Words Are Currency

Today, I have decided to borrow the first paragraph of Dr. David Jeremiah's devotional and utilize it in a post about the fact that Barack Hussein Obama is a big fat LIAR.

I know. I will be criticized for using such a harsh word to describe Obama. But the truth is the truth and a lie is a lie. There can be no parsing of words when you come right down to determining who is being truthful and who is not.

Dr. Jeremiah's devotional paragraph:

Careful Currency
Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
John 17:17

Recommended Reading
Judges 12:2-6

In this age of political discourse, media spin, and sound bites, it can be difficult to know what words actually mean. Consultants can be paid large sums of money to produce words that take up space without saying anything. But in the kingdom of God, words are currency--a medium for meaning, an exchange tool for communication.

I sincerely believe that the first two sentences exactly describes Obama's modus operandi. Therefore, we often discern that Obama's words are just spin and sound bites. Quite frankly, we can't believe anything he says anymore. At least that is the way that I see it.

The fact that God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow, and His written Word prevails forever gives us the confidence that we can implicitly trust Him, His Son Jesus Christ (the Living Word of God) and the Bible (the written Word of God).

One of the signs of the times is the fact that there are so many deceivers out there in the world today. You cannot believe what they say, write, or communicate because they will lie, cheat, swindle, falsely accuse, spew hatred, and create acrimony just for the sake of spreading chaos.

If you haven't been watching The Glenn Beck program lately, you are probably falling for the media spin of what not only is actually going in Egypt (and spreading to other Islamic countries) but more importantly, WHY it is happening. Why NOW? Yesterday's show is a must see! If you missed it WATCH HERE. [NOTE: when you visit the site, click on the link below the video that says, "Click Here For Today's Show Research."] Another thing to notice and consider. Why are the Egyptian protestors holding perfectly printed signs (in English) that appear to be manufactured by some organization - like say - a radical communist type that probably has ties to radical Islam???

Trevor Loudon at New Zeal has provided a link to an article that is a must read!

"We Are Witnessing the Collapse of the Middle East"

posted by Trevor Loudon at New Zeal - 10 hours ago
Jim Simpson has written an excellent analysis of events in Egypt and Tunisia and the Obama Administration's role in this debacle. *If Egypt should fall, it will mark the beginning of the end for what little...

The full article is at The Examiner.com

If you are to get the unvarnished truth without the spin that is sadly typical of the Media of Mass Deception, my advice is to watch The Glenn Beck program on Fox News Channel and read the conservative blogs (many good ones on my sidebar).

Here are just a few that I would recommend:

Supporting Dictators
posted by null at American Thinker - 5 hours ago
How can President Obama control Egypt when he cannot even control what happens in his own country?

In the Midst of the Egyptian Upheaval: The Elephants in the Room
posted by null at American Thinker - 5 hours ago
The top five myths that have been shattered.

Israeli News: Obama’s abandonment of Mubarak shows Israel cannot count on US at times of crisis
posted by Jim Hoft at The Gateway Pundit - 22 minutes ago
True. The Israelis will not be fooled by the betrayal of America’s far left president. Israel understands that this inexperienced and foolish president cannot be trusted. YNet News reported: The earthquake...

Tens of Thousands Gather for “Day of Departure” Protests in Tahrir Square
posted by Jim Hoft at The Gateway Pundit - 22 minutes ago
Tens of thousands of protesters gathered after Friday prayers for the “Day of Departure” protest in Tahrir Square. Aljazeera reported: Chants urging President Hosni Mubarak to leave are reverberating across...

What's more, with the continual "hate Israel" bashing that is being spewed out there, it is certainly a breath of fresh air to read an excellent countering of the crazed loons:

A Pro-Israel Rick-Santelli-Like Stand-Up-And-Cheer Post
posted by William A. Jacobson at Le·gal In·sur·rec·tion - 15 minutes ago
I wish I had written such a post, but instead I happened upon it via an e-mail sent from a relative. And it was at HuffPo, of all places. Rarely have I seen someone hit the hypocrisy of the anti-Israel mo...

I would like to switch gears for a moment and share a blog post about the prayer breakfast that Obama attended. Here's a link to the post:

Sad. Obama Lies to National Prayer Breakfast About His Father’s Muslim Faith
posted by Jim Hoft at The Gateway Pundit - 11 hours ago
Is there anything this man won’t do to pander for votes? Barack Obama today lied at the National Prayer Breakfast and covered up his father’s Muslim faith. CNN posted the transcript: This may come as a surprise...

Keep in mind the practice of taqiyah in the religion of Islam.

A LOT of great comments posted there. Here is mine:



#59 February 4, 2011 at 5:51 am
Christinewjc commented:

The simple fact that ObaMARXIST spent most of the time in his speech talking about himself shows just how much God really matters to him. And, that number would be ZERO.

It was supposed to be a PRAYER breakfast. How much time did Obambi spend on prayer? I don’t know because I only saw the brief clip of ObaMAO spouting off about himself again. My guess is that it would be close to ZERO.

So, the Obumba has ZERO respect for God and spent a ZERO amount of time on prayer at a PRAYER breakfast. Besides that, he OUTRIGHTLY LIED about his father being a Muslim and ignored the fact that his step-father was a Muslim. The step-father sent Barry Soetoro to a Muslim school. A student in Indonesia doesn’t get into a Muslim school without confessing the Muslim screed about Allah and Mohammad as this messenger.

God’s Word has many messages for Obummer, who is a LIAR and thinks he is wise. This is just one of them:

1Cr 1:25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

1Cr 1:26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.

1Cr 1:27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;

1Cr 1:28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are,

1Cr 1:29 that no flesh should glory in His presence.

1Cr 1:30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—

1Cr 1:31 that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.”

Perhaps you will notice that I use several descriptive names for Obama. The reason is because he represents the meaning behind each of those names.

ObaMARXIST - Obama's policies and actions have proven to me that his far left progressive political leanings favor Marxism.

Obambi - He is foolish (see the 1 Corinthians verses above) - like a cartoon character disguised as something harmless, but at the same time dangerous as any Marxist, socialist, or Mao supporter would be.

ObaMAO - See above. Also, recall that a woman who worked at the White House - Anita Dunn - spouted in a church that "the two people she admires most are Mao Tse Tung and Mother Teresa." She went on to say, "not often coupled in the same sentence, but the two that I turn to most." How lovely. She admires and turns to Mao who was responsible for over 70 million deaths?? Obama had a huge round ornament placed on the White House Christmas tree with Mao's likeness on it. Nice...huh?

Obumba - He's a bumbling idiot for causing more economic trouble for the United States with his failed policies and his weak foreign policy. It makes one wonder, just whose side is Obama on? It doesn't appear to be the side of America and our closest Middle East ally - Israel. In fact, his actions appear downright treasonous to me.

Obummer - There are lots of meanings to the word, "bummer" but I think that the following definitions all work in describing him:

2. any unpleasant or disappointing experience: That concert was a real bummer.

7. Slang . to ruin or spoil: The weather bummed our whole weekend.

–adjective Slang .
10. of poor, wretched, or miserable quality; worthless.
11. disappointing; unpleasant.
12. erroneous or ill-advised; misleading: That tip on the stock market was a bum steer.
13. lame: a bum leg.

—Idioms
15. bum (someone) out, Slang . to disappoint, upset, or annoy: It really bummed me out that she could have helped and didn't.

b. in a state of disrepair or disorder: The oven is on the bum again.

From Dictionary.com

So you see, my aim was not just to call Obama names. It was for the purpose of describing him and his foolishness.

God is good. He often uses bad situations to awaken us from our comfort zones in order to get us active again to regain and preserve our freedoms.

