Call 2 Fall

REPENT! REPENT! Can you hear the voice of one calling in the dessert?

"Make straight the path of the Lord!"

"Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."

Yes, I know. You can do without the yelling. Might I suggest that you have not done well without the yelling? Might I suggest our nation is far from God, and far from repentance? It is time to fall; time to fall on our knees and humble ourselves. Time to turn from our wicked ways that He might heal our land.

"What a wretched man am I! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God-through Jesus Christ!"

Those are the words of Paul from Romans 7:24. Seven days a week; twenty-four hours a day. What a wretched man am I. Who will rescue me from this body of death? Repentance, humility, turning from the ways of man to the ways of God: these should be daily acts of a nation that knows The Almighty. This character should be ingrained into the Christian way of life, but we have lived without it, emphasizing His Grace over His Righteousness, and His mercy over our need to change.

Now is the time. Join with me this coming Sunday, July 5th, 2009. It's the Call 2 Fall: visit http://www.call2fall.com/ for more information. Listen to the Political Hope Radio Show life on FM Radio or via internet as we help lead America to repentance. http://www.politicalhope.com/

REPENT! Turn from your sin you double minded!

Life for Death

Many folks claim the Bible is full of contradictions. Typically hung up in details, they fail to comprehend the great worth found in paradoxial statements flowing from the mouth of God. Some spend their lifetime arguing variances in numerical accounting, all the while missing the one reality that will change their eterinal destiny.

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? - Matthew 16:24-26 (ESV)

David Norman wrote recently an article titled, "Putting the American Dream to Death". It's about the church's pre-occupation with the American Dream. A friend of mine refers to the problem as the "suburban church". This all reminds me of the beginning of my disenchantment with the American material Dream, which in turn reminds me of Dennis McDaniel's book, Lost in the American Dream. Read Norman's post by clicking here >>

As much as I despise it, I still get lured into the trappings of the world and its material pursuits. Consumption with relaxation, indulgence, luxury and entertainment could easily eat up most of my time. Certainly, I have it easy compared to many in the world. I also recognize that I have given up much of my worldly ways for Christ' sake. The problem is, that's not what the text says.

Christ didn't call me to give up part of my life for His. He did not give just an arm or a finger for me. He gave it all. He lived a perfect life without ever owning a home. He lived in my place with no place to rest his head. I get cranky, when I'm a little sleep deprived.

The words of Christ ring loud in my mind, "What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?". "Whoever wants to gain his life, must lose it for my sake."

Has the American Dream sucked the life out of you too?


Know the Blessing: Surrender it all to Jesus!

The Most Dangerous Religion

Arm chair philosophers oft assess which presents the greatest danger, "Science, or religion?" So too maybe we should ask, "Which religion is most dangerous?", "What is the modern day 'Yeast of the Pharisees?'"

The choices are vast. There are the major world religions of Islam, Judaism, Buddhism and Christianity. Within each there are all manner of variations and perversions thereof. There are the "true" ardents of each sect, as well as the "cults". While these are all fascinating, none of them take the cake in my book. There is yet another religion to consider.

Matthew records relevant words of Jesus,

“Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” - Matt 16:6 (ESV). "... teaching as doctrines the commandments of men." Matt 15:9 (ESV)

The religious leaders of Jesus' day had perverted the commands of God. They traded the commands of God for the traditions of men. They had lost that which they were entrusted with ... the very words of God. The Pharisees and Saducees were substituting the revealed with the rational. They valued the thoughts of man over the Wisdom of God, but did not even realize it. Today, such a system has become a formal religion.

The most dangerous religion in the world today is Secular Humanism. It is a religion as stated in Humanist Manifesto I. Humanism stands in stark contrast to Biblical teaching; it is one-hundred-eighty degrees out of phase with God's Word on almost every point. It aligns with the progressive political movement, and in fact, is the unrealized enemy of conservatives.

Secular Humanism has permeated the U.S. public school system and much of our culture, and most Christians do not recognize it. It is the most dangerous religion. It is destroying our culture, our political system, and our children.

Know the Blessing of the Rarest of Jewels - Godly Wisdom

Only the Lost Sheep of Israel

Christianity is oft cited as an exclusive religion. Can Jesus really be the only way to heaven? Inclusion is heralded as "must have" positive character trait. While we can certainly make the case that Christianity is positively and negatively inclusive, Jesus' mission on earth was exclusive in some senses.

When hounded by a Canaanite woman with a demon-possessed daughter, Jesus initially ignored the woman and the disciples complained about her persistence. They asked him to do something, and Jesus replied, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” Matthew 15:24

An exclusive mission for the Messiah; Israel only, The lost sheep of the chosen race. We also know that His mission to Israel changed the world. While, the Redemption began with the children of Father Abraham, there it did not end. In the book of Acts we know that it spread from Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria, to the ends of the earth...

So where is your Jerusalem? What is your Judea? Where is your Israel?

All too often we over look our own home and work place. We over look the path that we travel daily. You can minister the word where you are and as you go. You can be an agent for the Spirit of God right where you are.

Do not neglect ministry to your own household. Do not neglect your own community and workplace. On this National Day of Prayer America needs God. We need His ways in our nation. We have turned away and He is still waiting; Waiting for you to take care of your Jerusalem.

