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August 20, 2008 “Worthy, Question Mark?”

Now that we’re in the political campaign for a new President, we see a lot of interaction between the candidates. Accusations are made back and forth. Some have merit, and some have absolutely no merit at all.

The question comes: Is one candidate more “worthy” than the other candidate? And the answer would come back, “Probably not.” The American voter is not making decisions based upon who is the most worthy, but who has better judgment.

I am glad that salvation is not based upon our accomplishments, our worthiness, or anything else that we are involved in. Salvation is based solely on our willingness to be a part of God’s family. Worthy is the lamb that was slain.

July 23, 2008 “Confidence”

I was talking to a friend, and the conversation turned to spiritual things. I asked him what he thought of Jesus Christ. He told me that Jesus was a good man, a talented teacher, but nothing else. I responded: “I believe that Jesus is the second Person of the Godhead, my Lord and Savior, that He died on the cross, was resurrected, was taken up to heaven, and that through him I can have eternal life.” My friend responded, “He was only a good man, nothing else.”

In the New Testament Christ actually admitted that He was God. Now, He was either God, or He wasn’t. If He wasn’t, and He said He was, that makes Him a liar. If He was a liar, then He couldn’t qualify for being called “a good man.” I have confidence that Jesus is who He said He was, and I want to be His friend.

July 9, 2008 “Hold Fast That Which Thou Hast”

In one of the messages to the New Testament churches in the book of Revelation we see that Christ says, “Hold fast that which thou hast so that… they take not away thy crown.” It is amazing how many people are willing to steal from you. They will steal anything and everything you have.

The current trend is that you get an e-mail message saying you are eligible for a prize or a gift of millions of dollars. All you have to do is pay the shipping and handling cost – or some other expense that would be considered normal. After you pay that expense, there is another required expense that must be paid. The short story is that you pay and pay and pay and never receive the gift.

Someone said, “It’s about like the lottery!” But the answer is, “No, because at least if you buy a lottery ticket you have one chance in ten million of winning, whereas if you respond to the e-mail message promising millions of dollars, there is absolutely no chance that you will ever receive anything. It is only a scam to steal your money.

The worst part of it is that the scam promotes a desire on an individual’s part to have the millions of dollars, which brings our eternal salvation into question. The evil one would not only steal your money and all your possessions, but would also steal your relationship with Christ and your eternal life.

It is so important to “hold fast that which thou hast” so that others do not steal your possessions and the devil doesn’t steal your eternal life.

July 4, 2008 “True Freedom”

Today we celebrate freedom in America. Independence Day. And over two hundred years ago our nation was founded with the concept of freedom for all. We might ask the question: In what areas of life do we anticipate and expect this freedom to be. I am obviously first of all more interested in the concept of religious freedom. I believe that every single person should have the right to worship as they believe best.

That is to say, you should be able to attend the place of worship of your choice. You should be able to worship as you see fit. The real issue is: eternal life. There is a plan to force you or to trick you into a mode in which you would lose eternal life. True freedom is to be free from sin in a right relationship with the Creator God of the universe, covered with the righteousness of Christ, and thus eligible for eternal life. Let’s reflect upon true freedom.

June 6, 2008 “Dog Days of Summer”

It seems like we have entered into the “dog days” of summer: warm temperatures, hot, sweaty afternoons, and our activity level has diminished as we look for a cool place and something cool to drink. This is a time when the evil one can sneak in and cause us to lose our focus. Sometimes we forget how God has led us in the past. Sometimes we forget that God is still giving us strength and refuge, and He is willing to be help in the time of trouble.

God is willing to be there for us in the future, so that we can have confidence in the future, and the apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome: “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31) We can therefore be “confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6)

Therefore, on a daily basis, or, perhaps, even on an hourly basis, or, moment by moment, we need to refresh our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, because Christ has promised, “if any man be in Christ he is a new creature. Old things are passed away. Behold, all things are become new.”

Ellen White said, “We have no righteousness of our own with which to meet the claims of the law of God. But Christ has made a way of escape for us. He lived on earth amid trials and temptations as we have to meet. He lived a sinless life. He died for us, and now he offers to take our sins and give us His righteousness. If you give yourself to Him, and accept Him as your Savior, then, sinful as your life may have been, for His sake we are counted as righteous. Christ’s character stands in place of your character, and you are accepted before God just as if you had not sinned.” Steps to Christ, page 62.

Therefore, in these “dog days,” of summer, let us again focus our attention on our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

April 9, 2008 “When Will This War End?”

We have observed that the general in charge of the war in Iraq, General Patraeus, has appeared in front of several committees of Congress. We have observed that the Presidential candidates each had an opportunity to ask questions of the general and make statements about their own positions.

We were not surprised when their questions and statements went right along party lines. Some have observed now that the war in Iraq has lasted longer than WWII. When will this war end?

I am so sad every day when I see the news reports of American young people who have lost their lives in this terrible war. I want this war to be over.

It is my perception that if we immediately bring the troups home, the war will follow them home, and that we will have terrorist attacks and war in our own borders. As much as I want this war to be over, I believe that we have to have a full, complete victory. We can not leave until the job is done. “For evil to succeed, good men need only to do…

nothing”

This makes me think of the war taking place between good and evil, between Christ and Satan. Every day we see casualties of this war. I want this war to be over, and the only way this war will end is when Christ achieves complete and full victory. “Even so, come Lord Jesus.”

April 2, 2008 “Dirty Politics”

We are getting to that part in the process in which we see a lot of dirty politics. In the Democratic Primary we see the candidates making accusations, trying to come up with anything that will lessen the voters’ chance of voting for the other candidate. We have seen that even pastors and churches have been pulled into the squabble.

In the religious arena, we believe that our God asks us to be open and honest in all of our dealings. As we look at the presidential candidates, we say we’re a little concerned about who will be elected this coming term. It is my perception that most politicians will do anything, everything, or whatever it takes to get themselves elected and secure their power base.

Our God said, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” We sure do need some rest from politics. God bless America.

February 27, 2008 “Standing Before the Creator God”

Have you ever had the occasion to be in the presence of a very important person, such as a governor, or a senator, or the President of the United States? We are told that if you ever have an occasion when you were to meet or stand in the presence of the Queen of England, there is a whole set of protocols that you must observe. The words that you speak, the place that you stand, and, by all means, you would never, ever extend your hand and touch the queen.