This awful experience of Obama as pResident has awakened the sleeping giant of conservatism in the United States of America. Groups such as the TEA Party are working hard to get the majority of Americans out to the polls to vote out the bums in Congress (as we did in 2010). Next, is making Obama a one term pResident with a victory for the Republican nominee (whoever he or she may be) in 2012. It is then that we can turn this ship of fools from taking us down the dark path we are on, replace them with those who believe in our Constitution, Founding Fathers, Declaration of Independence and the Constitutional Republic that was originally created for this great nation - THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!

Hat tips to all links.

*******
UPDATE:

Another important blog post to read:

Daily Thought Pad
Egypt now fears Obama a 'Manchurian President'

Creative Thinking and the Invisible and Eternal God

It's very late for a new post, but since I fell asleep on the couch while watching T.V. earlier this evening and then awoke a few hours later, I decided to read some email before closing my browser for the night.

One of my favorite Christian bloggers has a new essay up. I found it in my email box tonight and I encourage readers here to go check it out! Charlie at Another Think has written and excellent and thought-provoking essay entitled "An Uncertain Reality"

Brief excerpts:

The great scientific project at the dawn of the twentieth century was to expose the hidden mysteries of the atom.

[W]hat made this investigation remarkable, and maddening, was the inaccessibility of the systems they were trying to understand. Using only the crudest experimental devices combined with ingenious thought experiments and audacious hunches, these young scientists tested theories and conducted their research in the blind. To make matters worse, Werner Heisenberg theorized that the nature of atomic particles was such that they could never be measured or probed by any traditional methods, because the very act of observing them would change them in unpredictable ways.

His insight was roundly dismissed at first, but grudgingly came to be accepted and formalized as the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle.

Quoting Bernice Eiduson again: "Creative thinking demands seeing things not seen previously... and taking risks by departing from reality."

Faced with an unknown and uncertain reality at the sub-atomic level, these scientists dared to depart from accepted conventions and imagined a world that broke the known rules, something the scientific establishment of the day did not quickly accept.

As I've been thinking about this remarkable scientific era, I have noticed similarities between the challenges and creative demands required to uncover the secrets of the atom, and the creative leaps and risks inherent in belief in the invisible and eternal God.

Read the entire essay HERE



I wrote a comment there, but must have copied the text in the spam preventing box wrong so I got an error message when I tried to post the comment!

*Sigh*

Anyway, here is a copy of the comment:

Hi Charlie,

What an excellent and fascinating essay! As usual, you make the connections that a non-believing scientist might want to ignore or even shun (because of purposeful disbelief in God), and turn it into a better explanation of reality because of your skill as a scientist utilizing your faith in the God of the universe, Jesus Christ!

What you have written triggered some thoughts I recently contemplated.

My 86 year old mom has often stated how wonderful the "discoverers" of prescription drugs are in sustaining and prolonging the lives of people who might have suffered more, and/or died at younger ages without the use of such drugs.

We know that many drugs can be used for good (and helpful) purposes - as well as for evil (and addictive) purposes.

I was thinking the other day that since we are always only "catching up to God" in the scientific realm of this life on earth, how awesome it might be to one day discover (in eternity) that we probably had the "tools" here on earth all along to cure any and every physical, mental, and emotional ailment? Yet, because of our fallen, sinful nature such discoveries had been made by scientists in a gradual and incomplete way? Hope those last two sentences made some sense!

One example. A relative of mine succumbed to Alzheimer's disease and her mind deteriorated at such a rapid pace back in the 80's because no drugs were yet created to halt the progression of that devastating disease. Today, there are drugs that considerably slow down the progression of the disease and patients often get to live close to normal lives for many, many more years than previously ever imagined. That's not a small or insignificant miracle!

Your entire essay displays the "wonders of the Lord" and I love your final paragraph:

So too with faith. God invites us not to abandon reason, but to give up our iron grip on what we think we know, what we think must be true. The Christian faith invites us to open our minds to the possibility of a different reality than we have ever imagined.

Beautiful!

God bless,
Christine

Hat Tip:

Another Think

Update:

Yay! Tried to post the comment two more times over at Another Think and the third try (currently in moderation) was the charm! ;-)

God's Changelessness

During the hour long round trip that I took to the eye doctor today, I saw two old, beat-up vehicles with worn-out and fading "Obama '08" stickers on them. On the way home, I spotted an SUV with a sign tacked to the inside of the back window which read, "So...how's that hopey, changey thing workin' out for ya?"

How much things change in the world of politics.

The candidate who had the saying, "Change you can believe in" is now working furiously with his cohorts and lawyers in an attempt to cover up The Sestak Scandal.

Conservative radio talk show hosts were the ones who originally asked the question, "what kind of change" was Obama's campaign proposing? The lies that were told to get Obama elected are quite evident now. Those who voted for him were completely duped. Many regret their votes - especially the Christians who didn't bother to vet Obama before going into the voting booth!

People are sinful. They have the character to change - either for good or for bad - at any turn in life. But there is One who does not change - and that's God. God's changelessness is evident in Scripture:

For I am the LORD, I do not change. Malachi 3:6

In his book, Knowing God, Dr. J.L. Packer tells us that Bible study helps us because the God who interacted with the characters of Scripture is the same God who cares for us today. "The God with whom they had to do is the same God with whom we have to do," wrote Packer. "for God does not change in the least particular." His character does not change; His truth does not change; His ways do not change; His purposes do not change.

"God does not change," said Dr. Packer. "Fellowship with Him, trust in His Word, living by faith, standing on the promises of God, are essentially the same realities for us today as they were for the Old and New Testament believers. This thought brings comfort as we enter into the perplexities of each day." 1

You can count on this--it's as predictable as God Himself: He is unchanging. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

Because the Lord does not change, we know that He will keep His eternal promises.
We can have confidence to trust in Him completely!

All change must be to the better or the worse. But God cannot change to the better, since He is absolutely perfect; neither can He change to the worse, for the same reason. - Henry Thiessen

1 J.I. Packer, Knowing God (Downers Grove: Intervarsity, 1973), quotes from chapter 7.

Hat Tips:

The Right Side of Life..."But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good." — 1 Thes. 5:21

Turning Point Magazine and Devotional, May, 2010

Why the Hatred Over Mojave Cross?

Yesterday, I heard that the Mojave Cross, which had been previously stolen by an anti-Christian kook, was replaced with a new replica of the original cross. Today, I wake up to find out that the Feds will promptly remove it.

JammieWearingFool (just love that blog name!) has the story.

Excerpt:

I agree with the guys over at TAH, this case of the Mojave Desert cross is entering into the theater of the absurd. The latest update is that a replica cross was constructed and erected while waiting for the original cross which had been stolen to be recovered.

Of course the loyal federal government employee of the month candidate has to come out and say not so fast.

The National Park Service said in a press release Thursday afternoon that the replica cross would be removed.

Late Thursday, Mojave National Preserve spokeswoman Linda Slater told reporters in California that the new cross is illegal and must come down.

So let me get this straight. According to the twisted logic of this government bureaucrat only the original cross can go back up. If the original cross is never recovered, then a criminal has accomplished what the liberals couldn't through the force of the courts and they are alright with it.

Why all the fuss over a war memorial cross?

Why would those who choose not to believe in Jesus Christ, the Bible, the Gospel of Christ, and the message of the Cross be so hostile towards those who do believe?

Why does the existence of a cross at a war memorial, which had been there for 75? years, bother them so much that they have to fight tooth and nail to get it down?

The Bible tells us why:

1Cr 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

When a person wants to reject the power of God, it is only fitting for them, in their unrepentant mindset, to also reject the message of the cross. Those who think that the cross of Christ is 'foolishness' still must have the agonizing feeling within their hearts, minds, and souls that they are perishing - both physically and spiritually. It is as though they have a void in their lives that can't be filled in any other way. It is the vacuum of the soul that can only be filled through the Gospel message of salvation through Jesus Christ.