Know the Blessing

One Hilarious Verse in the Bible

Imagine the scene with me. Jesus is yet again confronting the Pharisees and teachers of the law. They are complaining to Jesus, because the disciples did not wash their hands before they ate. Maybe, they were concerned about the disciples catching the swine flu. Maybe, they were concerned about Jesus having more followers on Twitter.

Whatever their motive, Jesus blasts the Pharisees,

"And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? ... You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you:” ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.’ Read all of Mattthew 15 >>

Ouch! And then comes the most brilliant statement in all the Bible. The disciples approach Jesus after the exchange stating, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?"

Are you kidding me? I offended them? I am soooOOOO SORRY! Please, let's go back and apologize. I did not mean to hurt their feelings. Let me re-phrase that, so it will be more kind and gentle.

That has to be one of funniest statements in the Bible. Of course he offended them. Of course they were taken back. He called them hypocrites! He said they worshiped him in vain! In other parts of the gospel accounts, Jesus says they are children of the devil. He goes on to call them blind guides, and says, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots".

The truth of our selfish nature and pride is offensive! The smell of our indulgences cannot be drown out by incense. The wage of our sin cannot be paid by a mere human offering. God is only tolerating sin for a season. He will put a stop to it. He will up root and burn all the unproductive fruit of this earth. He will destroy The Destroyer, death itself.

My friends, the spiritual war we engage is serious business. There is plenty of fun and laughter along the way, but the cost of discipleship is your very life! The price for following Jesus is alienatation from the world. Anyone that is a friend of the world is an enemy of God. And that is not funny.

Know the Blessing

Vacating the Vision

A good friend asked me this week,

"Where do you see yourself in three years?"

I must admit. At that moment the vision was not clear in my mind. Then came last night ... After being in downtown Austin all day, I came home to find Dede watching "The Rookie".

"The Rookie" is a great movie for many reasons; it was filmed in Hutto, Texas; Kitty, my niece, is in the movie; it's about small towns and baseball, and it is about family and funny teenagers. My appreciation for the movie and the story behind it grew even more last night. Most of you know that I'm an emotional kind of guy. Last night I noticed that my emotions where going up and down with this movie more so than any other time watching it. "Lord, what is going on here?", I asked within.

Dennis Quaid plays Johnny Morris, who has given up on his dream, but the vision of playing Major League Baseball is recaptured when a motivational speech backfires on Coach Morris. Johnny's dad, and his wife, Lorri, give him the reality check of family obligations as he is re-engaging the dream through an unexpected opportunity. Lorri quickly realizes the duplicity of her words to her husband compared with the values she wants to instill to her eight year-old boy. Within hours Lorri reverses course and encourages her husband to pursue the dream even though she must sacrifice greatly.

My answer also came quickly. The Lord has given me a vision. That vision is much bigger than I am. It is a vision that I cannot accomplish. It is a vision that requires you; a vision that requires God. A vision that some call lofty, though it is not beyond the realm of history.

I dream of the day when America returns to God. I dream of the day that salvation crashes on these shores again. I dream of the day when parents value Godly children more than Western culture. I dream of the day that true liberty defeats the oppression of Secular Humanism. I dream of an America that blesses the name of the Lord God Almighty. God is honoring that vision. God is calling His people unto Himself.

I am but one soldier in a raging war. I must confess, "I get discouraged". I lose my focus and drift off course. I allow the circumstances of the day to defeat the vision for a moment. But just when I need Him most, God is there. God is faithful, when I am not. God is holy and just, when I am sinful and filled with spite. God knows where He is leading, when I get off the narrow road. Praise Him for the call. Praise Him who directs our steps!

This is the blessing of knowing Christ our Risen Lord and Savior! This is the blessing that surpasses all understanding. This is the hope that endures. Know the Blessing!

He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. - 1 Thess 5:24 (ESV)

God Save the U.S.A.

Death & Suffering in this Temporal World

Death and suffering is an issue oft ill-addressed in church teaching. The thought of death and suffering drives many away from God, yet the topic is foundational to understanding the nature of God.

Allow me to summarize the Bible in three words: Generation, de-generation and re-generation. God created the Edenic world (generation). Sin entered the hearts of mankind (de-generation). The price of that sin is death. God sent Christ to pay that debt, and He promises to make everything new (re-generation). Re-generation begins with acceptance of Christ and the Holy Spirit, but is not completely fulfilled until He totally destroys His enemies. Death is the final enemy to be destroyed in the end (1 Cor 15:26).

A huge part of the problem, is that we say “God took him”, or “God called her home”. That is not theologically correct. Sin took him/her. The wages of sin is death, and it is the enemy that we all face. Sin has physical repercussions. Walking in the ways of man brings about natural consequences. Of course, none of this do we like, nor do we readily admit.

The Glorious Hope is that God has proven His power over death in the Resurrection of Christ. He has promised that the old order of things will pass away. This life is but a vapor. The question rests on our trust in His promises. Do we rest and trust in the Kingdom to come or the temporal kingdom on earth, where we currently reside? When you find the Pearl of Great Price, are you willing to give up everything you did have to get it?

Everybody, wants to go to heaven (where there are no more enemies), but no body wants to die (even in this troubled world).

Know the Blessing