One Nation, Under God!

This is my prayer for the U.S. of A. That we will come back to being one nation, under God! I am not a political person, not by any stretch of the imagination. Lately I have been watching a lot of videos about our government, and the division amongst the parties. I never really knew what each party stood for. I really didn't care. But God cares. So He started opening my eyes to what has been going on since Trump was elected president. This country seems more divided than ever before, and that is a shame. It seems like one side wants to put the blame for everything that happens in the world on the president. I am not a supporter of his, but this can not be. He is not to blame for every single thing that happens in the world. No matter what one side of the political aisle thinks. The other night during prayer time for our country, The Lord put these scripture verses on my heart, and gave me this vision.

Luke 19:41-44 New Living Translation (NLT)

⁴¹ But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep. ⁴² “How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes. ⁴³ Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you from every side. ⁴⁴ They will crush you into the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you did not recognize it when God visited you.”

 

I saw Jesus coming towards the East Coast in a boat. When He saw what is going on, across the land, He started weeping for The United States. Weeping for our lack of morality. The wickedness & evil that is taking place within our boarders. Calling evil good, and good evil. The killing of the unborn, the racial divide, hatred towards other people that are not like us. Not loving each other the way that Jesus loves us.

 

Isaiah 5:20 (NLT)

²⁰ What sorrow for those who say
    that evil is good and good is evil

 

There are people who are already in public office that are trying to take down our country from the inside. Trying to institute their own agendas that fly directly in the face of the US constitution & freedoms. We need to be united once again. Band together and fight against these attempted changes against our government, and American way of life.

 

1 Corinthians 1:10 (NIV)

¹⁰ I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.

 

We need to put God back, Everywhere! He is in control of what happens to our country. 

Oh to be, One Nation Under God. Once again!

 

Philippians 2:10-11 (NLT)

¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹ and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.

Up To Par.

I had a co-worker ask me the simplest question today, that sent my mind into deep thought. He asked me if I thought that a pallet that  he was going to use was up to par? The board on one end of it was coming loose from the board below. I told him that if he didn't think that it was up to par, to get rid of it. That's when my mind started brewing! My goodness the places it went. I started to think about Hitler and the Jews, and how he thought that the Jewish people were not up to par. Just like that pallet, that was thought to be undesirable and tossed away, the Jewish people were also thought of as undesirable to the German dictator, and were to be tossed away like garbage. He tossed (exterminated) away 6 million Jews, just because they were not up to par for him. Then I started thinking about Jesus. How He accepts me as I am. A sinner in need of a Savior.
Romans 3:23(NLT)²³ For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.
I don't have to clean myself up to go to Him.
Ezekiel 36:25(NLT)²⁵ “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away.
Thank You Lord for thinking that I am up to par for You, and that You will not toss me away, or get rid of me.
Deuteronomy 31:6(NKJV)⁶ Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”

Romans 8:35(NLT)³⁵ Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?

John 10:28 (NLT)²⁸ I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me,
Thank You Lord. Your word tells me again and again that I am loved by You!

My Two Cents!

My wife and I attended a private showing of the 'controversial' anti-abortion movie "Unplanned" last weekend. This is going to be my attempt at a review of the film. Just to give you a little back ground, it's a movie about a woman named Abby Johnson, who at the start of the movie had became Planned Parenthood's youngest director. Then one day she was asked to assist on a procedure, and what she saw being performed on the ultra sound screen, changed everything for her. What she saw was horrific and disturbing. It finally opened her eyes to what was being done at Planned Parenthood. The movie received an "R" rating from the MPAA. They gave this rating for violent and bloody images. What I saw on the screen, I couldn't believe the rating. I have seen more blood and violence in a PG-13 movie. To me it was just a ploy to try and cut down on the people that would be able to see it. Then after that a whole bunch of cable t.v. channels didn't promote the film either. Wouldn't air the trailer or say anything about it. To them the movie just did not exist. Sad! Then Twitter blacked out their account for a little while before re-instating it. To me, the worst of it all was that K-Love, a Christian radio station wouldn't not promote the film either. Can you imagine, a Christian radio station not supporting a pro-life movie. Wow! They said that they don't advertise for "R" rated films, even though they supported "The Passion of The Christ", which by the way was rated "R". This whole scenario with the rating and lack of media support reminded me of the first part of John 10:10 ¹⁰ The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. The Devil was sure trying his hardest to get this movie suppressed. But you know what? My God is bigger than all of this. He has no equal or rival. The second part of John 10:10 My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. God has made this movie rich. It really surprised Hollywood with it's opening weekend. I believe that it finished in 4th place over all with a total of a little more than 6 million dollars. How great is our God! I pray that this movie has far reaching effect. That hearts will soften, eyes will see, ears will hear and feet will respond to the plight of the unborn. I pray that abortion will become unthinkable!
Psalm 139:14(NKJV)¹⁴ I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NLT)¹⁴ Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land

Another Year Older.