2Cr 4:3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,

2Cr 4:4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

2Cr 4:5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake.

2Cr 4:6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.


2Cr 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward [man] is being renewed day by day.

When the Bible says that our "inward man is being renewed day by day," it reminds us that we are not perfect. And, this side of heaven, we never will be. But we are called to preach the Gospel, as imperfect as we are, because Jesus Christ, in whom we trust and desire to share with others IS PERFECT.

2Cr 2:15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.

The "fragrance of Christ" is interesting to consider. We often think of fragrance as being pleasant - and most of the time a fragrance that we like is pleasant to smell. However, have you ever sniffed a fragrance and said "ewww!!!"? I have. There are some fragrances that other people like that I can't stand. That is what I think this verse means. The fragrance of Christ's power and might; his call for man to repent of their sins; and the ultimate redemption that he has provided for us at the Cross of Calvary is reviled by those who reject Him.

However, with a change of heart, any person who once reviled Christ can repent and turn to Him, making the fragrance of Christ the most beautiful experience in the world!

Recall the thieves on the crosses at each side of the cross of Jesus Christ:

Luk 23:39 Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If You are the Christ, [fn] save Yourself and us."


Luk 23:40 But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation?


Luk 23:41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong."


Luk 23:42 Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, [fn] remember me when You come into Your kingdom."


Luk 23:43 And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."

One of the two thieves, both of whom at first mocked Jesus, turned and repented right there on the cross. And Jesus told him that he will be with Him in Paradise.

Who in their right mind would turn down such saving grace?

Jesus is knocking on the door of the hearts of the unsaved each and every day. The messages that you read, first and foremost in His Word, the Bible; and on blogs, websites, in Christian authored books, at Bible believing and following churches, in devotionals etc. are just a few of the ways that Jesus is reaching this fallen world.

I read a great story sent to me via email a few days back. (Hat tip to Janet H. for sharing it with me!) Read what this little child said to a nurse who placed the disk of a stethoscope on his heart and the hearing apparatus to the child's ears:

A nurse on the pediatric ward, before listening to the little
ones' chests, would plug the stethoscope into their ears and let them listen to their own heart. Their eyes would always light up with awe, but she never got a response equal to four-year old David's comment.

Gently she tucked the stethoscope into his ears and placed the
disk over his heart. 'Listen', she said...'What do you suppose that is?' He
drew his eyebrows together in a puzzled line and looked up as if lost in the mystery of the strange tap - tap - tapping deep in his chest. Then his face broke out in a wondrous grin and he asked,

'Is that Jesus knocking?'

Godly wisdom - out of the mouths of babes!

Jesus told us that until we become like little children - we will not see the Kingdom of Heaven.

Mat 18:1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"


Mat 18:2 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them,


Mat 18:3 and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.


Mat 18:4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.


Mat 18:5 Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.

What do little children do? They TRUST. They follow the lead of the parents and trust them for their well-being. The same is true of us in regards to our Father in Heaven. Until we humble ourselves and trust God for His Perfect Provision of reconciliation over sin, death, and evil - the Cross of Jesus Christ and His subsequent Resurrection from the dead - then we will not see the Kingdom of Heaven.

We are then called, by the Great Commission, to go into all the world and preach the Gospel.

2Cr 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.


2Cr 4:8 [We are] hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; [we are] perplexed, but not in despair;


2Cr 4:9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed--


2Cr 4:10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

2Cr 4:13 And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed and therefore I spoke," [fn] we also believe and therefore speak,


2Cr 4:14 knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present [us] with you.


2Cr 4:15 For all things [are] for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.


2Cr 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward [man] is being renewed day by day.


2Cr 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding [and] eternal weight of glory,


2Cr 4:18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen [are] temporary, but the things which are not seen [are] eternal.

Hat Tips:

JammieWearingFool

Blue Letter Bible

Janet H. for emailed story

********

Related stories:

Replica cross in Mojave Desert comes down

You're Not Shaken

Some wonderful and encouraging words were shared by Al in the previous post comment section. What he shared brought to mind a song that I have been listening to and singing to myself over the past few weeks. It is a song that really is designed to comfort us as we go through chaotic times here on this earth. Steadfast faith is especially needed when we don't always know the whys of the world; and/or when our questions seem to go unanswered.

In response to this post, here is what Al wrote:

Al said...
Hi Christine,

Thanks for sharing your sensible, genuine sentiments about the present state of affairs in our nation. Appreciate the informative links covering Dr. Manning's trial too. The situation at the mouth of the Red Sea initially looked bleak too until Moses cried out to a God that answers prayers. Hopefully our generation will be delivered as well.

May 18, 2010 10:41:00 AM PDT

So beautifully stated, Al! Thank you!

There are SO MANY different YouTube videos of Phil Stacey singing his song "You're Not Shaken." I chose the following one because I liked the messages it conveyed as the song was being sung.

I hope it encourages your heart and blesses your day as much as it did for me!

In Christ,
Christine

P.S. Thanks again, Al!


Link to YouTube Video: Your Not Shaken by Phil Stacey.

bluetru40 — September 14, 2009 — Walk By Faith, Not By Sight: Sight (the flesh) can be deceiving.

Song by Phil Stacey "You're Not Shaken"

Our Time Will Come - by Rocky Chambers

Rocky sent me the following essay via email today. I hope that you find it very encouraging and inspirational! I certainly did! Read and enjoy!

Christine

*******
Our Time Will Come - by Rocky Chambers

James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

When the Lord moved me to Pasadena He set me in a nice neighborhood surrounded by a poor section of the city. He eventually moved me to a church that was located across from a ‘fleabag’ hotel. Consequently that church catered to a section of the population that struggled with many things; drugs, prostitution, poverty and so on. I became friends with one fellow in particular. He’s probably the most naturally talented musician I’ve ever played with. If he were determined enough he could easily become a professional musician. But he turned out to be typical for this church, a person who kept falling back into the same cycle of temptation and sin. He would be clean from drugs for about 3 months, start using again, then after a few months find himself living on the streets, then back in jail. He’d get clean, come out of jail and the whole process would start over. He lacked the determination to hear from God what He needed to hear to be set free. After being at this church for about two and a half years the Lord opened the door for me to leave, but that’s another story. What I saw there in general, and in this musician in particular, is something that I realize we all struggle with on some level, the need for perseverance. As James writes, we all face trials, but the difference in maturing and falling back is our determination to get through them to the victory God has waiting for us in hearing and receiving His wisdom.

I must confess I see this in my own life, that the thing I desire, the Godly desire, becomes twisted and darkened by my impatience, by the fact I lack perseverance and determination in this place. But I realize something different among those who are growing in the Lord and those who keep going round and round that same old mountain over and over gain. That difference is in the next phrase of what James writes. “If any of you lacks wisdom, ask God, and believe you will receive it”. I can honestly say that every trip I make around this mountain I’m asking God for wisdom, and I’m catching it one word at a time. I realize the more I try to figure it out, the darker and more twisted that Godly desire gets and the more likely I am to try and manifest it myself. Remember Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar. They produced Ishmael, which eventually introduced strife into the camp. And it took many years for Abraham to come to that place where Isaac was produced. Ishmael was a result of Abraham’s godly desire (Isaac) becoming darkened by human reasoning that twisted and darkened that desire.

I have become convinced that at the heart of every human desire is a Godly desire. It is just that human reasoning often darkens and twists it and produces something we reasoned we desired, until we see it wasn’t what God really wanted for us. And to be honest here, I’m coming to the place where I don’t really know if what I want is my twisted desire or a Godly desire. But I do know this, when we become determined to wait with patience and are willing to persevere until the time comes for God’s desire to manifest, it will come. To borrow a phrase from a friend, “our time for the things we desire will come”.

