The Arab capacity for self-deception and disingenuousness in dealing with foreign diplomats is legendary. In all the pan-Arab nation’s horrific losses to Israel in the past 60 years, a hallmark of those defeats is an unwillingness to confront reality: i.e., “We lost.”
Jordan’s King Abdullah grew up listening to stories about his grandfather’s murder outside the Al-Aksa Mosque in Jerusalem. The old Hashemite king was gunned-down by radicals who opposed his foray into reality, as he sought dialogue with the Jews. Had he lived, the region might have been spared a ghastly orgy of murder.
The monarch was one of the few who understood that true peace involved genuine commitment. He stood alone. Cousins who were collaborators with the Nazis, subsequent tin-horn dictators, and smooth-talking negotiators who employ double-speak (such as the fellow from Jericho, Saeb Erekat) have all sought to blame Israel first, last, and in-between.
So when Israel’s current Army Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi says that dialogue with Iran to stand-down from employing nuclear weapons is a viable option, he knows he is not dealing with a truly moderate Jordanian. He and his country are dealing with a true pack of sociopaths who are bent on bringing in the Apocalypse.
So why say it? Why try and initiate any kind of dialogue? This is just one man’s opinion, but I suspect there are a couple reasons.
First, annoying as it is, Israel has always had to fight its wars with at least one hand tied behind its back. That hand is the fist of international diplomacy, a chronic illness that has coddled serial-killer dictators for decades.
An element of this engagement by Israel is the harm done by “useful idiots” — those Western personalities who live in a dream world. They know that, say, Syria’s Bashar Assad is every bit the thug his father was, but still there are overtures to Syria, a seat on the Security Council (surely one of the biggest jokes of all time), and promises of economic and even military aid.
So Israel must play the game to a degree. Skilled orators such as Abba Eban and Benjamin Netanyahu have been able to present Israel’s case to the world, but too often the fatal disease of Jew-hatred has overcome those efforts. At the end of the day, Israel still must try and explain to the world that its long campaign to confront totalitarian leaders is justified on several fronts.
The second thing is, reaching out that free hand in diplomatic efforts enables Israel to distract her enemies from seeing the foot of the Israel Defense Forces swing upward with a deadly kick. The IDF has done more to preserve Israel than all the high-level State Department and Oval Office meetings combined.
Ashkenazi well understands the capabilities of the IDF. He is tough and experienced and wise. He knows the Iranians won’t back down from their homicidal goals. They’ve said loud and clear all over the world that they hope to destroy the Jewish state.
Two things give me comfort, in this order: God is real, alive, and in total control. The God of the Bible, I mean.
Secondly, the IDF is the most innovative, flexible, and fiercest fighting machine the Middle East has ever seen. Whether on the battlefield or in the command centers, Israel’s soldiers routinely outthink, outfight, and prevail over their enemies, all of whom have the advantage of more men. They also enjoy the cult-like worship of the international community.
Another key thing to remember about Israel and war is that an enemy cannot defeat the Jewish state without controlling the ground. If you visit, you’ll see what I mean.
The biblical heartland is not the Rockies, but it is a series of mountains that are steep and rocky. They aren’t gentle rolling hills. The terrain alone affords Israel a natural defense, and this has been understood by all Jewish leaders from Joshua to Sharon. If a modern-day army cannot get in there and control this ground with infantry and tanks, Israel can fight on forever.
This is why it is critical that Israel not give up the “West Bank.”
Another key thing to remember, and this is the most important: According to the Bible, Israel cannot lose.
This truth is literally a joke to the smooth, sophisticated international community. Most of the world does not believe the Bible is true. But if it is, God has promised that in the last days, He will fight for Israel as in the days of old. One has only to read the accounts of Israel’s modern wars — from the miraculous War of Independence in 1948 (a few planes and antiquated equipment in the hands of the Jews held-off the Goliath of numerous armies) to today’s war on terror, Israel doesn’t lose. Even with incompetent leadership, such as in the 2006 incursion into Lebanon, Israel has not lost territory, and is not in immediate danger.
All these factors convince me that even the evil of international diplomacy cannot defeat Israel. Ashkenazi knows that while the diplomats blather on, and Shimon Peres is good at this, the IDF has drawn-up several workable battle plans. There is considerable pressure on Israel “not to go it alone” in confronting Iran militarily. This is a hallmark of the virus known as diplomacy.
Yet when Israel sends her sons to knock out Iran’s nuclear capability, the world will posture and rage. And be grateful. Because let’s be honest: Israel’s neighbors and even many members of the United Nations will privately be relieved that Israel has done the heavy lifting…again. We’ve seen this pattern develop since 1948. Israel’s independence gave the West, and in particular the United States, an unbeatable outpost in the world’s most volatile region.
If you drive a car, you can thank Israel. Our oil supplies from the Middle East would long ago have been in Russian hands had the Jews not been there to thwart them at every turn.
In 1956 and 1967, Israel confronted the Arabs who wanted to control shipping. In 1973, they repelled a deadly twin attack from Egypt and Syria. In 1981, they took out Saddam Hussein’s almost-erotic fantasy, the nuclear reactor at Osirik. In 1982-83, they took on the terror nest the PLO had set up in Lebanon. In 1990-91, they coordinated intelligence gathering that enabled the U.S.-led coalition to keep Saddam from grabbing Saudi oilfields.
And today — trust me on this — Israeli intelligence keeps all of us safer by penetrating and crippling continual attempts by Al Qaida and other psychos to bring the West to its knees.
So for all the talk of talking Iran out of committing mass murder, it will come down to a meeting between Israel’s prime minister and his Cabinet and military advisors. It will come down to Israeli pilots climbing into cockpits and heading East. Bibi Netanyahu knows this. Gabi Ashkenazi knows this.
