Mud slinging seems to be the norm for politics. During our presidential election there was a lot of mud slinging taking place. (From both sides.) But the more I did my own research, the more disappointed I became with all the misinformation being spread in the guise of factual reporting.
As for our new president elect, yes I have mixed emothions. I’m sure others share these same mixed emotions. While there are things that I truly admire in Obama, there are concerns that I have for some of his personal positions. How all these things pan out, we will just have to wait and see.
Regardless of all this, I also realize that Obama could not acquire the office of president aside from God’s express will and intent. For this reason alone we as Christians must pray for him. At the same time we need to ask for insight with regard to the working of God’s plan of redemption.
This is what Daniel heard concerning the ending of the age that we are in:
“But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book until the end of time; many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase. … As for me, I heard but could not understand; so I said, ‘My lord, what will be the outcome of these events?’ He said, ‘Go your way, Daniel, for these words are concealed and sealed up until the end time. Many will be purged, purified and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand.’” - Daniel 12:4-10 NASB
Anyway, what I want to do in this entry is share a few video clips where Obama is allowed to speak for himself. He certainly deserves this right. I’ll also include other testimonies from his family. The following clips are all a matter of public record.
The first one is taken from his interview by Rick Warren of Saddleback Church, where Obama affirms his faith in Jesus Christ.
This second video clip is from the CNN Compassion Forum - Barack Obama explains his path to Christianity…
The following video concerns Obama’s Tribute to his Mother [Audiobook]
And here is Barack Obama’s Family Photo Album…
Here is a testimony from Obama’s half sister, Maya…
Perhaps the one question that remains is…
How does Obama fit into God’s program of redemption…
The answer to that question is simple. We will have to wait and see. At the same time it should also be understood that every person on this planet will fit somewhere in God’s endtime working of redemption. How we fit depends entirely on our attitude toward the Lord Jesus Christ.
This is what Jesus said:
“So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows. Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven. Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” - Mat 10:31-34 NASB
Is the sword coming? Yes, it is coming. The Bible is clear on this.
For those who truly believe in Jesus as their own Lord and Savior, we are not to fear. Our eternal security in Christ is already in place. But as I said earlier, our need is to seek the wisdom and insight that can only come from God. It is in this wisdom and insight thatwill guide us in how to pray and in how to look to the future. I stand firm in my faith that there is going to be an upward call for God’s people.
So, maybe we should stop trying to put words in Obama’s mouth, and simply learn to speak for ourselves. We will get to watch all this unfold in the days ahead.
My mom told Betty, that if she married me she had better love dogs. (Something like that.) That was 45+ years ago and nothing has changed.
Right after we married I headed for the dog pound and brought back a young dog. Named him SKeeter. The next day I headed back and got a pup. Named her Missy. But since I didn’t want to push my luck too far with my new bride I decided to hold off a bit. Here are pictures of my new bride with Skeeter and Missy.
That was only the beginning...
Not long afterwards I became a police officer. Guess what? I was given my own dog to train. Talk about providence. <grin>
Here is a picture of my police partner, Butch. I had Butch so well trained that I could speak to him with hand signals. He would even ride the back of my motorcycle with me. Of course I’ve had many of these buddies since Butch. Right now we have the General (CJ) and Wee Little Man (Zach).
Is it any wonder that dogs are called ‘man’s best friend.’ They are so loyal. They love you unconditionally. As for being smart, and for having feelings, both these things are true. One thing I long since discovered about dogs is that they really do want to please you.
Ok, one more thing about dogs then I’ll share some spiritual insights.
Now look into their eyes…
Every week our paper has pictures of dogs that are up for adoption from the local pound. And every time I see these pictures, my heart gets stired again.
Its that same old feeling. Something in me wants to rush down to the pound that take all these doggies home. Of course none of that will ever happen.
Take a look at three of the pups that are up for adoption this week, Alice, Molly, and Tinkerbell. Aren’t they adorable. Now look closely into their eyes. What do you see?
What I see is, ‘What am I doing here? I don’t belong here. I belong to some little boy or some little girl. I belong in a nice home where I can chase my tail, and hide slippers, and lick faces, and, and, and…..’
Had enough on the puppies?
Ok, this bring me to the question…
What are we doing here as the people of God…
An awesome thing happened on November 4th. It is going to be difficult to measure all the ups and downs for our new president-elect, Barack Obama. For the first time in the history of this nation we will have a biracial president. (Biracial speaks of the combining of two races.)
I realize that folk enjoy seeing Barak Obama as our first African American president, but in reality what we are seeing in Obama, is the merging of his black ancestry and his white ancestry. Obama is equally black and equally white. There is probably much more to this picture than we realize.
There is no question that we need to pray for our next president. Yes, I voted for McCain. For me it was never about race. It had to do with the political, spiritual, and moral ideology. Now that Obama is to be our next president, we must take to heart his need for our prayers. Obama is facing some issues that will very likely turn his hair grey. He is gong to need a strong team of leaders who can be trusted to lead our country on a path that will seek to honor God.
Once the jubilation dies down, we will be able to see the reality of the moment.
In the meantime…
God’s people are to serve both as watchmen on the wall, and as restrainers of evil…
We are the stop gap between the man of peace and his power to dominate the entire world. Who is this man of peace? Only time will tell.
Yes, I know that many of God’s people tire of the fight. You can see it in their eyes. And just like the puppies, they are thinking, ‘I don’t belong here.”
It is true that we don’t belong here. The Bible plainly tells us that we are not of this world. But that longing for home has to be tempered with our responsibility to be beacons of light to those who would find Jesus. And once the final call of salvation has been accepted, it is then alone that we will receive our upward call.
