoscopy two days later. It revealed that I had a rare form of pneumonia called klebsiella. He prescribed an antibiotic that would zero in on the infection, and within a month the infection was gone.

Now, you may be wondering why I would take your time to read of this journey. It is with the desire that I might share with you a few lessons I learned while traveling this road. First, my faith and commitment to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, was put to the test. A persistent cough for six months will cause one to question the reason for such an ordeal. This, then, leads to some serious soul-searching. “Father, is there some unknown sin in my life that You are striving to draw my attention to? If not, is there a lesson you would like me to learn from this experience so that I might be better equipped to minister to others? Please, Father, show me Your desired will and outcome in this matter.”

You see, my belief is that God has a purpose and plan for everything He brings into our personal human experience. I don’t want this experience to be wasted by not being open to God’s instruction.

Second, it forced me to review my beliefs concerning what happens after this life. Again, I am a firm believer in the teachings of God’s Word, and the Bible clearly teaches that this life is not all there is. As a matter of fact, this life is, according to the Apostle Paul, not even worthy to be compared with that which is before us in eternity. My wife and I had several conversations during this bout with pneumonia (especially before we knew the diagnosis, wondering if it might be something far more serious, perhaps even leading to death), about being prepared for the eventuality of my passing from this life. We reassured each other that God is indeed  in control, and that if I should pass through that final valley of the shadow of death, she would be safe in the arms of the Lord here, and I would be safe in His arms there.

Third, and finally, when the diagnosis was confirmed, and the pneumonia was cured, our intent is to give God all the glory for what He has done through the hands of my new doctor, and the medications he prescribed. But we want to make sure everyone who knows us realizes that we would have been the recipients of God’s grace even if He had allowed this to be the end of my earthly life.

Let me close with this story I read sometime ago. A mother with a young child went to her pastor and asked that he pray for the child who was seriously ill. As a matter of fact, the doctors had told the mother that there was a very high likelihood that her daughter would not survive. The pastor assured her of his prayers. A few days later, the mother called the pastor and informed him that God had graciously spared her child, and she exclaimed, “Isn’t God good!” The thought quickly came to the mind of the pastor, and he shared it with the elated mother, “Well, yes, God is good. But, would He have not been just as good had He allowed you daughter to die?” I thought about that several times during these past six months, and now, I can state with full assurance, “God is good!” But, it’s not because He cured my pneumonia, but just simply because He is good, all the time. I hope to share that with anyone and everyone who will take a moment to listen.