The rest of us — including our weak-kneed president and his Keystone Cops State Department — should thank God that He has preserved His people for such a time as this.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Joy Unspeakable and Full of Glory
Do you have joy in your life? Do you have a joy unspeakable and full of glory? I look around me and see church members who are depressed about the situation in our world here at home and abroad. We in the church are concerned about our country and the path our leaders have taken us, and know judgment could be just over the horizon. But I’m reminded of the good Boy Scouts and their motto, "Be prepared." Disaster, either natural or man-made, can occur at any moment. A good Boy Scout--or, more importantly, an awake Christian—prepares for the unexpected, the natural disaster, or yes, even a terrorist attack. But should we be anxious, looking over our shoulders for impending disaster and wringing our hands in worrisome fretting over the end of all things? Should we be obsessed with thoughts of the end of the world? I think not.
I have held onto the promises of Psalm 91 since I was a boy. Whenever danger has been about, I have always read and claimed the promises in this inspiring passage written by King David so long ago. And in this psalm asking the protection of Almighty God, there’s a catch, per se: The verse states that we have to stay right up close to God to be assured of His protection against the everyday challenges that come our way. We can’t try to serve our Lord haphazardly. If we are diligently serving Him and being ever watchful, then we’re promised we have nothing to fear. God is in charge and is watching over each person who is diligently trying to serve Him in faith and who is watching for the blessed hope--the soon return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
I get excited about the signs of the times that are all around us. As one of the “children of the day” who is “not blinded by being in darkness,” I know that the Rapture could be close--even right at the door. So I fear not, and neither should you. We should be longing for the blessed promises that God made for His children.
I just love the words the Holy Spirit prompted the apostle Paul to record in the eighth chapter of his book to the Romans:
"The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God And if children, then heirs; and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:16-18).
Yes, we have aches, pains, financial problems and loved ones who die sooner than we expect. Sometimes, the cares of this life weigh us down. But we are given a glorious promise as we read on in this passage:
“For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it” (Romans 8:19-25).
Notice how Paul lays the foundation by turning our attention to our hope. He reminds us that God purposefully made life subject to futility. Futility is a frustrating quality that wears away at one’s confidence. It can produce a sense of hopelessness that leads to us to think that nothing will work out. Sometimes our pilgrimage seems so long and arduous that we take our eyes from our Savior. Hopelessness builds. However, Paul reminds us that God does everything in love and wisdom, and for our good. He uses the futility we perceive, and allows it to point us to Him as the source of our strength. This builds our faith in spite of our circumstances.
“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:26).
We have been called. We have been chosen to be conformed to the image of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ our Lord, through the will of the Father. Again, “All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according His purpose.” Repeat that when troubles come your way and it will increase your faith.
Now let’s contemplate just for a moment the implication of a verse we quoted. “We are heirs and joint heirs with Jesus Christ” (verse 17). What a glorious promise!!! What He is and what is His will be ours as well. We will be like Him in Spirit and in relationships to family fortunes. Whatever belongs to the Son, we will be given a portion of that inheritance. That is mind-boggling! We will be kings and priests who will rule over portions of this universe and who will do whatever pleases the Father. We will have unlimited access to His throne room and audience with our Him and our Savior Jesus Christ. We will be in the same family, as adopted sons and daughters of the Ruler of the entire universe, We will live forever, even as they live. Now that should get anyone excited!
To end the eighth chapter of Romans, Paul gives us another promise that cannot be broken:
“Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:30-39).
Nothing can come between us and our eternal home. Nothing in this life, and nothing in this mixed-up world that we see self destructing can take away that promise. All He asks for is our love, our unwavering faith in Him, our obedience, and our willingness to put Him first, ahead of everything else. He gave us a way….the only way.
Now turn to John 14:
“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:1-6).
Even as we speak, Jesus, our Savior and soon-coming King, is preparing a place for us. Where? In His Father’s house. When? Right now. His Father’s house is somewhere out there in the place some call heaven. It’s where the Father and Son are right now. What will that mean, and how will it be accomplished? I have believed in the Rapture all my life and still do. The timing is what gets people all in an uproar. But from Scripture, we know that He is close, very close—even right at the door. When it comes right down to it, brethren, the timing doesn’t matter--even though I believe in a Pretrib Rapture. What matters is just that we get there. And how do we get there? Jesus gives the answer in John 6:28-29: “Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”
We get there by believing in faith and following the commands of the one God sent to die for our sins.
1 Peter chapter 1 states:
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.v6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 3-9).
That is our destiny; that is our goal. That is why we were born. That is why we struggle with daily living, and that is why, as Christians, we will win—to the glory of the Father.
In these times of uncertainty, we should be in glorious expectation, waiting for the blessed hope, that hope that is in Jesus Christ our Lord. We must be prepared, be good stewards of the talents He has given us, use His Word to reach others, and do the will of the Father by striving to become the image of His Son. We must put on the “whole armor of God,” as Ephesians 6:13-17 admonishes us to do:
“Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
Do you know this Jesus? Are you expecting His soon return? Have you made that the most important part of your life? Have you asked Him to come into your heart and cleanse you from all unrighteousness? He said “I am the way, the truth and the life. No man cometh unto the Father, but by Me” (John 14:6). Do you believe Him? Is the Holy Spirit calling you right now? Pray these simple words with heartfelt conviction” “Lord, I ask you to come into my heart. Cleanse me from my sins. I believe that you lived and died on a cruel cross for my sins. I believe you rose from the dead on the third day after you were buried, and that you live and sit now at the right hand of God the Father. Soon you will come back, and I want to go with you onto glory. In Jesus’ name, I confess my wish to be saved. Amen.”
May God bless you and keep you. Remember, Paul said in Philippians 4:13, “ I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.“ Let us go on with joy unspeakable and full of glory.”
