Waxing on Peril

The United States of America is a nation in peril. Why? The economy? The economy is only a symptom. We are financially in trouble for sure, but that is not the root problem. The root problem is that the United States has become a nation where the word of the Lord has become an object of scorn. We are like Israel of Jeremiah’s day, which took no pleasure in God’s word so the word of the Lord was against them: 
“Your ways and your deeds have brought this upon you. This is your doom, and it is bitter; it has reached your very heart.” Jeremiah 4:18
The Apostle Paul wrote of the end result of the rejection of God’s word in Romans chapter 1:

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.
And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them."

This week our President proclaimed June as “LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER PRIDE MONTH, 2009” giving his official approval to behavior that God’s word clearly denounces. Read the proclamation for yourself:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Presidential-Proclamation-LGBT-Pride-Month/

"The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations." (Psalm 33:10-11)
10,000 Presidents can proclaim pride in perversion. 10,000 nations can approve of the mass slaughter of millions of unborn children and it will never change the counsel of the Lord.
This is not political speech, nor is it judgmental speech and it certainly is not “hate speech.” If the ship is sinking and one tries to convince you to secure your life vest or get into the lifeboat, he definitely does not hate you. We must not allow the incessant message of political correctness that is now officially approved of by our President to silence the truth. We must warn people while there is time.
The Bible is full of warnings.

Hebrews 12:25
See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven.

The Lord is not willing that any should perish but you must reach repentance in order to be saved. You must repent, Jesus said, or you all will perish. Repent of your rebellion against God. He is God alone. His word will never pass away.

Repent today and trust Jesus to save you. He became sin who knew no sin that we might become His righteousness. His blood will cleanse you, His Spirit will regenerate you, His life is eternal and He has promised to never leave or forsake you but you must repent of your ways and put your faith in Jesus Christ. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life and no man comes unto the Father but by Him.
Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

John 3:16-21
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

Common Ground?

I watched a documentary produced by the BBC today titled, "The Fatal Attraction of Adolph Hitler." It examined the euphoric allegiance that kept so much of Germany enraptured by Hitler during the Nazi Regime. Even during the intensive Allied bombing in which 300,000 German civilians died, the majority held firm in their commitment to their "Fuhrer."

 As Hitler began the systematic slaughter of millions of innocent Jews and others, most of Germany did not realize the horror that was taking place in Death Camps like Auschwitz where two million were murdered in one location. Even those who knew of Hitler's "Final Solution" had been led to believe the lie that this atrocity was actually a necessary action. 

Obviously, the Nazi Regime was ultimately defeated and most know that Adolph Hitler committed suicide in his bunker as the Russian Army closed in on Berlin. 

The Nazi Regime was now history and the killing stopped, but then many of the German people who had supported Hitler were faced with the reality of what he had done. As the German people witnessed the evidence of what Hitler had ordered, the spell was broken. National pride and loyalty gave way to horror and regret. The attraction that had been dressed up in politics and promises had been fatal for millions. Adolph Hitler had been successful in swaying an entire country to support mass genocide.

As every book, movie, or documentary that deals truthfully with The Holocaust makes you feel, I sadly thought of all of the innocent life that was so tragically taken. 

I thought of the loss that so many families suffered and I thought of the loss that the world had suffered as the possible contribution of these millions of lives were denied...and then I wondered...I wondered if the political rhetoric would mean the same to Americans if we could see just some of the tens of millions of babies that have been murdered in our own National Holocaust. I wonder if we would be so quick to applaud the liberal mantra of "freedom of choice" if we could just see some of what these lives may have brought to our world. 

Would the "fatal attraction" to the idea of "choice" be as appealing to us if we were forced to stand in close proximity to just some of the 50 million dead. 50,000,000 lives wasted. 

This is the ghastly fact that no amount of "common ground" will ever cover up. 

More From the Bizarro World

One day a couple of years ago, a man stood up in our church with something to say. 

I remember this particular comment not because of his statement but because of how it was prefaced. Before this gentleman shared what was on his heart, he said "I am making an observation, not a declaration."

I appreciated his humility and his candor. 

Candor, I have no problem with...humility in my "observations" may not be as apparent. So while I make my observations, please bear with any personal opinion that may be painfully obvious...but then again, transparency is a good thing right? 

Once again I am observing the actions and statements of our nation's leaders and scratching my head bald. I will make a few sarcastic comments and then give some serious perspective.

For the sake of time I will keep it short....ha, ha.

 I will not mention the 300,000 dollar Manhattan fly-over, while "fiscal responsibility" rhetoric and the dangers of "unsustainable debt" are proclaimed. 

I will not bring up the budget that will be over a TRILLION dollars in the red. 