Sometimes when we come into the presence of our God, we are very careless and casual about it. Many times we do not observe proper respect or reverence. Why do you suppose that is? It seems as if the enemy of our souls whispers in our ear, “It’s no big deal.”

If we could go back and ask some of the people who lived in Bible times, we might find a different concept. We see that Moses found out that you have to be straight with God. We see that King David found out that it is better to obey God. Then, if you would ask the man Uzzah, he would say that, “The last mistake I ever made was disregarding God’s command, reaching out my hand in disobedience, touching the ark of God.

The Bible tells us, “The beginning of wisdom is the fear [respect or reverence] of God.”

February 13, 2008 “In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb”

We see that the month of February has been one interesting experience after another. We’ve had elections, we’ve had sports, we have love and romance, we’ve had historical events, almost to the point of being overwhelmed.

It appears that the nasty weather has not waited until March, as we have witnessed terrible cold [Where is that “global warming” they keep talking about?], terrible storms, with over 59 people dead all across the South. Every time we hear the weather report we become so gun-shy that we start heading towards the tornado shelters. We are certainly looking forward to the time when the weather changes from the “lion-like” to the “lamb-like.” We could all use a little relief.

Our greatest prayers and sympathies go to those who have lost family members. When we are in a right relationship with the Creator God of the universe, and we are sure of our salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord, whatever the weather, it will be all right in the end.

February 1, 2008 “What an Interesting Month!”

We are in the midst of a presidential election. We see that many states are holding their primaries. Some candidates are winning, some candidates are falling by the wayside. As of this writing, we don’t know the outcome of the “Super Tuesday” primaries, but soon we should have a good idea of who the presidential candidates will be.

Also in this interesting month we see that a Superbowl football game is being played. One team is looking to have an absolute, perfect season, while the other team wishes to upset that possibility.

One of the interesting aspects of this football game is that over one billion people will be watching the game via television. Isn’t that amazing? That is amazing! The people that are attending had to pay thousands of dollars for their tickets. Corporations wishing to advertise pay about $2 ½ million dollars for 30 seconds of advertising. What an interesting game this will be!

The other interesting aspect of this month is that it is a time that we set aside to reflect upon loving relationships. The Bible tells us that God is love. It tells us that we should love one another, even as God has loved us. The apostle Paul, in describing spiritual gifts, says, “There is faith, hope and love, but the greatest of these is love.” When we fall in lofe with our lord and our Savior, when we are aware that He is loving us in return, then we have a sense of peace and joy and satisfaction that exceeds anything else that the world can produce during this interesting month.

January 10, 2008 “What a Joy It Is!”

It’s a brand new year, and we’re off to a good start. The sun’s shining, the temperatures are moderate, and we’re on the green side of the grass. What a joy it is! I have joy when I know that I am loved.

Never forget… For previous blogs click here, or see below.

November 14, 2007 “Thanks Living”

As I get a little more mature I have observed an interesting dynamic. It seems that people of my same age are suffering health crises and some are even dying. It doesn’t seem like that ought to be. I received word the other day that a lady suffering cancer had received medical treatment and has been pronounced “cured.”

Can you imagine the relief this lady has? Truly she is a person who expresses her thankfulness to our Creator God that we sometimes refer to as “The Great Physician.”

In the days of Christ, on one occasion he cured ten men who had the terrible disease of leprosy. They were told to show themselves to the priest to demonstrate that they had been cured. One of the ten, realizing that he had been cured, returned to Christ and fell at His feet before Him and praised God at the top of His voice, and thanked Him profusely.

Not everybody gives thanks for their blessings, and they deny themselves a joy that fills one’s heart when we express our thankfulness. Lets all give thanks during this season.

November 7, 2007 “Judgment”

We have been watching with interest the confirmation process of Judge Michael Mukasey You may recall that he was nominated by President Bush to serve as the next Atty General, of the United States. His nomination was supported by the judiciary committee of the Senate with a narrow margin. Apparently the difficulty was that his position was unclear about extreme interrogation methods.

I am so glad that we don’t have to go through a similar process when we consider the Judge of the Universe. The Creator God has placed our Lord Jesus Christ as the individual who will judge the universe.

He is qualified in that first of all He created this world. He is qualified, secondly, because He came to this world and lived as an ordinary citizen. He is qualified, thirdly, because He paid the price for our salvation. He is qualified, fourthly, because those who choose to serve Him are represented by Him to to Him as the Judge of the Universe. We should again confirm Jesus as our Judge.

October 24, 2007 “He Gave His Life”

A Navy Seal serving in Afghanistan was on patrol when they came under fire by the Taliban. The firefight lasted for about an hour, and the Americans were taking casualties when a fellow named Murphy observed that they could not use their cellphone when they were hiding in the mountain but they would have to expose themselves to fire to be able to make contact with their base and reinforcements.

Murphy saw that the only way they would survive this encounter was to make contact and have reinforcements come to assist them. He knew that they would all die if someone didn’t expose himself to hostile fire and make that contact. Murphy decided that he would sacrifice himself so that his teammates could live. He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions that day.

This reminds me of another story where a man voluntarily sacrificed himself so that his brothers could live. That man was Jesus Christ, our Lord. He knew that by giving up His life that all of us would have a chance to live. He contacted headquarters on our behalf. What a wonderful Savior we have!

October 10, 200 “True Blue”

When I was a young man, I was once asked to participate in a political lobbying program to influence state lawmakers in reference to the “right to work” law. Several of us attended a hearing in the state capitol, where the issue was being discussed. I recall that a politician had made a promise to our group that he would support this legislation.

When the hearing proceeded to our speaker, this promise was brought to light. At that time the politician’s staff told the hearing officer that they were aware of this promised made, but it had been made during the course of a campaign and they felt the politician would have promised to give his grandmother away if it would have seemed politically expedient

I guess that is to say, you can’t really believe anything a politican says, especially during a campaign when he is trying to be elected to some position. This writer believes that we ought to say what we mean and mean what you say. We need to be true.

The is a text in the Bible that says, “I wish you were cold or hot, but because you are lukewarm, I will spew thee out of my mouth.”

October 3, 2007 “Political Influences”

We have been told that the company we keep says something about who we are and what we believe. It was interesting to observe this week how the Senate majority leader attacked a talk show host. The attack was based upon a political ideology, and had nothing to do with actual fact.

