The Problem of Evil

Since the beginning of time, there has been a war raging in the cosmos. It is a war that starts in heaven when Lucifer decides that he wants to be God. Lucifer was God’s most beautiful creation. He walked before the throne room daily and was considered an archangel. But Lucifer became jealous of God, and it was out of that jealously that Lucifer convinced one third of the angels to join his efforts to overthrow God and become God himself. It was at this point He ceased being an archangel and became the Prince of Darkness. The Devil’s revolt resulted in him being cast out of Heaven by God and ever since Satan and God have been enemies.

In our time we look forward to the day that evil will no longer hold sway in the world. We long for a heaven on earth. And one day there will be a new heaven and a new earth. But until that day comes when evil is finally no longer, evil still remains and causes much pain on the earth. In God’s original creation everything that God created was good. In fact for a time, humanity itself knew no sin. Then man sinned, and evil manifested itself into the world. Evil can be defined “as the refusal to accept the true God as God. True evil elevates itself or another to replace God.” The question often arises, if God being holy and just knew that evil and sin would come to the earth than why did He not prevent it or stop it? There are three reasons why God allows evil to continue in the world and they are the following: 1.) God created man with free will and thus gave man the ability to choose to accept Him or reject Him, 2.) The fact that evil and suffering is so prevalent in our lives reveals the fact that we have our own inadequacies and that we need God, and 3.) God allows evil because He does not want His children to get used to the present life because as the Bible says, we are just pilgrims and sojourners passing through and as believers, Heaven is our final eternal state.
God created man with free will and thus gave man the ability to choose to accept Him or reject Him. God did not create evil. God did create persons with freedom who could practice it. So we are who actualize evil, not Him. He could have created a world without the possibility of evil, but He preferred a world with free choice. God created us with the power of choice. To quote from Ravi Zacharias,
“What would it take to create a loving world void of evil? A world in which love is capable of meaningful expression and experience would also imply a world in which there is choice. If someone tells you that they love you, those words mean something because they are freely given. If you learned that someone had told you they loved you but that they had been forced to say it, their words would not mean very much. Thus, if we want to speak of a loving world, we must also speak of a world in which choices are exercised. And in such a world, there is also the possibility of choosing a course of action that is not loving, i.e. evil.”
True love implies and demands a free choice! Or else you would have a fixed environment in which humanity would be robots. Alvin Plantinga claimed the following:
“If God creates human beings with true, morally significant free will (where humans can freely decide to act in ways that really do advance goodness in the world, or really do cause evil in the world against self, others or world), and if God wants a world in which there are significant amounts of moral goodness, it’s possible that God cannot get that kind of world without significant amounts of moral badness as well. After all, if people are left free by God, then the morally significant states of the world will in large part be up to the decisions of humans, not up to God.”

The fact that evil and suffering is so prevalent in our lives reveals the fact that we have our own inadequacies and that we need God. Simply put, all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God. When Adam and Eve sinned, God promised that one day there would be one coming that would be a sacrifice for sin and would make a way for people to have there relationship restored to God. That was done when Jesus died on Calvary. Jesus took all of humanities sins, and bore them for all of humanity so that people might have a chance to be saved and inherit eternal life. We see here that “Christ’s atonement guarantees the final end of evil and suffering”. Alcorn says, “The drama of evil and suffering in Christ’s sacrifice addresses the very heart of the problem of evil and suffering. One day it will prove to be the final answer.” The answer to the problem of evil and suffering according to Alcorn,“is not a philosophy, but a Person; not words, but the Word.” Jesus Christ is the answer to the problem of evil. Only He can help us with the feeling of inadequacies and the feelings of hopelessness. Only He can save humanity from their sins. Only Jesus can provide true lasting peace.
God allows evil because He does not want His children to get used to the present life because as the Bible says, we are just pilgrims and sojourners passing through and as believers, Heaven is our final eternal state. If everything was perfect and no problems ever surfaced and there was no pain in life then people would not have to rely upon God anymore for anything. Alcorn points out that “in order to appreciate our eternal future, we will remember the sufferings of the present.” Because we have pain and suffering, we must rely upon an Almighty God. Human beings do not have all the answers. Dinesh D’ Sousa writes.

The only way for us to really triumph over evil and suffering is to live forever in a place where those things do not exist. It is the claim of Christianity that there is such a place and that is available to all who seek it. No one can deny that, if this claim is true, then evil and suffering are exposed as temporary hardships and injustices. They are as transient as our brief, mortal lives. In that case God has shown us a way to prevail over evil and suffering, which are finally overcome in the life to come.”

So in reality, in the big picture evil and suffering is only temporary. So every trial and every tribulation that we may face in life is well worth it, because one day those that believe in Jesus will receive new resurrected bodies that will no longer be corrupted. We will be in Heaven where Jesus is, and there will be no more sin. Revelation 21:1-7 best illustrates what will happen in the end: 1And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
In conclusion, we have seen the three reasons why God allows evil to exist in our present world. According to Ed Hindson and Emir Caner,
“What evil forces us to conclude is either God is not good, or that our conception of God’s relationship toward us needs serious rethinking. The evidence about evil drives us decisively to this latter conclusion. God uses evil, suffering, and disorder to drive us to Himself. If He gave only good, we would be self-satisfied. If he had given immediate death when we sinned, He would be just. That He gives us partial goodness and partial suffering now forms a texture of hope that in the future, He will in fact make all things right in a final consummation and restoration. God is not through: He will continue to work on us, like a persistent sculptor working the metal with hard blows and constant lighter corrections, to help us become worthy of happiness if we receive Him and submit to His plan. On most occasions, it seems, we do not know why God allows certain evils. But we know someone who knows these things, and we can therefore trust Him to make good on His promise that “he who began a good work in us will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

The recent announcement that Wal-Mart would tag clothing with the RFID chip, and the chip’s use for other purposes, has raised concerns among privacy advocates, as well as questions about whether the RFID chip might be the Mark of the Beast, as discussed in Revelation 13. Perhaps not as many have heard of RFID specifically – indeed, my fingers seem to want to type RDIF. (Relax, Dude, it’s Friday?) However, the notion of chip implants for numerous purposes is in the news a lot.

The fact that God’s Word told of microchip technology – as well as webcams and other things – over 1900 years ago isn’t the only thing that makes many wonder about chip implants. Privacy advocates also warn that they could lead to an Orwellian society in which everything is monitored.

A look at both sides reveals this to be a fascinating new technology. It’s not all horrible, as it has great uses. Still, in the wrong hands, it will, someday, led to great troubles. As we’ll see, the Mark of the Beast is clearly not the same as the RFID chip as used in 2010. However, because it could be used for evil rather easily, it is definitely something that – like the above webcams and satellites – could be used for evil purposes. However, there is a way to escape such a fate.

What Is the Mark of the Beast?

First, a look at Revelation 13 shows what the Mark of the Beast will be:

16 And he [note: the false prophet] causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast [the antichrist], or the number of his name.

This Mark is used for control and identification. The world ruler in this period will have great power. However, he won’t be just any ruler – he will eventually proclaim himself God (Dan. 9:27, 2 Thes. 2:4, Revelation 13, etc.) Indeed, that verse in Second Thessalonians says the ruler, known as the Antichrist, will exalt himself “above all that is called God, or that is worshipped.” He will force and demand worship. This is unlike God, as the Lord Jesus Christ lovingly lets us choose whether or not we wish to serve Him. He simply lets us know there can be severe consequences to our choices if they are poor ones.

In the beginning, though, this ruler will be just a great man – some will call him the greatest leader ever. He will unite many behind his global agenda. He will bring peace. In fact, he will likely be responsible – though maybe behind the scenes – for the rebuilding of a Jewish temple in Jerusalem. In the middle of a seven-year period, though, he will break a covenant with the Jewish people, and wage war against them. (Dan. 9:27)

His mark is one of control. Note that nobody may buy or sell without it. They will be forced to declare allegiance to the Antichrist and his government. Either he, or his realm, will suffer a deadly wound which will be healed.

Rev. 13:3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
4 And they worshipped the dragon [the devil] which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
…
14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

You can read all of Revelation 13 on your own, but notice that the one who sets up this image will also be the one implementing the Mark of the Beast. Through holograms, computer animation, or some other means, the image will speak.

We see, then, that the Mark of the Beast will be much more than just an ID tag. Oh, it will most likely contain that. It’s quite possible that it will contain all vital information. At the rate things are going, it could contain an internet connection!

People have worried many things were the Mark in the past – Bar codes, credit cards (VI is 6 in Latin, and the number of the Beast is 666), tattoos, and so on. The reason people believed things like credit cards were the Mark is because they twisted Bible prophecy to their own era. That’s normal – the Thessalonians did the same thing. Believers were confused because they thought they were supposed to all disappear in the twinkling of an eye, instead of dying one by one. Paul had to comfort them that those who trusted Christ as Savior and then died were in Heaven; (1 Thess. 4:13-18)

This doesn’t mean the mark won’t be like any of those. Each of those places us closer to the Mark. The Mark isn’t RFID in the way it is being used now. However, the RFID chip, like a credit card, is an ID that means people are more accustomed to these things.

it is a sign of the times. In other words, we probably know now how many of those things in Revelation chapter 13 occur.

We must read the Bible literally. Sometimes it’s hard, like before satellites, webcams, and the like, Rev. 11:9-10 (all the nations of the world looking on two dead bodies) was hard to understand. Like the Mark of the Beast, though, it will happen. Something will be put into people, to cause them to be monitored, to swear allegiance to the Antichrist, and so prevent them from buying or selling anything without it.

Still, privacy experts are worried. So, what is RFID, and what isn’t it?

The RFID Chip and Other Implants

Despite the typo I mentioned, RFID is not a typo for Relax, Dude, it’s Friday. It stands for Radio Frequency Identification. An RFID tag is used to monitor an item, animal, or person by using radio waves. It can be used to track and identify merchandise. However, it can also be used to monitor animals – such as finding lost pets – or humans. The FDA has approved one – called Verichip – for use in humans; and it has raised even more alarms.

It can be read from farther away than traditional bar codes. (A funny sounding term when one considers those haven’t been around for that many decades.) This leads to numerous concerns, such as identity theft. It also could be monitored if a tracking device such as a GPS system were placed inside of one.

There are, of course, benefits to RFID chips as well. At times, mankind has invented things and even put them into mass production without considering all the possible drawbacks or increasing safety first – people died on rare occasion from shocks caused the earliest lights, for instance.

While there are safety concerns, proponents of the chips, if they were honest, would likely acknowledge the potential problems, and promise to solve those, as was done with electricity. After all, microchip technology does allow things to be identified faster than ever, monitored for problems easier than ever, and so on.

However, problems with insulating electrical wires enough are technical in nature. It’s easy to fix a light switch when you have the technology. It’s impossible for people to fix human nature totally – sure, they can make things better, but imperfect people can’t lift other imperfect people above the level of imperfection. They can’t make people perfect.

Since people can’t become perfect on their own, there will always be people out there who can use microchip technology for their own, evil ends. Some of these can easily become leaders of entire nations. In other words, the RFID Chip as it is being used now is not yet the Mark of the Beast.