What is a major thing we need to give our attention to? I’ve said it hundreds of times. Keep your eyes on Jerusalem. Jerusalem is where the cross took place, and Jerusalem is where the Lord Jesus is coming back. God’s plan of redemption wraps around that ancient city.
But there it much that has to happen in the meantime. Jerusalem will be brought to a place where they will reach out to the Lord Jesus, as a nation. It is at that place in time that her warfare will come to an end.
Listen again:
“Behold, I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that causes reeling to all the peoples around; and when the siege is against Jerusalem, it will also be against Judah. It will come about in that day that I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who lift it will be severely injured. And all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it.” - Zechariah 12:2-3 NASB
“And in that day I will set about to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn.” - Zechariah 12:9,10 NASB
“‘Comfort, O comfort My people,’ says your God. ‘Speak kindly to Jerusalem; and call out to her, that her warfare has ended, that her iniquity has been removed, that she has received of the LORD’S hand Double for all her sins.’
“A voice is calling, ‘Clear the way for the LORD in the wilderness; make smooth in the desert a highway for our God. Let every valley be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; and let the rough ground become a plain, and the rugged terrain a broad valley; then the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all flesh will see it together; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.’” -Isa 40:1-5 NASB (Partially fulfilled in the first coming of Jesus.)
The voice that is calling will be the voices of God’s born-from-heaven people.
The next several months are going to see a world changing rapidly to get in line with the wrap up of the age. Sure, there is going to be mockery against Bible believing Christians. But that goes with the territory. Jesus told us not to be surprised if the world hated us. They hate us because they hate Him.
In the meantime…
Why not hear a Christian-Jewish voice singing in Jerusalem…
As a precurser to the many Jewish voices that will one day sing in the ancient city, let’s hear this Jewish Christian mother singing in Hebrew wtih her kids. They are singing in the ancient city of Jeruslem.
Well, that’s it for now. The only thing I have left to say to my readers is, ‘Let your voice be heard in the land. Be a voice for Jesus.’
Just thought I’d pay a bit of tribute to the musical journey of our life. I knew you would like that. Ok, get ready to put a real smile on your face.
You pretty much nail me down when it comes to old timey country and western music, Southern Gospel. and the foot-stomping church music we sang back when I was a youngun. I know that’s hard to believe with all my sophistication and charm. Well, fact is I plum nearly wore my ‘Cattle Call’ record out back in the 50s, with my first store bought guitar, my Silvertone.
Course now I got me a great collection of guitars, banjos, a mandoline, and a number of other instruments that I won’t take time to name. Ain’t nothing on earth like getting together with my family and my cousins for an old timey gospel and country hoe down. It has to be close to heaven on earth.
But, talking about tributes, how I loved Mother Maybelle Carter and the Carter sisters, not to mention all those wonderful songsters on the Grand Old Opry. Songs like Foggy Mountain Top, Wildwood Flower, and Keep on the Sunny Side of Life still pull on my heart strings. Guess that is one reason that I so identified with the movie, ‘O Brother, Where Art Thou.’ It brought back memories of my childhood. We were plum country, plum poor, course we didn’t plum know that, cause we were jest plum happy. The plum center of our life was the old country church.
Remember in the movie when the Peasall sisters sang ‘Keep on the Sunny Side of life.’ It near bout turned me upside down. Those girls were wonderful. But we need to go back in time for the original. It was written by Mother Maybelle Carter, as sort of her theme song. So, before I go any futher, take a listen to this old video clip of Maybelle and her girls singing ‘The Sunny Side.’ It will make you plum happy.
Now, if you are a fan of the Peasall sisters, and you don’t mind shedding a few tears, here they are singing ‘Farther Along’ on the Gather’s Homecoming show. (Course these young lasses have grown up since then. They are still as pretty as wildwood flowers.)
Ok, since you insist. I know that many of you are wondering what ever happened to the Peasall sisters. Well, the movie ‘O Brother Where Art Thou’ became their launch point to better known days. Here is a bit of history on the girls.
Now, wasn’t that a nice tribute.
Oh, by the way…
Did you know there really is a sunny side of life…
Yes indeed. The Bible even talks about it. In the Bible, the day for the return of God’s Son Jesus, is also known as the day of ‘the sun of righteousness.”
Listen:
“‘For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze,’ says the LORD of hosts, ’so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall. You will tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day which I am preparing,’ says the LORD of hosts.” - Mal 4:1-3 NASB
The prophet adds,
“His radiance is like the sunlight; He has rays flashing from His hand, and there is the hiding of His power.” - Hab 3:4 NASB
But how about we who belong to the kingdom of God’s beloved Son? The Psalmist said it this way:
“For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand outside. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD gives grace and glory; no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, how blessed is the man who trusts in You!” - Psa 84:10-12 NASB
The one thing God’s children should always keep in mind is that we are called to walk in the sunlight of God’s Son. We really don’t have to worry about all the gloom and doom of today. Our future is secure. The Lord is going to walk us out of this world and right into His world. Jesus said, “I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me, will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
And for all you folk who are looking for that great reunion in the sky, here is a special song that will draw on your childhold. It’s called ‘Going Home.’
Well folks. it may not be long now. From what I can read from God’s Word, it appears most likely that we are the final generation. This earth is sure going to be a dark and lonely place when all God’s children go home.
We are moving at a fast pace down the speedway of time. As I child I well remember the patriotism that swept our nation at the ending of WWII. Seems like yesterday. Another enemy of freedom and democracy had been defeated. I’ll never forget the dancing in the steets, the blaring of horns, and joyous celebrations everywhere.