It seems as if a talk show host on a radio format that promotes ideas should have the freedom and liberty to pretty much promote any ideology they see fit. It would seem as if any person that objected to that ideology or format could simply change stations or turn the radio off.

To publicly attack the ideology in a public forum such as the United States Senate seems like going a little overboard. This writer believes that there is an attempt to control the media. It also seems as if there is an attempt to control almost every aspect of the lives of the citizens of the United States.

This writer believes that the best thing that government can do for me is to get out of my face and leave me alone. It seems like less government intrusion in our personal lives is better than more control of our lives. I don’t want the Senate Majority Leader deciding what I should think and believe.

In the scriptures there is a text of scripture that says, “Come, let us reason together, saith the Lord.” I believe this is a call for open dialog and discussion. God never asks us to do anything unreasonable. Therefore, I guess, it is important that we choose carefully the political influences that we will accept.

September 26, 2007 “U.N. Speech”

When “President Tom” of Iran gave his speech in the United Nations, it was interesting to say the least. He spoke about “being right with God,” and “letting God lead,” and “accomplishing God’s goals.” I would have believed that this was a very good speech if I thought that he believed in the same God I believe in. However, I am convinced that he believes in a god that would have you cut a person’s head off for not worshipping the same way he does.

I am convinced that he is a terrorist, the sponsor of terrorism, and that he has American blood on his hands. I am convinced that the nation of Iran sends weapons and suicide bombers to Iraq to kill coalition forces.

Someday all individuals will have to stand before the Creator God of the universe to explain why they did or didn’t do certain things during their lifetime. It is my desire to be able to stand before the Creator God with the Lord Jesus at my side and hear the words, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant!”

It is hard for me to believe that people who would destroy other individuals in the name of their religion could stand before the Creator God and not be condemned

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

September 19, 2007 “A Perfect World”

All the Presidential candidates are suggesting ways to make the United States a better place to live. If it were possible, they would suggest ways to make the world a “perfect world.” Some would suggest that universal free health care would bring us close to that goal. Others would suggest that a universal free health care would diminish the quality of health care in the United States.

God has blessed the United States for many years and has given its citizens freedom, the freedom to worship and to live as each individual chooses. When we look at other countries that have diminished these freedoms, we observe that the citizens and the culture suffer drastically. I don’t know why we want to pattern our society after other, dismal, failed attempts, such as communism.

The Bible says, “Put not your trust in princes…” I believe that is good admonition, and plan to place God and His worship as top priority. (By the way: This will make you healthier and happier!)

September 12, 2007 “The Coming Crisis”

As we reflect upon the sixth anniversary of 9/11, we remember how we were attacked by a radical Muslim group. Apparently their motive was to kill as many people as possible. We understand that there were as many as 58,000 people who worked at the World Trade Centers. We are pleased that only 3,000 people were killed. Did I say, “only” 3,000 people? That’s a lot of innocent victims in a mass murder.

We are getting intelligence on a new plot to attack and kill innocent victims in some of the nation’s schools. This new plan has been entitled, “The Perfect Day.” It’s patterned after the attack that took place in Russia on the first day of school by Islamic radical terrorists, where they approached the school, herded everyone into the auditorium, took the men, the larger students, some visiting fathers, upstairs and murdered them, and threw their bodies out, where they stayed for the next three days.

They then returned to the auditorium and began to savagely beat and rape the younger students. Some first graders, who had brought flowers for their teachers were forced to eat those flowers and were savagely beaten. This they did to intimidate all the people there.

The word on the street is that they plan to do this in several schools in America. The important thing for Christians is to be in a right relationship with Jesus Christ, and then, no matter what happens, you’re safe.

As time nears the end, we are aware from the Bible that there will be a time of trouble such as never was. It motivates us to get closer to God. In Psalms, there is a text that says, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me. We need to examine our hearts to be sure there is nothing that will keep us from being in a right relationship with our Lord.

Anywhere with Jesus, I can safely go.

September 5, 2007 “Bankruptcy”

We have been bombarded with a mass of information recently concerning individuals who are unable to make their mortgage payments on their homes. Some homes are actually going into foreclosure. There are individuals who believe that they can make money on other people’s difficulties and problems and their foreclosures.

This writer believes that, if left alone, the market will correct itself, and good people having trouble will be able to find a way out of it without the government having to bail them out, and that bad people having made bad loans will learn responsibility and living within their means.

Some people have purchased homes as investments only desiring to resell these investments and cash in on the real estate market and / or “bubble.”

We would ask the question: “Should investors be bailed out, or should they suffer the responsibility of making a bad investment?”

The Bible has quite a bit to say about financial responsibility, and being honest in all of our dealing. Our God is, however, willing to “bail us out.” I think of the scripture that says, “These things I write, that ye sin not.

But if we sin, we have an advocate, which is Jesus Christ the Righteous.

September 3, 2007 “Key Word: Comfort”

This past week, two of our church members passed away. It seems like their passing had a significant effect on me, and again made me realize my own frailty. It seems that God has placed us all here to interact with other individuals and to lift them up and support them. When I was asked to officiate at the funeral I chose a text of scripture in Isaiah 40:1 which says, “Comfort ye, comfort ye, my people.” Then, in Chapter 41:10 God said, “Fear ye not, for I am with you.”

We don’t have to wonder if we are accepted or appreciated by our political party, because God says that he is with us. Not too long ago there was an advertisement from one of the Presidential candidates criticizing our current President and saying that, “half of the people in America are ‘invisible’ to this administration.”

In the New Testament book of Romans, we see the text that, “Nothing can separate us from the love of God.” And, “If God be for us, who can be against us.”

A major question we have to ask ourselves about government is, “How much do you want government in your life or controlling your life?” It seems as if this nation was founded on the concept of personal freedom, more specifically, religious freedom. And the idea at that point was to have the government “leave us alone, and let us live and worship as we see fit.” This writer still believes that.

So, the key word is, comfort. I find comfort in a right relationship with my God, and not worrying about what the political candidates are saying.

August 31, 2007 “With God”

It seems like scandal is the operative word in Washington, D.C. It seems that no one is immune, and it affects the high and mighty, and those in public office as much or more than anyone when charges came to light that a senator was doing inappropriate activities.

It appears that a significant period of time passed from the time that the senator pleaded guilty until it came to light. Didn’t the senator realize that court records are public information?

I once knew a university president that got caught soliciting sex in a public bathroom and his career was effectively over following that situation.