It would be pointless to talk about the Speaker of the House saying that she was not "briefed" she was only "told that someone else was briefed" while she was a member of the oversight committee that was briefed by the CIA about enhanced interrogation methods used on suspected terrorists.

I will not talk about the Secretary of State responding to a report from the Taliban and apologizing profusely for the loss of civilian life in the war zone.

 I will not point out that the Taliban does not have a Washington Bureau...yet.

I mean, come on, this is pretty normal stuff in the Bizarro World so what's the big deal?

Why wouldn't the Alameda Unified School District in California consider supplemental curriculum specifically designed to eradicate "homophobia" in kindergarten children? 

And why should parents have the right to opt their children out?

Why wouldn't Congress push legislation that would make all kinds of sexually perverted people specially protected classes? 

And why would this bill include the homeless? Or the elderly? Or military veterans?

And while our country is headed for bankruptcy why not make Internet gambling legal? 

Why should we oppose Barney Frank's latest brilliant idea?

And what is the big deal that 10,000 or so "stimulus" checks were sent to people who have been dead for years? 

In the Bizarro World, that should not make us concerned about who is running the IRS nor should we question their competence just because they don't pay their own personal taxes or send millions to dead people.

And why should anybody think that there is any conflict of interest just because GE owns NBC, hires Tom Daschle and seeks billions in government contracts under the "Green Initiative."

Just because they own the press and hire Presidential Appointees means nothing in the Bizarro World.

And finally...in this Bizarro World that we now live in, that is so determined to uphold the Separation of Church and State, and has the ACLU ready to bring legal action against anyone who would dare challenge their interpretation of the Constitution...why wouldn't Barak Obama, the most radical, left-winged  supporter of abortion that has ever held the office of President be honored and cheered at a religious, private, Catholic University?

And why shouldn't the peaceful protesters demonstrating their agreement with the teachings of the Catholic Church, that this private University represents, be arrested?

Why shouldn't the Catholic student body break into an Obama inspired "Yes We Can!" mantra when a vocal minority dares to say "Stop Killing our Children!" 

In the Bizarro World you don't really stand for what you say you believe!

In the Bizarro World you appoint the most radical abortion Governor in the history of the United States as the Secretary of Health and Human Services, lift as many restrictions on abortion as you can, appoint a Homeland Security Secretary that puts abortion protesters on the "terrorist watch" list and then stand at Notre Dame and proclaim that we should find "common ground" and work to reduce the number of abortions while not making caricatures of opposing viewpoints. 

In the Bizarro World the Government kindly abstains from making caricatures of opposing viewpoints, they just arrest people with opposing viewpoints.

And so now as I have given my cynical little observations from Bizarro World I hope my point is not lost in the sarcasm. 

In all seriousness, it becomes more and more apparent to me and many others that we are nowhere close to being at home here on this earth. 

While the truth should not be ignored and a dose of sarcastic humor can give an opinion that might otherwise be ignored, bizarre is precisely how the world's ways should look to the true believer. 

We can make observations and I will continue to do so. 

I refuse to call evil good, but I have no false hope in any person, party or government to make any lasting change that would be good and right here on this earth. My hope is in promises that are seen with eyes of faith from afar. Mine is an eternal and living hope through the death, burial and resurrection of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. His eternal word of truth will never pass away and will never be eradicated. 

He offers this hope to all who would repent of their sins and put their faith in Jesus Christ the Son of God, the King of kings and Lord of lords. Our God is not willing that any should perish but that all should reach repentance! Believe on the Lord Jesus and be saved from this wicked and corrupt generation!

Christ is coming again and He will judge the world in perfect righteousness. There is none good enough and only His work on the Cross is sufficient to save you. His blood will cleanse from sin if you repent and believe!

No President will ever stand in His court and proclaim compromise with evil. 

No Government will ever legislate the murder of children in His Kingdom. There will be no need for legislation to make sexual perverts a protected class of citizens. According to scripture, they will not be there (Revelation 21:8; 22:15).

His Truth cannot change and those who hope in Him have been promised a bright and glorious future of wonders that eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor mind has even conceived. The things that scripture has prophesied are taking place. We were told ahead of time and our Lord said when we see these things taking place that the Kingdom of God is very near. Lift up your heads for your redemption is near! I acknowledge that I am a "stranger, an exile on this earth." I want to be like those people of faith that Hebrews 11 refers to:

" For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return.  But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city." (Hebrews 11:14-16)

Waxing on The Bizarro World

I remember a Seinfeld episode in which Jerry spoke of "Bizarro World." Since Seinfeld was such a big Superman fan, I guess it had something to do with that. Not being that much of a Superman fan or any other comic book all I know about "Bizarro World" is what I learned from Seinfeld. Apparently in "Bizarro World," up is down, good is bad, smart is dumb....etc. 