However, it’s easy to see how it can be. It’s easy to see how something that is meant only for identification can rob a person of liberty, and be used to control everything he or she consumes. It’s quite possible that the information on a chip can be programmed, so that a person’s identify can be changed or wiped out.

And, given human nature, it’s only a matter of time before someone does just that.

What’s better, though, is knowing how to avoid the pain and suffering. God has clearly wanred us that this Mark will be used as a sign of worship to the Beast, the devil. And, He has provided a way to avoid it.

Rev. 14:9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

How to avoid that terrible fate?

q. Remember, this world is not our home. We will spend forever in one of two homes, Heaven or Hell. The verses above describe Hell. The Bible tells us many times what Heaven will be like. It is a place where nobody has seen, heard, or imagined the wonders. Just picture a world with no suffering, no pain, no death, where everyone is peaceful – including the animals!

Heaven will be filled with the most joyous things, and most amazing sights and sounds. It will be like a person, totally blind from birth, suddenly seeing perfectly. Our finite minds can’t grasp the wonders that await us.

The way to avoid the Mark now is to simply “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” (Acts 16:31) We are in the Church Age, and have not yet seen the worst that mankind will do. That may be hard to believe, with the increase in violence, hatred, lawlessness, and so on. But, it will continue to get worse.

Right now, though, you can put your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ to forgive you for your sin. We don’t all commit every sin. There are some who have never stolen, for example, but who haave told lies. No sin can enter into the presence of God. So, God Himself, in the form of a man, Jesus Christ, came to this world to die on the cross, and to rise from the dead. He took your sins and mine on Himself (2 Peter 2:24), taking the punishment so we could go to Heaven.

And, the wonderful thing is, He will come live in you right now, and guide you through the many problems of life. He does that through the Holy Spirit, which is another way God manifests Himself.

All if takes to do ths is to receive Him by simple faith: believe that He died for you and rose from the dead, that He took the punishment for your sins, and repent of them. That means agreeing with God that you need Him to save you, and invite Him to do so; invite Him to come live in your heart to change you on the inside.

One day, He which letteth (the Holy Spirit) will be taken out of the way, and the “man of lawlessness” (the Antichrist) will be revealed. (2 Thess. 2:7-8) If that time has come by the time you read this, you may still receive Him by faith, like above, but things will be a lot tougher. You may well be one of those who is beheaded in the end for the cause of Christ. However, you will be sure of going to heaven, and in the meantime, you can trust in God to guide you through things. It’s just that His Holy Spirit will not be able to indwell believers in the end, since He will have left the earth. Instead, He will be on believers to guide them, just as He was in the Old Testament.

Thankfully, we know that at that time, if you endure to the end, you will be saved.

Shining Perspective

Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. Psalm 27:14

It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. Lamentations 3:26

I’m waiting on the Lord. Tomorrow I may receive an immense blessing or it might not go the way I hoped. I’ve struggled through the waiting process, but God has kept me busy throughout. This past week has been one of extremes. I found myself rocketing full speed up mountaintops to reach a state of indescribable joy, only to come barreling just as swiftly down to the valley below. Every day has been this way. It is in times such as these I find I am so grateful for the stability that can only be found in Jesus Christ.

Whatever state I find myself in I know I can find comfort, rest and strength in Jesus. I’ve been weary and physically exhausted as sleeplessness is something that regularly afflicts me. This past week I had the privilege of not only watching thousands of people come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior, but I also had the honor of meeting a few of them and learning their stories. What amazing moments of pure joy. I also have the pleasure of teaching Sunday school and I’m not sure there is anything better on this earth than seeing the light go on in a child’s eyes as they get the lesson and it becomes real to them.

At the same time, I experience trials just like everyone else and sometimes they threaten to consume me. They knock me down, they test me in ways I never thought I’d be tested and I often fail in them. If there is one thing that I have learned it’s that success comes out of failure just as new life comes out of death. I have also learned that as much as I get scared of failure, my biggest fear really lies in this question: Am I missing the fullness of what God has for me?

In the light of a new day I may have to deliver a big disappointment to my six year old, maybe the biggest of his young life. I also might be stepping into a blessing I never saw coming. Whatever answer I receive and no matter what happens every day I find myself in the same situation.

The bible makes it clear, if there is one thing we are all doing in this life it is waiting on the Lord. “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him…” Psalm 37:7. “Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.” Jude 1:21. “Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes…” 1 Corinthians 4:5

God in His mercy is faithful to remind me what I receive as I wait for the Lord: “We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.” Psalm 33:20 “but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31 “Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!” Isaiah 30:18

Key #5 to Happiness – Living without fear.

One thing among many that I hated prior to knowing Jesus Christ and the love of the Father intimately was some Christian spouting off “Christianese” at me. It was like a sugar-coated secret language that I could only learn after I gave up everything I had, everything I loved and I got ready to wear sack cloth and ashes. Not a very inviting prospective.

So, in order to not be one of those “people”, let me start this article with various things I found that were not in the bible.

I decided to search on my own via the vast search engines available to us for the things I would be talking about in this article. Happiness…joy….fear. Wow! Who knew how often these questions/words/solutions were addressed!  I couldn’t list them all. Here are a few:

Happiness: the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires : delight b : the expression or exhibition of such emotion : gaiety
2 : a state of happiness or felicity : bliss 3 : a source or cause of delight

And….

“One way to understand the difference between joy and happiness is to look at the opposites of the two feelings. The opposite of joy is fear while the opposite of happiness is unhappiness and misery.” Diffen.com

I liked this. The opposite of joy was fear. OK. What else? Again, the search reference for the word “fear” was endless. One definition of “fear” that I felt said it all:
F–FALSE
E–EVIDENCE
A–APPEARING
R—REAL

Then there were the unlimited famous/infamous quotations which I shrunk down to this small list:

“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself – nameless, unreasoning, unjustified, terror which

paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.”  FDR – First Inaugural Address, March 4, 1933

Courage is not the lack of fear but the ability to face it.” Lt. John B. Putnam Jr. (1921-1944)

“The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear.” H.P. Lovecraft
“The greatest obstacle to love is fear. It has been the source of all defects in human behavior throughout the ages.” Mahmoud Mohammed Taha

Fear makes the wolf bigger than he is.” German Proverb

I have German ancestors. None of them bothered to share that last one with me. I don’t think anyone bothered to share it with them either. On the contrary, all my ancestral roots (not limited to the Germanic only) learned to rule and dominate others with fear. It was a successful maneuver in many ways because it got people to do, or not to do, whatever they wanted. The bad news…it kept many from achieving all they could possibly be or were designed to be by Almighty God. Call it fear of failure, fear of success, fear of confrontation, fear of rejection, fear of abandonment, etc. It was still the same four letter word causing the same havoc and destruction of joy or happiness. FEAR!

This can be taught, learned, experienced or generational. It matters not from whence it came. It is a killer of life. It is a killer of dreams. It is a killer of others…either in their spirit or in their body.

I wanted to know how to stop this paralyzing and destructive force in my life. I wanted to have a better life. I tried everything from meditation to other forms of “religious and mind-empowering practices.” None of them worked. Some cost money. Most were not freely given. When all else failed I learned about something I hadn’t tried yet.

“But these are written (recorded) in order that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ (the Anointed One), the Son of God, and that through believing and cleaving to and trusting and relying upon Him you may have life through (in) His name [ through Who He is].” John 20:31

The Lord promises a free gift…His gift of love. The gift of Jesus. Someone who really thinks you’re important and really cares. It’s like having a great big daddy Who is always standing guard at all times so I can rest and not worry…and be happy:

“But [even] the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not be struck with fear or seized with alarm; you are of greater worth than many [flocks] of sparrows.” Luke 12:7

If you’ve never experienced this love, you’re missing one of the first tools to overcoming this four letter word (FEAR) and all its deadly entanglements. He promised us that “Perfect love gets rid of fear” and the name of Jesus is the embodiment of that perfect love demonstrated on this earth. It’s a name that He encouraged us to call out  – JESUS. The name that every/all powers must bow their knee to… JESUS! This was the name…the word… I learned to use early on with my walk through my personal battles.

You see, some of it this freedom walk was not easy for me and is not easy for most. The gift to start on the journey was/is free. But, like any good workout and muscle building program, you (we) have to do some of the work. Many times I wished that the trainer would do the exercises, magically touch my body and I’d be fifty pounds lighter and able to do things I did when I was twenty!  But alas, this is not possible. I have and had to do the work.

The reward was great as I strengthened my faith muscles and started to chip away at all the fear-based ideology that had been imbedded in me. I now look at “stuff” that is taking away my peace, my happiness and ask the Lord what the cause may be. One of the main questions that I usually ask is… ”What am I afraid of?”

If you find yourself battling this four letter word…start with His free gift. If you haven’t invited Jesus into your life as your Lord and Savior…give HIM a try. This Web site has tools on how to do this. It won’t cost you a thing. It’s between you and Him. He’s not like a lot of people who beat you over the head to get you to do something. No…it’s just the opposite. He stands at the door to your heart, knocks and then waits for an invitation to come in. He’s not pushy or punitive. He doesn’t want you to be afraid of Him. He’ll wait until you say “yes.” He won’t judge. He’ll wait until your “yes.”

Will happiness come immediately? I don’t know. Each and every experience is different. Like our fingerprints, no two people are alike. But I can guarantee one thing. You will never be alone again. You will always have the name of a Friend who you can on call at any time. JESUS. Once you mention His name…all hell runs away. They don’t like to be reminded of the ONE who is really in charge, who is really love and who will never leave us or forsake us.

Try studying these one day at a time for seven days. Have hope, have happiness and become fearless!

Day #1

The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me. Psalm 118:6

Day #2

Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.] John 14:27

Day #3
For [the Spirit which] you have now received [is] not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption [the Spirit producing son-ship] in [the bliss of] which we cry, Abba (Father)! Father! Romans 8:15

Day #4

In Whom, because of our faith in Him, we dare to have the boldness (courage and confidence) of free access (an unreserved approach to God with freedom and without fear). Ephesians 3:12

Day #5

And do not [for a moment] be frightened or intimidated in anything by your opponents and adversaries, for such [constancy and fearlessness] will be a clear sign (proof and seal) to them of [their impending] destruction, but [a sure token and evidence] of your deliverance and salvation, and that from God. Philippians 1:28

Day #6

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7

Day #7

So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me? Hebrews 13:6

Previous Happiness Lessons:

How to find Happiness – 15 Lesson Series – Overview

How to find Happiness – Introduction

How to find Happiness – Key #1 – A relationship with God

How to find Happiness – Key #2 – Being Thankful

How to find Happiness – Key #3 – Learning How to forgive yourself

How to find Happiness – Key #4 – Learning How to forgive others

How to find Happiness - Key #5 – Living in the present

May you find true happiness and may God answer your prayers – Amen!

Key #5 to Happiness – Living in the present

At first glance, you might ask – what does living in the present have to do with happiness?  What’s so great about the present?  What does it even mean to live in the present?   It means that we are focused on what we are experiencing, thinking and/or feeling right now…and not caught up in the fantasies about the future or burdened down with memories of the past. 

“Be here now” was a popular phrase in the hippy days which was captured well in many books and songs.  Like all things, however, embracing this concept can lead a person either positively or negatively…into deep irresponsibility and narcissism, or into the discipline of total reliance upon God for every need on a moment to moment basis. 