I believe that if a person lives their life in harmony with the laws of God and has a good, ethical, moral character, that they will never have to worry about pleading guilty or going to trial. If we choose to walk with God, or, if we choose to live our life in harmony with God, or if we choose to work with God, or when we choose to have a right relationship with God, most of the time we are not bothered with those scandalous situations that we have seen affect the senator. I found a nice poem:

What We Have in Christ:

A love that can never be fathomed.

A life that can never die.

A righteousness that can never be tarnished.

A peace that can never be understood.

A rest that can never be disturbed.

A joy that can never be diminished.

A hope that can never be clouded.

A light that can never be darkened.

A happiness that can never be interrupted.

A strength that can never be enfeebled.

A purity that can never be defiled.

A wisdom that can never be baffled.

Resources that can never be exhausted.

Why not go with God?

August 22, 2007 “Anger”

Have you ever been so mad that you feel like you could bite nails in two? And what effect does it have on the people around you? Does it seem to draw people closer to you, or does it seem to push people away from you? I once me a man who told me that his wife sometimes made him so mad that he just had to curse at her. I asked him, “Did that make things better?” The response was, “No, if just made things worse.”

I asked the man what kind of response did he desire from his wife before he cursed at her? And he told me that he desired a little understanding on her part, and a little assistance and cooperation. So I asked him, “Did she understand that?” And he responded that he didn’t think so. He went on to say, “That’s when I cursed her.”

In the Bible it tells us that love begets love. If we would use modern psychological terminology, we would say that, “A positive stimulus most often produces a positive response. When somebody says, “I love you,” we generally respond by saying, “ I love you, too.”

Therefore, we need to consider the kind of response that we really desire, and we need to consider the possibility of using a negative stimulus to achieve that response. Most of the time, a negative stimulus produces a negative response. That’s why, when the man cursed his wife he received a very negative stimulus in response.

A negative stimulus is very effective for getting a person’s attention. However, it is very ineffective in motivating behavior change. A negative stimulus should be kept in reserve for that very special time of an emergency when you certainly need to get the attention of the people involved. Otherwise, is you use negative stimuli on a regular basis, people will soon turn you off and ignore you.

In the scriptures there is a text that says, “Love one another as I [Christ] have loved you. This is the best way to achieve a positive response.

August 15, 2007 “Acceptance”

It seems as though almost everybody is looking for acceptance with someone. The lovers who are starting to develop a relationship want to be accepted by the other one. Children want to be accepted by their parents, and especially with their friends. Teenagers go to great lengths to be accepted by their peers, sometimes doing foolish things.

Politicians desperately seek to be accepted by their constituency, and are usually reaching out to find new people that will accept them and their point of view.

In a democratic, free society, we believe that government officials are the servants of the people. However, in dictatorships it is believed that the people are to be servants of the dictator. I like it better when my leader is trying to find acceptance with me, and not just dictating what he wants me to do.

The big question in life is, “How do we find acceptance with the Creator God of the universe?” Christ said, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Here is where we can find acceptance with God.

August 8, 2007 “Advocacy”

It seems as if, from time to time, almost everyone needs a defense lawyer. There was a young man from our church who crashed into a construction site and killed a man, and the newspaper said, “charges are pending.” When he goes to court, he will definitely need a defense lawyer.

I have observed that even important people, like the President of the United States, will often have attorneys representing him for various functions. I have even witnessed that attorneys hire attorneys to represent them. I have heard the saying among lawyers, “He who represents himself has a fool for a client.”

There is a huge painting hanging in the Supreme Court building in the little country of Switzerland. It was painted by an artist named Paul Robert, and the title is, “Justice Instructing the Judges.” In the foreground there are several different litigants represented, such as a wife against a husband, an architect against a builder. Above them all stand the Swiss judges with their little white hairpieces named “dickies.” How are they to judge these various litigants?

A whole sociological theory is opened up. The artist’s answer is simply this: Justice [usually a blindfolded lady], with her sword vertical as is common. However, in this painting Lady Justice is unblindfolded and her sword is pointing downward to a book on which is written, “The Word of God.” Indeed, the word of God is a reflection of God’s character, which is also the great standard that operates the universe.

In the Bible there is a text that says, “We have an advocate with the Father, the Man Christ Jesus.” Will you take Christ as your advocate?

July 11, 2007 “The Surge”

Everybody is talking about “The Surge” in Iraq. When I say, “everybody,” I am referring to the political candidates, the news anchors, and the news analysts. It seems like the war is getting more and more unpopular. A recent report said that the new Iraqi government is not meaning its objectives, and that it appears that they are unable and/or unwilling to defend themselves in the immediate future.

Why do the radical Muslim terrorists demonstrate such zeal and intensity, whereas the new Iraqi government seems to be demonstrating a very lethargic action in their approach to governing? It is our perception that the Iraqi’s are probably very apprehensive about how soon the United States will withdraw their troops and leave them holding the bag.

The commanding general (Patreas) has said that “We need to give the surge until September to measure the success or lack thereof.” It’s this writer’s perception that we should give it until the next national election in the United States, because it appears that the one political party that is not in the White House has stated that the war and/or the surge has already failed. It would appear that they do not want America to be successful in the war on terrorism.

This writer believes that the suggested troop withdrawal would be very bad for a) the Iraqi citizens, and b) for the morale of the American citizens, and eventually, c) for the American citizens that will die when the terrorists bring their war to American streets. For evil to succeed, good men need only to do nothing. But it appears in this case that not only do we want to do nothing, but we want to step back from the gains that we have already achieved. We need to stand firm, resist evil, and protect our citizens and other innocent people around the world.

July 2, 2007 “Independence”

I am amazed that there are so many individuals in the world that want to control how other people live. As we continue to see the war on terror, with the car bombs discovered in London, the car that was driven into the airport in a fiery ball of destruction, it’s all in al attempt to control the way people live and worship God.

In addition, we see that there are a number of politicians who want to increate the size of government and have government involved in our diets, the training of our children, what we think and do and how we behave. It is my belief that people who are free are the healthiest and happiest people

Sometimes when we look at the various nations in the world we marvel at how the United States has prospered enjoys such a luxury of living that most of the world can only dream about. We ask the question: Why is that? The only answer can be that this nation has given its citizens freedom of choice, freedom of religion. This nation has given its citizens independence.

The one thing I want religious leaders and political leaders to do is to leave me alone, let my live my life the way that seems right to me. It doesn’t get any better than that.

