Live Before You Die - day 10

In the Lord's Prayer Jesus prayed, "Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" (Matt 6:10).

Every one of God's holy prophets since the beginning of the world has spoken about the restoration of all things.  Those prophecies will be fulfilled, the prayer of Jesus will be answered, and God's kingdom will come.  This is what we long for.  This is what we pray for.  This is what we work for - for God's kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven!  Regardless of what we do as an occupation, we all share a singular calling and mission in this life: to build God's kingdom on earth.

The building of God's kingdom on earth is not just something we should keep in the back of our minds and try to contribute toward whenever an opportunity presents itself.  Seeing God's kingdom come on earth must be our main ambition.  In fact, Jesus said, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matt. 6:33, emphasis added).

I see this scenario play out before my eyes every day in the West.  Our comforts and conveniences have often made us complacent and indifferent to a dying world.  We are often afraid to do anything that might disturb our cozy, pampered lives.

The gospel is not an optional topic of conversation best left out of the workplace. It is God who gave you your job, and He gave it to you for a reason.  God is calling you into the ministry - even if He positions you in a "secular" occupation.  Your calling is to propel God's kingdom forward in whatever sphere you find yourself.

The money in our bank accounts is not ours - it all belongs to God to begin with.  He is not only the source of all our provision, but He is also the One who has given us the ability to create wealth.  God hasn't blessed us so we can consume those resources on our own lusts and pleasures; He has blessed us so we can be a blessing.

If God has entrusted you with money, you must realize that you are not the terminus; you are a channel through which those resources should flow.  Yes, when water flows through a pipe, the pipe also gets wet!  When God's blessings flow through you, you are also blessed personally, but never make the mistake of thinking you are blessed because you are so special or wonderful, intelligent or talented.  As Mordecai said to Esther, "Don't flatter yourself!"

He's blessed you for a purpose, and your fulfilling that purpose is not a side issue - it's the reason you have those blessings in the first place!  If you won't do what God has called you to do, He will find someone else who will do it with joy!

Daniel Kolenda, Live before you die

For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14)


 

Misguided Anger

By James Robison

 

“Be angry, and sin not.”[1] The Scripture goes on to say we are not to let the sun go down on our wrath. This is a clear indication of how adversely animosity, hurt, and resentment can affect us. Although there are numerous occasions when we should be deeply disturbed, even angry, about damaging or evil practices, we must not allow them to lead us into bitterness.

There’s plenty for Americans to be concerned, unhappy, and angry about. It could be because of personal failure, evil actions, bad policies, political leaders, or economic woes. Our nation and most people normally take action because they are mad about something or at someone, or sometimes both. We’ve become a reactionary people instead of a responsive people. Reacting hastily and with anger produces far less than the best or even desired results. We need to respond to truth and act with patience and wisdom.

Our truly blessed and once-great nation will never see the desired and necessary changes until we respond appropriately. Now is the time to take action—not because we are mad at someone or something, but because we love Someone. We should love God and others (the two great commandments of Christ). When this happens, we will recognize truth and see clearly what is best for us personally and nationally to the benefit of all citizens.

Whether anyone agrees with me or believes it, America has drifted from God, our roots and our foundation. It is important to love America, but we must first love God. If we do not, our focus will be misdirected. “Love is patient and kind, not boastful, proud or rude; does not seek its own way; is not irritable and does not keep records of wrongs committed against it and will not allow a root of bitterness to spring up defiling many. Love rejoices when truth wins. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful and endures through every circumstance or challenge. Faith, hope, and love last forever, but the greatest of these is love.”

Now is the time for love-filled and faith-filled people to stand up and lead the way out of this present darkness. Anger will fail – love will not.

People of faith with a God-centered worldview far outnumber those who are committed to the upside-down godless worldview. The sad fact is, however, these groups who oppose God and free expressions of faith are wielding far more influence over our national direction. I agree with C.S. Lewis who said, “We must not remain neutral in the titanic struggle for the hearts and minds of the human race.”

James Russell Lowell shared in poetic style, “Once to every man and nation, Comes the moment to decide, In the strife of truth with falsehood, For the good or evil side, Then it is the brave man who chooses, While the coward stands aside.” This is not a time for the timid, but for the bold who are compelled by love, not hatred, anger, and wrath.

In his first inaugural address, George Washington shared, “The propitious smiles of heaven fall only on that nation that does not disregard the eternal rules of order and right which heaven itself has ordained.” One of our nation’s wisest spokesmen, Noah Webster said, “The moral principles and precepts found in the scriptures ought to form the basis of all our civil constitutions and laws.” Our founding fathers’ three-branch model for our government was patterned after Isaiah 33:22. “For the Lord is our judge [judicial], the Lord is our law giver [legislative], the Lord is our king [executive].”