Hat Tip: Rocky Chambers via email

Heavenly Destination On Your Own Terms?

I have been enjoying reading this month's Turning Point Magazine and Devotional from Dr. David Jeremiah's ministry. The February issue is called "Bliss - An All Inclusive Story" and is about heaven.

In the essay called "Travel-O-City - Planning a Trip of a Lifetime," Dr. Jeremiah brings up the fact that Internet online travel websites have overtaken the traditional travel agencies of the past. Recall SABRE, then CompuServe (remember that?), then America Online (AOL)? Now we have Travelocity where travelers can make their own reservations.

There are infinite numbers of ways to reach one's vacation travel destination. It's up to you! However, Dr. Jeremiah cautions that unfortunately, that same type of mentality has infected the thinking of people about heaven.

Dr. Jeremiah writes:

The World's Many Ways

Many people today believe that all humanity is headed for the same glorious destination in the afterlife and that there are many roads that will take them there. What was true of the ancient travel network in the Roman Empire ("All roads lead to Rome") is thought to be true of religious and spiritual roads to heaven.

Such thoughts in our "politically correct" environment of today are very popular. You are considered "intolerant" if you tell someone that their religious belief is wrong because what is written in the Bible flies in the face of their preconceived notions about God.

Dr. Jeremiah describes it this way:

And many adherents of those religions think that it doesn't matter which religious view one holds -- that religions are unique cultural expressions that differ in form and function but which all point to the same universal truths about God.

Have you seen the latest bumper sticker that spells out the word "COEXIST" Such a mentality illustrates Dr. Jeremiah's point. The "can't we just all get along" attitude of today frowns upon a Christian who desires to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ and describe it as Truth. They are negatively tagged as "proselytizers" and shunned from the crowd who would rather "embrace their uncertainty" (as was said by Deepak Chopra during a debate with Christian Apologist Greg Koukl).

Dr. Jeremiah goes on to describe that even those with no religion at all seem to think that they will be rewarded with eternal life along with everyone else in the final analysis. These are the type of people who think that their good works will earn them a spot in heaven. They think things like "kindness to animals" will get them there, too. We can see what Dr. Jeremiah was getting at with his Travelocity comparison:

It is easy to see why the modern Internet-based travel industry is a good metaphor for the spiritual travel plans of many today: you're in charge; make your own plans; book you own flight; choose your own route; arrive at your heavenly destination on your own terms.

Sadly, this metaphor, and the modern reality it represents flies in the face of biblical revelation.

When Christians remind others of Jesus' words in John 14:6: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." we are labeled as politically incorrect, intolerant, (or worse). The non-Christian asks:

How could God possibly accept into heaven only those who come through faith in Jesus? That biblical doctrine is viewed as narrow, intolerant, rude, and unacceptable to people who are used to setting their own terms for life--and the afterlife.

But that is the testimony of Scripture. Jesus also said, "I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved..." (John 10:9).

Notice that Jesus didn't say I am "a" door. He didn't say I am "one" door (of many). He said "I AM THE DOOR," meaning that He is the ONLY DOOR TO HEAVEN!

Dr. Jeremiah writes:

And John 1:14 says that God became flesh and dwelt among the human race in the person of Jesus Christ. Romans 5 explains clearly that it is through Jesus Christ that we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand" (verse 2). And that just as sin entered the world through one man, Adam, so "through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous" (verses 18-19). The same focus on Christ as the one way to God is found in John 11:25, Ephesans 2:18, Hebrews 10:20, and 1 John 5:20.

We can obviously conclude that the Bible teaches one way to heaven. It is our choice to believe what the Bible says, or not. What Jesus makes plain is that we need to submit our desires and plans for our own "trip" to the one biblical road (Jesus - himself) that will take us to heaven.

Just as showing up at an airport without a confirmed flight gets us nowhere, so it is also true that we will not arrive at our desired destination without saying "Yes" to God first:

Without saying "Yes" to God, through faith in Jesus Christ, our reservation remains unconfirmed.

Dr. Jeremiah urges us to make sure your own reservation is confirmed today. That requires going through Jesus Christ - as our intermediary to get to heaven.

Hat Tip:

Dr. David Jeremiah.org

Not Long For This World

As I woke up this morning, the title of this post were the exact words being planted in my mind. I have been saying many prayers lately. Prayers for people who are ill, who are disabled, who are old (and often shut in because of bad weather); the jobless, the homeless, and the needy. I have been praying about the terrible government we now have to endure, the deficit, a Congress that will push through an America-wrecking health care bill and fraudulent climate bill; and the fact that those who are supposed to represent WE THE PEOPLE are totally ignoring what their state constituents (who put them into office) DON'T WANT. I'm sure that I left out some of the items that came to my mind last night while I was praying about all of these sufferings. However, I asked the Lord to guide me about what to write at this blog concerning all of these frightening and dire needs here in America.

"Not long for this world" was my answer. Just those five words. At the time they came to mind, I was half asleep, half awake. I often think that the Holy Spirit of God knows that I will shut up long enough to really hear, and listen, to what He has as an answer to previous prayer. Such messages don't usually come when I am wide awake, bustling around the house doing chores, listening to T.V. or radio, while on the Internet and this blog (what I'm doing right now!), or out running errands. I need to be completely quiet and open to what it is that God wants to communicate to me.

If the truth be told, I often pray short little prayers throughout the day. Unfortunately, I sometimes get distracted and have to apologize to God for drifting away from my prayer train of thought. Has that ever happened to you, fellow Christians?

But in the quiet of the early morning, as I am awakening from a deep sleep, the period of time between deep slumber and fully awakening presents itself as an opportunity for me to hear the thought whispers of the Lord. This morning was one of those kinds of mornings!

Let's examine the five words, "not long for this world."

I have heard those words to mean that our lives on this earth (compared to eternity) are "not long." Therefore, we could see that phrase as meaning we, as human finite creatures on this earth, are not going to be here for very long.

The second meaning could be said to mean that we are not to "desire" the things of this world. We are not to ultimately "long" for this world and everything in it. It is interesting to note that the word "world" occurs 288 times in 249 verses in the KJV!

We know that God created our world. and together with His Son, Jesus Christ, He gives life unto the world:

Jer 51:15 He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heaven by his understanding.

Jhn 6:33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

Jhn 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

And there will be those who deny God's creation:

Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified [him] not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Rom 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

Jesus taught us that the world can be deceitful, and those who speak against the Holy Spirit of God and are not born again are in danger:

Mat 13:22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

Mat 12:32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the [world] to come.

There are several Bible verses that back up the idea that as followers of Christ, we are "not to long for this world":

Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

1Cr 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

1Cr 3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

1Cr 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

Col 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

Mar 4:19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

Jhn 12:25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

Jhn 17:15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

Jhn 17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

Jhn 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

Jhn 18:37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice

The phrase "not long for this world" can also be representative of the end times. This world is finite. It will, one day, come to an end. Why focus on a finite world instead of eternal God?

Psa 22:27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.

Psa 24:1 [[A Psalm of David.]] The earth [is] the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

Psa 33:8 Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.

Psa 98:9 Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.

Lastly, we are not to "long for this world" for we are destined to ultimately long for God! Jesus asks us, "have you understood all of these things?"

Isa 26:9 With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments [are] in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

Psa 90:2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou [art] God.

Psa 96:13 Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.

Isa 62:11 Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward [is] with him, and his work before him.

Isa 64:4 For since the beginning of the world [men] have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, [what] he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.

Mat 13:38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked [one];

Mat 13:39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.