I have held onto the promises of Psalm 91 since I was a boy. Whenever danger has been about, I have always read and claimed the promises in this inspiring passage written by King David so long ago. And in this psalm asking the protection of Almighty God, there’s a catch, per se: The verse states that we have to stay right up close to God to be assured of His protection against the everyday challenges that come our way. We can’t try to serve our Lord haphazardly. If we are diligently serving Him and being ever watchful, then we’re promised we have nothing to fear. God is in charge and is watching over each person who is diligently trying to serve Him in faith and who is watching for the blessed hope--the soon return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
I get excited about the signs of the times that are all around us. As one of the “children of the day” who is “not blinded by being in darkness,” I know that the Rapture could be close--even right at the door. So I fear not, and neither should you. We should be longing for the blessed promises that God made for His children.
I just love the words the Holy Spirit prompted the apostle Paul to record in the eighth chapter of his book to the Romans:
"The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God And if children, then heirs; and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:16-18).
Yes, we have aches, pains, financial problems and loved ones who die sooner than we expect. Sometimes, the cares of this life weigh us down. But we are given a glorious promise as we read on in this passage:
“For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it” (Romans 8:19-25).
Notice how Paul lays the foundation by turning our attention to our hope. He reminds us that God purposefully made life subject to futility. Futility is a frustrating quality that wears away at one’s confidence. It can produce a sense of hopelessness that leads to us to think that nothing will work out. Sometimes our pilgrimage seems so long and arduous that we take our eyes from our Savior. Hopelessness builds. However, Paul reminds us that God does everything in love and wisdom, and for our good. He uses the futility we perceive, and allows it to point us to Him as the source of our strength. This builds our faith in spite of our circumstances.
“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:26).
We have been called. We have been chosen to be conformed to the image of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ our Lord, through the will of the Father. Again, “All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according His purpose.” Repeat that when troubles come your way and it will increase your faith.
Now let’s contemplate just for a moment the implication of a verse we quoted. “We are heirs and joint heirs with Jesus Christ” (verse 17). What a glorious promise!!! What He is and what is His will be ours as well. We will be like Him in Spirit and in relationships to family fortunes. Whatever belongs to the Son, we will be given a portion of that inheritance. That is mind-boggling! We will be kings and priests who will rule over portions of this universe and who will do whatever pleases the Father. We will have unlimited access to His throne room and audience with our Him and our Savior Jesus Christ. We will be in the same family, as adopted sons and daughters of the Ruler of the entire universe, We will live forever, even as they live. Now that should get anyone excited!
To end the eighth chapter of Romans, Paul gives us another promise that cannot be broken:
“Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:30-39).
Nothing can come between us and our eternal home. Nothing in this life, and nothing in this mixed-up world that we see self destructing can take away that promise. All He asks for is our love, our unwavering faith in Him, our obedience, and our willingness to put Him first, ahead of everything else. He gave us a way….the only way.
Now turn to John 14:
“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:1-6).
Even as we speak, Jesus, our Savior and soon-coming King, is preparing a place for us. Where? In His Father’s house. When? Right now. His Father’s house is somewhere out there in the place some call heaven. It’s where the Father and Son are right now. What will that mean, and how will it be accomplished? I have believed in the Rapture all my life and still do. The timing is what gets people all in an uproar. But from Scripture, we know that He is close, very close—even right at the door. When it comes right down to it, brethren, the timing doesn’t matter--even though I believe in a Pretrib Rapture. What matters is just that we get there. And how do we get there? Jesus gives the answer in John 6:28-29: “Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”
We get there by believing in faith and following the commands of the one God sent to die for our sins.
1 Peter chapter 1 states:
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.v6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 3-9).
That is our destiny; that is our goal. That is why we were born. That is why we struggle with daily living, and that is why, as Christians, we will win—to the glory of the Father.
In these times of uncertainty, we should be in glorious expectation, waiting for the blessed hope, that hope that is in Jesus Christ our Lord. We must be prepared, be good stewards of the talents He has given us, use His Word to reach others, and do the will of the Father by striving to become the image of His Son. We must put on the “whole armor of God,” as Ephesians 6:13-17 admonishes us to do:
“Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
Do you know this Jesus? Are you expecting His soon return? Have you made that the most important part of your life? Have you asked Him to come into your heart and cleanse you from all unrighteousness? He said “I am the way, the truth and the life. No man cometh unto the Father, but by Me” (John 14:6). Do you believe Him? Is the Holy Spirit calling you right now? Pray these simple words with heartfelt conviction” “Lord, I ask you to come into my heart. Cleanse me from my sins. I believe that you lived and died on a cruel cross for my sins. I believe you rose from the dead on the third day after you were buried, and that you live and sit now at the right hand of God the Father. Soon you will come back, and I want to go with you onto glory. In Jesus’ name, I confess my wish to be saved. Amen.”
May God bless you and keep you. Remember, Paul said in Philippians 4:13, “ I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.“ Let us go on with joy unspeakable and full of glory.”
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Learned Behavior
“For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it. But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it,” Proverbs 2:21, 22.
Remember when you were growing up and you misbehaved? One or both of your parents would tell you to behave yourself. As you grew bodily and intellectually, your behavior actually took on characteristics belonging to your parents. We learn from our parents and we pass along our learning to our children. “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding,” Proverbs 4:7.
If children grow up in a home that is full of iniquity they will pick up such behavioral traits themselves. Parents have so much influence on their children’s behavior that if the parents were to actually live the Christian lifestyle, their children would most appropriately emulate that lifestyle; the opposite is also true. If our lifestyle is focused on debauchery, our children’s behavior will ultimately reflect the same.
A Christian child growing up in today’s society needs to have continual correction in order for them to hold fast to Christian values. Our minds, and our children’s minds are bombarded daily by the words and actions of people who live contrary to God’s will, and this can be overwhelming. Bringing up a child in a morally upstanding home environment will always necessitate some form of mind modifications because of outside evil and immoral influences. Mind modification sounds awful, but it is practiced throughout our society. TV and movies promote the greatest of these manipulating practices, followed closely by our government run public school system.