You know, the opposite of what common sense would tell you. 

And now, with increasing intensity, I am starting to feel like I actually live in some sort of "Bizarro World." 

Why? Well here are a few examples:

*We now call The War on Terror an "Overseas Contingency Operation" or something like that because we don't want to "offend" the same people who loudly proclaim "Death to America" and are actively plotting to destroy as many Americans as they can...yes let's be sure we don't offend them. They might not like us anymore.

*The President of the United States authorizes the release of "Top Secret" CIA documents pertaining to its operations to win this "Contingency." Maybe if we tell our enemies how we are trying to stop them from killing us, they will just think it is too easy and get bored.

*Our "Homeland Security" Secretary calls people who believe that unborn babies should not be murdered, "potential terroists." Also on the terroist watch list are those who believe in the freedom of speech and the right to bear arms and of course, Military Veterans.

*"Hate Speech" legislation is being pushed again. By silencing "Hate Speech" the legislation really means silencing Free Speech. You know the kind of speech that says that the Bible is still true and what the Bible has always said is sin, is still sin. In "Bizarro World," basically anybody who disagrees with the idealism and principles of Hollywood and Nancy Pelosi should be silenced.

*Our President bows to the King of an Islamic Republic, hangs out with dictators like Castro and Chavez, encourages Ahmadinejad and KimJong Ill, and covers the name of Jesus from view while he speaks at a Catholic University....because after all, I mean come on...think about who would be credible in the "Bizarro World!"

* The President talks of the need for "fiscal responsiblity" after signing a "stimulus" package (without reading it) that spends 800 billion dollars that we do not have. And remember before you question whether this is "Fiscal Responsibility," we are in the "Bizarro World."

*A Federal Lawmaker actually suggests that AIG Executives that received bonuses should consider committing suicide...oh yeah, our government knew about the bonuses when they gave AIG the billions of tax payer dollars...but again...remember where we are. In the Bizarro World, contracts and legislation (and the Constitution) mean about as much as...well they mean nothing at all!

* Some Americans take to the streets, holding "Tea Parties" to protest the lack of fiscal responsibility and major "news" anchors make sexually suggestive remarks about the people who care enough to exercise their free speech...because journalism in the "Bizarro World" is little more than far-left liberalism and the promotion of secular progressive humanism. Even though scripture says only a fool says there is no God, in the "Bizarro World" there is no God and only "red-necks" and the uneducated still believe in God and the principles of His word.

*A contestant in the Miss America Pageant is asked her opinion on gay marriage. "Should the rest of the nation follow Vermont in allowing gay marriage?" Her answer is that she believes that marriage is one man and one woman. Pretty simple...you know the same thing marriage has been for 5000 years...well in the "Bizarro World" that we now live in, this woman was called degrading names, lost the contest, and "enraged" others by her "offensive" answer.

*The President has recently nominated a federal judge who sought to bar prayers that mention Jesus Christ at the opening of each daily session of the Indiana House of Representatives, claiming people do not have a First Amendment right to use an official platform to express their own religious faith. But – and here’s where it gets good – praying in the name of Allah was perfectly fine...after all, it is the "Bizarro World!"

So if you ever wondered what "Bizarro World" was, and you wonder how I know, I quote a line from Seinfeld who introduced me to "Bizarro World," "I live and breathe my friend, I live and breathe."

Thank You Jesus

Thank you for the cross Lord 

Thank you for the price You paid
Bearing all my sin and shame In love You came
And gave amazing grace

Thank you for this love Lord
Thank you for the nail pierced hands
Washed me in Your cleansing flow
Now all I know is
Your forgiveness and embrace

Worthy is the Lamb
Seated on the throne
Crown You now with many crowns
You reign victorious
High and lifted up
Jesus Son of God
The Darling of Heaven crucified
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb

- Hillsong United

Waxing on Presidents and Prophecy

As many know,President Barack Obama spoke directly to the Iranian people Friday, March 20, following through on his campaign promise of attempting to engage Iran in direct talks. He wished Iran and its leaders a Happy New Year at the start of the Persian holiday Nowruz which marks the beginning of Spring and the Iranian new year. He even spoke a little Farsi. Impressive.

The Iranian's do not appear impressed. Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei responded by demanding that the U.S. terminate "unconditional support" for Israel. During the Ayatollah's address in the northeastern city of Mashhad, the crowd gathered around him chanted "Death to America."
He also demanded an end to questions of Iran's nuclear ambitions, and an end to all sanctions against Iran.