Living in the “now” with Jesus is the epitome of joy, peace, wisdom, power and destiny.

But how do you get there?  Well, first, let’s explore not living in the present.

Living in the past = Regret

 “When one door closes another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us.”   Alexander Graham Bell

I must admit that I too relive the past sometimes.   Like most of us, when I find myself in the past, I am usually reliving a mistake or a negative situation, which then makes me feel badly about myself.  Oh, I have personal ones too, but when I am stuck in the past it usually has to do with work.  Have you ever had an important meeting and you blew it?  I have.  For days I can beat myself up over it replaying the scene over and over in my mind, wishing I could have a “do over.”   Sometimes even years later, I can find myself feeling sick about a particular meeting that went south.

I can only imagine the torment people experience who have made a mistake that caused serious injury or even someone’s life.  One such situation happened recently with one of my relatives.   
Frankly, I don’t know how one gets over something like that, except by God’s grace.  (check out our article from a few weeks ago “Learning How to forgive yourself”)

 God promises to give the Holy Spirit liberally to everyone who asks for Him.   

“If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more

will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Luke 11:13

He also said, “If you ask anything in my name, I will do it.” John. 14:14

What does “anything” include?  Hmmnn…  I guess it means ANYTHING.  (which includes healing your memories and self incriminations)  But there’s more –

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”.  1 John 1:9 (NKJV) 
“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead”,   Phil 3:13 (NKJV)

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.  Romans 8:1 (NKJV)

On the other hand, if we are constantly recalling positive experiences of the past, it usually means that our happiness is caught up deeds or works we did earlier…with pride hovering around us ready to establish (or grow) a deeper root.  Even reliving our own old glory days too often can hold us back from hearing the new thing God has for us now. 

Here is what the Bible says about living in the past:

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.  2 Cor 5:17 (NKJV)

Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.  Romans 6:4 (NKJV)

Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ  Phil 3:8 (NKJV)

Living in the future = Anxiety and Fear.

We all like to think about the possibility about a wonderful future where our dreams come true and that is not a bad thing.  However, truth be told, when most of us think about the future, it’s usually about negative things…things we fear.  Fear of losing a job, not being able to pay the bills, not being able to care for our families and more.  We all face these fears, including myself.  The key is not to dwell on our fears but to give them over to God…that is what he wants us to do with them.  Also, check out our next keys to happiness next week where we’ll talk about how to overcome fear.

Here is what the Bible has to say about fixating on the future, worry and fear:

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on.  Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?  So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?  Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  ”But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.   Matthew 6:25-34 (NKJV)

“Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad”.  Proverbs 12:25 (NKJV)

“Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Behold, all those who were incensed against you Shall be ashamed and disgraced; They shall be as nothing, And those who strive with you shall perish. You shall seek them and not find them…Those who contended with you. Those who war against you Shall be as nothing, As a nonexistent thing.  For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, Fear not, I will help you.”  Isaiah 41:10-13 (NKJV)

Living in the present

If you worry about what might be, and wonder what might have been, you will ignore what is.  ~Author Unknown

We crucify ourselves between two thieves:  regret for yesterday and fear of tomorrow.  ~Fulton Oursler

There is a lot of truth in the above words.  For a very few people, living is the present comes naturally, including our dogs.  That is definitely something we can learn from our K9s…they truly live in the present.  For most of us however, it takes effort to train our minds to let go of our worries and forgive ourselves of our mistake.  The good news is that we can do it with help from God.  He promises us (read the above verses again) to help us if we just let him.  When we do that, overall we’re happier people. 

Do you realize that only when we live in the present can we experience God’s presence?

Keys to happiness exercise:

• Ask God for help (ask Jesus into your life if you have not done so already)
• Read the above scriptures and others from our Successful Living area every day for a week
• Memorize the scripture that speaks to you most
• Every time fear, worry or regret creeps into your mind, pray, give it to the lord and repeat your favorite scripture.
• Ask others to pray for you
• Feel free to e-mail us with questions
• Sign up for our e-mail reminder as soon as a new key to happiness is published

Previous Happiness Lessons:

How to find Happiness – 15 Lesson Series – Overview

How to find Happiness – Introduction

How to find Happiness – Key #1 – A relationship with God

How to find Happiness – Key #2 – Being Thankful

How to find Happiness – Key #3 – Learning How to forgive yourself

How to find Happiness – Key #4 – Learning How to forgive others

May you find true happiness and may God answer your prayers – Amen!

Fear. It’s an ugly thing, ugly feeling and ugly spirit. It exists and has motivated us, imprisoned us, beaten us, manipulated us, lied to us, provoked us and defeated us our entire lives. It’s been around for thousands of years. It lies in wait to achieve its goal…get us to fail, give up, make a wrong move and worst of all…to hate God, not believe Him, not trust Him and give up on His promises to us.

It has many forms and takes many forms. It continually finds ways of disguising itself but it is there. If we are not alert we miss subtle, clever and cunning ways that are used to deceive us. Sometimes, most likely most times, it has been around in our family line for generations. Each generation influenced and directed by the success of this spirit on the generations before…until it is disclosed and taken down!

The title of this article sounds stupid, huh? Nope. It’s not. I’m living proof. I’m from families that over thousands of years, like everyone else, were controlled by this ugly tool of hell. I have proof. I saw this in my own parents and living relatives when I was old enough and healed enough to recognize it. I know this because the Lord allowed me to see the truth as the scales were removed from my eyes and fear from my life. It wasn’t easy. It was a gigantic battle. Fear had taken many forms in my life and theirs. It drove most to destruction and a few to success, though they never enjoyed it or felt the success.

Our world has had an intense release of fear in the form of the “terrorist” movement. The people who want to spread terror. Other similar words that are included in this meaning “terror’…fear, horror, fright, dread, shock panic, alarm, etc. That’s what the word means. A “people” that want the title “terrorist”. It gives them power and a place. Or so they think.

This is not new. It’s been around for centuries. The titles have changed but not the people. Read the Old Testament. It’s filled with other names kingdoms, kings, leaders, rebels who either tortured, maimed, imprisoned or destroyed nations. The motives have always been the same…confuse, control and conquer and destroy. The only difference is that now the destruction power is greater, swifter, and far reaching.

Greater numbers are easily affected because the global information network is massage and twirling around at the speed of light. We have become information junkies. Depending upon the news source or alliance we side with, we read and watch those links. All others are considered “them” and “those people.” Truth is a subjective opinion…in most cases.

But there are the things that cannot be refuted though many try. I could name many examples but what about just these? Four planes destroyed people and buildings in our nation on our soil. Millions were murdered in the holocaust and there are tattooed arms and living survivors to prove this tragedy. There have been financial meltdowns in the past where much was lost in the forms of human life and possessions. The Great Depression was… and almost was again. Fear in its most dangerous form, visual and physical truth. Once again it is powered throughout mankind to seed the offspring(s) of fear again and again.

I found it difficult to balance preparation for what seem to be or becoming with trusting what I knew. This was a greater challenge as many of my friends over the years forwarded me many “truths” about the past, the now and the future. This struggle increased when I knew the sources were valid but I knew the Lord commanded me to never walk in a spirit of fear. How was I to do both? I went to what I knew. I had to stand against this new form of fear that tried to affect my life.

You see, through the help of the Lord, I had defeated many known areas of torment in my life (another name for fear). I recognized those forms. Now I found new, a disguised one. I didn’t realize it at first. I’ve been given many opportunities to battle against other deep rooted sources of this detestable little bandit of life. “Little?!” you may ask. Yep. That’s what I mean.

I’ll explain. I lost two of my beloved dogs two months ago. They died three weeks apart. Then, the Lord had guided me to adopt too rescue dogs. This is a different story for a different time. I had one little dog left, Zeke. His apparent ancestry was most probably Chihuahua. The two new dogs were going to be larger than him since the momma was shepherd mix and the daddies, well who knows. There were big paws on both of them. These were clues.

I watched as Zeke growled and snarled and moved into his alpha position. They submitted and rolled over accordingly. They were about his size when they arrived and this was an easy task to achieve since all they wanted was love.

Months have passed. They are now four times his size. His technique has not changed. If he’s had enough, he growls, snarls and intimidates to get them to submit and do want he wants. He has learned to play well with them when he wants to. They don’t’ see that is he so small and he doesn’t care that they both stand three heads above them.

I was watching their interactions this week. The Lord spoke to me… “That’s exactly what the devil does with you. You think he’s this big growling thing. Look at how tall you stand and how powerful you are through my love and my healing. You don’t have to bow down or roll over ever again. That thing is smaller than Zeke and less powerful. You have me and the name of my Son, Jesus. We defeated him before. We will continue to do this and so will you! You have no need to fear…anything or anyone!”

I knew how to do this! The Lord had trained me on how to do this! He told me years ago “Don’t look at what is ahead that appears impossible or unknown. Think on the things I have done in your past. Look at what you know about Me and what I have given you. I am the Faithful, All Powerful God on the throne. I have not changed. I parted the Red Sea. I raise the dead and heal the lame. I have not fallen asleep. When fear or worry or disbelief comes…think on what you know of Me and how I have demonstrated Who I am in your life. What I have done. Think on the past struggles while you think on what victories that resulted. Look at who you are today and what you were before. Look at that truth. My arm is not too short. I will not leave you. I am your loving Father, Protector, Provider and Friend. No need to fear. Fear nothing!”

These lessons have walked me through many confrontations with this ever-changing enemy. As I write this, the Lord revealed to me an area that has been discouraged because of continual lack of success. I had been stopped by this fear of failure in one of the things I have wanted most in life. He just showed me that I was to attack this thing and move forward. Hallelujah! Our God is a faithful God! He wants our freedom. He wants our success. He wants our peace. He wants the desires of our heart that he placed in us at an early age. He wants our dream(s) fulfilled. I know what mine is. Do you know or remember yours? Have you given up? Has fear held you back? Has fear driven you into things or at someone? Are you so busy worrying about the future you can’t see the miracles of the present?

Exercises that helped me take small steps early on that you may want to consider:

1. Look up all the scriptures speaking against fear in the bible. There are many ways to do this on a search engine in one of the free online bible programs. Or, just look in the back of your bible. Most have references listed. There are also quick scripture reference books available for purchase that you can carry with you. There are links in this Web site too! This search will show you this is not a new battle. Many have fought the same fight.

2. Find the scriptures that you can remember the easiest and say them continually when fear comes at you in any way. Mine were… and still are… “God has not given me spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind” and “Perfect love casts out all fears”. You may want to put these on notes in various places.

3. Ask the Lord to show you the “little foxes”, the little fears that are hidden or disguised in your life. Ask Him for His power to remove and heal those areas. Don’t get discouraged if it doesn’t happen overnight. You can’t expect to go to a gym and lift one hundred pound weights on the first visit. You have to build your muscles. Eventually even the one hundred pounders seem light!

So remember the past…and fear nothing in the present or the future! You are not alone and never will be! He is a God that loves you and wants the best for you. To help you with your search…here are some reminders found in the promises of His word:

You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,
Psalm 91:4

Whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.”
Proverbs 1:32-33

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:9-11

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
1 John 4:17-19

Making friends is on many minds, especially for people moving to new places, or going to a new school or college, as many will soon. How does one do it? And, how does one go from mere acquaintance to “best friend forever“?