Everything goes back to a learned behavior. Beginning with a young mind, for example, erroneous influences can create barriers to truth. Children learn a form of truth from their parents, and accuracy of truth hinges on those parents’ presuppositions. Children parrot their parent’s views. For example, my daughter has a friend who hates Chevrolets. Why? Because her dad hates Chevrolets! This young girl has never owned a Chevrolet so has no experience with car ownership of any kind, but she parrots her father’s views.
I can give many examples of leaned behavior such as drinking alcoholic beverages, smoking cigarettes, immorality in the home (such as adultery or watching TV shows which promote an immoral behavior), and of course physical and mental child abuse. All this becomes embedded in a child’s mind to a point that they see nothing wrong in such behavior and it becomes a part of their lifestyle when they become adults. Of course then it becomes a domino effect passing this behavior on to each generation.
If a child is brought up in the admonition of the Lord through a regime of daily Bible reading, and with a dad and mom who are devoted to the Lord Jesus as well as to each other, in all likelihood that child will carry that pattern into their adult life, and pass it on to their children. “Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6. If on the other hand there are deviations from such a lifestyle, these deviations will soon be picked up by our children. Consequently over generations this systematic departure from the truth becomes expanded upon, finally resulting in a learned behavior that is at odds with the truth of God’s word. “The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools,” Proverbs 3:35.
When a society deviates from God’s word, the result is a people steeped in immorality. It’s a learned behavior that spreads like a cancer, affecting everyone in its path. Destructive lifestyles are caustic to a moral society, and when immorality is not condemned the result will be the eventual demise of that once moral society. If parents won’t stand for decency in a society, their children will not learn to be morally decent and will pass their lack of morality on to the next generation of children. Ultimately this will lead to the complete breakdown of the moral structure of any civilization. “The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble,” Proverbs 4:19.
The following poll was conducted by the Barna Research Group and gleaned from a WorldNetDaily.com article that shows definite signs of learned behavior.
“The pollsters asked adults if, in the previous week, they had viewed pornography, used profanity in public, gambled, gossiped, engaged in sexual intercourse with someone to whom they were not married, retaliated against someone, got drunk or lied. A majority of the respondents acknowledged engaging in at least one of those eight behaviors.
Here are the specific results:
28 percent admitted to using profanity in public;
20 percent admitted gambling, including the purchase of a lottery ticket;
19 percent admitted to intentional exposure to pornographic images;
12 percent admitted getting drunk;
11 percent admitted lying;
9 percent said they had sexual intercourse with someone other than their spouse;
8 percent said they had retaliated against someone.
While only 1 percent of married adults acknowledged having sex with someone other than their spouse, 21 percent of single adults said they had sex with someone in the previous week. In fact, reported the Barna Group, those under 25 were more than twice as likely to engage in these activities.
"Their choices made even the Baby Boomers – never regarded as a paragon of traditional morality – look like moral pillars in comparison," the study concluded.
Among the under-25 group:
64 percent admitted using profanity in public;
38 percent engaged in sex outside marriage;
37 percent lied;
25 percent gossiped;
26 percent used pornography;
33 percent engaged in acts of retaliation.”
What can we expect from a society that continually glorifies wicked and depraved people and shuns that which is righteous? Of course the result will be a complete collapse of the moral structure of a society. When evil prevails in a nation it will always lead to even more depravity. Every society that allows a cesspool of filth to permeate the minds of the young people will undoubtedly reap what they’ve sown. “The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked,” Proverbs 10:3.
Sitting in my doctors waiting room the other day, I overheard a few of the ladies who were also waiting to see the doctor discussing with the receptionist all the daily soap operas they miss because they work all day, and how they tape them so they can view them at a later time slot. Interestingly, living in a small town as I do, I know all these fine ladies are professing Christians. TV soap operas are pure filth and yet these women have no problem watching such filth. Learned behavior passed on from generation to generation. Harmless you say? Destructive I say.
Habitual bad behavior of children comes, in some cases, from observing those people they most respect, such as parents, grandparents, school teachers, even U.S. Presidents. The worst perpetrators of this morally wrong behavior are the hero’s of this current generation: actors, actresses, singers, and professional ball players with minds so depraved, that in any society that practices God’s precepts for morality they would be locked away. These are the folks who encourage a destructive lifestyle, a behavior that promotes every vile and gross iniquity known to man, and yet it seems the world can’t get enough. These so called heroes are championed by the media who are used by Satan to feed this trash to a hungry public who are looking everywhere for fulfillment, except to Christ. “The way of the LORD is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity,” Proverbs 10:29.
Have you ever stopped to realize that the easing of societal taboos is something that happens quietly at first, under the radar so to speak? As folks become numb to each new broken taboo, another one is attacked and soon falls. Before anyone knows what’s happened, all of society’s taboos are gone, leaving a complete and total breakdown of morals. Each generation that follows becomes more immoral but unaware that they are in a depraved state because this immorality has become commonplace. All of which can be attributed to learned behavior.
The Bible is being shunned or mistranslated to accommodate those with evil agendas. Yet in this frequently mistranslated and disparaged book all the immorality and evil vileness we see happening today was prophesied 2,000 years ago. “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! ” 2 Timothy 3:2-5.
It’s not easy to escape “learned behaviors”, especially those which contradict God’s word, but it is possible. There is always a way out of every evil behavioral situation. The Holy Spirit is always at work in each person’s life, as is the devil. Satan will try to thwart any and all efforts put forth by the Holy Spirit. It is a constant battle. Ultimately Satan loses the battle, but not before he convinces a huge majority of every culture and people to follow evil instead of God.
If you love Jesus and make manifest your love for Him in your life, your children will learn from your behavior. Ultimately they will become more knowledgeable of who Jesus is, what He should mean to them, and what He expects of them. Learned behavior can lead either to righteousness or evil, but it depends on each of us as parents and how our lifestyles promote Jesus Christ.