Moving forward in time, it seems like yesterday when I served with the Pactific fleet in the early years of Vietnam. Still further along I saw my youngest son, Andre’, with his National Guard unit in the Gulf war. I thought to myself, ‘How close to Jerusalem this is becoming.’
Where did the time go? After WWII came Korea, then Vietnam, with some wars between, and finally we have Iraq and Afghanistan. Of course the ‘finally’ hasn’t come yet. Wars on this planet will not cease until the Prince of Peace makes His appearance. And His appearance will be in Jerusalem. But as I shared earlier, there is another Prince who must first make his appearance on the world scene.
Yet in all this there is something that concerns me deeply. Are we Christians as a whole still for God, and country, and for life? Or are we at a point in redemption history where a clear distinction will be made between those who truly love Jesus and life, and those who will align themselves with the spirit of the world. The apostle warned us of a great falling away in the last days.
The Bible tells us that there will be a pseudo-Christianity in the last days. This pseudo-Christianity will begin to deny the power of the cross. This pseudo-Christianity will align itself wiith all the religions of the world. This pseudo-Christianity will declare itself one way to heaven, but that God has many ways.
Once again we Christians are faced with choices. Concerning the Presidential election that is upon us, my advice for all Christians is to bring your heart to Jesus. Let Him settle it and then you will be able to…
Vote with a cleansed and a clear conscience…
Are you familiar with the phrase, ‘What would Jesus do?’ We really don’t have to wonder what Jesus would do. All we have to do is ask Him what He would have us to do. He will direct our conscience by His Spirit. (Our conscience is the speaking place of the Holy Spirit.)
Keep in mind that Jesus came to give us life. Life is what Christianity is all about. Perhaps this video clip will give you something to think about.
How about a short Bible study. Let’s call it
Do You Know Who Jesus Really Is
The angels know who Jesus is. The demons know who Jesus is. All creation knows who Jesus is. And yet it is the lost man alone who moves about this planet with eyes filled with darkness. ‘Who is this Jesus, who would tell me what to do!?’
Listen:
Concerning angels:
“And when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says, ‘And let all the angels of God worship Him.’” - Heb 1:6
“And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.’” - Luke 2:13-14
Concerning demons:
“The men were amazed, and said, ‘What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?’ When He came to the other side into the country of the Gadarenes, two men who were demon-possessed met Him as they were coming out of the tombs. They were so extremely violent that no one could pass by that way. And they cried out, saying, ‘What business do we have with each other, Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?’”- Matthew 8:27-29
Concerning creation:
“But of the Son He says, ‘Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the righteous scepter is the scepter of His kingdom.’” - Heb 1:8
“And, ‘You, Lord [Jesus], in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the works of Your hands; they will perish, but You remain; and they will become old like a garment, and like a mantle You will roll them up; like a garment they will also be changed, but You are the same, and Your years will not come to and end.’” - Heb 1:10-12
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities–all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” - Col 1:15-17
Where does man fit in this picture?
It depends on the man. There are two kinds of humans on earth. You have those who truly belong to Christ Jesus. And you have the lost man who walks about in darkness. He cares nothing for Jesus. But what the lost man does not realize is that his days are numbered and one day he must give an account of his life before this same Jesus. Yes this planet is on a speed course with judgment.
In the meantime the lost man moves about under the spirit of the world. He is snared by Satan and doesn’t even know it. And the only thing that can set him free is to call upon the Lord Jesus.
Listen:
“Moreover, man does not know his time: like fish caught in a treacherous net and birds trapped in a snare, so the sons of men are ensnared at an evil time when it suddenly falls on them.” Ecc 9:12
“The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition,if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth [Jesus], and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.” - 2Ti 2:24-26
So, who is this Jesus who would tell me what to do?
You must decide that for yourself. The message from heaven is clear. It is written from Genesis to Revelation. Jesus Christ is Lord. It is in Him alone that we have salvation. Have you called upon Him as Lord? Are you prepared to follow Him in the path of light and life?
All who believe in the God of the Bible, in that His Word is true, and that Jesus Christ is truly the Son of God, of whom they have accepted as their own Lord and Savior, these have secured for themselves an eternal and blessed destiny. And in this present life, God gives all these believing ones the path of light they are to follow.
Jesus said,
”I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” - John 8:12
The darkness speaks of a spiritual blindness and an ignorance that rests upon the souls of lost humanity. For all who reject the Light, there can only be a darkness of life. Darkness of life spells itself out in disarray, in discontent, in destruction, and eventually in dismay. People of the darkness live destroyed lives. What they don’t realize is that the warfare of their heart is against God Himself.
Not so with the people of the Light. We have peace that can only come from a true relationship with the God of eternity. Again the Lord says,
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.” - John 10:27,28
As I shared in my last entry, it really isn’t that hard to determine where we are in God’s timetable of redemption. The Bible gives us an awareness of the times. We are in a time where the world by and large has rejected the true Light of God. It is a repeat of salvation history. Just as the Pharisees and Sadducees rejected Jesus because of their own spiritual blindness, this same spiritual blindnesshas settled as a dark shadow over the world today.
So what we have at hand are the people of the Light, and the people of the darkness. There is a sharp distinction between the two. People of the darkness stumble through life. People of the Light know where they are going. But we shouldn’t be surprised. The Lord said it would happen.
Listen to how Jesus responded to the religious leaders who wanted to test Him. See if it applies today:
“But He replied to them, ‘When it is evening, you say, “It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.” And in the morning, “There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening.” Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but cannot discern the signs of the times?An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and a sign will not be given it, except the sign of Jonah.’ And He left them and went away.” - Mat 16:2-4 NASB
The list would be quite long…
If I were to list the signs that the Bible gives for the wrap up of the age as we know it, the list would be quite long. What would make this list most remarkable, however, is that the signs given can apply to no other generation than that of the generation we are now in. From that I can see and understand, we are the only generation of mankind that perfectly fits the endtime picture. The world scene by itself is a open declaration that we are nearing the last page.
