Returning the Gifts

“And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:32-35.

Christmas is about giving and receiving, but if we were honest with self and others the emphasis for most of us would be on the receiving. Notice that most of us wish to receive before we want to let go of anything. However, the joy of giving always seems to bring more joy and satisfaction because people like to see people smile!!

With the New Year quickly approaching, why not do something a bit differently? Many make those New Year’s Resolutions that most often focus on ourselves for self improvement. Why not make some resolutions that will literally change your life that in turn will impact the lives of everyone around you? But this resolution will not be just for 2008, but will be for the remainder of your life. Maybe this will be of help. Look at this Scripture, Acts 20:32-35 and replace the “I” with your name:

Bob
1. Commends others to God
2. Commends others to the Word of His Grace
3. Encourages others in service to God
4. Ministers with his hands to meet the necessities of others
5. Will help the weak to become stronger in some way
6. Will focus more on giving than receiving accolades for doing so

We have received much this past year only because we are privileged to live in the greatest Nation on the planet, therefore, we are blessed beyond measure. May we never forget that.

And I am now thinking of our men and women serving in other parts of the world in efforts beyond our imagination. I think or our son, David who is somewhere in Iraq. We received a telephone call from him yesterday…Christmas day…as he and several other Marines are protecting our freedom. In their outpost these men have no beds, no chairs, no running water, etc while I sit here in the comfort of my home. This causes me to want to share with others what God has so graciously given me.

My prayer for you today is just that….that God will impress upon your heart to be generous in your life. My prayer today is that you will not forget the Christ who stepped from His place in Heaven to walk this earth for you. My prayer for you is that you will know Christ and share your faith with others. And my prayer for you is that you will not forget the Nation that God has allowed us to live in.

“The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
2 Corinthians 9:6-7.

Trial by Fire...Forgotten Truth

"taken for granted": accepted as real or true without proof

Americans have become soft. And when I say this, I am necessarily referring to many things. But for today, I am speaking of moral compass. For the most part the majority of Americans do not search for truth, but rather accept what is seen on television, viewed on computer screens and heard from Hollywood Icons, etc. Half truths are now 'taken for granted' as being real truth without proof.

What most have seemingly lost are the facts of history, whatever they may be. But the one fact that has been taken from the course of education is the rule of law. The democratic experiment that began on the North American Continent more than 200 years ago depended upon many things. And perhaps the most significant principle is that Law rules the State. But from the 1940's this principle has eroded and the rule of State is quickly absorbing the rule of Law.

Our social order is falling into chaos because the populace is becoming dependent upon the State for existence. And this depends upon thte rule of State rather than the rule of Law. HOWEVER, the law does fall under the proper maintenance of the State which must yield authority to God.

Look for the moment at 1Peter 2:13-17, "Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor." (ESV) "God has ordained the state as a delegated authority; it is not autonomous. The state is to be an agent of justice, to restrain evil by punishing the wrongdoer, and to protect the good in society." (Chrisitian Manifesto; Francis A. Schaeffer, p.91)

What we have witnessed from the 1960's until this moment is a decay of the Western culture.

Leaders of political and religious America (conservatism) have cut the ropes of integrity from the moorings of responsibility and have drifted into the swift currernts of moral collapse. There are some definite signs of the desire of returning to those moorings in search of new ropes that will secure them to sound morality.

But there is so much doubt and frailty among the constituency that the path to change will be difficult...not impossible, but very, very difficult. The house is divided against itself and Jesus Christ has said that with problems like that, division rules and collapse is near at hand.

In June of 1858, Abraham Lincoln addressed the Republican State Convention of Illinois and began with these words, "If we could first know where we are, and whither we are tending, we could then better judge what to do and how to do it." This is a well known phrase that has its foundations in Lincoln's rich faith in God and trust in the Bible.

Lincoln's 'Trial by Fire' came when he wrote (in 1861) and later delivered (in 1862) the "Emmancipation Proclamation" speech. In that speech Mr. Lincoln stated, "I made a solemn vow before God, that if General Lee was driven back from Pennsylvania, I would crown the result by the declaration of freedom to the slaves." (Abraham Lincoln, Elton Trueblood, p.24) His moral struggle until the delivery of the speech was a difficult one because of the division of the Union that was obviously at stake, in part, because of slavery.

For the eighty years that followed the United States struggled to free itself from the horrors of the Civil War while being involved with military and political conflicts that ravaged the Nation around the world. The Nation that was born on the Atlantic Ocean had spread itself to the Pacific Ocean. Many trials were endured by the pioneers who crossed mountains and plains to find 'home'. Wars were fought with countless Indians who fought for their own survival under the press of the 'Blue Eyes' coming on the 'Iron Horse'. Our military and economic power provided opportunity to defend our shores in Europe and the thousands of islands in the Pacific without shedding blood on and destroying our homeland. We had survived the 'Trials by Fire'.

Today, that truth seems to have been forgotten by those that claim leadership at almost every level of our culture. We no longer "dance with the girl we brought." Those principles of Judeo-Christian heritage have not only been forgotten, but have been substituted with Secular Humanism.

This is enough for now. But life as I see it is hard and becoming more difficult for all of us. No, the end is not so near as some might believe, but the road back is one of rediscovery of our roots.......

Thinking Outloud

Life changes in fast time. Riding a lawnmower, laying on my back, right shoulder in pain, visit ER, visit doctor, MRI, surgery, rehab. No complaints. Just want to get this over with in order to get things back to normal.

But, things will not be as they were in some respects. The loss of the rotator cuff muscles, and the challenge of making the necessary corrections that will enable me to do most of the things that I have always taken for granted is my present course of action. This will be interesting and fun. There will be things to do in order to accomplish my goals.

I cannot complain because there are so many people out there that have much greater problems. Those that are confined to wheelchairs or worse, and those warriors that have returned from war whose bodies have been marred beyond repair. Many are disfigured beyond description, others have no way of communicating with the world around them, and many cannot see. Therefore, the loss of the couple of muscles is nothing....there are avenues of almost full recovery for me.

And I do not question God, either. He is not responsible for what happened to me...it was an accident that most likely could have been avoided had I been a bit more careful. I was not and the consequences are of my own making. God has provided the means to challenge and conquer the task of recovery and for this I am grateful. And as the Apostle Paul wrote, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Phil 4:13.