For years, some Americans were angry at another race of people and lowered their value because of prevailing prejudice. This was not only foolish, it was damaging and dangerous. Today the anger of many is again misplaced. Venomous wrath has been focused on those considered rich—on those individuals who have succeeded and earned material possessions. Many of these create the majority of jobs, opportunities, and investments while meeting many pressing needs and carrying the greatest tax burden. According to the Heritage Foundation, the top 10% of earners paid 70% of all federal income taxes in 2008. A whopping 49% of U.S. households paid no federal income tax at all. The investment of the top wage-producers benefits virtually every American, yet where is the gratitude? The fact is there is ever-increasing hostility.

The anti-God, post modernists, one-world government and leftist liberals have much in common with Islamic radicals in their opposition to everything that made America great. David Horowitz stated, “In word and deed both of these allies [radical Islamists and radical Leftists] make it plain that they consider everything about the United States to be evil and unworthy of preservation, that they wish to see American society and its way of life crushed by any means necessary, including violent revolution.” We need modern-day Daniels who, like the three Hebrew children, refuse to bow the knee to any idol or godless belief system and practice.

To help correct America’s course, those who love God and truly care about others must resist misguided anger and all who are controlled by ingratitude. People are being encouraged to hate the very people who can best help alleviate our economic woes, helping provide jobs and opportunity for vast numbers of people. Attacking productive people is actually a way to commit economic suicide. It diminishes the potential of every citizen. God is no respecter of persons, and in His eyes, we are all equal—but He never promised equal results, outcome or wealth. Wealth is not and has never been a problem for the poor or less fortunate. It is in fact a part of the only hope for alleviating poverty anywhere. Even if a person believes in socialism, they still have to have a source from which to take the means they wish to distribute.
It’s a historic, irrefutable fact that when the state, national government, or leader takes total control, wealth diminishes and is even destroyed, and the entire population suffers in bondage to a form of what amounts to another Old Testament Pharaoh or New Testament intolerable imperial rule. Yet many nations are continually drifting into this pit of hopeless despair. Much of our population and media controlled by misplaced, misdirected anger will help destroy the only possible way out.

Wealth is not the problem of the rich or the poor. Greed and envy are the issue. God is the answer to both greed and lack. God is love, and His love must be expressed through us. It can touch everyone in a positive way. Most people can’t seem to wrap their mind around God. What they need to do is wrap God around their mind. We have a desperate need for “people who have understanding of the times.”

The only way we will correct our course is to love that which is right and shun that which is evil. It is a great detriment to resent or hate others. If we put first things first loving God with all our heart, we will also love truth, sound principles and recognize positive, effective policies. As people of faith, we should not try to get people to oppose an issue such as abortion just because they hate it—but because they love and value life. We resist excess on the part of individuals and government because we love biblical justice and understand the primary role for government is protecting freedom and the innocent while also punishing evil doers. It must never be seen as our source.

We take a stand not because we hate what we are opposed to or because we are against the people doing it, but because we love righteousness and truth. This is the approach necessary to turn things ar capitalism, Christ, church, Christians, Christianity, Christian, Congress, Consititution, deceit, Democracy, desires, election, envy, false idol, freedom, God, government, Lord, leaders, truth, United States, wealthound. Bitterness defiles and destroys. Love heals and restores. It is time to stand for and speak the truth in love. In order to see the highway of success restored in America, we must first come to understand the importance of living on the highway of holiness.

The Trouble with Occupy Wall Street

By James Robison and Jay Richards

 

 