June 27, 2007  “Desperate Events”

We have been troubled in the last two weeks when we have seen the news reports of terrible, devastating events, such as the murder of the pregnant Ohio woman, which probably took place in front of her two-year-old son, and then the murders and suicide of the professional wrestler and his family.

In reference to the Ohio case, we see the actions of the accused, of taking the life of the woman who was the mother of his two-year-old son and, apparently, the mother of his unborn daughter, who perished in the murder. What makes a person so absolutely desperate that they have to take the life of another individual? What makes a person so absolutely desperate that they have to afflict the amount of pain on other individuals and families in an attempt to resolve their own situation? There is no reason. For, if there were a reason, someone could say that it is reasonable. But it was totally unreasonable.

What makes a man, like the pro wrestler, squeeze the life out of his wife that he had entered into a sacred covenant to love, honor, cherish and protect? What kind of issues was this man dealing with in his life that required him to squeeze the life out of his family members? When he strangled his son, who idolized him, who had pictures of his dad upon all the walls of his room, what was the last thing that the son was seeing as he was having the life squeezed out of him at the hand of his father? It brings up a terrible image, doesn’t it? At any given moment, almost anyone could do terrible, drastic things like this.

In this world we see terrible, desperate things happen, and it just makes us long for a new and a better world. I reflect upon the words of our Lord: “Let not your hearts be troubled… I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am you may be also.” (John 14:1-3) Now, that’s reasonable!

May 30, 2007  “The Politics of Fear”

There are some individuals who would control others, and nations, using fear as the primary motivation. When we consider the former dictator of Iraq, we see that his method of governing the nation was to keep the citizens in absolute and total fear for their lives. It’s kind of sad to see that some of the politicians in America today are using the same factor. Some politicians want the American people to be afraid of the war on terrorism. They want you to be afraid of the capitalistic system which provides people with an opportunity to achieve success. They want you to be afraid of illegal aliens crossing the border. They want you to be afraid of many things, always suggesting that, “If you elect us, we can provide the solutions.

It is my perception that people who have freedom and safety and initiative are the ones who succeed. This writer believes that if you are motivated through fear, the chance of success fall off greatly. The evil people in the world are the ones who choose fear as a motivating factor. They want you to be afraid of them, of many other factors, of anything just as long as you submit to their power and control.

The Bible tells us, “Be not dismayed, for I am with thee. I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.” Christ said, “Fear not.” We can conclude by these statements that our God wishes to motivate us with all the right reasons. He wants us to be healthy and happy and free, and responding to Him in love, not fear.

May 24, 2007  “We Need Victory!”

Recently President Bush gave the commencement address at the naval academy at Annapolis. During the speech, he indicated that Osama bin Laden had tried to get the top Al Kaeda leader in Iraq to target the United States and other places outside of Iraq. There is no question that bin Laden wants to target the United States. There is no question that he had caused the 9/11 attacks, and for some reason seems to be opposed to people living comfortable lives in the twenty-first century. If bin Laden had his way, we would go back to life as it was in the sixth and seventh centuries.

The reason we see such an increase of the violence in Iraq is that the terrorists know they need victory. So, since the terrorists have made such an effort to gain victory in Iraq, the United States also realizes that we must have victory in Iraq. The consequences of defeat in Iraq, or anything less than a full victory are unimaginable. It would be the same thing as giving a formal invitation to the terrorists to bring their suicide bombers and their violence and their attacks to our streets and to our cities.

You can not negotiate with somebody that wants to kill you. We must have victory. And, in the larger war between good and evil, where the master terrorist himself, Satan, the old devil, wants to kill us, we must have victory! You can not negotiate with evil. I like the words of the apostle Paul when he said, “I have fought a good fight, I have kept the faith, I have finished the course. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness.” The only acceptable outcome is: We must have victory. And that victory is in Jesus.

May 16, 2007  “Who Do You Trust, and Why?”

We have been observing the Presidential politics, where first of all there was a Democratic debate, all the candidates gathered together and beginning to address the issues and challenge each other as to how they relate to the issues.

Most recently we have been observing the Republicans and their debates. In addition to addressing the issues, we see that the candidates have come under scrutiny about their personal lives. The news media makes us acutely aware that some of the candidates have been divorced. We have also been instructed that some have been remarried, even more than one time. We have been told that some are living with their third wife. More shocking than that, it appears that one individual who indicated a desire to be President while married to wife #2, was having an affair with the woman to become wife #3.

So the big question is, would this affect a person’s ability to govern the United States? If he were dishonest in his personal life, would he be dishonest in his professional life? Who can you trust? When we look at the human race, we become painfully aware that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, some men more than others. Who can you trust?

There has also been a lot of discussion about church membership, wondering if a person who was a member of a church could keep their religion and politics separate. I believe that we have to look beyond the apparent and consider the individuals who are duly committed to serving the Creator God of the universe. When a person has a commitment to serving God, then God covers that person with His own righteousness. I choose to put my trust in the righteousness of the Creator God.

Mizpah!

May 2, 2007  “Loyalty in a Confused World”

When we see vicious attacks by political parties upon the President, Commander-in-Chief of our Armed Forces, we sometimes think that they aren’t being very loyal, and obviously, they are not supporting, whereas the other side claims that our present administration has terribly abandoned the wishes of the American people and no longer should receive their support. It’s hard to know where to place your loyalties. Some would suggest that you are being disloyal if you attack the credibility of the present administration. Others would claim that you are disloyal if you support the present administration and the war on terror.

We just recently notices that the former director of the CIA, that was installed by the opposing party’s administration and kept in office by our current President, has now written a “tell-all” book making the President look bad and himself to look good. Where is the loyalty to the President he most recently served?

Perhaps the greatest demand for loyalty demonstrated in the world and in the entire universe today is that of being loyal to the Creator God of the universe. Some people feel that they must first of all be loyal to their own needs and wants before considering God. This is terribly wrong thinking because the closer we live to God and His plan, the happier, the healthier, and the more prosperous individuals will be. God deserves our undying loyalty.

April 25, 2007  “The Enemy Strikes Again”

I just returned from a funeral service at the National Cemetery in Webster, Florida. The gentleman that we left there in that place was a national hero, having served 22 years in the military, receiving 2 bronze stars, a number of service badges, and good conduct medals, and yet, we had to leave him at the cemetery.