The Bible describes the amoral digress in our societies. It speaks to the social and economic upheavals of the day. It gives the alignment of the nations in the final hours. It even provides a time frame that we are able to look at. And this only scratches the surface of what is written in the sacred Scriptures concerning the final chapter before the day of the Lord.
The world is blindly racing at breakneck speed towards wrath and judgment. The apostle gives us a broad overlay of what is in store for the world::
“Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God,because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.” - 2Pe 3:11-13 NASB
This is not a frightening message for the people of God. For those who believe in Jesus Christ, we are looking for a new day, a heavenly Jerusalem, and a new world. But all in its time.
Jesus Christ is the King of the ages…
Since my last journal entry had much to say about antichrist, let me simply direct your attention to what is in store for all of God’s people.
Jesus is without time. He has always been. The prophet had this to say about God’s Messiah:
“But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity.” - Micah 5:2 NASB
And hear what the prophet said Jesus would do until the time came when the Jewish nation would realize Him as Lord and Messiah:
“I will go away and return to My place Until they acknowledge their guilt and seek My face; in their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.” - Hosea 5:15 NASB
The days of Jacob’s troubles are in the not too distant future. As Jesus wept over Jerusalem, we hear these words:
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not have it! Behold, your house is left to you desolate; and I say to you, you will not see Me until the time comes when you say, ‘BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!’” - Luke 13:34-35 NASB
The world is experiencing birth pangs…
Yes, the world is getting prepared for the dawning of a new age, but not before the period of antichrist is complete. And not before the people of Christ have been secured from the earth scene. And not before Israel undergoes her distress and her turning to the Lord Jesus. And of course the ‘answer man’ has to make his appearance.
There is so much more to be said. But perhaps we can hear a song that puts our hearts where they need to be. Take time to listen to this song by the Gathier Vocal Band, ‘Alpha and Omega’:
The invitation still stands…
Two thousand years ago the Lord sent out an invitation to all the world to come to Him and be saved. We believers are commissioned to deliver that invitation of grace to all the world. The invitation can be accepted or rejected. For those who reject God’s invitation to believe in His Son Jesus, these will face their own judgment. For we who have acceped God’s invitation, our place is eternally secured. Throughout all eternity we will be known as, ‘the children of God.’
And believe me, all of eternity is waiting for these children to make their appearance in glory. Listen to the apostle:
“For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, ‘Abba! Father!’ The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.”- Rom 8:15-19 NASB
Well, I think it works both ways. We believers are also anxiously wating our upward call to glory.
And for you who are still lingering on the side lines, here is God’s word for you:
“Seek the LORD while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the LORD, and He will have compassion on him, and to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.” - Isa 55:6-7 NASB
There is no question that we are in troublesome times. What I wish to do in this entry is to point out how the Lord God has placed a seal of security upon all His people, that no matter what the world may undergo, our future is assured and secured in Christ.
We have this from the Lord:
“All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” - John 6:37-40 NASB
Notice two things in particular. First, no one who truly comes to Jesus will be lost. Jesus loses nothing. Secondly, Jesus speaks of a‘ last day’ raising up of believers. Not only does this point to our divine destiny, but it very likely includes the last day removal of believers from the earth. The Greek term for ‘raised up’ carries the meaning of, ‘to cause to appear, to cause to exist, to make stand.’ The word itself always speaks of a change of position.
Now lets talk about…
Where we are in redemption history..
It seems very likely that we are entering an epoch of history that was foretold by the Old Testament prophets, by the Lord Jesus, and by the apostles. This period of history is a prelude to the second coming of Jesus Christ. It is a period where believers are told to consider our redemption being near.
Rather than overload this entry with a bulk of Scripture quotations, let me address a particular issue that is a definitive mark that serves as a prelude to the second coming of Jesus. It also serves as a prelude to the removal of the Church. It has to do with what the Bible calls ‘the man of sin.’
The Bible tells us that on the world scene there will be an emergence of a world leader who will speak to all the problems of the world, including the economic struggles of the nations, to the waring nations, and to the bringing together of all mankind for a common future. This leader will speak with such a voice of hope that all the world will wonder after him. He will literally mesmerize the world.
In a short time this leader will be able to bring to the table the governing leaders of the most troublesome arena on our planet, that is, Israel and the middle east. He will produce a peace accord between these nations that will astonish the whole world. In this peace contract, Israel’s security is guaranteed.
This world leader will also be able to do something that has never happened in world history. He will bring all the religions of the world under one covering, and in the doing, he will foster a one world government where all of mankind will share in brotherly love. The world will love him.
But this is just the beginning.
What we are looking at is a picture of the antichrist.
The term antichrist has two cooperative meanings. It means to be ‘against Christ’, but it also means ‘to take the place of Christ’. The antichrist will be looked at as Messiah. This false messiah will even take to himself the activity of Christ, including all sorts of lying wonders.
But the apostle said that this antichrist activity will be a delusion. Not a delusion in that it won’t happen. It is a delusion in the sense that the Lord God will permit it to happen. It will even be sent forth under the express authority of God. The purpose of the delusion is to bring about a judgment for all who had no love for the truth.
Listen to how the apostle describes antichrist in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-14:
“Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.
Paul sets forth a falling away from the true message of Christianity, a message that endures itself to the cross. This Scripture is an overlay of the total event of antichrist.
“Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way.