I remember, years back, a story of a child who came home from Kindergarten, and announced they’d made a really nice friend, and played with them for a few straight days. When asked their name, the child replied, “I don’t know, we haven’t gotten that far yet.”

Sometimes the easiest things in the world are the things we make look the hardest. Sometimes, we get so bogged down by rules, such as finding out everything about someone, and calculating – usually subconsciously – if we want to spend time with them, we forget to actually try to make a friend.

On the other hand, the opposite can also be true. We decide we’re going to just “hang out” with someone, and they end up leading us down the wrong path because we know nothing about them, and they are actually living a life that’s a bad influence on us, when we should be the leader in a situation.

So, how do we strike a balance?

It’s not like Kindergarten, where you just start playing together, or middle or high school, where you can join a club or watch sports – even if you and your new friends can only commiserate on how bad the team is. It’s not like college, either, where your dorm leader has fun activities and you can sit around and laugh about answers to questions like, “If you were a tree, what kind would you be?”

Or, is it? As noted, we often make things too hard. Yes, some cities have more hurried people who appear less friendly, but there are ways to do it without being led astray by the wrong kinds of friends.

First, Decide Who You Are

It would be easy for me to write, “You have to be a leader.” It’s harder for some people, though. Some are naturally shy and need to really work at it. Some suffer from heartbreak that causes them to be in a shell. Some have difficulty even knowing how to begin a conversation, because their brains are wired differently; I have a very good online friend with Asperger’s Syndrome, for instance. One great uncle, as well, has always had trouble meeting new people.

Still, while everyone’s friend making style is a little different, the Bible says, “A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” (Prov. 18:24) We can turn to the examples above, from school, to consider not only how to go about finding friends, but also, how to cultivate that friendship with the One who will always be faithful, Jesus Christ.

The Kindergarten Connection

It’s easy to walk up to someone and say, “Do you want to play?” Or, just start playing ball or something with them as they are playing. Kids are often much more open to this than adults. Most kids don’t go through hundreds of scenarios and try to pick up dozens of cues. Sometimes, of course, they might wonder how – or if – some other kid will play with them. But, this is where it’s important, as adults, to encourage children to talk to kids who are shier, who are challenged in some way, or something else.

Adults don’t have playgrounds, or play kickball or hopscotch; about the closest is when great joy causes one to start skipping, which can be good exercise. Even if we did, kids don’t develop into BFF just by playing together, though it can start like that.

Children go from playing together to sharing things about each other. They realize they have common interests. They show compassion when each other is hurting. Even if that is just a shoulder to cry on, sometimes that is the best thing there can be. And, that’s the important thing to take from the “Kindergarten Connection.” Like my initial story, don’t worry about walking up to someone and learning everything before you make a decision. Get involved at a church, volunteer, do something that interests you. Go to a neighborhood meeting – or, if there’s no association, form one. If you’ve moved into an area, have a “Good Neighbor” cookout and invite those on your block. (It’s not hard – just go around with invitations telling them you will have, for instance, burgers and chips, they can bring their own food, and you’re doing it to meet your new neighbors. In an apartment, you can still hang out in the lobby a little and greet people. You don’t have to have a one-hour conversation at first – this is that first recess where you play together.) One interesting idea: Iintroduce yourself at the end – so people recall your name.

Even if you’re not as outgoing as some of these, this site for shy kids and this one on socializing provide other good, encouraging ideas, which can be analogized to adult life, if you’re an adult.

That’s the way it happens in higher levels of school, too – clubs, sports, and other interest groups are formed, because older kids and young adults can handle more structure than little kids, who need time to be kids, too. We think it’s harder because we had good friends where we lived before – and we go from having one or more to having none. Whereas, kids realize they’re starting from scratch, and just figure someone will come along. Or, we’re like the one who takes the lead, and starts doing something, and we join in with them.

Think of it as constant networking and building relationships. You won’t build one with everyone, just like you didn’t become best friends with all 20 Kindergarten classmates; you may have had too different of a personality than a few, you never connected with a few, and one or two might have scared you. You might not have found that BFF till classmate number 2 or 8 or 19 – or maybe it was even someone in a different class! The point is, keep trying those interest groups. Will you find people who aren’t interested? Sure. But, when you start jumping rope on the playground, you don’t have hundreds of kids flocking to you, either. It’s usually just a few at most. However, one or two winds up being one you play with more often. There’s a lot of trial and error. Maybe one group won’t provide a BFF, but it will lead to one, or some other activity will.

Of course, it will then take a while till your new friends learn about you – and maybe even longer till you find someone you can confide in. The wonderful thing is, though, that Jesus knows all about you, and is ready to be the best possible friend right away.

What a Friend We Have In Jesus

The fact He calls His disciples friends shows that He is ready to be the best possible friend right away; but it’s not the only reason. He is God in flesh (John 10:30, etc.), and he created the world; by Him all things continue to exist. (John 1:1-3, Col. 1:16-17, etc.) he created the entire world; each of us, in fact. And yet, He wants to be friends with us.

At first, you might wonder, “What can I have in common with Him?” It’s easy to do, and it’s one very big reason why we don’t pray like we should. But, God says in His Word that He understands our problems, and – while we pretend we can handle them all ourselves – He calls us to go boldly before the throne of grace for help with things (Heb. 4:15-16). He will give us wisdom whenever we ask for it (James 1:5), peace that passeth understanding (Phil. 4:7), and so many other wonderful things.

It’s easy to see, then, how Jesus is such a wonderful friend. He sticks closer than a brother – and a loving sibling is born to help in times of trouble. But, Jesus sticks closer, He will help us through anything. And, the wonderful thing is, He loves at all times.

That kind of love – unconditional love – is hard to find in this world. It’s the kind we want in a best friend forever. Best friends, after all, don’t just let us walk all over them or let us mess up our lives. BFFs are willing to come up beside us and lovingly say, for instance, “That’s not going to be very good for you.” They know us so well, and despite our faults, they love us – but they also love us enough not to let those faults drag us down. And, if someone snaps and says, “Who cares? I’m going to do what I want, and you’re not my friend if you try to stop me,” that BFF is there to support them if that bad choice (getting drunk, going out with a certain person, or whatever else that BFF knows is bad news) leads to horrible consequences.

See, we don’t always do what’s right. In fact, that was the whole purpose of Jesus’ coming to this world in the first place. God made this world perfect. There was no sin in it – no bad stuff. But, people chose to start sinning, and that sin had bad consequences. The worst was, it separated us from God.

God made a way for us to become His friends, though. He reconciled us to Himself, by taking the punishment for our sin. Each person has to pay a price for their sin – unless they let God Himself pay that price for them. What an awesome friend, who would take the punishment for our sins!

That price that was paid was the only price big enough – Jesus came to this world and died on the cross willingly, shedding His blood as he died. Then, on the third day, He rose from the dead. He was able to do this because he was God. And, he is just waiting for each of us to call on Him – each person just needs to repent and receive Him as Saviour. That means to choose not to be a sinner anymore, but to let Jesus change you on the inside. Because, as a true Friend, that’s His job.

In fact, once you have Him living inside you through the Holy Spirit, He will always be an ever present help in time of need. He will always guide you in the right direction, and away from thigns that might cause you pain – He’ll always provide a way to escape problems. And yet, if you rebel against Him, once He has sealed you with the Holy Spirit, he will always be there to lovingly welcome you back. Just like that best friend who, even if you refuse their advice with disastrous consequences – will still love you.

And, you can have such fun with Him, too. He’ll open your eyes to so many good things, and so much joy – why, the Apostle Paul mentions joy dozens of times in an epistle he wrote in prison, the Book of Philippians! Jesus came so we might have life, and have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)

So, how do you get that friend, you ask? Remember that example, where the child just started playing with someone? It’s that easy. Just go to Him by faith. It’s as easy as ABC:

Admit you’re a sinner, that your sin – things you say, think, and do that displease God – keeps you from God’s perfect Heaven.

Believe that Jesus Christ, God in flesh, lived a perfect life, then died on the cross, taking the punishment for your sins, and rising from the dead the third day. And, that this did all that was necessary to reconcile you with Him, and get you to Heaven.

Choose to receive Jesus Christ’s forgiveness on the cross for your sin, and allow Him to enter your heart and make you new on the inside, and to come live in you; let Him give you a heart that wants to follow Him, and not sin. You won’t stop sinning right away, but just like that friend who will always guide and help you, He will begin a work to help you grow closer to Him, and He will complete it, even unto the day of the Lord. (Phil. 1:6)

That’s all there is to it. You can call on Him right now, in fact; whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Rom. 10:13) Just call on Him to forgive you of your sins and save you from that horrible punishment, separation from God forever in a place call Hell; a place only meant for the devil and his angels, but where people go who reject His love and offer of friendship.

He is a faithful friend, though, who will never leve you nor forsake you. And, He wants you to keep drawing close to Him. Not only that, but He wrote His Word, the Bible, to tell you of His grace and mercy, and also of how badly He wants you to avoid His judgment. He also wants us to go out and tell others about His awesome friendship.

Remember, though, that it’s all by His grace and mercy. He is the Creator of the universe. He didn’t have to choose to make us friends. He did, though, because of His great love for each of us – for you, for me, for everyone.

And, He’ll be that shoulder to cry on, that one to confide in, that One who can help you through anything. He loves you more than you can imagine.

Key #2 to Happiness – Being Thankful!

I don’t think that we can be happy if we don’t have a sense of thanksgiving for the good things in our lives.  Being thankful takes effort.  Naturally, most of us focus on our problems, on what we lack and what ails us.  Let’s face it…every one of us has some areas of our lives that are difficult and confusing.  Some of these challenges are short term and some are life-long burdens.  Some are self-inflicted and some are not our fault.

No matter how positive any one of us may be, there are times when a problem gets the best of us.  I must admit, as I write this, I am preaching to myself as well as sharing my thoughts with you.  Last week at work, for example, I let some of the pressures get to me.  We were trying to keep an important client happy, and everyone (including my direct manager and even the President of the company) had a passionate opinion about what I should do.  Unfortunately, the client had totally different ideas and I was walking that thin line of carrying the burden of keeping everyone happy.  The pressure even affected my life at home.  (My wife would say it wasn’t that bad, but I can see the difference when I don’t have much time for her)

I realize that some of you have much more serious problems.  Some of you might have lost your job or you lost your dream home due to foreclosure…some of you might have been informed that you have some serious illness, possibly even a life threatening one.  A dear relative of ours is living through everyone’s worst nightmare – the untimely death of one of their children in their 20’s.   How can one ever get past such a deep tragedy?  Is it even possible?  A better question is – does God really know what’s going on down here?  Does He see the pain you’re in, the impossible boss, the rebellious spouse or child, the empty bank account, or worse?

These situations are taking you by surprise, but not God.  He tells us that He saw every day of our lives before the foundation of the world – that every day of your life has been recorded in His book.  (God says this right after He tells you that He has more good thoughts about you than there are grains of sand on all the seas of the world)  He has a plan for you that goes way beyond your life on this planet – He has great plans for you throughout all eternity!  Since everyone will have different assignments after life on earth, each of us has to be prepared differently.  God has a wonderful future designed for you!  So you don’t want to be fighting against Him.