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths,” Proverbs 3:5, 6. If we consistently follow this advice, so might our children. If not, well.
Remember when you were growing up and you misbehaved? One or both of your parents would tell you to behave yourself. As you grew bodily and intellectually, your behavior actually took on characteristics belonging to your parents. We learn from our parents and we pass along our learning to our children. “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding,” Proverbs 4:7.
If children grow up in a home that is full of iniquity they will pick up such behavioral traits themselves. Parents have so much influence on their children’s behavior that if the parents were to actually live the Christian lifestyle, their children would most appropriately emulate that lifestyle; the opposite is also true. If our lifestyle is focused on debauchery, our children’s behavior will ultimately reflect the same.
A Christian child growing up in today’s society needs to have continual correction in order for them to hold fast to Christian values. Our minds, and our children’s minds are bombarded daily by the words and actions of people who live contrary to God’s will, and this can be overwhelming. Bringing up a child in a morally upstanding home environment will always necessitate some form of mind modifications because of outside evil and immoral influences. Mind modification sounds awful, but it is practiced throughout our society. TV and movies promote the greatest of these manipulating practices, followed closely by our government run public school system.
Everything goes back to a learned behavior. Beginning with a young mind, for example, erroneous influences can create barriers to truth. Children learn a form of truth from their parents, and accuracy of truth hinges on those parents’ presuppositions. Children parrot their parent’s views. For example, my daughter has a friend who hates Chevrolets. Why? Because her dad hates Chevrolets! This young girl has never owned a Chevrolet so has no experience with car ownership of any kind, but she parrots her father’s views.
I can give many examples of leaned behavior such as drinking alcoholic beverages, smoking cigarettes, immorality in the home (such as adultery or watching TV shows which promote an immoral behavior), and of course physical and mental child abuse. All this becomes embedded in a child’s mind to a point that they see nothing wrong in such behavior and it becomes a part of their lifestyle when they become adults. Of course then it becomes a domino effect passing this behavior on to each generation.
If a child is brought up in the admonition of the Lord through a regime of daily Bible reading, and with a dad and mom who are devoted to the Lord Jesus as well as to each other, in all likelihood that child will carry that pattern into their adult life, and pass it on to their children. “Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6. If on the other hand there are deviations from such a lifestyle, these deviations will soon be picked up by our children. Consequently over generations this systematic departure from the truth becomes expanded upon, finally resulting in a learned behavior that is at odds with the truth of God’s word. “The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools,” Proverbs 3:35.
When a society deviates from God’s word, the result is a people steeped in immorality. It’s a learned behavior that spreads like a cancer, affecting everyone in its path. Destructive lifestyles are caustic to a moral society, and when immorality is not condemned the result will be the eventual demise of that once moral society. If parents won’t stand for decency in a society, their children will not learn to be morally decent and will pass their lack of morality on to the next generation of children. Ultimately this will lead to the complete breakdown of the moral structure of any civilization. “The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble,” Proverbs 4:19.
The following poll was conducted by the Barna Research Group and gleaned from a WorldNetDaily.com article that shows definite signs of learned behavior.
“The pollsters asked adults if, in the previous week, they had viewed pornography, used profanity in public, gambled, gossiped, engaged in sexual intercourse with someone to whom they were not married, retaliated against someone, got drunk or lied. A majority of the respondents acknowledged engaging in at least one of those eight behaviors.
Here are the specific results:
28 percent admitted to using profanity in public;
20 percent admitted gambling, including the purchase of a lottery ticket;
19 percent admitted to intentional exposure to pornographic images;
12 percent admitted getting drunk;
11 percent admitted lying;
9 percent said they had sexual intercourse with someone other than their spouse;
8 percent said they had retaliated against someone.
While only 1 percent of married adults acknowledged having sex with someone other than their spouse, 21 percent of single adults said they had sex with someone in the previous week. In fact, reported the Barna Group, those under 25 were more than twice as likely to engage in these activities.
"Their choices made even the Baby Boomers – never regarded as a paragon of traditional morality – look like moral pillars in comparison," the study concluded.
Among the under-25 group:
64 percent admitted using profanity in public;
38 percent engaged in sex outside marriage;
37 percent lied;
25 percent gossiped;
26 percent used pornography;
33 percent engaged in acts of retaliation.”
What can we expect from a society that continually glorifies wicked and depraved people and shuns that which is righteous? Of course the result will be a complete collapse of the moral structure of a society. When evil prevails in a nation it will always lead to even more depravity. Every society that allows a cesspool of filth to permeate the minds of the young people will undoubtedly reap what they’ve sown. “The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked,” Proverbs 10:3.
Sitting in my doctors waiting room the other day, I overheard a few of the ladies who were also waiting to see the doctor discussing with the receptionist all the daily soap operas they miss because they work all day, and how they tape them so they can view them at a later time slot. Interestingly, living in a small town as I do, I know all these fine ladies are professing Christians. TV soap operas are pure filth and yet these women have no problem watching such filth. Learned behavior passed on from generation to generation. Harmless you say? Destructive I say.
Habitual bad behavior of children comes, in some cases, from observing those people they most respect, such as parents, grandparents, school teachers, even U.S. Presidents. The worst perpetrators of this morally wrong behavior are the hero’s of this current generation: actors, actresses, singers, and professional ball players with minds so depraved, that in any society that practices God’s precepts for morality they would be locked away. These are the folks who encourage a destructive lifestyle, a behavior that promotes every vile and gross iniquity known to man, and yet it seems the world can’t get enough. These so called heroes are championed by the media who are used by Satan to feed this trash to a hungry public who are looking everywhere for fulfillment, except to Christ. “The way of the LORD is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity,” Proverbs 10:29.