Mat 13:40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.

Mat 13:49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,

Mat 13:50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Mat 13:51 Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.

Mar 4:19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

Mar 8:36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

In his new book, "Living with Confidence in a Chaotic World," Dr. David Jeremiah discusses the instruction of patience. I plan to share a lot more of what he writes in his book, however, the following portion could be applied to the discussion here:

[J.]I. Packer states, "living out the belief that God orders everything for the spiritual good of his children."

He equates this with a "therapeutic workout planned by a heavenly trainer who is resolved to get you up to full fitness."

That kind of believer understands that God is in control even when something unpleasant occurs. He accepts it as one more obscure, multi-sided piece of the jigsaw puzzle of his life -- for which he has no box cover pattern. He trust the One who sees the finished project and seeks to develop trust-based patience. Puritan Thomas Watson wrote, "There are no sins God's people are more subject to than unbelief and impatience; they are ready, either to faint through unbelief, or to fret through impatience."

Fretting through impatience? I plead guilty! That's me, alright! However, when I get over my little pity party, new resolve occurs:

If you think back over your life, you're bound to realize that while a doctor needs bright light to do his surgery, God likes to work in the dark. We don't learn character when life is cruising along -- only when it demands us to reach within ourselves and find new patience, new faith in God, and new resources to overcome the obstacles.

Wow...THAT'S the kind of word I need today. It's what I've needed to realize all year!

Dr. Jeremiah nails it:

Perhaps your family is coping with difficult times at present. What if you viewed this as a time of revelation from God, an occasion for learning to trust Him, and a stepping-stone to good things in the future? That's how God has always worked, so why would this occasion be any different?

Good question to hear, listen to, heed and answer within our walk with Christ...isn't it?!

What are we to be doing while we are in this world?

Mar 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Jhn 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

As we share the gospel, Jesus' promises and comforting words are here now, and for all eternity:

Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen

Hat Tip:

Blue Letter Bible
Dr. David Jeremiah, "Living with Confidence in a Chaotic World."

Faith Is About Confidence and Facts Make the Difference

Long before I started writing at this blog back in 2004, I attended several years of educational sessions in the Defending the Faith series at Biola University in LaMirada, CA. I drove one and a half hours (sometimes it took two hours because of traffic) to attend the six weekly sessions at the university which were offered on Thursday evenings. Although it was sometimes difficult to get to the classes, each time I was there was well worth the money and effort to do so. After attending the classes in person for two sessions, I found out that I could complete the work for a MA Christian Apologetics certificate by listening to the sessions on DVD and taking a test online which sufficed as proof that I had learned the material.

During the in-person sessions, I had the distinct opportunity to meet Greg Koukl. His Stand to Reason ministry inspired me to, as Paul puts it, "contend for the faith" and not shy away when atheists/skeptics/agnostics and believers of other religions challenged my faith in Jesus Christ.

Greg just sent out his November, 2009 newsletter called "Solid Ground." It is an excellent commentary geared towards explaining that faith in Jesus Christ is not "blind faith," but rather a faith grounded in evidence, knowledge, truth, facts and confidence.

Enjoy the essay!

In Christ,
Christine

*******

Solid Ground
A Foundation for Building Ambassadors
November/December 2009

If you “just take Christianity on
faith” you may be in trouble.

I don’t like the word “faith.”

It’s not that faith isn’t valuable. True biblical faith is essential for salvation. But faith is often deeply misunderstood in a way that hurts Christianity and harms Christians.

Some think that having a level of certainty about the truth of Christianity makes “belief ” unnecessary or irrelevant. They think that kind of knowledge undermines genuine faith and offends God.

The reasoning goes something like this. We all know God wants us to have faith. In fact, without faith, it’s impossible to please Him (Hebrews 11:6). However, gathering evidence for God and Christianity leaves little room for faith. After all, how can one have faith in something he knows is true? Faith, then, is opposed to knowledge. Therefore, apologetics undermines the faith project and thus displeases the Lord.

On this view, faith is believing the unbelievable, clinging to your convictions when all the evidence is against you. Faith is a “leap,” a blind, desperate lunge in the darkness. When doubts or troubles beset us we’re told to “just have faith,” as if we could squeeze out spiritual hope by intense acts of sheer will.

This view of faith reduces Christian conviction to religious wishful thinking. We can hope, but we can never know.

But this will never work. Someone once said, “The heart cannot believe that which the mind rejects.” If you are not confident the message of Scripture is actually true, you can’t believe it even if you tried.

The “I just take Christianity on (blind) faith” attitude can’t be the right approach. It leaves the Bible without defense, yet Peter directs us to make a defense for the hope that is in us.1

Also, the biblical word for faith, pistis, doesn’t mean wishing. It means active trust. And trust cannot be conjured up or manufactured. It must be earned. You can’t exercise the kind of faith the Bible has in mind unless you’re reasonably sure that some particular things are true.

In fact, I suggest you completely ban the phrase “leap of faith” from your vocabulary. Biblical faith is based on knowledge, not wishing or blind leaps. Knowledge builds confidence and confidence leads to trust. The kind of faith God is interested in is not wishing. It’s trust based on knowing, a sure confidence grounded in evidence.

The following biblical examples make my point.

Blood, Boils, Frogs and Flies

Israel’s exodus from Egypt was depicted in a clever animated film called “The Prince of Egypt.” After seeing the movie, my wife and I spent time reading the original account in the Hebrew Scriptures.

Though I’d read this passage a number of times, something jumped out at me then that I hadn’t seen before, a phrase God kept repeating over and over in the account.

The material relevant to my point starts in Exodus 3. Reading the encounter with God at the burning bush, we realize Moses is reluctant to be God’s deliverer. And it’s understandable.

Why would Pharaoh, the most powerful leader in the world, submit to a renegade Jew? Why would two million Hebrew slaves follow a murderer and a defector?

“What if they won’t believe me, or listen to me?” Moses demurred. “What if they say, ‘The Lord hasn’t appeared to you’?”

What God didn’t say in response is as important as what He did say. He didn’t say, “Tell Pharaoh he’s just going to have to take this on blind faith. Tell the Hebrews the same thing. They’ve got to have faith.” Instead God asked, “What’s that in your hand?”

“A staff,” Moses answered.

“Throw it on the ground.”

So he threw it down, and it became a serpent.

“Stretch out your hand,” the Lord said. “Grab it by the tail.”

Reluctantly, Moses did as he was told. When he grabbed the snake, it became a staff again.

“Do this,” God said, “and then they’ll believe that the Lord, the God of their fathers, has appeared to you.”

More signs followed that got the people’s attention: the river of blood; frogs covering the land; the gnats, flies, and locusts; the boils and pestilence; the hail; the darkness; and finally the angel of death. All for one purpose: “That they might know there is a God in Israel.” Not simply “believe,” “hope,” or “wish.”

Know. This is no idle comment, but a message that is central to the account. In fact, the phrase is repeated no less than ten times throughout the account.2

What was the result? “And when Israel saw the great power which the Lord had used against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in His servant Moses” (Exodus 14:31).

Note the pattern: a powerful evidence (miracles, in this case), giving the people knowledge of God, in Whom they then placed their active trust (faith). Knowledge – some level of certainty – went before belief in each of these cases.

God didn’t ask the Hebrews, or even Moses for mindless faith, blind leaps, or wishful thinking. He demonstrated His power, giving them good reason to believe, resulting in obedience. First, the Hebrews were given good reason to know. This then grounded their investment of faith (active trust) in God. Pharaoh got the picture, too, but his response was not humble surrender leading to salvation. Instead, it was submission under compulsion. In both cases, though, each was compelled to act based on the unmistakable evidence of God’s power.