Our disappointments, losses and pressures, if not checked, can consume us and make our lives a living hell.  The question is…can we find happiness even when experiencing serious problems?  The answer is yes.  One of the keys to happiness is making a conscious decision and effort to take our focus off our problems and focus of all the good things in our lives…being thankful for those.

Some of you might argue that there is nothing to be thankful for.  On the surface that might seem true…but you’d be surprised.  I admit that this is not always easy but try we must nevertheless.

Personally, when I struggle with problems, I bring God into the situation, eventually.  As a stubborn Austrian, of course, I usually try to handle the problem first by myself… you know, my way!  But without Him, the whole situation inevitably gets worse.  Yes, I usually attempt a fix the hard way but then after several setbacks, I let Him take over.  The earlier in the challenge I surrender the issue to Him, the less pain I experience.  Why is that so hard to remember?   I don’t know why I need to re-learn the lesson over and over again.

Frankly, giving Him our issues is the first thing we should do. Did you know that God actually loves to hear from us about our problems?  He wants to be involved.  He is an amazing God that heals, provides, protects, restores and so much more.  Below are some Bible verses…

The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.  Psalms 18:2 (NKJV)

God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;  Psalms 46:1-2 (NKJV)

You, who have shown me great and severe troubles, Shall revive me again, And bring me
up again from the depths of the earth.  Psalms 71:20 (NKJV)

As a father pities his children, So the LORD pities those who fear Him.  Psalms 103:13 (NKJV)

He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds.  Psalms 147:3 (NKJV)

Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’  Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV)

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.  Isaiah 43:2 (NKJV)

Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.  Matt 5:4 (NKJV)

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  ”Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.  ”Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Matt 5:10-12 (NKJV)

“Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will.  ”But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  ”Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.  Matt 10:29-31 (NKJV)

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  ”Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  ”For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”  Matt 11:28-30 (NKJV)

We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;  2 Corinthians 4:8 (NKJV)

Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,  2 Corinthians 4:16-17 (NKJV)

So let’s take some time and think about all the things that are good in your life…your health…your husband or wife…your kids… your job…the fact you live in America…that you have roof over your head…that you can see…hear…walk…talk…and that Jesus died for you.  If you’re having trouble with this, just take some extra time to think about it…it will be worth it.  It’s amazing how many things most of us can come up with.

It is important to write these things down as you come up with these items.  Then read them out laud several times per day.  It’s really amazing what just that little exercise will do help us experience happiness.  Here is what the Bible says about being thankful…

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  Phil 4:6-7 (NKJV)

Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.  Psalms 118:1 (NKJV)

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thess 5:16-18 (NKJV)

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!  2 Cor 9:15 (NKJV)

And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.  Col 3:17 (NKJV)

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy,  Phil 1:3-4 (NKJV)

Keys to happiness exercise:

• Ask God for help (ask Jesus into your life if you have not done so already)
• Write down 10 -20 things you are thankful for
• Read them every day for a week…maybe even twice per day
• Every time a thought about your problem seem to creep into your mind, remind yourself of one or more things that you are thankful for
• Ask others to pray for you
• Feel free to e-mail us with questions
• Sign up for our e-mail reminder as soon as a new key to happiness is published

For related articles – Check out:

How to find Happiness – 15 Lesson – Overview

How to find Happiness – Introduction

How to find Happiness – Key #1 – A relationship with God

How to find Happiness – Key #3 – Learning how to forgive yourself

How to find Happiness – Key #4 – Learning How to forgive others

How to find Happiness - Key #5 – Living in the present

What to do when you’re sick

Don’t Worry

Salvation – What it takes to be saved

Answers for Living

May you find happiness and may God answer your prayers mightily – Amen!

America’s Degeneracy is Flourishing

“Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me?” Jeremiah 2:21. In this verse God is speaking to Israel through the prophet Jeremiah, but is He saying the same thing to the people of America today?

There can be no doubt that the U.S. is floundering. I don’t mean just financially, although that is certainly a very real concern. No, what I’m talking about is the moral and spiritual degeneracy currently permeating our land.

Down we go, down to new depths of depravity. Most people in America haven’t a clue of what’s just around the next bend in the river concerning this nation, still, to some it obvious. America is currently wallowing in total depravity, but too many Americans see only what they want to see. Instead of a united nation, America is horribly fragmented. Increasingly we’re seen as a populous of “What’s in it for me” and “The devil take ya” attitudes. Something’s rotten in America, people, and I don’t think it’s oily fish.

Since America has given God the boot, American’s no longer give God the glory as the provider of their needs. Being thankful for what they’ve received from God has become a foreign concept. Americans have kicked God out of every aspect of life, even many churches no longer allow Him in. Is there still a question in anyone’s mind as to why America is riding the toilet rim?

Because these days are filled with bad news and economic down turns people keep turning to one political figure after another as a cure-all to fix everything, Instead we should be turning to the only One whose great pleasure it is to heal and restore. This One is mankind’s Savior, Jesus the Christ. According to a recent poll taken in America approximately 80% of Americans profess they are Christian. If that be the case, then we need to ask ourselves two very serious questions: First why, if 80% of America is Christian is there a Muslim determining America’s fate? Second, as a nation that claims its foundation stone was the rock Jesus Christ, why have we done a 180 degree turn away from Him and His teachings? America would not be in the toilet today spiritually and morally if we hadn’t turned our backs on God some decades ago.

Since 80% of American’s claim they are Christians, it tells me many are either lying or they don’t really have a clue as to what it means to be born again. It’s impossible to be a Christian without being born again. A person can’t just claim to be Christian yet have no knowledge of what that designation entails. They can play Christian but we can all see where that gets us.

“Ye are the light of the world.” Matthew 5:14. God surely planted a noble vine when He planted America, a light to a lost world. But that once very influential light has diminished and is now in jeopardy of going completely dark. Many theologians say America never was a Christian nation, only that God, for a time in the past, could claim a much larger portion of the American populous as His children. After doing extensive research into America’s past I’ve come to the conclusion those theologians may be correct. I don’t doubt 80% of Americans claim to be Christian, but I do doubt their spiritual conversion. And it’s as plain as day as to why I have my doubts.

“Ye are the salt of the earth:” Matthew 5:13a. To be a Christian means we adhere, as best we can, to the percepts put forth in the Bible. In the past we made it known to the world that America was a nation of Christ’s followers. If Americans as a majority are Christian, then they certainly aren’t following the Bible as their guide to living that Christ filled life. “…but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.” Matthew 5:13b.

God gave us everything we need in His word, and by that I mean He’s given us His commandments which are to be our guide in all life’s endeavors. But how many of the American’s polled who make up that 80 percentile group above actually read and study their Bibles? Or for that matter, how many even believe the Bible to be God’s inerrant word? It’s only my educated guess, but I would guess that only a small minority of those who claim to be born again (Christian) actually study and believe what they learn from God’s word, and even less actually apply what they’ve learned to their lives.

If I’m correct in my assumption, then as a nation we’re in real trouble, and we have been for some time. Our Liberties, those basic freedoms most take for granted have begun to deteriorate and are in danger of reaching levels not previously seen on the US’s portion of this continent. For this reason, the scarcity of true born again believers in Christ, America may well be beyond help when it comes to re-establishing our once revered republic.

How did the United States of America ever go so long without slipping into a totalitarian run country before now you might ask? I believe the numbers of those who actually placed their faith and their lives in Christ’s hands and allowed Him to have dominion over all aspects concerning their lives as well as their families was at one time much higher than the artificially inflated numbers we see today. In years past there were many more truly born again Christians who stood firm on the morals and precepts proclaimed in God’s word. They are the ones who did the voting and they placed their vote for individuals who had morals and were of good character. This just is not the case today; morals of the majority of American government officials are at an all time low. If we are voting for these folks as Christians, we are voting with our eyes closed.

Morals and character are two forgotten godly characteristics relegated to a by-gone era. These two lost biblical concepts are no longer taught in our public schools nor, I would gather by the evidence, in most American homes today. America’s school children are now taught more about sex than any other subject previously taught in those once hallowed halls. Why? It is and has been the agenda with the sexual revolution crowd for many years. It’s the old “anything goes mindset” the current mantra is “Let’s get today’s children indoctrinated in all manner of sexual practices and perversions at the earliest of ages possible” (in Montana sex education now begins with kindergarteners).

At some point in the not so distant future Americans will be living in a society where everything goes and immorality will be overwhelmingly practiced. Promiscuity will no longer be taboo but demanded from every child and applauded when they’ve reached the pinnacle of sexual depravation. “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!” Matthew 18:6, 7.

Evil is ever present, and when not held in check spreads like cancer. Who holds evil in check? Holy Spirit filled Christians. The degeneracy of America has been coming for some time now, which tells me Christianity has been diminishing right along. So when we read of polls taken proclaiming an 80 percentile range of Christians in this country know this, something is amiss.

With little or no moral or spiritual education as children, and even less discipline, crime flourishes in America. Thus the national crime rates are continually rising; hence America builds more prisons to accommodate the ever increasing criminal population.

A very real and current danger arising from an over taxed populous is that many local and state principalities can no longer afford to hold onto their prison population. For example, the duration of court assigned sentences are being drastically cut because of a lack of funding to increase the size of county jails and for the jailers who supervise the criminals. This carries over on a larger scale when related to state and federal prisons. So criminals are being released back into the unsuspecting law abiding population long before they’ve paid their debt to society and where they may, with impunity, continue their lives of crime. That old adage of “If you can’t do the time don’t do the crime” is no longer relevant.

So criminals are turned back out on the streets and it becomes a never ending cycle of crimes leading to more crimes leading to more regulations which also become just as impossible to enforce because of the lack of enforcers. And it’s all because America has turned from being a nation made up of moral Christ followers, to a majority of followers of the religion of secular humanism where anything goes. The truth of God’s word is no longer embraced but debased.

The fault for the flourishing degeneracy of America lies with all Americans, but even more so with those who profess to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. We allowed this evil to progress by what we allowed to be taught to our children in public schools. When our children, while attending public schools for twelve years, are taught that there is no God, that humans evolved from pond scum, and that our prehistoric ancestors were primates, we must expect and accept the consequences of those teachings.

Ultimately what happens to human beings indoctrinated with the lie of evolution, which is pure satanic, is a migration toward animalistic tendencies. Since those who are taught this lie are being convinced they evolved from an animal with no moral restrictions, they no longer perceive any moral absolutes, and the sky’s the limit when it comes to depravation.

When degeneracy is allowed to flourish in any society, all too soon that society will be transformed into a wasteland no longer fit for human occupancy. A nation that continues to loosen its morals and discards its character will, before long, end up as did the people that existed in the days of Noah just prior to the great deluge. And we all know what happened to those sick and depraved individuals, or do we? The Bible must be believed and interpreted literally to understand the account of Genesis 6 properly and to understand why God sent that worldwide flood. Those who don’t believe history, or who allow history to be changed to fit a more civil concept or even forgotten for that matter, are doomed to repeat it. “But as the days of Noe (Noah) were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Matthew 24:37.