I celebrated another birthday last week (3/13). Every year on my birthday, I always thank God for being able to take another trip around the sun. On my birthday I reflect back on what has happened over the course of the last year. Let me tell you, from March of '18 to March of '19 was kind of a roller coaster year for me. During the course of the year, I went through a really dark season. I don't know why it happened, but it did. I was angry. Angry all the time. Angry at everyone and everything. For no apparent reason. Here I was, a Christian, and a pastor, letting anger get the best of me. Let me tell you, it didn't do well for my Christian witness. People walked on egg shells around me. Afraid to say the wrong thing to me. Or to even speak to me at all. I didn't like it. I didn't like who I was, or what I was doing or whom I had become. I prayed and prayed that God would let me see situations like He sees them. Let me see people through Your eyes Lord. He didn't answer, at first. This went on week after week for almost two months. I was letting the anger consume me. I kept reading this passage from the Bible almost everyday.
James 1:19-20 (NLT)¹⁹ Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. ²⁰ Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.
I was not being Christ like, at all. I was not doing what He desired me to do. To love everyone.
Then one day it all changed. It was almost like Thanos snapping his fingers in the Avengers movie. Except in my case, all of my anger was gone. God had this to  say.
Colossians 3:8 (NLT)⁸ But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language.
Thank You Lord! I went to work, and everything was different. No more anger towards my co-workers. No more anger towards my job. God had given me a peace and a comfort that I could not explain. He was telling me that my season of anger was over.
John 16:33 (NLT)³³ I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” 
I give all the glory and praise to The Lord! He answered my prayers, in His time.

This Stage of Life.

Stages of life. Everyone has them and goes through them. You have your baby stage. Then comes your childhood followed by the teenage years. Then your onto young adulthood followed by just being an adult. Hitting the prime stage and finally your last stage. The stage I'm in right now, I don't particularly care for, for this one reason. People are starting to pass away. Parents, friends parents, friends, co-workers, neighbors, classmates. The list goes on and on. Not a day or a week goes by where I don't hear of someone I know passing away. It saddens me. Especially people that I know well, or better than just a "hi, how ya doin'" How I wish I could have talked with them one more time, or paid them another visit, just to say "hi".
James 4:14 (NLT)¹⁴ How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.
That's right folks. Life is short. You think that you'll have plenty of time with someone and then the next thing you know, they are gone, forever! We all think that we are guaranteed a tomorrow, but we are not guaranteed anything. When you die, people will come from miles around to see your body and give last respects. But where are they when you are alive? To busy to come and visit when you are above ground, but can carve out time to come to your visitation. Doesn't make sense. Life is short! We need to love people while they are here. We need to hug more, kiss more, have more fun together. We need to learn how to forgive others.
Colossians 3:13 (NLT)¹³ Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
The older we get and people start to pass away, and things aren't like they used to be. I realize that the petty little stuff from life just doesn't matter anymore. It just doesn't! Carrying around a grudge against someone who offended you just isn't worth it. Maybe you had plans of forgiving them, but then something happens and they are gone, forever. Now you have to carry that guilt with you. Of not making things right.
So, in this stage of my life I am going to go out of my way to be kind to people. To be caring, compassionate and forgiving. Life is to short to do otherwise!
Ephesians 4:31-32 (NLT)³¹ Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. ³² Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
I am going to try my best to model what Jesus showed us to do.

Draw Near.

I recently have had conversations with people who are going to an event at a church. A  wedding, a meeting, whatever. It almost always comes up, every time. "I sure hope the building doesn't collapse because I am there." Or better yet, "I sure hope lightning doesn't strike me." Then if they know that I am  going to the same event, they'll always say "I'll just hang around you." Just because I am a Christian and a Pastor doesn't mean you'll be saved. You can't ride my coat tails to Heaven. That's not how it works. I am a servant of the Most High. All I can do is point to and tell people about Jesus. He is the One who saves. It says in the Bible to draw near to God, not draw near to  Keven.
James 4:8 New King James Version (NKJV)⁸ Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
It's a personal relationship with Jesus. We all have a different paths we are taking.
Proverbs 3:6  (NLT)⁶ Seek his will in all you do and he will show you which path to take.
If you still think that you need to be by me, this is what the Bible says.
1 Corinthians 11:1 (NLT)11 ¹ And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.
Once again. Just because you hang around me or are near me, I can't save you. Only Christ can do that.
Romans 10:9-10(NKJV) ⁹ that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Amen!!

Heart Issue

So, it happened once more this past week. Another senseless act of gun violence at a place of employment. Five people were killed and several were injured including five police officers. This time it really hit close to home for me. It happened at a company in Aurora. I used to live a few blocks away from where it happened, plus I have family members and friends who are like family on the Aurora police department. Thank God they are all alright, but still scary at first, not knowing. These shootings are becoming more and more frequent, between places of work, schools, night clubs, baseball practice, wherever. People are quick to put the blame on the gun. But it's not the gun that killed these innocent people, it's the person behind the gun pulling the trigger who is to blame. We'll start hearing again about how we need to ban guns. How we need stricter gun laws (that no one will follow). The dude that killed those five people in Aurora was supposed to surrender his gun months ago. How come this didn't happen? Now innocent people are dead.We don't need more gun laws or policy's. We need more of Jesus! It is a heart problem in America.
Galatians 6:7  (NIV)⁷ Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.
We keep kicking Jesus out of every thing and everywhere, then we wonder where He was at during the violence. Jesus is a gentleman. He will not go where He is not invited. He gives us free will. To choose what we want. Obviously He wants us to choose Him. If we don't, He is not going to force Himself on us. Like I said, He is a gentleman!
2 Chronicles 7:14  (ESV)¹⁴ if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
I pray that we as a country repent and turn from our evil ways and turn back to The Lord!