Have you ever stopped to realize that the easing of societal taboos is something that happens quietly at first, under the radar so to speak? As folks become numb to each new broken taboo, another one is attacked and soon falls. Before anyone knows what’s happened, all of society’s taboos are gone, leaving a complete and total breakdown of morals. Each generation that follows becomes more immoral but unaware that they are in a depraved state because this immorality has become commonplace. All of which can be attributed to learned behavior.
The Bible is being shunned or mistranslated to accommodate those with evil agendas. Yet in this frequently mistranslated and disparaged book all the immorality and evil vileness we see happening today was prophesied 2,000 years ago. “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! ” 2 Timothy 3:2-5.
It’s not easy to escape “learned behaviors”, especially those which contradict God’s word, but it is possible. There is always a way out of every evil behavioral situation. The Holy Spirit is always at work in each person’s life, as is the devil. Satan will try to thwart any and all efforts put forth by the Holy Spirit. It is a constant battle. Ultimately Satan loses the battle, but not before he convinces a huge majority of every culture and people to follow evil instead of God.
If you love Jesus and make manifest your love for Him in your life, your children will learn from your behavior. Ultimately they will become more knowledgeable of who Jesus is, what He should mean to them, and what He expects of them. Learned behavior can lead either to righteousness or evil, but it depends on each of us as parents and how our lifestyles promote Jesus Christ.
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths,” Proverbs 3:5, 6. If we consistently follow this advice, so might our children. If not, well.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Solomon’s bottom line
If you accept the Bible for what it is, God's inspired, inerrant word,
representing absolute truth and our final authority in all matters, then
Solomon was the wisest man that ever lived. Over the years, I have carefully
studied his life, the things he said, trying to tap into his wisdom. As a
man, like all men, Solomon made many mistakes in his life and gave into the
temptations of this sinful world on many occasions. It doesn't make me feel
any better, but it does help when I make mistakes to know that even the
wisest man who ever lived also made many mistakes during his life.
I have torn apart the Book of Ecclesiastes many times and have spent
countless hours reading Solomon's summation of this life. In looking back
over his life, having had all that anyone who lives in this world could ever
want, the word that Solomon used over and over was "meaningless." As he
looked back, he realized that in the end all of the temporal things of this
world were exactly that, meaningless. It is, actually, a pretty negative
book until you get to the next to last verse. As only the wisest man who
ever lived could, in 6 words Solomon summed up what this life is all about,
"Fear God and Keep His Commandments."
This may sound like an oversimplification, but it really isn't. The Hebrew
word for fear is not the type of fear you have when you are afraid, but
literally means to be in awe, in reverence. That should always be our
attitude towards God-awe and reverence. Keeping His commandments refers to
obeying the Word of God. My friends, if we can do this throughout our lives,
fear God and keep His commandments, we have found the key to what this life
is really all about since this is the whole duty of man.
You see, this world honors those who lead great armies into war, rule
empires and nations; those who have amassed tremendous wealth; people who
are responsible for accomplishing incredible feats during their life. But
all of these great accomplishments are only temporary. The truly great
accomplishments in this life are the things we do that will stand for
eternity.
Sharing the truth of God's Word with people, leading the lost to an
everlasting relationship with Jesus Christ, helping those who know Christ
become all God wants them to be. These are things the world will never see,
but God will remember. Solomon at the end of his long, successful, and
distinguished life on this earth summed it all up by saying that the whole
duty of man is to fear God and keep His commandments.
I tell you often to stay focused on the things above as opposed to the things of this life. I pray, today, that you will take a long hard look at your goals and priorities, and make fearing God and keeping His commandments number one. Our purpose in this life is to serve and glorify God. If fearing Him and keeping His
commandments is how to fulfill His purpose for our life, then that must be our top priority each day.
I pray, today, that you will listen to the wisdom of Solomon and that each
day the most important thing in your life will be to "fear God and keep His
commandments." That, my friend, is the whole duty of man and the bottom line
to what this life is all about.
representing absolute truth and our final authority in all matters, then
Solomon was the wisest man that ever lived. Over the years, I have carefully
studied his life, the things he said, trying to tap into his wisdom. As a
man, like all men, Solomon made many mistakes in his life and gave into the
temptations of this sinful world on many occasions. It doesn't make me feel
any better, but it does help when I make mistakes to know that even the
wisest man who ever lived also made many mistakes during his life.
I have torn apart the Book of Ecclesiastes many times and have spent
countless hours reading Solomon's summation of this life. In looking back
over his life, having had all that anyone who lives in this world could ever
want, the word that Solomon used over and over was "meaningless." As he
looked back, he realized that in the end all of the temporal things of this
world were exactly that, meaningless. It is, actually, a pretty negative
book until you get to the next to last verse. As only the wisest man who
ever lived could, in 6 words Solomon summed up what this life is all about,
"Fear God and Keep His Commandments."
This may sound like an oversimplification, but it really isn't. The Hebrew
word for fear is not the type of fear you have when you are afraid, but
literally means to be in awe, in reverence. That should always be our
attitude towards God-awe and reverence. Keeping His commandments refers to
obeying the Word of God. My friends, if we can do this throughout our lives,
fear God and keep His commandments, we have found the key to what this life
is really all about since this is the whole duty of man.
You see, this world honors those who lead great armies into war, rule
empires and nations; those who have amassed tremendous wealth; people who
are responsible for accomplishing incredible feats during their life. But
all of these great accomplishments are only temporary. The truly great
accomplishments in this life are the things we do that will stand for
eternity.
Sharing the truth of God's Word with people, leading the lost to an
everlasting relationship with Jesus Christ, helping those who know Christ
become all God wants them to be. These are things the world will never see,
but God will remember. Solomon at the end of his long, successful, and
distinguished life on this earth summed it all up by saying that the whole
duty of man is to fear God and keep His commandments.
I tell you often to stay focused on the things above as opposed to the things of this life. I pray, today, that you will take a long hard look at your goals and priorities, and make fearing God and keeping His commandments number one. Our purpose in this life is to serve and glorify God. If fearing Him and keeping His
commandments is how to fulfill His purpose for our life, then that must be our top priority each day.