The key to a moral society is to live by God’s word. When His word is disparaged, or eliminated completely as it has been in our public school system, as well as in many homes in America, moral decay inevitably moves in. How can degeneracy and moral decay be abated? It can’t. At least not without God. Personally, I don’t see God being embraced by the majority of Americans any time soon.

America – 80% Christian? Not hardly. America – flourishing in degeneracy? Now we’re getting to the truth. America – willing to make changes and head back toward God? Not so you’d notice. America – a nation headed for self-destruction? Likely, very likely.

God save us from our own foolishness,

Ron Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

All scripture is from the KJV

The Fork in the Road – Choose Wisely (part three)

For the purpose of continuing this article I want to take a slight turn, a different direction, which will ultimately bring us back, full circle.

Most people at the local level who are serious about cleaning up their  environment, will watch news articles, maybe even buy a book or join a local environmental group. They may take part in a tree planting exercise, or take an active part in Clean Up Day happening cose by. They will use Envio Bags in preference to plastic bags at the supermarket, and they will recycle where they can. This is all part of being a good citizen of Planet Earth.

So far, so good…… nothing sinister to be seen!

Now consider, as a family, as a group, talking this through. WHY do we do the things just mentioned in the previous paragraph? More than likely, especially with children, the answer will include some reference to ‘saving the planet for future generations’, which is what they are being taught at school, on TV, and probably from their parents. But where did the original idea come from? How far back do we have to go? Is it a recent thing, or have we been doing it this way ‘since forever’?

Let me give you a clue – it is by no means the only answer, but it does form a good solid part of it. Are you familiar with The Earth Charter?

As practising Christians we know through biblical prophecy that the end times will see a system of global governance and one world religion. We know that this framework will be used by the Antichrist to deceive many. You may not realize, however, how close we are to these events coming to fruition.

Since 1995, Mikhail Gorbachev and Maurice Strong have co-chaired a global process with the purpose of implementing the Earth Charter on a global scale and ushering in the one world religion.

The Earth Charter Commission approved the final text of the Earth Charter in 2000, and it has since been embraced by the United Nations, many religious leaders around the world, the majority of world governments and countless Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO’s) and activist groups. A little research into the principles and text of the Earth Charter document sheds new light on current political speeches, media reports, and news headlines of the day.

Environmental Groups and NGO’s who participate in the Earth Charter Dialogues are succeeding in their demand for more airtime of ecological disasters, environmental devastation and other sustainable development obstacles. Under the cloak of an environmental crisis and impending doom, they hope to gain wide acceptance of the Earth Charter, which contains much more than a new environmental policy.

How many times lately have you heard the terms “global community”, “globalization”, “world economy”, “sustainable development” or “interdependent world”? These are all phrases that appear throughout the Earth Charter along with other New Age terms such as “circles of compassion”, “triangles of meditation”, “reverence for Earth and Cosmos”, and “Mother Earth”.

Let’s go back several thousand or so years: You remember the Bible event recounting how the Ten Commandments were given to Moses and why?

To make a long story short, the Egyptian Pharaoh finally lets the Israelite slaves go free after Egypt experiences several nasty plagues. They miraculously cross the Red Sea and escape the pursuing Egyptian army, which is destroyed behind them. Moses then leads the people through the desert to Mt. Sinai where he goes up to receive “the Law” from the Creator.

Ten simple rules are inscribed on two stone tablets which Moses brings down with him. But, alas! In the 40 days that he is gone, the Israelites return to Egyptian style idol worship. Moses smashes their golden idol (and the tablets) to pieces, and the Earth opens up to destroy the idol worshippers.

The “covenant” (law) was a promise to the Israelites that their society would prosper if they observed the laws that had been revealed to them and would suffer the consequences if they did not. Moses was instructed to build a special wooden box with carrying poles in which the tablets of the Law were to be stored and transported whenever the tribes of Israel moved their camp. This box, referred to as the “Ark of the Covenant”, was the centerpiece of their tabernacle.

Here’s a synopsis of the basic rules as written in Exodus 20:1-17

• Respect the Creator, who is the only true “God”. Don’t create idols or worship any created thing.

• Respect the life and property of others. Don’t murder, steal, or tell lies.

• Respect the family structure. Honor your parents, and don’t engage in adultery.

• Rest without working on the last day of each week, and remember the Creator.

• Eat only clean, healthful foods.

• Avoid sexual perversion (incest, sodomy, bestiality, etc).

• Use honest weights, measures and money for all commerce.

• …and so on.

I think we are all familiar with the laws as given to us and we know that in our modern society, our governments, our leaders, our schools and learning institutions, even our courts of law, do not place much credence in them. But how does this show that the Earth Charter is going to lead us down the road to perdition?

In the late 1990’s, a document called the “Earth Charter” was drafted by a group of prominent Humanist-Socialists including:

Steven Rockefeller: Philosophy professor. Nephew of billionaire globalist David Rockefeller. Chairman of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. Scholar on the works of Humanist patriarch John Dewey.

Maurice Strong: Canadian billionaire and energy industry executive. Long-time U.N. officer and “assistant” U.N. Secretary-General. Organizer of the U.N. Rio Earth Summit and promoter of subsequent “environmental” programs for global management.

Mikhail Gorbachev: Former premier of the Soviet Union and chairman of the Russian Communist Party. Head of the Gorbachev Foundation and the “environmental” group Green Cross International.

Follow the links and read about these people. Learn just which organizations they belong to and how much power and authority they do have.

Continued in part four……………….

GOD – Enemy #1

We come to a fork in the road – choose wisely!

Everyday life can be dull and boring or it can be challenging, it maybe even exciting at times too. Those over the age of (let’s say mature) fifty years, who may or may not have married, had children, a career – or even several career’s, would have seen many things change quite dramatically during their life time.

Governments have come and gone – elections have taken place, so have coups and wars. Those in power, those who make decisions, those who profess certain ideologies etc are no longer with us for one reason or another. New people become the regular faces seen on TV and in cinemas, magazines, newspapers and on the Internet. Their opinions help form our own,and its ‘out with the old – in with the new’……..

Fifty years ago were you or your parents learning about climate change? Perhaps whilst sitting down for the evening meal with the family, the topic under discussion was ‘sustainable development’? Oh silly me, of course if you had described yourself as a ‘greenie’ back then people might have thought you had come from Mars!

Much has happened since then to change our world viewpoint – of who we are, relative to the rest of humanity, some would even say relative to the entire cosmos!

I don’t think there would be too many people who would disagree that we have plundered our natural resources, poisoned our planet and quite frankly, been poor stewards of our environment.

You could take it a step further even, by including space junk in our discussion – we are polluting our cosmos too. A 1999 study estimated there are some 4 million pounds of space junk in low-Earth orbit, just one part of a celestial sea of roughly 110,000 objects larger than 1 centimeter — each big enough to damage a satellite or space-based telescope. We are not very clever are we but we are easily led!

“Save Planet Earth” is the ‘call’ we should all be most familiar with. Even if you have been working deep underground – or in the jungles in darkest Africa, you should be familiar with the “Clean Green” call to save the environment. Some call it the ‘green revolution’ and call for a new relationship between humanity and nature. Undoubtedly it is easy to agree with their ideas.

However, certain aspects of the modern green movement that is permeating every segment of our society are not about protecting the environment.

You don’t have to dig very deep to discover the true beliefs of the influential leaders who are using genuine concerns about the environment to promote an agenda of fear and control. Please carefully consider the implications of the opinions that they so openly and freely express, and like the title of this blog states: Choose Wisely which path you will take, who you will follow and which agenda you take on board.

The young ones of today seem to think they are leading a new revolution, ground breaking as it were, to prepare and plan, and put into action a new planetary agenda that will save humanity from ultimate destruction.

They are goaded along by politicians and NGO’s, (Non Government Organisations) who are themselves being blindly led, in some cases. The Blind Leading the Blind! Our elected politicians are sadly, not always so very wise themselves.

Let’s look at a few comments and quotes from recent history, that can prove that there is a large and powerful lobby, who’s intent is the dis-empowerment of society, and making us all reliant on them…. and them alone!  (References and sources for the quotes below can be found by clicking here)

“The common enemy of humanity is man.
In searching for a new enemy to unite us, we came up
with the idea that pollution, the threat of global warming,
water shortages, famine and the like would fit the bill. All these
dangers are caused by human intervention, and it is only through
changed attitudes and behavior that they can be overcome.
The real enemy then, is humanity itself.”
- Club of Rome, premier environmental think-tank,
consultants to the United Nations

“We need to get some broad based support,
to capture the public’s imagination…
So we have to offer up scary scenarios,
make simplified, dramatic statements
and make little mention of any doubts…
Each of us has to decide what the right balance
is between being effective and being honest.”
- Prof. Stephen Schneider,
Stanford Professor of Climatology, lead author of many IPCC reports

“We’ve got to ride this global warming issue.
Even if the theory of global warming is wrong,
we will be doing the right thing in terms of
economic and environmental policy.”
- Timothy Wirth, President of the UN Foundation

“No matter if the science of global warming is all phony…
climate change provides the greatest opportunity to
bring about justice and equality in the world.”
- Christine Stewart, former Canadian Minister of the Environment

“The data doesn’t matter. We’re not basing our recommendations
on the data. We’re basing them on the climate models.”
- Prof. ChrisFolland,
Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research

“It doesn’t matter what is true,
it only matters what people believe is true.”
- Paul Watson, co-founder of Greenpeace

“We are on the verge of a global transformation.
All we need is the right major crisis…”
- David Rockefeller, Club of Rome executive member

“Isn’t the only hope for the planet that the
industrialized civilizations collapse?
Isn’t it our responsibilty to bring that about?”
- Maurice Strong, founder of the UN Environment Programme

I strongly recommend that you look at all the quotes; there is not sufficient room to lay them all out before you here. The link is also referenced in part four of this blog.

You will see that these ‘new ideas’ – ideologies, are not so new after all, and are not of your own mind and thoughts, but have been very carefully planned and processed into our daily lives by some very crafty and dangerous people.

Continued in part two…………………

Shining Perspective

I had just finished my shower. I dried off and was getting ready to brush my teeth and then I hear, “Mommy?” The soft seeking voice of my son breaks the sound of the bathroom fan whirring. The door slowly opens. Then silence. “What are you doing honey?” I ask standing in front of the mirror. (Of course I wasn’t wearing anything because I just got out of the shower, and I had dried off and already hung up my towel to dry.) He creeps into the room and stands next to me. Then he slowly leans into my side. I wrap my arm around him and kiss his head. I ask, “Are you alright honey?” “Yea” he replies and I say, “What are you doing?” His sweet little voice replied, “I’m loving you.” In that moment I realized that God wants me to come to Him in the same way. God wants all of us to come to Him without any hesitation.

Isaiah just wanted to express his love for me. It didn’t matter to him that we had just spent several minutes together, snuggling and sharing a whole lot of hugs and kisses. It didn’t matter that I was completely naked, or that I was behind the closed door of the bathroom. It didn’t matter to him, because I am always approachable. He doesn’t let anything stand in his way of getting to me, there are no boundaries. He comes to me with a love that in uninhibited. God’s love knows no bounds and God longs for us to come to Him in the same way with anything and everything. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28. I had just spent quite a bit of time with Isaiah before I got into the shower, BUT it wasn’t enough. God wants me to be like that. He doesn’t want me to have a specific time scheduled for Him, He wants me all the time and He wants me to come with hunger and thirst that only He can satisfy.