For the past month, thousands of Americans have “occupied” a park near Wall Street in New York, as well as many other American cities. The so-called Occupy Wall Street (OWS) throngs have had a hard time agreeing on a coherent list of demands, but they seem to agree that America’s free enterprise system—or what’s left of it—has got to go. They look at America and see greed, inequality, and a top one percent of income earners who take more than their fair share, and leave the rest of the 99% percent, supposedly, in destitution and poverty. If there’s one policy the protesters seem to agree on, it’s that the government needs to confiscate the wealth of this one percent and give it, apparently, to the protesters.
We’ve encountered a few well-meaning Christians who agree with the OWS movement. This concerns us, because Occupy Wall Street has mixed up a few legitimate concerns with envy and economic confusion.
The protestors are right to be bothered by the cozy relationship between the federal government and some businesses and banks. During and after the 2008 financial crisis, Americans sensed that the rules were manipulated and suspended for the politically well-connected. We saw the government protect and bail out certain banks and businesses because they were supposedly “too big to fail.” Whatever you call this—crony capitalism, crony socialism, corporatism—it’s a problem.
Some businesses are only too happy to solicit government favors to protect themselves from competition and to regulate and restrict their competitors. And we saw several keep their private gains but pass their losses on to taxpayers. Politicians for their part often assume the authority to pick winners and losers in the economy, using other people’s money. This is wrong, and we ought to denounce it, just as we would denounce a referee who tried to change the rules to benefit one team in a football game or any athletic competition.
But cronyism is not an example of the free market at work. As Christian friend and economic adviser Dave Ramsey points out in a recent column, the OWS protesters don’t seem to realize that tea partiers and defenders of the free market oppose these policies, too.
OWS is also fueled by the fact that millions of Americans are hurting. Unemployment has been over nine percent for most of the last three years, and most experts think that won’t drop much for the next year. Many of the protesters are disillusioned college students who have tens of thousands of dollars in student loan debt, but can’t find jobs that pay well enough to repay their debt. Our hearts go out to them.
So what do the OWS partisans propose to do about unemployment? Instead of calling for policies that free up business and entrepreneurs to invest in the future, they have issued scatter shot attacks on free enterprise, business, corporations, and the wealthy in general. Most of their unofficial list of demands calls on Congress to expand its power over business, the economy, and our lives.
Where do they think jobs come from? It’s been said that few people were ever employed by the poor. The last thing businesses and entrepreneurs need is more discouragement from the federal government.
Just because a few businesses seemed to conspire with government to escape the disciplines of the free market, and a few may have broken the law, that doesn’t mean that business, free enterprise, or financial success is the problem. It doesn’t mean that “Wall Street” is the problem. “Wall Street is a street that people drive on,” Dave Ramsey notes.“The New York Stock Exchange is a building where people exchange stocks in New York. This is the flea market of the financial world.” Where do the occupiers think businesses like Apple go to raise the capital to create jobs in the first place? Without a stock exchange, all of us would be much poorer.
Unfortunately, the occupiers don’t seem to understand how a free economy works. They imagine that the only way for Peter to get rich is by robbing Paul. Poverty, they imagine, is a side effect of wealth. Market competition leads to mass destitution.
But as we explain in detail in our forthcoming book, Indivisible, free enterprise does not mean that anything goes. The rich are not free to steal and defraud others. A free market is played according to certain rules. It only exists where there is respect for the rule of law, enforceable contracts, property titles, and the like.
Sure, there are winners and losers when businesses compete for the same customer, but free enterprise is not a zero-sum game overall. It’s a win-win game, where the success of our neighbors often benefits us as well. That doesn’t mean we all end up equally well off. It does mean that we’re all better off in a system that provides opportunities, rather than guarantees or entitlements, and that rewards hard work, ingenuity, entrepreneurship, and creativity.
As Dave Ramsey says: “Sure, there are some scoundrels, but the vast majority of successful men and women got that way by working hard and serving people—lots of people.” Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, who recently died from pancreatic cancer, did not get rich by stealing his wealth from the other 99% of the population. He got rich by hard work and ingenuity, which ultimately created wealth for himself and for others. The same is true for many, if not most, successful business people in this country.
Many of the Occupy Wall Street protesters have iPhones and iPads, and benefit in untold ways from the productivity of the reviled “one percent.” In fact, without modern technologies, these protests, staged from New York and Philadelphia to San Francisco and Seattle, would never have gotten off the ground.
Besides their economic confusion, many of the protesters are consumed with the sin of envy. Though their outrage is often camouflaged as moral indignation, if you read the comments of the OWSers, you soon discover that many of them hate people who have more than they do. They should remember what Jesus said: "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” (Luke 12:15)
Ironically, compared to the poor in the developing world, most of the OWSers are wealthy. We’re not just talking about Hollywood liberals like Michael Moore and progressive evangelical Jim Wallis, whose annual incomes are already close to the top one percent of income earners in the US. The occupiers’ incomes, on average, are almost surely in the top five to ten percent worldwide. They have benefited from free enterprise, whether they know it or not. And now they seek to destroy it.
We should do what we can to make sure that everyone plays by the same rules in the market. Policies that privatize profit but socialize loss have no place in a free and just economy. The OWSers are right to be upset about cronyism and high unemployment. In a time of economic hardship, however, we must resist the false prophets of the politics of envy.
We suggest you take Dave Ramsey’s challenge seriously. “And stop complaining that companies are TOO RICH while also complaining that they aren't RICH ENOUGH to hire you! I've seen a lot of you guys. I wouldn't hire you, either. But if you take all of that energy and excitement and pour it into something new and creative, you'll get the chance to serve a whole lot of people really well, and over a decade or two, you'll get to become the very thing you're now protesting: rich people who actually earned their money.”