The enemy has struck again. You might ask, “Which enemy? Al Queda? Hezbollah? Some other equally terrible terrorist organization? Which enemy?” And the response is that it’s the main enemy of mankind, none other than death itself.

The master terrorist, none other than the Evil Angel, Satan, Lucifer, the Devil, any name you wish to ascribe to him, has affected the death and the loss of an American hero. That is so aggravating. It is so disappointing that people who have given their lives in service to their God, service to their country, service to their families, service to mankind should be struck down by this enemy of man called death.

The Bible tells us that soon Jesus will come, and will deliver us from this last enemy of mankind. How could anybody serve any other than the Creator God of the universe, the Lifegiver?

April 18, 2007  “Campus Massacre”

This writer now becomes another who mourns the terrible, tragic loss of 33 lives on the Virginia Tech campus. Good night! Can you believe the horrendous event that took place? And immediately the special interest groups and the politicians and the media come swarming around this terrible tragedy with their own agendas and templates.

We place the preciousness of our children high above almost everything else in life. And now, those precious lives were so senselessly and ruthlessly stolen away from us. My heart aches.

We have observed that there has been all sorts of speculation: experts sharing their wisdom, politicians calling for investigations and resignations. The big question is, Why did this happen? And, What is the reason?

I think about a professor that I had many years ago in my own college experience who said that, “There can be no reason for sin.” We could apply that to this present situation. There can be no reason for this senseless tragedy. If there were to be a reason, then you would say it was reasonable. However, it was not reasonable. It was a terrible, terrible, terrible tragedy, and it was affect many, many people for years and years to come.

Is there a way to prepare for future, senseless events as this? I believe that as long as we are in this imperfect world terrible, horrific events of this nature will happen. The only real place of safety is in a right relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

April 11, 2007  “Hostages Released”

We were interested to observe that the president of Iran ordered the release of the British hostages. Someone suggests that he is a great humanitarian, that he was concerned for their welfare, for their being back in their own home, back in their own country. Rush Limbaugh said that some folks are calling him “the Mother Theresa with a beard.”

Since we have identified the fact that he was active in the capture of the American hostages back in the Jimmie Carter presidency, we believe that his motives are other than pure or good. We believe that he has for political reasons used that situation to increase his power and status in his own country.

The hostages give a much different report of what took place during their time of captivity. Iranian television showed them playing games, eating food, and it appeared as if they were having a grand old time, but the hostages said that they were often kept in isolation, unable to see or speak to each other, and were under duress. The female hostage said that they even came and measured her for a coffin. What kind of deal is that?

The master terrorist of all time is the one that we refer to as “the evil one.” He used to be called, “Lucifer, Son of the Morning,” but more recently is known as, “Satan,” and, “the devil.” He has claimed many people as his “hostages.” He has no intention of letting them go. The only way to escape is by a force more powerful than the evil one: that of the Lord Jesus Christ. Lord, keep us safe from all dangers.

April 2, 2007  “Are We About to Enter World War III?”

We were interested to hear on the news that the Russian intelligence agency has predicted that the United States will bomb Iran on Good Friday. If you wonder why they said that, we see that there are a number of contributing factors, one being the hostage crisis of the British sailors, one being the steady refusal to adhere to the United Nations’ demands that they stop their nuclear weapons program.

The Iranians have warned the Islamic world that Israel is about to start a suicidal bombing attack against the Moslems. It appears that everyone is afraid that the other guy is about to start a war. It’s kind of like in the Old West, when the gunfighters were facing each other, expecting the other man to draw first, and the sad part is that oftentimes somebody gets an itchy trigger finger.

That would bring a war with the Arabs, the Jews, the Coalition Forces, Russia, China, and… who does that leave out? Basically, everyone would be at war against someone. It’s interesting to note that the Bible talks about war and the time of the end. It’s our understanding that “it’s not yet.” However, we believe that it could be in the very near future.

Where will you place your allegiance? “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

March 22, 2007  “Good, Better, and Best!”

It has been so interesting to watch the political circus taking place between the liberals and the conservatives, specifically on the matter of U.S. attorneys. It appears that if you have attorneys investigating some aspect of your political party that you don’t want, then you have the option of having those attorneys fired by the President. They serve at the will of the President. They can be fired for any or no reason at all.

I have observed that the conservatives were good in the fact that they fired eight U.S. attorneys for the possible motivation being purely political. They were good at doing that. Now I have observed that the liberals were better in the firing of U.S. attorneys back in 1993 during the Presidency of Bill Clinton. The democrats decided to fire all 93 U.S. attorneys in the nation. Easy to remember. In ’93 they fired all 93 U.S. attorneys in the nation. I suggested that the conservatives were “good” in firing eight, but the liberals were “better,” in that they fired 93, and they also are raising a big stink about the eight that the conservatives fired. I believe that they are better at the game of politics than the conservatives.

Now, for the best, you look to the Lord Jesus Christ. When He sets up His kingdom, all the reasons and motives will be correct and pure, and every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is not only fair and just, but also loving and fair and kind and gentle. The best nation that you can live in is God’s kingdom.

March 14, 2007  “Carbon Neutral”

The news on the global warming front is that we need to act quickly to save the planet. The big money and the big research and the big science is that global warming will destroy the planet if we don’t do something about it and do it quickly. New terminology has come to light, such as the “carbon footprint.” Basically, what it means is, how much of the evil “greenhouse gasses” do we as individuals emit into the atmosphere? The scientists have now suggested that it is possible for individuals and families to have a “carbon neutral” footprint, that is to say, for all the bad emissions into the atmosphere we can do something to counteract it by planting trees or other ecologically positive items that will neutralize the amount of bad gasses we put into the atmosphere.

Our former Vice President, Al Gore, has produced a film on global warming which received recognition at the academy awards program recently. So, Mr. Gore, in operating his large mansion in Tennessee, produces more bad emissions into the atmosphere in one month than 45 families would do for the entire year. We have also become aware that Mr. Gore has private jet airplanes that take him from place to place, emitting more bad gasses into the atmosphere in one hour than the normal family would produce in a year’s time. It seems like there might be a double standard here.

Another interesting fact that has come to light in recent days is that if a person became a vegan vegetarian, it would drastically reduce harmful emissions into the atmosphere. The reasoning is that it produces more harmful emissions to operate the beef industry than it does to grow gardens. I am waiting to see if Mr. Gore and the proponents in their leadership role of saving the planet from global warming all become vegan vegetarians.