In the animated feature, “The Prince of Egypt,” Miriam breaks into a song of
praise following Israel’s deliverance. The song is entitled “When You Believe,” and includes these words: “There can be miracles, when you believe…. Who knows what miracles you can achieve, when you believe…Just believe…Gotta believe….”

Is that the way it happened, that the people achieved miracles because of their belief? No, reality was just the opposite. In the original account, miracles didn’t follow belief; they preceded it. Acts of power led to knowledge, which then allowed faith to flourish.

Taking the Easy Way Out?

Fast forward to the New Testament and you’ll find the same pattern in the life of Christ. In Mark 2, we encounter Jesus speaking to a group gathered in a home in Capernaum. A crowd blocks the front door, keeping a paralytic – being carried by his four friends – from gaining an audience with the Healer. The only way in is from above, so they dig through the earthen roof and lower the deformed man down on a pallet.

Jesus is impressed. Seeing their faith He says to the paralytic, “My son, your sins are forgiven.”

His words offend the scribes, though, who grumble among themselves at such an audacious claim. “Who can forgive sins but God alone?” they whisper. Jesus, aware of their complaint, puts a question to them. “Which is easier to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or, ‘Arise, take up your pallet and walk’?”

How would you respond? If you were in Jesus’ position, would it be easier for you to claim to forgive sins or to claim to heal paralysis? Clearly, it’s always easier to boast about something no one can check up on than it is to claim to have supernatural powers and run the risk you’ll fail the test.

Jesus knew it looked like He was taking the easy way out, until His next remark: “But in order that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—He then turned to the paralytic – “I say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home.” Then, in the sight of everyone, the paralytic got up and got out.

Jesus gives us the same lesson we find in Exodus. He proves something that can’t be seen – the forgiveness of sins – with evidence that can be seen – a dramatic supernatural healing. Jesus heals “in order that you may know.” Once they can then trust in the forgiveness Christ could give.

Once again, there is no conflict between knowledge and faith. Rather, the first is the basis for the second.

The Apostle Peter

The book of Acts and Peter’s dramatic sermon on Pentecost gives us another vivid example of the evidence/knowledge/faith equation. The crowd is both amazed and bewildered at the manifestations of the Spirit they see with their own eyes. Peter takes his stand before the throng and explains that it isn’t intoxication they witness, but prophecy being fulfilled in their midst by the hand of God.

He recounts that Jesus – one attested to by miracles, signs, and wonders – had been murdered at the hands of godless men. Death couldn’t hold Him in the grave, though. He had risen. Not only did King David himself foretell such a thing; Peter and the rest of the disciples had witnessed the risen Christ themselves. The Holy Spirit, the gift promised by the Father, was now being poured out in a way that Peter’s entire audience could “see and hear.”

He then closes with a statement tailor-made for all those who think that certainty somehow diminishes genuine faith: “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”3

When the crowd beholds the evidence – the miracles, the fulfilled prophecy, the witnesses of the resurrection, the powerful manifestations of the Spirit in their midst – the people are pierced to the heart. They are convinced of their error, they know the truth, and thousands believe, putting their trust in the Savior.

Hear, See, Handle, Believe

John, the Beloved Disciple, brings it all together for us in 1 John. He opens his letter with the evidence of his own eyewitness encounter with Christ.


Notice how many senses he appeals to: What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we beheld and our hands handled concerning the Word of Life – and the life was manifested, and we have seen and bear witness and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us – what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also…

Then he closes his letter like this:

And the witness is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you may know that you have eternal life.4

To John, faith wasn’t a blind leap. It wasn’t wishing on a star. It was grounded in evidence that led to knowledge. And when the evidence is so overwhelming – as it was for the earliest follows of Jesus (and many since then) – the knowledge is certain.

The record is clear from the Old Testament, to the Gospels, from the very beginnings of the early church, to the epistles of the apostles: Biblical faith isn’t wishing, it’s confidence. It’s not denying reality, but discovering reality. It’s a sense of certainty grounded in evidence that Christianity is true – not just “true for me,” but actually, fully, and completely true.

Spiritual growth involves increasing our knowledge and our certainty of God. So there are two things here: first knowledge, and second confidence in what we know.

How do we increase confidence? Wish harder? Hope against hope? Stop our ears to the sounds of the critics without, and ignore the doubts of the agnostic within? This will never work, because confidence cannot be fabricated. It must be earned. As you gather substantiating evidence, your confidence grows automatically and your faith is deepened.

Faith is not about wishing, but about confidence, and the facts make the difference. You get a hold of the facts, you study, you learn – even a little – and you’ll realize you’re not just wishing on a star about eternal things. You’ll realize Christianity is really true.

And that changes everything.

Your Partner for the Truth,

Greg Koukl
President, Stand to Reason


1 I Peter 3:15, the New American Standard Version (and throughout).
2 Cf., Exodus 6:7, 7:5, 7:17, 8:10, 8:22, 9:14, 9:29, 10:2, 14:4, and 14:8
3 Acts 2:36.
4 I John 5:11-13.



Quick Summary:

• The concept of faith is often deeply
misunderstood in a way that hurts
Christianity and harms Christians.

• People think that faith is opposed to
knowledge because you can’t have
faith in something you know is true.

• Following this line of thinking,
apologetics undermines faith and
thus displeases the Lord.

• On this view, faith becomes believing
the unbelievable – a “blind leap,”
despite any doubts we may have.
Christian faith turns out to be nothing
more than religious wishful thinking.

• However, this concept of faith cannot
be correct. The biblical word for faith
means active trust. Peter directs us
to “make a defense for the hope that
is within us.”

• In the Old Testament, we consistently
see faith following the evidence of
miracles. For example, God used
a series of miracles (powerful
evidence) to convince Pharaoh to
let the children of Israel go and
they put their trust in God based on
knowledge.

• Miracles didn’t follow belief; they
preceded it. Acts of power led to
knowledge, which then allowed faith
to flourish.

• We see the same pattern in the New
Testament when Jesus healed the
paralytic and forgave his sins, and
when Peter preached at Pentecost
after the Holy Spirit was manifested in
tongues of fire visible to all.

• Biblical faith is a sense of certainty
grounded in evidence that Christianity
is true – not just “true for me,” but
actually, fully, and completely true.

• Faith is not about wishing, but about
confidence, and the facts make the
difference.

Hat tip:

Stand to Reason.org

A Question

A few moments ago, Glenn Beck told his listeners that he has received numerous death threats. Two years ago, when his tour bus was on the way to the next location (for his annual comedy tour), one of the security people reminded Glenn that there are crazy people out there - intent on killing him.

This was happening before the monumental success of his radio show, his Fox News Channel TV show (he was previously "hidden" on CNN's "Headline News" channel), the success of the launching of the 9.12 Project, the success of the TEA Party revolution, and the success of his book "Common Sense."

Now, we can only imagine the ratcheting up of death threats against him due to the enormous success he now enjoys.

This morning, Glenn spoke about why he does what he does. He claims not to do it for money. He claims not to do it for fame. He claims that he does it because he must share the TRUTH about what is happening here in America.

I believe him.

He has probably earned enough money already to quit and allow his family to live comfortably for the rest of his life. So why keep on keepin' on?

Because he must share the TRUTH about what is happening here in America.

He has enjoyed enough "fame" now so why keep on keepin' on?

Because he must share the TRUTH about what is happening here in America.

Glenn humbly shared that he has had many sleepless nights, worrying about what is happening to our beloved Republic. He prayed a lot - and continues to pray about all that is transpiring now. Why?

Because he must share the TRUTH about what is happening here in America.

Like him or not, he has helped awaken many people out of their stupor from the Obamamania matrix. Americans are now learning the truth about this bogus POTUS and they are willing to stand up at town hall meetings and oppose the ObamaSCARE HELLcare legislation. Those who have now read the bill realize how CRUCIAL it is to educate others about all the bad stuff in the bill - and they are willing to go out and speak their minds about it.