I pray, today, that you will listen to the wisdom of Solomon and that each
day the most important thing in your life will be to "fear God and keep His
commandments." That, my friend, is the whole duty of man and the bottom line
to what this life is all about.
Monday, June 1, 2009
America’s death dealing disconnect
Michael Vick was back in the news as he was released from Federal Prison
last week to spend the remaining few months of his sentence on home
confinement. In December 2008, former Atlanta Falcon QB and NFL superstar
Michael Vick was sentenced to 23 months in Federal Prison for dog fighting.
While he broke the law and is being held accountable for his actions, I
couldn't help but to think of the many abortion doctors in this nation who
go to work every day, slaughter innocent babies, and go home at night to
their families without ever being held accountable for their actions.
Today's Devotional is a sobering look at where we are as a nation and a
people.
In the United States, the life of a dog is worth more than the life of a
human being! The nation was riveted and closely followed the story of NFL
superstar quarterback Michael Vick in 2008. It came to light that Vick
financed and was an active participant in running a dog fighting enterprise.
Fighting dogs is illegal in all 50 states. Additionally, hundreds of
thousands of dollars were illegally gambled on these dog fights, and what
has enraged most people, was the inhumane treatment of these animals
including killing them in numerous brutal ways. Vick was not only been
linked to financing this dog fighting operation, but gambling on the fights
and personally killing several of the dogs who didn't perform well.
Today, I want to bring a whole new perspective to the Michael Vick story
that you won't hear on the news or read about in the papers. In the United
States in the year 2009, it is illegal to kill a dog but legal to kill a
baby! Let me say that one more time since I want this FACT to really sink
in. In the United States in the year 2009, it is illegal to kill a dog, but
legal to kill a baby! WOW! Does that put the whole Vick story in a different
light and show just how spiritually bankrupt we are as a nation? Want more?
Michael Vick went to prison for 23 months for killing dogs, yet every single
day all over this nation, "doctors" are slaughtering 4,000 babies and going
home to their families at the end of the day.
Michael Vick has been kicked out of the NFL and went to Federal prison for
killing dogs, but the "doctors" who are paid very well to kill over 4,000
babies EVERY SINGLE DAY in this nation are free!
Another aspect of the Vick case that I have watched closely is the
across-the-board outrage by people regarding what he did to these dogs. You
will be hard pressed to find anyone who even tries to support, let alone,
condone what Vick did. It has virtually been a universal response of
condemnation for what he did to these dogs. What baffles me is where is that
same universal condemnation over the fact we kill 4,000 babies in this
nation every day? How can the masses get so riled up over the inhumane
treatment and killing of a handful of dogs, yet sit back in silence as every
24 hours another 4,000 babies are slaughtered?
Here is an interesting side note that can't go unnoticed. PETA, the ultra
liberal People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, was front and center in
calling for Vick's hide and exploited the Vick story to raise millions of
dollars for their cause. The hypocrisy is that the vast percentage of people
who follow and support PETA also support a woman's right to kill her baby.
So you have this animal rights advocacy group who takes every opportunity to
bully and intimidate people who have anything to do with animals, all the
way from how cows and chickens are slaughtered to the way animals are killed
by fast food restaurants to the killing of animals to make fur coats,
leading the charge against Vick for fighting and killing dogs, yet this same
group supports the killing of babies!
The real story of the sad and sickening Michael Vick dog fighting/killing
tragedy is that in this nation we clearly put more value on the life of an
animal than we do a human. It is clear that the life of a dog is more
important to society than the life of a baby. This is the only conclusion
you can draw since it is illegal to kill dogs but not babies, and someone
like Vick who is found guilty of killing dogs is going to prison while the
"doctors" who kill babies live in freedom. Society has determined that the
life of a dog is more important than the life of a baby.
This is so critical since now it is easy to understand why we are in the
spiritual abyss we find ourselves in. The Absolute Truth of the Bible has
been replaced by "every man doing what is right in their own eyes." You see,
it is no longer God our Creator who determines Truth, each person is
deciding that for themselves. That is why people now accept homosexual
relationships that God clearly calls a sin, redefining what God said
marriage and the family were to be, all of the false gods of the world, and
every other form of rebellion to God and His Word that you can name. When
men determine what truth is, that is how you end up with the mass outraged
over the death of a few dogs, yet no response at all to the daily slaughter
of 4,000 babies!
In nearly 10 years, all of the
warnings I have been sharing with you are coming to pass. I remember getting
emails telling me I was paranoid, the things I shared would never happen,
yet here we are in May of 2009 and this nation is in spiritual freefall. I
see a very small window that could allow us to reclaim this great nation for
Christ, but with each passing day that window gets smaller.
The nation has turned to the false gods of the world, the man-made idols,
and has chosen to live in complete rebellion to God and the Truth of His
Word. Most of Christendom has retreated behind the four walls of the church
into the "Christian trough" where they have virtually no impact on the world
at large. We have relegated ourselves to what amounts to a modern day leper
colony. Christians have become the 21st century lepers. We are treated like
outcasts. Despite having the power of Almighty God, we have chosen to hide
in our Christian subculture while the world we live in is sinning its way
into obliteration with souls dying and going to hell on conveyor belts!
Nothing more exemplifies this than the Vick case. Let me clearly state that
I believe those who treat animals in an inhumane way should be punished. Dog
fighting is a barbaric sport that should be against the law. Those who kill
dogs for sport should be prosecuted. I don't feel sorry for Michael Vick at
all and whatever he got he deserves.
However, the point I want you to understand today is that as heinous and
horrible as Vick's actions were, the disconnect comes when heinous and
horrible acts on a human being are not only legal, but supported by millions
of people. Many of the same people who have gone ballistic about what Vick
did to a few dogs, go equally ballistic if you talk about outlawing the
killing of babies.