The one thing that has to happen before antichrist can fully reveal himself is that the body of Christ has to be taken out of the picture. Hence we have the rapture.
“Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.
Here is a description of antichrist’s rule and activities.
“For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.
Notice that the ‘deluding influence’ is authorized by God. Its purpose is for judgment.
Being chosen for ’salvation’ is a key expression.
“But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvationthrough sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
The term salvation in the Greek speaks both of a deliverance and of a preservation. Paul also addressed this in 1Th. 5:9, where he said, “For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
There are a many other indicators that we are nearing the wrap up of the age. Among the indicators are the downward spiraling morality, upheavals in nature, mounting terrorist activities, false religious movements, just to name a few.
Another of the major indicators has to do with Jerusalem.
The work of the cross began in Jerusalem. Jerusalem is where the age of the cross will complete itself.
We are watching redemption history unfold. One of the clearest testimonies is in how the Jewish peoples are beginning to turn to the Lord Jesus. It may seem like a trickle now, but it will become a massive stream in the final hours.
Hear the prophet Zechariah:
“It will come about in that day that I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who lift it will be severely injured. And all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it.” (Zech 12:3)
“In that day the LORD will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the one who is feeble among them in that day will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the angel of the LORD before them.
“And in that day I will set about to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn.” - Zech 12:8-10 nasb
God’s message to the church never changes.
How many times do we hear the greeting from heaven that includes the words, ‘Do not be afraid,’ or, ‘Fear not,’ or, ‘Do not let your heart be troubled’.
Let me leave you with what Jesus said to us about believing:
“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. ‘In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way where I am going.
“Thomas said to Him, ‘Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.’” - John 14:1-6 NASB
God’s message never changes. It is written, ‘Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.’
I was already in bed when Betty said I needed to see what was happening on Fox News. Fox was covering the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Dinner. The keynote speakers were John McCain and Barack Obama. If there was ever a time for laughter, this was it. John McCain and Barak Obama were simply hilarious. It was so funny to see these two candidates laugh at one another.
If you aren’t familiar with the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Dinner, here is a web site you can check out:
Anyway, I wanted to pass these memorial moments on to my readers. The following four clips are in the order of their appearances. McCain was first and then Obama. Get ready to laugh:
McCain - Part One:
McCain - Part Two:
Obama - Part One:
Obama - Part Two:
Hope you enjoyed them.
Keep your laughter in place…
Always remember that that the Lord God is the God of history.
All the nations are in His hands. All of history wraps around Jesus Christ. He is the Alpha and the Omega. The future belongs to Him. And whatever the outcome of this election, you can be sure that the Lord has his hand in it. He will place in office the one of His choosing.
So, God wants His people to smile at the future. Listen to Jesus:
“And turning His gaze toward His disciples, He began to say, ‘Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets.’” - Luke 6:20-23 NASB
Yesterday afternoon Betty and I went to a matinee to see the movie, ‘Fireproof.’ We had been hearing a lot of praise for the movie. Well, words fail me. I can say with no reservation that Fireproof is the kind of movie that every married couple should see regardless of how long they’ve been married. We’ve been married 45+ years but I’ve never seen a movie that could go right to the heart of why so many marriages get in trouble, including Christian marriages.
As we were leaving the theater, I could not help but notice the ‘holding of hands’ of those still seated. I don’t think there was a dry eye around. (Cough! Cough! Pardon me. Must be something in my throat.)
Fireproof is a healing movie. I wish every couple would take time to see it. It reminded me of just how dumb I was the first few years of our marriage. The movie did a pretty good job of validating that.
By the way, I’m not that dumb anymore. Anyway, here is a trailer to the movie. See if it does something to your heart:
With this in mind I want to provide a study that I’ve shared before, but this time with some modifications to allow it to reach even deeper into the heart of marriage.
The study is titled…
The Covenant of Marriage
Every marriage begins pretty much the same, with wedding bells and wonderment. What often happens over the years is that the wedding bells lose their sound and the wonderment begins to disappear. And a question arises, ‘Where did the love go?’
The main culprit for the disappearing of wonderment and love can usually be summed up in one word, ’selfishness.’ You can hear it from either the husband or the wife, and sometimes from both. This is when we begin to hear things such as, ‘My wife does not understand me.’ Or, ‘I don’t know who I am.’ Or, “He never thinks about me.’ Or, ‘We were married too young.’
Maybe some of this is true but most often what is really happening is that this couple is missing out on what a true marriage is all about. It is not about the submerging of one life under another life. It is not even about 50/50. It is more about 100/100. It is about the merging of two lives into one. It is even about learning to provide for spaces in your togetherness. This is what the term covenant refers to.
There is a Scripture that places the word ‘covenant’ in direct relationship to the marriage. At the closing of the former testament we hear the man’s cry as to why the Lord will not accept his weeping and tears. The prophet responds,
“Because the Lord has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant.” - Malichi 2:14
Did you know that how men treat their wives is singled out in the Scriptures as to why the Lord refuses to answer a husband’s prayers. Peter summed this up when he said,
“You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.” - 1 Peter 3:7
Here we have two witnesses as to how the Lord refuses to bless a man where the wife is being mistreated in some form. But Malachi points out the man’s attitude towards his wife is only an indicator of a much deeper problem. The prophet calls attention to the prevailing arrogance in the man that has spilled over into all his life.
Listen carefully to these statements that the man makes in the book of Malachi:
“The table of the Lord is defiled.” “My, how tiresome it is.” “How have we robbed You?” “Why won’t God accept my offering with favor?” “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and He delights in them?” “Where is the God of justice?” “It is vain to serve the Lord!”