Sharing, Giving, Sacrificing

By this we know love, that he laid down his life

for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for

the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods

and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart

against him, how does God's love abide in him?

Little children, let us not love in word or talk, but

in deed and in truth.

1 John 3:16-18

The Good News

I've started reading a book titled Revolution in World Missions by K.P. Yohannan.  I didn't get very far into it before I found my head in my hands.  We have gotten it wrong, so wrong in this country.  Our Father must be sad that once again His children have taken matters into their own hands and messed it all up.  He never intended for us to take our blessings and turn them into material gratification for ourselves.  He never intended for us to hoard our wealth and invest it in material possesions, big houses, fancy cars and lavish vacations.  We have become gluttonous in everything we do - eating, work, play, entertainment, even church.  Yes, even church.

Here are some facts that might interest you:

* Church buildings in the U.S. have become extravagant.  One built years ago in Dallas actually cost $74 million!  And less than a minute away from the $74 million church was one that cost $7 million.   But here's the REALLY horrific part - The same $74 million would be enough to guarantee that the Good News of Jesus Christ could be proclaimed to a whole Indian state - or even some of the smaller countries of Asia.

* If we earmarked 10 percent of our Christian giving in the U.S. for the cause of world evangelism, there would be more than $10 billion available for Gospel outreach.

* "Many churches have gymnasiums and fellowships that cater to a busy schedule of activities having little or nothing to do with Christ.  The orchestras, choirs, "special" music - and sometimes even the preaching - seemed to me more like entertainment than worship."  K.P. Yohannan

* 85% percent of all Bibles printed today are in English for the 9% of the world who read English.  80% of the world's people have never owned a Bible while Americans have an average of four in every household.

* Besides books, 8,000 Christian magazines and newspapers flourish.  More than 1,600 Christian radio stations broadcast the Gospel full-time, while many countries don't even have their first Christian radio station.  A tiny 0.1 percent of all Christian radio and television programming is directed toward the unevangelized world.  Little, if any, of this media is designed to reach unbelievers.  Almost all is entertainment for the saints.

* The U.S., with it's 600,000 congregations or groups, is blessed with 1.5 million full-time Christian workers, or one full-time religious leader for every 182 people in the nation.  What a difference this is from the rest of the world, where more than 2 billion people are still unreached with the Gospel.  The unreached or "hidden peoples" have only one missionary working for every 78,000 people, and there are still 1,240 distinct cultural groups in the world without a single church among them to preach the Gospel.  These are the masses for whom Christ wept and died.

God did not shower such great blessing on this nation for the Christians to live in extravagance, self-indulgence and spiritual weakness.

Maybe that's enough for today.  It's a lot to take in and think about.  I hope your head is in your hands by now, too.  We have a lot of work ahead of us.  Let's pray about it.

Heavenly Father,
  Please forgive us, Lord.  We have gotten it all wrong.  Just like the Israelites did time and time again - when things are good, we turn away and take the credit.  We don't listen to You, we think we know better.  Help us to change, Father God.  Help us to become the salt and the light of the world.  Help us to give up our selfish ways, our extravagant ways. It won't be easy, Lord, but you are a patient God, otherwise we would have been wiped out long before now.
  There are so many people in this world who have never heard of you, Jesus.  How selfish are we to keep the Good News to ourselves?  And why?  Because we are "nervous" or "afraid" of witnessing to others?  What will they think of us! Or what if we say the wrong thing!  We also claim we don't know where or how to find nonbelievers.  Or maybe we think we need more money to travel somewhere when there are nonbelievers right outside our door.  All pitiful excuses, aren't they Father God?  We should know by now that with You all things are possible.  That you will put the people in our path and You will give us the words. You promised us that and You never lie.
  Praise You that we still have hope!  It isn't too late!  With your strength and perseverance we can change our ways.  We can repent and start to make a difference.

  Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few...... Matt 9:37

Help us to change that, Father God. 

In Jesus Name, Amen

Prosperity Gospel

This video may offend some - or many - of you.  But guess what -- I don't care.  Jesus didn't come here to promise us a life full of stuff.  He didn't come here to fulfill OUR dreams.  He didn't come here to satisfy all our desires, promise us good health and a cushy life.  And for those who believe that, well, you are deceiving yourselves.  But it doesn't end there because you aren't just deceiving yourself, you are deceiving others - and that is not acceptable.  If you want to believe lies, fine, go ahead, but stop taking others down the path of unrightousness with you.