Glenn asked a pertinent question on his radio show a few moments ago.

What are you willing to die for?

I await readers answers.

Faith vs. Pride

My Internet friend Sothenes, who often posts at my Talk Wisdom message forum, has posted two interesting questions about "Faith vs. Pride".

If you want, you can just answer the question in the comment section and then read the rest of this post after you have written your individual answer.

Here are the questions:

What is pride and presumption and what is faith and presumption?

How do you know the difference?

My first answer:

Pride is of man. It is selfishness. It is the usual presumption of man that "he" is the center of "his" (or the) universe.

Faith is of God. It is giving. We love God because He first loved us. Jesus is the evidence of that love. There is no greater love than for a Man to give His life for his friends! God is the center (and Creator) of the universe to the individual who has faith.

Faith is the substance of things hoped for - the evidence of things not seen. Jesus Christ's life, death on the cross, and resurrection to life is a fact of history. He has given us the hope that surpasses all understanding. We KNOW we can trust Him because he has kept all of his promises. We can trust Him with our very lives for all of eternity. What a great God we love and serve!

Sothenes responded:

Pride came from Satan in my opinion and pride is presumptuous. I was listening to pastor(s) describe pride and by doing so he was making his own definition up through descriptions. When he said that pride was presumptuous I started to think about it and I've been hard pressed to study it in full on my own but I think that pride is the reverse image of faith.

Isaiah 14:13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
Isaiah 14:14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

Genesis 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

Pride is found in Genesis 3:5 that we could trust in ourselves and be like God.

Faith is presumptuous as well:

Matthew 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

According to Jerry, "..pride is our own faith in ourselves, trusting ourselves. Faith is Christ's faith in God knowing his good, acceptable, and perfect will."

I saw a partial picture or part of gospel and learned the gospel all over again in that. Pride is trusting in our selves and our merit and faith is trusting in what He can do.

1 John 2:16 For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Proverbs 8:13 The fear of the LORD [is] to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

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Pride causes unbelief

Well said, Sothenes.

I can kind of agree with your opinion that pride came from Satan. He certainly was in God's presence before we were created, and the pride Lucifer had in himself - wanting to be "god" rather than his proper place of worshipping God - caused his fall.

However, Satan can only tempt us into a prideful state. Once we get a hold of pride in ourselves - we own it!

The following is very true:

Quote:

"pride is our own faith in ourselves, trusting ourselves."

Pride causes unbelief.

Not to get too political here in this thread, but when I read that Proverb you posted I instantly thought of Obama.

Proverbs 8:13 The fear of the LORD [is] to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

I have been taken to task (by some - especially Christians) for not being "respectful" of Obama at my blog as the occupant in the Oval office. It is because of all the reasons listed in that Proverbs verse that I can't respect the man - at all! He has shown himself as the epitome of those five negative qualities. He has never shown a fear (reverence) of the LORD. That is his sixth mistake. Therefore, I cannot respect a man like that - not ever!

While reading through the new September issue of Turning Points magazine and devotional - "A Stone's Throw Away" - I couldn't help but relate the David and Goliath "big talkers" essay to Obama's propaganda machine that is currently trying to thwart the efforts of the TEA Party patriots and the Town Hall meeting participants who are vehemently against ObamaSCARE HELLcare.

Most know the story of David and Goliath. Goliath taunted the Israelites for forty days, challenging them to go to battle with him and the Philistine army. While the Israelites trembled in their boots and turned down the invitation, David shows up and couldn't believe what he saw. One giant man intimidating the entire Israelite army!

What do we have today? One ObamaFRAUD intimidating a nation of patriots!

David Jeremiah writes:

What did Goliath bring to the table? Words, size, and attitude - that's
it. And that pretty much describes intimidation.

But Obama is slick. He allows his cohorts (SEIU, ACORN etc.) to do the intimidation. Behind the scenes (and, unfortunately, under the radar of most of the Lamestream Media of Mass Deception), Obama (through Axelrod and Soros) is manipulating the masses with his mis-information campaign.

Today, Glenn Beck had two separate recordings of Obama where he claimed one view on one, and then the exact opposite in the second recording. To an audience of SEIU members, Obama stated SPECIFICALLY that he wants the "single payer" option which would ultimately end health care in this nation as we know it and put it under a government bureaucracy that would end up (as history in other countries has shown) RATIONING health care.

Guess which people would get the short end of the stick? The very young (infants) and the elderly. Don't believe me? Watch the Glenn Beck Program and see the types of people who are "advising" Obama on health care. It's quite a scary group of loons!

So, what do we have here? We have absolute proof that Obama IS LYING about his plans for health care reform. HE'S LYING!!!

This guy has lied so much that it is difficult to keep track of them all. However, THIS PARTICULAR LIE has awakened the sleeping giant of formerly non-political citizens who are now sounding the alarm across the country about the terrible consequences our nation would face if ObamaSCARE HELLcare passes.

Dr. Jeremiah writes:

His Words: Jesus said this about Satan: "He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. when he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resourced, for he is a liar and the father of it" (John 8:44).

In other words, "Lying" is Satan's native language. Whatever he says about anything is not to be believed.

People, Obama is LYING TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE! He has been doing this during the campaign and all the months that he has been in office! Who can trust such a blatant, out and out liar??

Now, you may be wondering why I am relating the David and Goliath story to our current governmental turmoil that has been unleashed by Obama and his evil cohorts. It is for the purpose of telling you that the tough talk of this intimidator (Obama) is, as Dr. Jeremiah relates in his article: "as they say in Texas, 'He's all hat and no cattle' when it comes to backing up his talk in the presence of God."

People who know God and his Son, Jesus Christ - are NOT BEING FOOLED by this LIAR!

Dr. Jeremiah is discussing Satan here, but you CAN apply it to men who are liars, too:

It doesn't matter how big The Intimidator is. If you are submitted to God and resist Satan's advances, he will flee from you. Jesus resisted him three times with the truth of Scripture in the wilderness, and Satan left Him (Matthew 4:1-11).

His Attitude: Satan, like Goliath (and Obama), talks tough. In fact, he "walks about like a roaring lion" (1 Peter 5:8).

I think that Obama has so much more power in his lies because the Lamestream Media is refusing to do its job! They are "in the tank" for Obama (just like the Philistine army that was behind Goliath) and they will defend him no matter what he does.

However, the TRUTH is coming out BIG TIME and the PEOPLE ARE WAKING UP OUT OF THEIR FORMER STUPOR and are turning against Obama.

We need to keep praying people - because slowly but surely, our prayers are being answered.

Those of us who are armed with the truth of God (see...it doesn't take guns!) - "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Ephesians 6:17) - you can take ANY intimidator down.

As David Jeremiah writes:

Remember: Tough talk does not a victory make. God's truth will always defeat Satan's [Christine: and Obama's] lies.

We need to defeat this spiral into Marxism. Many of the young people who will be voting for the very first time in the next election weren't alive when the Soviet Union was in existence. They don't know about the dangers and harm of "Socialism." They have not been taught about the true founding of this nation!

Many college professors are Marxists themselves! They are now in their "glory;" thinking that the George Soros & David Axelrod - led Obama is going to change this nation into a communist regime!

Don't let that happen!

I have been listening to Glenn Beck's program on the radio. I also recommend that you watch or record his T.V. program on Fox News each day as well. His program is where you will get news that no one else in the media is covering!

He has encouraged people to go to his website and read what he is uncovering day by day that the MSM is either not reporting - or is mis-reporting (as they often twist his words and meaning and label him a "crazy.") He is also encouraging you to write letters to the younger generation - warning them about the perils of communism. He also encouraged us to write down the TRUTH about our nation's founding and share it with young people who are not learning it in the dumbed down public schools!