The reason I point this out is because the words recorded in Malachi are very much in vogue today. There is a spirit of arrogance in our western societies that has been the cause of the spiraling destruction of marriage. How desperately we need to reorder our lives in the ways of the Lord. As one writer says, “Divorce and unhappiness are the gravestones that pockmark the open fields of the free society.” (Maurice Camm, author)
While Malachi is the one book that uses the term ‘covenant’ in a direct tie to marriage, it is interesting to note that the Bible opens and closes with scenes of the marriage. The first marriage is between Adam and Eve. The last marriage is between Christ and His Bride.
Of course Adam and Eve were brought together before sin entered the picture. Christ and the church are seen after sin is removed from the picture. Yes, sin can really distort what God originally intended for our lives.
These two marriage scenes tell the story of redemption.
And so we have a Bible that wraps itself around the marriage.
The Biblical marriage is not only a divine picture of Christ and His Bride, it also speaks to us of something mysterious in God. It can be said that in the marriage the wife can be likened to the Holy Spirit, whereas the man can be likened to the Word of God. It takes both to produce life. But let’s leave the mystical aside for now.
Part of our modern day problem is that we have drifted far from God’s program for marriage. This problem did not begin yesterday. It reaches far, far back to when the Church began to lose her Biblical moorings, and began to take on a Latin-Greek mind set.
For example, where the Bible teaches the goodness of marriage, the Latin-based church began to take up the idea that marriage was a distraction from a deeper walk with God. The result was monasticism and the eventual requirement of a celibate priesthood. The problem with this picture is that celibacy is never portrayed in the Scriptures as God’s best for a deeper spiritual life. In fact, one of the basic requirements to be a pastor is that the man had to be married.
The truth of the matter is that marriage itself relates to things that are deeply spiritual. This means that there are certain things about God that cannot be truly discovered in a celibate life style. They can only be discovered in marriage. And the only way to make a marriage work in its spiritual expressions is to return to its Biblical foundation. (This is not an affront against someone who has the gift of celibacy. Such can be a gift from the Lord.)
God said that it was not good for man to be alone.
The very first commandment given to man and woman in the Scripture is,
“Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it.” (Genesis 1:28)
So once again, is marriage a covenant? Aside from the covenant of Christ, marriage is the most sacred of covenants. Adam and Eve were a sacred couple. In fact the very Hebrew word for marriage and the Hebrew word for holiness is one and the same word; kiddushin.
Marriage is the only covenant in the Bible that allows two people to be perfectly joined in all areas of life, from the physical to the spiritual. Where else but in marriage can we find such sacredness and dignity placed together?
Now let’s consider some of the mystical side of marriage along with God’s ideal. In the very first marriage, which will always be God’s ideal for marriage, we find the Lord presenting Eve to Adam. Does it not say that,
“House and wealth are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the Lord.” (Proverbs 19:14)
From the mystical side we have this truth that the Church is a gift of the Father to the Son. Out of the cross came God’s gift to Christ. Jesus said,
“All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.” (John 6:37)
When Eve is presented before Adam, we hear Adam say,
“This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman, because she was taken out of man.” (Genesis 2:23)
The same is true with Christ and His Church. Adam’s role was to draw Eve to himself. Adam’s role was to drive Eve’s fears away. Adam’s role was to let her know his love and his protection, that she was now sanctified to him. On the mystical side, this is what Christ does for the Church. On the marriage side, this is what men are to do for their wives.
Paul said,
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself.” (Ephesians 5:25-28)
This statement by Paul shows us why the Lord will not bless a man who mistreats his wife. Every woman is designed to be a gift to some man. But she is ultimately a gift from the Lord. The gift is to be cherished, loved, and cared for. This is covenant. Two lives become one. While it seems we are putting the greater responsibility on the man, it is as I said earlier, the man carries the greater responsibility. God designed the woman to be weaker in certain areas, so that she could fit the marriage in her proper role.
This does not mean that a wife is never in the wrong when it comes to a broken marriage. No, women can be just as foolish as men. Listen again to the sage:
“A foolish son is destruction to his father, and the contentions of a wife are a constant dripping.” (Pro19:13)
“A wise woman builds her house, but the foolish tears it down with her own hands.” (Prov14:1)
To take this a step further, can the marriage covenant be considered a blood covenant?
There are various covenants given throughout the Bible, but not all of them are blood covenants. Again we see the mystical side of marriage. God gave the woman a hymen that was designed to be broken in the first act of intercourse. In the breaking of the hymen there is the letting of blood. Thus the Lord built into marriage the idea of a blood covenant.
Surely this ideal has been set aside today, and even mocked. But it should go without saying, that the man and woman who will keep themselves sexually pure before marriage, are able to bring into their marriage something to be treasured. In this sense, there can only be a ‘first time’ covenant marriage.
Where does this leave a second or third marriage? Certainly these marriages miss God’s ideal, but so does the whole of our earthly lives. The apostle said,
“…for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; as it is written, ‘There is none righteous, not even one … for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Rom3:9.10,23
It is important to understand that divorce is not the unpardonable sin. In certain instances divorce is not accounted as a sin at all. Paul said,
“Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more.” (Romans 5:20)
By the way not many people know this, but God divorced Israel in the Old Testament. Yes, he actually divorced Israel. If divorce made us sinners, then God would have to be a sinner. Divorce does not make us sinners. Sometimes there is no other substitute aside from divorce. Keep in mind that we do not live in an ideal world.
God divorced Israel because of sin. We live in a world filled with sin. Men and women who come to Christ are not to walk in condemnation because of a sin that destroyed a prior marriage. Sin is in the world. God’s provision for all our sins is Christ and the cross. And in the case of a remarriage, any marriage can become hallowed in the sight of Christ.