That afternoon I took Isaiah to the park. Once we reached the playground, I was five years old. I entered into his world and became a child. I ran, I jumped (I didn’t know I could still do that) I slid down the slides and climbed up all the different ways I could, including walking up the slides backwards. I didn’t care who was watching me, (I’m sure I looked pretty silly) I didn’t care what anyone thought. It didn’t matter; I loved my son, in his way, on his level with no bounds. We giggled while I was the monster and he was “the people.” We went on a journey to Cupcake Island on our jungle gym boat. We loved each other while we rested at the bottom of the slide and talked.  I think that’s just where God wants to meet us. No matter where we are, no matter what we do, He wants to meet you there, on your level, in the way that only He can.

My friend recently told me “God wants to be the one you love to giggle with and tell secrets to.”  I had never had it described quite that way before, but I think it’s exactly what God wants us to do. I think it’s exactly what a child would do. “At that time Jesus said, ‘I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.’” ~Matthew 11:25. “I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” ~Luke 18:17

Do you find yourself in a difficult spot? Maybe your circumstances have become “impossible.” Maybe the trial at your doorstep is just to remind you that your Father in heaven is longing to hear from you. I know I’ve been given some new circumstances that are bringing me to a new level of brokenness, and dependence on God and God alone. I praise the Lord that He has me in a place where my only option is to wait on Him with faith like that of a child’s. “How kind the Lord is! How good he is! So merciful, this God of ours! The Lord protects those of childlike faith; I was facing death, and he saved me. Let my soul be at rest again, for the Lord has been good to me.” ~Psalm 116:5-7

It’s official. LeBron James has announced on ESPN he will sign with the Miami Heat. A story with a lot of speculation has finally ended. Now, one of the best NBA players today has his next few years set.

This is important, because in all this talk about his loyalty, when “King James” might win an NBA title, or whether Chris Bosh might have refused to join him in Cleveland or not, there are other things to look at in this story: things such as talent, money, loyalty, and the manning of life.

Really. Because, no matter what happened with him, there is a faithful friend to save you from the evils of this world, help you build Heavenly treasures that last forever, and, help you make the right decisions, no matter what.

1. Obviously, it means he’s got a lot of basketball talent. Top actors get millions of dollars for acting talent. Top athletes get the same for athletic talent. Their jobs, as entertainers, aren’t as crucial as many others, but they share one thing: In this society, they can earn tons of money based on the fact they’ve used their God-given talent to the best of their ability.

We don’t often think about actors and actresses making millions per role, because we only see them in movies or on TV. They’ve gotten their millions long before the movie or show we see. If it bombs, they can hide behind the character, or the script gets blamed. Athletes, on the other hand, do what they do thousands of times a season – shoot a ball, throw, putt, what have you. Their misses pile up more than that performer’s one big miss on the big screen or TV, which is surrounded by so much else.

Both, however, use abilities that aren’t their own. Sure, hours of practice a day pays off, and some have to work harder. But, most people couldn’t shoot a basketball while being guarded like even the worst NBA player, even practicing 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Most people couldn’t memorize every line flawlessly, doing all the proper inflections and really bringing a character to life, for months at a time. Yes, there are club pros in golf and local radio station voice actors who pitch great local businesses. But, these are far cries from Tiger Woods or Tom Hanks – or even the Maytag Repairman.

Jesus tells us to consider the gifts God gave us, and thank Him for them. None of us can add an inch to our stature by mere thought.(Mat. 6:27) We can’t just think and suddenly become talented. God gives some people those talents, just as He gives some people other gifts, such as teaching, or the ability to learn manual skills like plumbing, or complex math.

Every one of us has different skills. You have a special skill, even if you don’t quite know what it is yet. If you put energy into it, you can accomplish great things with God’s help. However, remember that this skill is something you were born with, something given by God. We need to be thankful for our skills.

2. LeBron will also get a lot of money. No, some people don’t get as much money as others for their skills. And, some are certainly more important than acting or athletic ones. However, the important thing is, God sees and understands what you are given. And, He will reward you in the end, if you use it for Him and build treasure in Heaven.

The old maxim is true that money doesn’t buy happiness. It can buy things that make us happy for a time. Still, in the end, those things will grow old, wear out, lose value, or even, possibly, be taken from us. However, Heavenly treasure will be forever new, and can never be taken away. This means that LeBron will get a lot of something that will one day have no value. But, he can use it to build rewards in Heaven by helping others.

However, God doesn’t care about how much money we have here on earth. He cares about our heart. He knows our hearts, and just wants us to give what we have for Him. He doesn’t care that we don’t have a lot – Jeuss said that s widow who gave a few little coins as an offering had given more than a rich person who gave millions.

Even when we mess up and go after our own desires, though, God will lovingly call us back to Himself, so we can choose to do that which is right. Because, He is always loyal to us, alwys faithful even when we’re not.

3. Loyalty was discussed during the debate over where LeBron would go.

We need to keep focused on the one who is always loyal and faithful, though. It’s easy to put our trust in people. However, God has given us His Word, that He had something special for us. He has a plan for each person’s life that is better than we could ever plan for ourselves. He has a plan for LeBron’s life. Whether LeBron followed God’s plan, I’m not sure; nobody can know his heart for certain but God Himself.

We know one thing, though. Since different people wanted different things, God’s plan went against some peoples’ idea of what he should do. That’s normal, and it shows that our ways aren’t always best. If LeBron doesn’t know God personally, God can use this to lovingly draw LeBron to Him.

When we don’t like what goes on in our lives, all we have to do is trust in God. He will always do what’s best for us. Each of us is where we are in life today, because God has put us there, or God – in His love giving us free will to choose – allowed us to get there so God could help us to learn more about His great love for us. That is the loyalty God has for us, always working to make things better in our lives, though we sometimes flat refuse and turn away from Him.

The awesome thing is, He can be loyal to all who have received Him at once, as He lovingly calls those who haven’t. Because, He has ways to work things for the best for each of us in the end. Romans 8:28 promises that “All things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are called according to his purpose.”

So, no matter what, God can work it for good, along with all the other things in life. Because, God is always trying to work things together for good, to those who love Him; even if our choices get in the way. The story of LeBron James is one of a person who has made a lot out of his God-given talent, using it to play a game. I don’t know if he’s doing anything for the Lord to earn eternal treasures in Heaven, or if so, what it is. Only God knows his heart, and whether His perfect will played any role in LeBraon’s decision.

Life, though, is all about putting others first, and using those talent to bring glory and honor to God by drawing others to His great love. Because, He is willing that none perish, but that all come to repentance. He will be loyal to all who come to Him by faith.

It won’t always be just what we want, but for those who receive Him, they will have a faithful Friend who will live in them and always work things together for good.

How do I have that in my life?

It’s as easy as ABC – Admit, Believe, Choose.

A. Admit you need Him in your heart and life to save you. See, all we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned each one to his own way. And, the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all. (Is. 53:6) This means all of us have turned away from Him. Oh, we might not have meant to, but we do, because we choose our own way.

LeBron is just like you and I and everyone else in one important way. All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. (Rom. 3:23) That means we’ve all fallen short of His mark, which is perfection. Whether he chose what God wanted, I don’t know, but each of us has sinned – that means we’ve fallen short of God’s standard of perfection.

We need saved from that sin, because only then can we have that relationship with God here, and be in His perfect Heaven someday; a place where there is no pain, no suffering, no tears. Nobody can do mean stuff there. No one can imagine the wonderful things that will be there. There won’t be any sin, though, so we must accept we need God to take the punishment for our sins, and change us on the inside. The wages – what we earn – of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal lie through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Rom. 6:23)

Next is:
B Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. (Acts 16:31) That means to believe that Jesus Christ is God in flesh (John 1:1, 14; 10:30; etc.), and that He took your punishment for your sin when he died on the cross for you and rose from the dead. He shed His blood for you; because that was the only price high enough to cleanse this whole world from sin. He died for you, but then, He rose from the dead, just as He will raise us one day, some to eternal life, some to everlasting destruction.

You must believe that He took the whole punishment for your sins when He did that. There is nothing you could do, because none of us can achieve perfection. And, He has to make it perfect, or it wouldn’t be Heaven. If He let even one drop of sin into Heaven, there would be suffering somewhere, or pain, or something else bad. Then, it wouldn’t be Heaven. So, He has to keep all sin out.

Finally,
C. Choose to repent and receive Him as your personal Savior. That means that you need to choose to let Him make you new on the inside. If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away, all things are become new. (2 Cor. 5:17)

Once you have done that, you can know for sure you in his family (1 John 5:13), if you have received Him by simple faith. (John 1:12)

That’s how Jesus makes you fit for Heaven. He first changes you when you trust Him to save you by simple faith. You receive Him into your heart by calling on Him to save you and repenting – turning from your sin. Once you invite Him into your heart, Jesus lives in you through God the Holy Spirit. Then, He will help you grow to be more like Him; more loving, compassionate, and so on.

You can receive that now – while the prayer itself doesn’t save you, you can pray something like this, in your own words, and receive Him into your heart and life: “Dear Lord Jesus, I know I’m a sinner. I know I haven’t always done what’s right. I’ve tried my way, Lord, and I realize I need to trust You completely instead. I believe You died on the cross for my sins, and rose from the dead; You took my punishment for my sins, because I couldn’t get to Your perfect heaven myself. Lord Jesus, I invite You into my heart to live in me and change me on the inside, so I can follow Your perfect ways, and have a Friend to help me if I mess up. Thank you Lord Jesus, for hearing my prayer, saving my soul, and coming to live in my heart, In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

It’s not the prayer that saves. But, it’s your faith, which you can remember putting in Jesus easier when you have a time you know you prayed to receive Him.

And when you receive Him, He will never leave you, nor forsake you. (Heb. 13:5) He will help you to make all the right decisions, if you just trust Him, because He will always give wisdom to those who ask. (James 1:5)

Arrogance in and of itself is not something to be admired.

The arrogant person ‘knows’ they are correct; ‘knows’ their opinions and views are the truth. They need no assistance from others; it is the other who needs assistance and direction from them.

Those to whom much has been given sometimes suffer from arrogance; or rather the people around them suffer.

Arrogance is doubly a pity, because the talents of the arrogant serve primarily themselves. The arrogant assumes their views and opinions are The Truth. In arrogance, natural confidence goes sadly awry.

For a ruling political leader to declare publicly, that whilst they greatly respect other people’s religious views, they do not believe in God – even though “I grew up in the Christian church, a Christian background. I won prizes for catechism, for being able to remember Bible verses. I am steeped in that tradition, but I’ve made decisions in my adult life about my own views”, seems terribly arrogant indeed.

Terribly arrogant and sad of Miss Gillard (Australia’s first female Prime Minister) to openly declare that she knows God – but she doesn’t need Him. But then again it begs asking if The Prime Minister personally KNOWS GOD or just ‘about’ Him’?

Because if she really KNOWS GOD and has taken this stance – she has arrogantly left herself wide open to the situation Matthew speaks about in Chapter 10 verse 33 of his Gospel.