Through it all, remember this. As a believer in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, God is with you through it all!

Now, more than ever before, you need to heed these Bible verses:

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. Colossians 2:8

The eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth to show Himself strong to those whose hearts are fully committed to Him. 2 Chronicles 16:9

Hat Tips:

Sothenes at Talk Wisdom message forum.

Glenn Beck.com

There's Gotta Be a Reason

A reason for what? For why Barrack Hussein Obama refuses to show his COLB. Instead, he has spent over a million dollars on lawyers to get case after case dismissed in court rather than spending a mere $20.00 to release the document to a judge as proof of natural born citizen status.

That is what NYC radio host Steve Malzberg is asking in this 3:50 video.


Link to video

Hat Tip:

The Obama File

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Found a very powerful post this morning. After I read it, I realized why so many people (rich, poor, young, old, famous, ordinary, beautiful, not-so-beautiful etc.) are in despair.

American Thinker: There Is No Help


Psa 121:1 A song of ascents. I lift up my eyes to the hills-- where does my help come from?

Psa 121:2 My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.


Psa 121:3 He will not let your foot slip-- he who watches over you will not slumber;


Psa 121:4 indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.


Psa 121:5 The Lord watches over you-- the Lord is your shade at your right hand;


Psa 121:6 the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.


Psa 121:7 The Lord will keep you from all harm-- he will watch over your life;


Psa 121:8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

Casting Crowns: Praise You In This Storm



Jesus Christ, our Savior, Lord and King:

Jhn 16:33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (NIV)

Stimulating Washington's Gluttony

There must be many people out there, like myself, who are deeply upset and sad that Congress passed that awful Porkulus, Spendaholic StimuWASTE bill last night.

This morning, I read a great blog post over at Charlie LeHardy's blog - These Morally Hazardous Times,

Charlie wrote:

Giving Congress a blank check is like throwing red meat to sharks. Giving Congress a blank check and screaming Fire!, as President Obama has been doing, guarantees the worst sort of knee-jerk Congressional response: just throw money at everything and hope that something works.

The "change we need" turns out, unsurprisingly, to be more Washington gluttony at the expense of future generations of taxpayers.

One thing that I would add is the fact that it was RUSHED THROUGH - without giving any member of the House or Senate the change to read the entire thing! Who ever heard of such a thing as this??? CRAZY! UNETHICAL! DANGEROUS! JUST PLAN STUPID - AND EVIL!

So much for the "transparency" that Obama promised on the campaign trail. What about the "48 hours" for the public to see the legislation online before it's voted on and/or passed? Didn't happen. Last night, Sean Hannity had a video clip of Obama making such a claim back in late 2007. How many Obama broken promises does this make? I've lost count.

In Charlie's essay, he discusses "moral hazards." Congress is guilty of adding another one to the list:

Excerpt:

This week, Congress is itself engaging in a different sort of moral hazard — it has the power to waste other people's money with impunity. There is no down side for Congress because it will not have to pay the bill. You will. I will. Our children will. Senators and Congressmen have fully-funded pension plans. They will never experience the pain of unemployment, nor the weight of the huge debt they are putting on the shoulders of future taxpayers.

Rather than rushing to drown us in more debt, Congress would have done well to slow down and debate the causes of this recession, as well as actions that might actually move the American economy back into production. Instead, Democrats have dragged out the same bloated Christmas lists that they trot out every budget year, only this time, they have a green light from the White House to spend, spend, spend.

Though this historic bill is being called a "stimulus package," it has only managed to stimulate Washington's gluttony.

My comment at Charlie's blog:

When that last Democrat Senator cast the final 60th Senate vote for that awful StimuWASTE bill, I sat down and cried. In fact, I had been praying and crying most of the day. I didn't sleep well last night, either.

I really think that our nation is under condemnation. It is going to take some real suffering to get people back to God.

Those who have placed so much faith and hope in an ordinary man (who has supported a LOT of evil) are going to be sorely disappointed. Perhaps, it is when they finally realize their mistake, they will turn back (or, turn to Him for the first time in their lives) to Jesus Christ - the true Messiah, Savior and Lord of the universe.

I recently changed the heading of my blog to this:

Talk Wisdom's goal is to defend the tenets and values of Biblical Christian faith. We defend our Constitutional Republic and Charters of Freedom, especially when speaking out against destructive social and political issues. As followers of our Savior and Lord, we should boldly stand up for Jesus Christ in our present circumstances. He is our Savior, Lord, and King, and His love needs to be shed abroad in our hearts and in our world - now.

Those who voted for Obama and now regret their votes probably aren't ready to admit it yet. Some have publicly stated regret (like the mother of the USS Cole victim); but most are holding to a "wait and see" attitude right now.

Even Mike Huckabee, who didn't vote for Obama but was willing to give him a "chance" now states that he was wrong about giving Obama the benefit of the doubt.

Many pro-Obama supporters who came to my blog over the past year - while I tried to warn them of Obama's past and terribly evil intentions for our nation - hated me for sharing the truth about him. Some day, perhaps one or two will come back to my blog and admit that the dire warnings shared at Talk Wisdom (and at thousands of other conservative and/or Christian blogs) were correct about such warnings.

Sorry this comment is so long!

I will close with telling you that your post here has helped me - a lot. Thanks Charlie.

God bless you!

Sincerely and In Christ,
Christine

Posted by: Christinewjc at February 14, 2009

As Charlie had mentioned in his article, the fact that the burden of this monumental wasteful spending will be on the backs of future generations - makes it all the more appalling to me!

However, in the midst of all of this sadness, doom and gloom and fear for the future of our nation, Charlie shares what is most important (and this part is what helped me):

Quote:

Despite polls showing growing doubts among voters that Congress is taking the right approach with this historic spending bill, it will pass. This bill is a runaway freight train and can't be stopped by human intervention.

It's interesting to think about the moral challenges of modern government, with its god-like powers to create and spend money, push the economy this way or that, and affect the lives of us all by both direct and unintended consequences.

Modern government is a mine field of moral hazards, and while many of our leaders are men and women of good judgment and good heart, too many, clearly, have neither.

The Apostle Paul lived in a much worse time than this, when leaders in both government and the church sought to suppress the fledgling Christian faith that he was spreading throughout the Roman world. His remedy was prayer:

I urge you [Timothy], first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. — 1 Timothy 2:1-4, NLT

Paul's goal was two-fold: 1) that we should be allowed to live our lives in peace, free from interference by leaders of dubious judgment and moral character, and 2) that these leaders should come to understand the truth.

And what is that truth? Paul continues:

For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity — the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time. — 1 Timothy 2:5-6, NLT

In other words, the greatest moral hazard we face is not that we will lose our jobs and be thrown out of our homes, but that we will fail to put ourselves under the redemptive grace of Jesus Christ, which Paul, the economist, says was purchased for us with something far more valuable than US dollars: the blood of Christ shed on the cross.

We only get to vote every few years, but we can pray every day. Pray and intercede for your neighbors and friends who can't find jobs. Pray and intercede for our leaders, that they might allow us to live our lives in peace, and that in this time of great unknowns they might humbly admit their ignorance and seek God's wisdom.

Times are tough, but God is still on his throne, still welcoming sinners into the grace of Jesus Christ. Like every time and every age, this is a time for prayer. /quote

Hat Tip:

Another Think

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Update 2/14/09 :

Here is another great article to read:

Joel Rosenberg's blog: BIBLE PROPHECY AND THE U.S. AND GLOBAL ECONOMIES: “It’s almost as if you can hear the ice cracking beneath our feet”