Where the enemy is able to destroy, the Lord is able to more than redeem.
Isn’t it odd how people who’ve been divorced and then remarry get beat up so much? Not so with Jesus. One of the best examples of how the Lord looks at divorce and remarriage can be seen with the woman at the well. Jesus went out of His way to minister to this one person. It is true that this lady had been married five times, and was then simply living with a man. Did Jesus tell her to go back to one of her other husbands? No. He simply told her how to get her life together.
It wasn’t a matter of the Lord approving all her past marriages. It was a matter of the Lord seeing her as a person damaged by sin. It was a matter of meeting her where she was at that moment. Nor did he tell her that she would have to wait in line behind all the people who had been married but once, before He could bless her. He simply said,
“If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” (John 4:10)
What then is our need? Begin where you are right now. Regardless of your past sins and mistakes, the Lord is always present to forgive us and to lead us on to a life of grace and blessings. He does not punish us for our stumblings in life. Yes, there are consequences but even with consequences this one promise remains in place:
“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” - Romans 8:28
It is the love of Christ that bonds a marriage into a proper covenant relationship.
Our marriages need to have an abundant flow of living water. There is no greater love that a man can have for a woman other than that of loving her with the love of Christ. This love transcends all other loves and gives the Biblical marriage its true strength. So it is with the woman. While romantic love is certainly a part of marriage, it is only one part of the whole picture. Romance alone is not the kind of love that bonds the marriage in covenant. Only the love of Christ can do that. But the love of Christ certainly can include romantic love.
In closing there is one more picture to be seen. The ancient marriage covenant had two parts. They were called ‘kiddushin’ and ‘nissiun.’ Kiddushin was the betrothal of the woman to the man. Today we call this the engagement period. For the ancients it had a much deeper spiritual significance. The woman was considered married but had not yet been taken to the husband’s home.
This is the stage of marriage that the church is in with regard to Christ. Paul said,
“For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that in Christ I might present you as a pure virgin.” (2 Corinthians 11:2)
Paul was speaking as a Hebrew man, and had the ancient Hebrew marriage in view. For the Hebrew people, the completed marriage was called nissiun. Nissiun speaks of elevation, or the lifting up. This is where we get the ‘lifting of the veil’, and the carrying of the bride over the threshold. For the Church, the nissiun takes place at the second coming of Christ.
Jesus uses these two aspects of the ancient marriage in his sharing with the disciples in John 14, where He says,
“In My father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:2,3)
Yes, marriage is a covenant. Think about it.
Ok, now get your self together and go see ‘Fireproof.’ You will never regret it
Ok, let’s continue with the fun time. I’m going to show our new Christian Challenge promotional movie, ‘Community Groups - A Place to Begin.’ But first here is Nathan’s description of the movie.
“The first question was who was going to play the roles. We instantly thought of Jon Martinez, our youth pastor, as the main character. We thought about Bud Frederick for the last character but he suggested Rich Carlisle, our Community Groups coordinator. Then there was the question of who would play the “bully”? We tossed out the idea of my dad, Buddy Martin, and everyone thought it would be awesome but that he probably wouldn’t do it. Believe it or not, he agreed to play the role of the “biker bully”! To the right is a picture of our three “stars” in character!
We got some prop help from Terry Gilcrease who supplied the leather jacket and sunglasses. (Bro. Buddy already had the Harley do-rag! [G]) Jim Ross did the voice-over. I helped direct a bit and Jenni did the filming and editing. All that came out to a pretty decent little production, which you can see below. Definitely not Hollywood, but something we had fun doing. I hope you enjoy:”
Now with the fun…
I have a very minor part as the bully biker. At the very beginning of the movie a nerd runs into me, and this is what he hears:
‘Hey monkey breath, watch where you are going.’
‘You know you look like a bald-headed monkey.’
‘Stay out of my way.’
It is what happens after this that is so funny. Ok, here goes…
Well, now about a short Bible study. Let’s see?
Hmmmmmm…
What about the church…
That’s a good one.
Isn’t it strange how often you hear someoneaccuse the church of being full of hypocrites. And they will usually follow up with, ‘I don’t have to go to church to be saved.’ Of course it helps to put a face on the criticizers. But I’ll leave that be.
Anyway, as a long time pastor I rejoice with the Church. What I see when I look at a congregation of God’s people is a group of sinners saved by grace and continually being saved by grace. I see people holding tightly to Jesus and Jesus holding tightly to them. No, I don’t see a messed-up church. I see a wonderful picture of God’s saving grace. I see a people processing life with the help of the Lord Jesus. I see a people with failures aplenty. But I also see a Savior, mighty to save.
I love the church. I especially love those churches that are truly Bible centered and know how to preach the gospel of grace in a proper manner. To this day when I travel and pass a Bible believing church, I get this warm feeling in my heart. I think, ‘There are some more of my people. Thank you God for all these Jesus loving churches.’
I see flocks of families…
We teach the congregation at Christian Challenge to always keep a true love for God’s people wherever they may be found. And I’m sure other churches do the same.
Every church group really is a family. And to respond to those who would talk down to the church, let me simply say to you that the church belongs to Jesus Christ. He is the one who gathers His people into flocks. Sure, we will have our difficulties and our failures and even our struggles with sin issues. But we are still His church. And the promise Jesus makes to His church is this, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Would I trade places with any person on this planet who disparages the church regardless of their position and wealth? Never, a thousand times no. I’ve been in their world. Thank you Lord for bring me into Your world.