March 8, 2007  “Justice for Jessica”

As we watch the news of the trial of John Couey, the man who kidnapped, raped and murdered a nine-year-old girl in Citrus County, our heart goes out to Jessica’s father and mother, and even though a conviction was made and a very tough sentence can be expected, this still does not erase the pain of Jessica’s being gone.

You may recall that this is the case where a sexual predator had not registered, but was living within fifty yards of this little girl’s home. Some time in the middle of the night he took the young girl from her bed, back to his trailer, and then over the next three days repeatedly raped her, keeping her a prisoner in a closet. How in the world could a human being be so terrible to another human being? And then, the worst thing was that he put her in two plastic bags, dug a hole in the ground, and then while she was still alive threw her into this hole. Can you imagine gasping for air, clutching a stuffed toy…

We ask the question, “Where were the angels, the guardian angels who are sent to guard and protect us, when Jessica suffered these terrible indignities and then was so brutally killed?” The answer is in the great controversy between Christ and Satan, between good and evil. Christ must let evil run its terrible course so that all of the inhabitants of the universe agree that John Couey should die and that the devil should die also I can assure you that as people have witnessed this terrible situation, everyone would agree just how terrible sin is, how terrible the evil one is, and how terrible John Couey is. I hope to see Jessica in the new earth, and see her smiling face, and look at the permanent record of the destruction of evil in the universe when the devil and all his evil angels are cast into the lake of fire. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

February 21, 2007  "Moviemaker Reports Archeological Find: The Grave of Jesus and His Family”

Recently in the news we have seen presentations by a movie-maker, James Cameron. One of the most famous movies he has made is in reference to the Titanic, and a lot of people have seen this movie and give him a lot of praise and credit for the authenticity of that presentation. Now it seems that he has made another startling discovery. He has found graves and coffins marked with the name, “Jesus, Mary Magdalene and son” close to the graves of “Joseph and Mary.” He is convinced that this is the grave or Jesus Christ of Nazareth, his wife and child, mother and father, which, he claims, proves the fact that Christ did not raise from the dead.

It all boils down to, “What do you accept as the highest form of divine authority on this earth?” It is this writer’s perception that the highest form of divine authority on this earth in the holy scriptures. There are others that will say that the highest form of divine authority is in the history and the leadership of the church. It has been observed that some folks accept as the highest form of divine authority as how the spirit is leading during an emotional church service. Some people have even used some of the movies put out by Hollywood as being a clear explanation of what God has done and accomplished here on this earth.

We recognize that there is a struggle between good and evil. There is a controversy between Christ and Satan. And in this struggle, this controversy, evil attacks good at every level. It, then is no surprise that a person who is deluded in their religious understanding will take a position that is wholly contrary to scriptures and the gospel of Jesus Christ.

When doubting Thomas came to Christ and said, “I will not believe unless I put my finger in His wound, see the scars in His hand,” Christ challenged him of being of little faith and then suggested that there would be others down through the ages who will accept Him without physical confirmation. This writer is thoroughly convinced that Jesus Christ of Nazareth is, was, and will always be, divine, the Son of the Living God, my Lord and my Savior.

February 21, 2007  "The Process Begins. Again.”

It seems like we just came through an election, and I was so glad when the political process gave us a little peace and quiet for a short time, but now we see the process begins again. People who are presidential candidates have been coming to our state raising money. Hundreds of thousands of dollars. On the political side of the issue, we see that the war in Iraq is a major factor. Some candidates who weren’t in Congress at the time are able to say, “I didn’t vote for the war, I never supported the war, now and always.” One major Democratic candidate says, “Yes, I voted for the war, I believed at the time that it was right, we acted on the best information that we had, but the circumstances have now changed and I believe that we should call our troops home.

On the other side of the aisle, the Republicans are saying, “If we leave now, the terrorists win. Some would suggest that to leave now would be suicidal. Our President says we can win this war, and it appears that the level of violence has actually decreased some. There is an old saying that says, “For evil to succeed, good men only need to do nothing.”

If we do not face the terrible evil that is manifesting itself in the bombings of innocent people, if we don’t face the terribly evil people who are cutting the heads off of innocent people who are noncombatants, if we “cut and run,” it’s just like a formal invitation to the terrorists: “Come over to the United States and work your evil.”

It is this writer’s desire that no one would have to suffer and die, American or foreign. However, not to stand up and face the enemy just gives him courage and strength so that he moves forward.

In the political process that is before us in selecting another President to head our country, this writer urges everyone to “stand for the right though the heavens fall.”

February 13, 2007  "Exporting Bombs”

It is no surprise that the military in Iraq have been coming more and more aware that the armament they are facing has been imported from Iran. There have been several occasions when Iranian bombs and munitions have been discovered and displayed before the whole world. Iran seems to be sending bombs, munitions, fighters and money to destabilize the new nation in Iraq. It seems that this practice has been attempted in a covert manner, even though any person who is openminded can readily see the villain hiding behind the terrible acts.

In the book of Matthew we see that our Lord tells a parable of an enemy who has sowed weeds and “tares” among the good seeds, the good crops. Christ clearly identifies the purpose, the villain behind the scheme, and the ultimate result. The result is, the righteous will receive the reward of eternal life, and the wicked will receive the reward of eternal damnation. Why would anybody choose death over life?

February 5, 2007  "Global Warming”

If you listen to some of the scientists today, and some of the media that share a similar ideology, you will hear a lot about “Global Warming.” It seems that there are those who are concerned about the “greenhouse gasses,” and some believe that these “greenhouse gasses” are from the “wicked” SUV and other internal combustion engines that spew forth carbon dioxide. The people who are concerned about “global warming” say that we human beings need to cut back, or to eliminate, those terrible emissions of “greenhouse gasses.”

On the other side of the issue, there are scientists who will proclaim with as much fervor as the others, saying that there is nothing that mankind can do to change the climate change phenomena that has been observed. They have suggested, and their proponents in the press have stated over and over again, that even if all mankind returned to a society of cave-dwellers, that it would be a hundred years before there would be any effect upon climate change / “global warming”.

So, who do you believe? It appears that those on the left who want to control every aspect of human life are the ones who are the most concerned about “global warming,” and those on the right who want less government intrusion into our everyday life are those who are saying we have no effect upon the climate change dynamic.