“But whoever denies me before people I, too, will deny before my Father in heaven.” (International Standard Version)

Sadly Miss Gillard could be leading the Australian People down the same pathway she herself is traversing. If God is not leading her life, public and private, and she is leading the Australian Nation, then her every action against God, which the Australian public consents to or condones, is an act, on their part (by association) against God!

As an example of which pathway to traverse, consider the reintroduction of bills in Western Australia and Tasmania recently calling to legalise Euthanasia.  (Exodus 20:13)

Today, Voluntary Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide are illegal in all states and territories of Australia. The only end-of-life laws that exist are a patchwork of Advance Medical Directive and Power of Attorney laws, none of which allow a person to ask for active assistance to die. These laws operate on a state-by-state basis.  Your access to these laws depends entirely on where you live.

Where does our New Prime Minister stand on the issue of assisted suicide/voluntary euthanasia?

Abortion in Australia is a subject of state law rather than national law. The grounds on which abortion is permitted in Australia vary from state to state. In every state, abortion is legal to protect the life and health of the woman, though each state has a different definition.

There is no law anywhere in Australia that requires the notification or consent of a woman’s partner. There is also no enforced waiting period for an abortion. Except in Western Australia, a minor does not require parental consent or notification (see discussion at the Gillick article, which was imported into Australian law by the High Court in 1992).

Where does our New Prime Minister stand on the Abortion Issue – the termination of unborn children?

Exodus 20:1-17 give us a very simple code to live by – if we choose to be the children of God. Remembering that YES we do, as a gift from our gracious God, have the freedom to choose…. We can choose to accept Him as God and follow his ordinances, or to reject him as God, and follow our own blind pathways.

Instead of picking specifically on Australia, let’s look at the commandments, as given to us – from a political (world) viewpoint – seeking confirmation that governments worldwide (those in historically Christian countries) have chosen to follow or throw out.

For ease of understanding I have chosen to use a paraphrased version of Exodus 20:1-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21. They offer basic rules of behaviour for spiritual and moral living. They were given to all of us to choose to follow – not simply for the Israelites coming out of Egypt.

Jesus himself tells us in the New Testament: (Mat 5:17-20 NRSV) “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfil. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished.

Ten Laws to live by: the Ten Commandments

1. Do not worship any other god than the one true God. All other gods are false gods.
2. Do not make idols or images in the form of God. An idol can be anything (or anyone) you worship by giving it more importance than God. If something (or someone) has your time, attention and affections, it has your worship. It could be an idol in your life.
3. Do not treat God’s name lightly or with disrespect. Because of God’s importance, his name is always to be spoken of with honour.
4. Dedicate or set aside a regular day each week for Sabbath rest and worship of the Lord.
5. Give honor to your father and mother by treating them with respect and obedience.
6. Do not deliberately kill a fellow human being.
7. Do not have sexual relations with anyone other than your spouse. God forbids sex outside of the bounds of marriage.
8. Do not steal or take anything that doesn’t belong to you, unless you have been given permission to do so.
9. Do not tell a lie about someone or bring a false accusation against another person.
10. Do not desire anything or anyone that does not belong to you. Comparing yourself to others and longing to have what they have leads to jealousy, envy and other sins.  Be content to focus on the blessings God has given you, and not on what He has not given you.

NOW ask yourself this simple question. It matters not which country you reside in.

Do we as a Nation follow God’s rules and regulations, individually and collectively?

Honesty would direct us to hang our heads and say “NO we do not.”

Daily we hear of murders, arson, drug dealing, prostitution, abortions. In our own lives we often times use the sacred name of the Lord in vain … cursing and swearing.

A day set aside for worshipping the Lord alone is not something we can choose to do – it is a requirement of God’s Ordinances.

Obeying ones parents dutifully, without anger and tension and sourness of humor does not come easily to modern youth.

Theft, making false accusations, deceit and adultery all seem to be the ‘norm’ in modern society – yet we are strictly warned they are anathema to our Loving Lord.

Do we honour our God in the National Capitals and in the Courts of Law? Do we proclaim his laws and statutes as we live and breathe? Is He our Number One Concern?

Nation draws sword (and bomb) against nation, greed and avarice abound.

And we wonder why bad things happen to us. We do these bad things to each other; they are done back to us in repayment. Is this truly following in God’s ways?

Deuteronomy 30:19 (The Message Bible)

I call Heaven and Earth to witness against you today: I place before you Life and Death, Blessing and Curse. Choose life so that you and your children will live.  And love God, your God, listening obediently to him, firmly embracing him

In ending I just want to say that I truly believe if we ourselves, and our elected governments will follow God Law’s, will rule fairly and justly, will endeavour to save lives not end them, and call on His most Holy Name above all others, then we will be walking in His ways and will enjoy his promises, which we will see fulfilled as He promised us.

Until that happens we must struggle daily in our quest to see that WE DO NEED HIM in our lives…. anything less will simply continue to lead us down a path of destruction.

The United States of America pledge of allegiance: “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Australia “Whereas the people of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, and Tasmania, humbly relying on the blessing of Almighty God, have agreed to unite in one indissoluble Federal Commonwealth under the Crown of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and under the Constitution hereby established:”

Seems to me that the Founding Father’s of the USA and Australia recognised the authority of Almighty God – such a pity our new Australian Prime Minister does not!

People of all nations PRAY for your leaders, politicians and government officials. Ask God to remove all obstacles to faith in their lives and ours, so that they may attempt to lead us to new life with Him.

We do need Him ~~~~~ there is no doubt.

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References used when writing this blog:

Arrogance

ABC – Gillard won’t play religion card

Gillard ousts Rudd in bloodless coup

West Australian MP Robin Chapple introduces Euthanasia Bill to WA Parliament

New bid to legalise voluntary euthanasia

Premier defends A-G’s voluntary euthanasia strategy

A peaceful death is everybody’s right

Thou shall not kill

Bible Knowledge – 10 commandments

Pledge of Allegiance

Maxine on Jesus – Maxine is a believer!

IT IS SO UNIQUE how some spiritual adventures begin, especially the ones you grow from. How was I to know that one dialogue while waiting for a train ride home would result in a Christian vs. Jehovah’s Witness battle that would last for several months? I have never been one to shy away from a Bible discussion or debate, even though my maturing conscience in Christ has often rebuked me for the level of “excitement” I have brought to the task. I envision myself being smooth and calm, reciting scriptures as if they were written on the back of my hand. Instead the dialogue (at least in my case) many times de-evolved into a classic courtroom case between two lawyers, many times with the other side walking away in frustration (I have missed several trains because I refuse to walk away from the JWs).

This guy, however, was my equal in tenacity and stubbornness, if not in Bible knowledge (not that I know so much). Since we rode on the train together towards home and often towards work as well, this treated our fellow train riders to a full 25 minutes of non-stop Bible debate between two “never-say-die” believers of differing ideologies, squaring off with their respective Bibles. The train would often grow quiet as we battled, with some Christians standing nearby and quietly rooting me on, or some nearby JWs listening intently and showing no emotion.

My friend Dennis was no pushover. The moment he found out I was a Christian pastor, he launched into his questions designed to point out the “flaws” in the Christian church’s theology (none of which were new to me.) When I told him I had dealt with many of his group’s Elders and Bible students, he said challengingly, “Well, you’ve got one now.”

I must admit, to my shame, that I relished pridefully in the challenge. The discussions gave me an opportunity to break out my Exhibit A passages that I was sure would cause most JWs to drop to their knees in tearful repentance. Instead, Dennis would deftly counter with his New World Translation’s version of the same passage that would somehow deliver an interpretation that conflicted with my own, or he would share an alternate understanding of the same passage, which would launch us into another 5-minute debate on the validity of his interpretation. We went from battling Bible passages to battling versions, from versions to commentators, from commentators to original manuscripts. A number of times when I thought I had him cornered, I clearly saw the deception that would come over him, preventing him from conceding any point that contradicted his JW perspective. I tried hard not to deny any accurate point made by him, and he did the same at times, but on the major points of the Christian faith, he would not acknowledge any of his flaws or errors.

On my part, I began to research the entire JW history from the 1800s, researching websites, printing reams of documents aned carrying them around in a 3-hole binder, looking for Dennis to try out my latest scriptural logic and historical findings. He would often do the same, faithfully sharing his JW-endorsed support docs to prove his points. Sometimes we slipped into scriptural insults (yes, there can be such a thing.) This went on for months, Monday through Friday. There was no give; we were deadlocked.

I didn’t get a revelation on what I was doing wrong until a woman on the morning train once spoke to both of us, saying pleadingly, “Gentlemen, please!” I didn’t see anger on her face, but embarrassment. She was holding a Christian book. A believer, I thought. She should be on MY side! But the thought came to me quietly: was I on God’s side in this? Wasn’t I doing it right? I remember the passage in the book of Joshua where Joshua, at war with Israel’s enemies, came upon an angel posed in the field with a sword during a battle. Joshua promptly asked, “Are you with our enemies or with us?” The angel answered just as promptly, “Neither one; but I have come for the Lord God of Hosts.” Joshua immediately changed his attitude and asked “what does the Lord God have to say?”

That passage blew me away. The angel was saying, “I am not here to choose sides in your dispute; I am here to fight for whichever side has sided with God. The real question is, which side are YOU on in HIS battle?” That passage tells me that we can be all fired up for a cause and still miss the will of God in our battle. That is what I had done with Dennis; instead of trying to win him over to the kingdom with God’s love and grace, I was trying to beat him into the kingdom with my logic, knowledge, and persuasiveness. I was hardening his heart towards me, guaranteeing that he wouldn’t receive whatever response I gave. I was simply trying to WIN. As a result, my humility was out of the window and my pride was in full gear. Once that happened, the Lord was neither on my side NOR Dennis’, for neither one of us was on his side at that point. Remember the passage: “God resists the proud, but exalts the humble…”

In my zeal to win the lost, I had become the proud; even if my doctrine was correct, my heart was not. I immediately tried to change my tactics with Dennis. Whenever he sees me now, he immediately launches into some aspect of doctrine designed to eventually draw me into a debate. I am now trying to respond respectfully, changing the subject here and there to a more personal or amiable subject, like our families, our jobs, our personal histories. In other words, like Jesus did with the woman at the well, I am now trying to first become his friend. Sometimes I have passed the test, other times that pride element will flare up and take over. I realize now that the real battle, the one that really matters for me, is first won within my own heart.

I don’t know how this “friendship” will go, how long it will last, or what will be the end results. I have learned a lot about Jehovah’s Witnesses, their ways, thinking and deception (For truly they are deceived). But I have also learned much about myself and my own weaknesses in the Lord, and they are many. I understand how far we as believers have to go in maturing our own hearts before we can effectively share the gospel with others. And I now understand more fully the truth in the statement, “People don’t care what you know until they know that you care.”

Lord God, forgive me for misrepresenting you. I repent of my pridefulness and dependence on myself and my knowledge. Help me to learn how to draw people to you with love and compassion instead of with knowledge and judgement. Help me to die to my own flesh and will so that I can more fully walk in your spirit and love. Amen.

(PS — If you really wish to know and understand the challenge of the Jehovah’s Witness group, read “Crisis of Conscience” by former Jehovah’s Witness Elder Raymond Franz. A very insightful, precise, compassionate book.)