The greatest thing that can happen to any person on this planet, rich man, poor man, beggerman, thief, is to come to know Jesus Christ as their own personal Lord and Savior, and out of this knowing to find themselves placed in one of God’s flocks.
There is a wonderful picture of God’s church in the book of Isaiah:
“Behold, the Lord GOD will come with might, with His arm ruling for Him. Behold, His reward is with Him and His recompense before Him. Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, in His arm He will gather the lambs and carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes.” - Isa 40:10-11 NASB
So, let me say it this way. You cannot be saved and at the same time have in your heart to not love the church. The greatest sign of a truly saved person will be their love for the church. Jesus said it and the apostles all put their signature on it.
Another Martin granddaughter off to high school homecoming. Wow, I tell you those Martin girls are just strikingly beautiful. And naturally we would only allow the most handsome and intelligent young man of high moral standing to escort one of our lovely Martin granddaughters.
Thus the picture to the right. Now just take a look at Faith and Jacob. Aren’t they a picture of poetic beauty! In fact their very names speak to this. Jacob of the Bible was noted for wrestling with God by which he obtained the name Israel, which means, ‘the prince that prevails with God.’
We have found Jacob to be a prince of a young man. Ain’t that right Jacob!
Now Faith. How do you describe this picture of beauty and grace. Well, her name comes from a Hebrew word in the Bible that fits her very well. The Hebrew word can be translated as faith, as truth, or as faithfulness. It is often found in companionship with the word, ‘lovingkindness.’
I have no problem apply truth, faithfulness, and lovingkindness to our Faith. Those words describe her very well. She is very much a princess. And by way of proper introduction, Faith is the second of the three daughters of our oldest son, Nathan and our lovely daughter-in-law, Lori.
And now for our latest news - Christian Challenge is in the movie business…
Yup, we’ve just completed our first film. Had a private showing for the CCI congregation last Sunday. Looks like it will be a block buster. I can’t say too much without giving away the plot since you will need to see it for yourself. Not sure yet which theaters will be after it. We are expecting a Hollywood rush.
There are only three characters in the film, the motorcycle buff and two nerds. Without giving away the intensity of the movie, here is a picture of the stars. You will have to guess who the motorcycle buff is.
Well ok, since you insist! At the left is Jon Martinez. In the center, Buddy Martin. And to the right, Rich Carlisle. But I can’t tell you more because of copyright laws.
However, in the movie you do hear a sound-over of the voice of God. I think it will be alright to show you who the speaker is. Nowyou realize it isn’t really God Himself. It is our beloved brother, Jim Ross.
Just one more item…
I can’t tell you how much I am enjoying our Tuesday morning Bible ministry time. We are still just a couple of handfuls, but what a wonderful time we are having. Yesterday morning we had eight adults. After our Bible study time, we all headed out for China Queen Restaurant. (At my challenge.) Who knows, maybe that will become our norm. Man, I love Chinese food.
Anyway, what I enjoy so much about these Tuesday morning study times is that I am seeking to help our group to recapture some of the ambiance of the early years of Christian Challenges. I’m doing this partly by drawing from a chorus book that I designed in 1978-79. The songs we sang were simply songs of the heart. (Jenni is making several books based on the original book so that our group can learn some of these wonderful songs.)
There is a reason for this on my part. I realize that we can’t go back in time. But I do believe we can regain something that has been largely lost through the years. There was a move of God in the ’70s that carried with it a certain innocence. This innocence somehow got misplaced over time. (With many groups.) Much of what you hear today is this earthly-minded, ‘we-are-god’s’, prosperity and glitter teachings, that in my opionion are distortions of the true gospel of Jesus Christ. (This is not the case with all ministers and certainly not at Christian Challenge. But you do see it a lot, especially with TV preachers.)
Anyway, it is in my heart to bring our Tuesday morning group back to a truly heart-felt simple devotion to the Lord. It is working and I am loving it.
And remaining small is not likely to happen very long. As the word gets out we’ll find more and more folk showing up. Now that is a good problem to have. What do you mean, you don’t like Chinese food!!
you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way where I am going.
The reason I point this out is because the words recorded in Malachi are very much in vogue today. There is a spirit of arrogance in our western societies that has been the cause of the spiraling destruction of marriage. How desperately we need to reorder our lives in the ways of the Lord. As one writer says, “Divorce and unhappiness are the gravestones that pockmark the open fields of the free society.” (Maurice Camm, author)
did not begin yesterday. It reaches far, far back to when the Church began to lose her Biblical moorings, and began to take on a Latin-Greek mind set. 
Surely this ideal has been set aside today, and even mocked. But it should go without saying, that the man and woman who will keep themselves sexually pure before marriage, are able to bring into their marriage something to be treasured. In this sense, there can only be a ‘first time’ covenant marriage.
probably wouldn’t do it. Believe it or not, he agreed to play the role of the “biker bully”! To the right is a picture of our three “stars” in character!
hypocrites. And they will usually follow up with, ‘I don’t have to go to church to be saved.’ Of course it helps to put a face on the criticizers. But I’ll leave that be. 
I love the church. I especially love those churches that are truly Bible centered and know how to preach the gospel of grace in a proper manner. To this day when I travel and pass a Bible believing church, I get this warm feeling in my heart. I think, ‘There are some more of my people. Thank you God for all these Jesus loving churches.’ 
flocks. Sure, we will have our difficulties and our failures and even our struggles with sin issues. But we are still His church. And the promise Jesus makes to His church is this, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” 
Yup, we’ve just completed our first film. Had a private showing for the CCI congregation last Sunday. Looks like it will be a block buster. I can’t say too much without giving away the plot since you will need to see it for yourself. Not sure yet which theaters will be after it. We are expecting a Hollywood rush.