Obama called for Iran to "take its rightful place among the nations." The problem is Iran believes its rightful place is at the head of an Islamic coalition that would force the world to convert to Islam or die. It is that simple. To think that we will convince Iran to think any other way is utterly naive, at best.
Iran wishes death to America because we have supported Israel. To them, we stand in the way of their radical goals.
Iran’s leaders have labeled Israel a “rotting corpse” and wish to see Israel “wiped off the map.” The President of Iran recently called Israel “a stinking corpse that will soon be erased.”
I write this first as a warning to our nation. The day America turns against Israel will be the day that we invite the judgment of God to begin if it has not already began.
Secondly I write this to the true Christian. Do not be dismayed or alarmed by the rhetoric of Iran. Do not be concerned that our President is acting foolishly in his vain attempts to pander to Islam.
Our God has not moved nor will He ever. He alone sets up Kings and deposes Kings. His word will be completely fulfilled. He will preserve Israel because He said He would. Just as He said He would bring His people back to the land that He promised to give the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, so He has done.
No people in the history of the world have been so oppressed and completely displaced as the people of Israel but even though they were scattered in AD 70. in 1948, they officially had their land back. And they have been coming back to the land of Canaan ever since. Blessed be the name of the Lord!!
And lift up your heads Church, because the Day of the Lord is drawing nearer. Iran refuses to slow down in its goal to obtain nuclear weapons. Iran is openly declaring its desire to destroy Israel. The whole world knows that America is severely crippled by both an economic and leadership crisis.
The American people are totally focused on our own problems. We are a war -weary and cynical people. We have lost our will to fight for what is right as we have given ourselves to what we have been told are our "rights."
We want comfort and security and a restoration of the "American Dream" so we will not intervene in Iran's actions against God's chosen nation of Israel. Iran knows that. Israel knows that. I believe Israel will strike Iran's nuclear facilities because they believe they have no other option. This may cripple Iran's nuclear capabilities but could very quickly begin the conventional war of Magog and Persia against Israel as prophesied in Ezekiel. Crazy you say? Read the Bible. Study the prophecies and check it out for yourselves. The word of the Lord is being fulfilled in our day. Wake up O sleeper and Christ will give you light!

Ezekiel 38:22-23
22 With pestilence and bloodshed I will enter into judgment with him, and I will rain upon him and his hordes and the many peoples who are with him torrential rains and hailstones, fire and sulfur. 23 So I will show my greatness and my holiness and make myself known in the eyes of many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord.

Waxing on The Love of Music

This past Sunday afternoon my daughter, Jordyn (second on the right in red) won first place in the instrumental competition sponsored by the Hopewell/Prince George Lyons Club. Jordyn competed against 15 other pianists and the competition was very tough. The students amazed me with their composure, performing their selected pieces without written music while being judged partly by how correct they played according to the written score. Jordyn played Moonlight Sonata (my favorite classical piece). She was flawless! I know, I know...spoken as only Dad could but hey, she won! I am very proud of Jordyn, win or lose, but I am thankful that she was rewarded for her hard work. I am also thankful that I was reminded of the simple love of music on Sunday. The contest was 4 hours long and all I had to do was sit there. That is an odd place for a Pastor and it was a good time for me to stop and listen...just listen. Just enjoy the gift of music. It was pretty sweet.
Jordyn and I both love the movie, "The Pianist" and before she went up to play, I encouraged her to remember the movie's main character, Polish Pianist, Wladyslaw Szpilman, forced to hide from the Nazis as a Jewish refugee, and when he was finally able to play piano again, he played not for the crowd, or for money but just for the love of music.
I didn't know if Jordyn was paying any attention to me and wondered if I only added to her nerves but when she began to play Sunday, I believe, that by the grace of God, Beethoven himself would have stopped to listen to his masterpiece...it was just one of those moments.
She deserved to win and I am glad she did but I am even more pleased that she has been given the gift of music appreciation. She loves music and I do too! She told me on the way home that she did think of Szpilmanand imagined that she was all alone, just playing for the love of it. We got home Sunday night and I flipped on the TV. "60 Minutes" was on, as a story was beginning about Nathaniel Ayers. A homeless man in L.A. suffering from Paranoid Schizophrenia. Once a Julliard Academy music student, he has long since left Julliard, and suffered through shock therapy and other failed attempts to help him. He now lives in the streets, with thousands of other mentally ill people but he still has a love for music. He sits in the park, or on the street playing the Cello, the Violin, or the Trumpet, not for money...but for the love of music.
"Music is saying, you know, life isn't that bad, you know?" Mr. Ayers explained.
I would have to agree with Mr. Ayers and even take it a little further. Life is not that bad... as a matter of fact, life is good!
Thank you Lord for life and thank you for the gift of music!