You would have to have a large amount of faith to accept either position, and the Bible tells us that “the just shall live by faith.” History has observed that on one occasion God chose to destroy the world, with a world-wide flood, and the Bible tells us that God will again cleanse the earth, this time with fire. You’ve heard that old expression, “come hell or high water.” That’s right out of the Bible. The high water, we have had. The fires of hell will be coming next. The only solution for survival is to be in a right relationship with our Lord and our Savior, Jesus Christ.

January 31, 2007  "Confidence”

Confidence

I have observed recently that there are more and more people, politicians and demonstrators, who protest against the President and his policies and his leadership. We often here them say, “We have no confidence in what he is doing, in where he is leading us.” And then on the other hand, I hear members of the President’s party who decry the people who are protesting, who are angrily demonstrating, and the supporters of the President say, “We have no confidence in these politicians and individuals who are trying to surrender America.”

We observe radical Muslims as they come out with their weapons and their rockets and their bombs, killing not only American soldiers and Iraqi soldiers, but they also are killing other Muslims! And we hear the cry, “We have no confidence in the leaders who are promoting this violence and death.” Some of the observers from the sidelines say, “Why don’t the 90% of good Muslims stand up against those who are trying to hijack their religion with violence and death? Why don’t they stand up and condemn those actions?” And then they say, “We have no confidence in the leaders of the good Muslims because they do not publicly condemn the radical Muslims.”

As we observe the corruption that takes place in the business world in corporate America, when we see executives who do a terrible job and reserve a golden parachute, benefits of hundreds of millions of dollars, then the observers say, “We have no confidence in the financial leadership of America.”

In the world of entertainment, when new seasons of television programs come out, and more and more we see the X ratings, the R ratings, and the moral degeneration that takes place, and when we see people criticized for taking a spiritual stand or a religious stand, and then ridiculed, then observers would say, “We have no confidence in the decision makers in the entertainment world.

As the observer would look around, he would say, “What a mess the world is in! We have no confidence for the future of this world!” But then we see a small remnant of people who are proclaiming the Lord Jesus Christ, and His invitation for all you that labor and are heavy laden: “Come unto Me, and I will give you rest.” We can have confidence in the future, because we know that our Creator God is in charge of the future.

January 17, 2007  "Insurance Crisis”

You have heard of the insurance crisis that is taking place here in the state of Florida. Perhaps many of you have had your insurance rates increased, perhaps two to three times as much. At the church, our insurance increased to two times what it used to be. Doubled! But then they added on a real zinger. That is to say, if the church were to be damaged by a named storm, the deductible of the church insurance would increase to $50,000.

At my home, the insurance company said, “We have good news and bad news.” The good news was that my house is worth over three times as much money as when I first bought it and moved into it, and the bad news was, they were raising our insurance rates. I am not sure I can afford to live in my house of twenty-five years. I think that our governor has indeed identified a real problem, that we refer to as “the insurance crisis.” I hope that they find a way to give us relief.

In today’s society, it seems like we need insurance for all kinds of things: Life Insurance, Health Insurance, Homeowner’s Insurance, Car Insurance, and I heard today that you can even buy Pet Insurance. As a grandfather, I am interested in College Tuition Insurance.

The biggest insurance crisis that we as human beings have today is the Eternal Life Insurance. We have an opportunity to accept the Lord Jesus Christ because He promises to “let not your heart be troubled. He believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if

I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also.”

Do you like the sound of that Insurance Policy?

January 10, 2007  "Business as Usual”

When we heard the politicians speak about bipartisanship and unity, moving the country forward, we had Great Expectations. But, now that Congress is in session and the work actually begins, we see that those on the right side of the aisle remain “right” and those on the left side of the aisle remain “left,” we see partisanship on every hand and we are convinced that it is “business as usual.” What a disappointment!

Concerning the war in Iraq, we see that the administration is increasing the number of troups, and the opposing party is threatening to cut off funding and all manner of things, while one leading Senator of Massachusetts described the situation as “the same as Viet Nam.” Some would say “déjà vu,” others would say, “business as usual.”

When we consider our personal lives, we had all those wonderful goals, wonderful resolutions, we were going to make our lives so much better, but now that we are two weeks into the New Year, some of us haven’t ever started yet and others have said, “we’re back to business as usual.” It seems that we need an extra measure of initiative, or spark, or something to get us out of the rut of “business as usual.” The New Testament tells us that “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Perhaps if we would live closer to our Lord Jesus Christ, and if we would accept the Holy Spirit in greater measure, perhaps we could break out of the old rut of “business as usual.” In 2007, I hope that we all write a new chapter in our book of well-being.

January 9, 2007  "Who’s the Best?"

It’s always kind of fun to watch the football bowl games. There are a lot of them. You have the opportunity to root for the team representing the state where you live, the state where you used to live, and even the state where you would like to live. Sometimes the game scores are very close. Sometimes they are not very close. For the college teams, the big game is called “The National Championship Game,” which is being played just a few hours from now. The Florida Gators are playing the Ohio State Buckeyes. I guess, in the long run it doesn’t make a lot of difference who wins. However, it’s a lot of fun to watch the team go for the title.

In a few weeks, the National Football League will have its big game, The Super Bowl. Again we see teams doing all that they can do to win the title. They want to be the best.

The Bible tells us that we should do the best that we can do. The good thing is that someone else doesn’t have to lose for us to do well. And so, when you’re on God’s team, it’s a “win-win” situation. How about it? Do you want to be the best?

January 2, 2007  "2007: New Year’s Great Expectations"

It’s been a very eventful time, when we witness the passing of a well-respected President and the execution of an evil dictator. We have observed that the football season has come to a close, most of the college bowl games have been played (hope your favorite team won!), and the NFL will soon have the Superbowl, closing out that football until the fall of this year. In the state of Florida, we have a new governor and a new administration giving direction to state government. We are looking to Charlie Crisp for continuing prosperity here in our state.

A lot of people have made New Year’s resolutions, where they are hoping to improve their life in some fashion. We see Great Expectations demonstrated here. New Year’s babies have been born, some as close to twelve seconds into the start of the year.. Congratulations! I’m wondering if we have taken stock of our spiritual situation, and if we are looking forward to a New Year with a closer relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ?

A close friend of mine said, “Today is the first day of the rest of my life.” It is my plan to improve my life, be closer to God, participate more in my church, and improve my personal relationships.

What kind of Great Expectations do you have for 2007?

--Hershel Mercer, Pastor Archives

Inverness Seventh-day Adventist Church