If you ever needed a reminder regarding the depth of spiritual decay in this
country, the Michael Vick case is that reminder. The reality is that in this
country, the life of a dog is more precious than the life of a baby! God
have mercy on us all.
last week to spend the remaining few months of his sentence on home
confinement. In December 2008, former Atlanta Falcon QB and NFL superstar
Michael Vick was sentenced to 23 months in Federal Prison for dog fighting.
While he broke the law and is being held accountable for his actions, I
couldn't help but to think of the many abortion doctors in this nation who
go to work every day, slaughter innocent babies, and go home at night to
their families without ever being held accountable for their actions.
Today's Devotional is a sobering look at where we are as a nation and a
people.
In the United States, the life of a dog is worth more than the life of a
human being! The nation was riveted and closely followed the story of NFL
superstar quarterback Michael Vick in 2008. It came to light that Vick
financed and was an active participant in running a dog fighting enterprise.
Fighting dogs is illegal in all 50 states. Additionally, hundreds of
thousands of dollars were illegally gambled on these dog fights, and what
has enraged most people, was the inhumane treatment of these animals
including killing them in numerous brutal ways. Vick was not only been
linked to financing this dog fighting operation, but gambling on the fights
and personally killing several of the dogs who didn't perform well.
Today, I want to bring a whole new perspective to the Michael Vick story
that you won't hear on the news or read about in the papers. In the United
States in the year 2009, it is illegal to kill a dog but legal to kill a
baby! Let me say that one more time since I want this FACT to really sink
in. In the United States in the year 2009, it is illegal to kill a dog, but
legal to kill a baby! WOW! Does that put the whole Vick story in a different
light and show just how spiritually bankrupt we are as a nation? Want more?
Michael Vick went to prison for 23 months for killing dogs, yet every single
day all over this nation, "doctors" are slaughtering 4,000 babies and going
home to their families at the end of the day.
Michael Vick has been kicked out of the NFL and went to Federal prison for
killing dogs, but the "doctors" who are paid very well to kill over 4,000
babies EVERY SINGLE DAY in this nation are free!
Another aspect of the Vick case that I have watched closely is the
across-the-board outrage by people regarding what he did to these dogs. You
will be hard pressed to find anyone who even tries to support, let alone,
condone what Vick did. It has virtually been a universal response of
condemnation for what he did to these dogs. What baffles me is where is that
same universal condemnation over the fact we kill 4,000 babies in this
nation every day? How can the masses get so riled up over the inhumane
treatment and killing of a handful of dogs, yet sit back in silence as every
24 hours another 4,000 babies are slaughtered?
Here is an interesting side note that can't go unnoticed. PETA, the ultra
liberal People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, was front and center in
calling for Vick's hide and exploited the Vick story to raise millions of
dollars for their cause. The hypocrisy is that the vast percentage of people
who follow and support PETA also support a woman's right to kill her baby.
So you have this animal rights advocacy group who takes every opportunity to
bully and intimidate people who have anything to do with animals, all the
way from how cows and chickens are slaughtered to the way animals are killed
by fast food restaurants to the killing of animals to make fur coats,
leading the charge against Vick for fighting and killing dogs, yet this same
group supports the killing of babies!
The real story of the sad and sickening Michael Vick dog fighting/killing
tragedy is that in this nation we clearly put more value on the life of an
animal than we do a human. It is clear that the life of a dog is more
important to society than the life of a baby. This is the only conclusion
you can draw since it is illegal to kill dogs but not babies, and someone
like Vick who is found guilty of killing dogs is going to prison while the
"doctors" who kill babies live in freedom. Society has determined that the
life of a dog is more important than the life of a baby.
This is so critical since now it is easy to understand why we are in the
spiritual abyss we find ourselves in. The Absolute Truth of the Bible has
been replaced by "every man doing what is right in their own eyes." You see,
it is no longer God our Creator who determines Truth, each person is
deciding that for themselves. That is why people now accept homosexual
relationships that God clearly calls a sin, redefining what God said
marriage and the family were to be, all of the false gods of the world, and
every other form of rebellion to God and His Word that you can name. When
men determine what truth is, that is how you end up with the mass outraged
over the death of a few dogs, yet no response at all to the daily slaughter
of 4,000 babies!
In nearly 10 years, all of the
warnings I have been sharing with you are coming to pass. I remember getting
emails telling me I was paranoid, the things I shared would never happen,
yet here we are in May of 2009 and this nation is in spiritual freefall. I
see a very small window that could allow us to reclaim this great nation for
Christ, but with each passing day that window gets smaller.
The nation has turned to the false gods of the world, the man-made idols,
and has chosen to live in complete rebellion to God and the Truth of His
Word. Most of Christendom has retreated behind the four walls of the church
into the "Christian trough" where they have virtually no impact on the world
at large. We have relegated ourselves to what amounts to a modern day leper
colony. Christians have become the 21st century lepers. We are treated like
outcasts. Despite having the power of Almighty God, we have chosen to hide
in our Christian subculture while the world we live in is sinning its way
into obliteration with souls dying and going to hell on conveyor belts!
Nothing more exemplifies this than the Vick case. Let me clearly state that
I believe those who treat animals in an inhumane way should be punished. Dog
fighting is a barbaric sport that should be against the law. Those who kill
dogs for sport should be prosecuted. I don't feel sorry for Michael Vick at
all and whatever he got he deserves.
However, the point I want you to understand today is that as heinous and
horrible as Vick's actions were, the disconnect comes when heinous and
horrible acts on a human being are not only legal, but supported by millions
of people. Many of the same people who have gone ballistic about what Vick
did to a few dogs, go equally ballistic if you talk about outlawing the
killing of babies.
If you ever needed a reminder regarding the depth of spiritual decay in this
country, the Michael Vick case is that reminder. The reality is that in this
country, the life of a dog is more precious than the life of a baby! God
have mercy on us all.
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