Hope Our Leaders Get A Wake Up Call--Like Evel Knievel Did--In This New Year

Evel Knievel's Testimony -about how he had been praying to a god that left him empty until he realized he had to go to the Living God and now he is complete.

He always believed in god (power) but always had a problem believing in Jesus Christ. He now knows there's more to life than what he's had.  He wrote a book called Evil Ways.  He said he's had a life better than any king or any president or any prince and now calls that thinking--"HogWash".  He was talking about the Rolls Royce (he had 5 of them), the Ferraris(he had 5 of them), the Stetsons, the Lamborghinis, the jet airplanes-two of them (he flew one alongside the other so he could read his name on the side),the diamonds, gold, racehorses, women and booze. He tells us the difference between a Christian and an atheist--a Christian wants to believe in everything about Christianity and Jesus.  An atheist doesn't believe in God because he does not want to.  He stays away, he gets mad and he doesn't want to hear about it.  But...

He says, "If YOU don't believe that Jesus Christ is what he says he is you'll surely die and die in your sins.  Let me see how many of you have felt what I feel (he asks the crowd in Robert Schuller's church where he is giving his testimony).  Isn't it a wonderful feeling to say I have a God I can believe in-a real God I can believe in?  Isn't it a wonderful feeling to wake up in the middle of the night and say I am glad I woke up and can go back to sleep a few minutes but in the meantime I am going to think about Jesus Christ--it's such a warm wonderful feeling."

Hope in this New Year that more of us and our leaders would realize the truth he finally saw and also to see the many things taking up our lives unnecessarily as HogWash.  It's time for America to clean up its act from the bottom to the top and may God have mercy on US in this coming year and let's start with praying for our leaders to get their wake up call.

Matthew 16:26 
For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Amazing Grace Is For All Races--Black, White Matters Not--It Extends To All and To Whom Much Is Given Much Is Expected

Amazing Grace, the movie, reminded me tonight as I watched it of the words in the Bible--there is nothing new under the sun.  Man is filled with sin--the only person that can make a difference in this world is the only perfect One that ever lived.  The throne of heaven was His yet He made Himself a servant for us all.

One of the greatest songs on earth--Amazing Grace, was birthed out of an amazement of one who was blind but now saw.  He, John Newton was a sinner and he knew he was saved by Grace. He was a white man who learned the ugliness of man's sin nature which enslaved others.  The slave trade that was prevalent in John Newton's day's was ended because of the work of God in a man's heart.  It started with John Newton himself who finally saw how filthy he was to have been a part of it and shared on to others even to a man named William Wilberforce who himself was called by God to end it.  It took a lot of perseverance and many defeats before the "just end" came as God intended. 

See for yourself the movie, Amazing Grace, study the history behind it and search your own soul as to what moved the change where men saw difference that set them free from the ramblings of their time, their culture.  In today's culture the racial strife is again rearing its ugly head in the Treyvon Martin case.  Will calmness, right thinking reign?  Only if the hearts of those who know their Lord and Savior truly want Him to be Lord of their hearts, their emotions.  This is a time for great prayer, not for fear-mongering, not for re-building old walls of hatred, nor for creating more strife.  Instead this is a great time to remember--the sacrifices of those in past, blacks and whites that we would all remember that we are "all" great sinners and Christ is our great Savior.

If we choose to follow Christ through these trying times--then race should not be held up as the real problem but rather we shall see the truth that the real problem is man's sin nature.  The real enemy hasn't changed his tool since the Garden of Eden.  It has worked so well and we must pray hard that America will by the grace of God see the truth to  it all.

I recommend we remember where we came from, America, and not allow the lies of the enemy to win again.  William Wilberforce published A Practical View of the Prevailing Religious System of Professed Christians in the Higher and Middle Classes of This Country Contrasted With Real Christianity--here's an excerpt:

Thou art the source and centre of all minds,
Their only point of rest, Eternal Word;
From thee departing, they are lost, and rove
At random, without honor, hope, or peace:
From thee is all that soothes the life of man;
His high endeavor, and his glad success;
His strength to suffer, and his will to serve.
But O! thou bounteous giver of all good!
Thou art of all thy gifts thyself the crown;
Give what thou canst, without thee we are poor,
And with thee rich, take what thou wilt away.

It is interesting to note that William Wilberforce was known as an evangelical Christian.  In Neil Mammen's book--Jesus is  Involved In Politics Too--we are reminded of what Jesus did in his days--he did care for us such that he dealt with the leaders of Israel on how they were to deal with those they led.  Neil Mammen also states that two great Christian nations did not get rid of their national sin of slavery until Christians got involved in government

When William Wilberforce shared the truth over and over and over again in the seat of government--it broke the chain of bondage to that sin.  Christians need to be involved politically and proclaim the truth that sets a nation free--it is part of extending God's love to multitudes that are suffering.  Hope you'll watch the movie and remember ...for such a time as this.

The Truths About Islam They Don't Want You To Know

Hear interviews with great freedom fighters that want to arm you with truths.  In today's politically correct world, our lack of knowledge is very dangerous for our nation and others--hear Col. John Eidsmoe teach us about the history of the Sunni and Shiite and which nations they control.  What is their goal and what may cause them to unite.  Also, hear perspectives from Dr. Daniel Shayesteh, who helped oust the Shah of Iran as he thought this would pave the way for freedom (much like the mindset of some in the Arab Spring revolt).  But he ran against leaders who were there to preserve their power and  be served rather than to serve the people and he was in their way.  His story is being repeated today in the aspirations of those in Egypt and others calling for Democracy--when in truth they are but pawns for a darker world.  Get informed and share so that others in hearing truths can help true freedom live.

In This New Year, May We See God's Consistent Providence and Thank Him With Action

We all hear about New Year's Resolutions but what if we Christians truly resolved to thank God from whom all our blessings flow in this coming year?  What a difference that would make the world over.

In Romans 1:28-32

Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done.  They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips,  slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents;  they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy.  Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

We have above as a warning.  Today we have vast information before us on the history of man and so much about the truth of Jeus Christ.  But many today would rather put their faith and trust on man rather than on Jesus Christ.

We see the result of that in a Europe whose faith in Christ is so diminished (parallels their downward national slide) and yet with all their intellectual pride about them that they can save the world from global catastrophe (more climate change conferences).  You would think from Hitler (one man's incredible rise to power and search for intellectual super race) that a lesson on the failings of man fully dependent on his intellect would stick as after all it came with worldwide costs.

But then this is what happens when men forget where the blessings come from.  Germany would do well to learn more about their great men of God such as Dietrich Boenhoeffer and many others.  France would do well to remember their Joan of Arc, England would do well to remember their William Wilberforce. 

I plan on reading Eric Metaxas new book Boenhoeffer--I hope so will you and learn the story of a man who took on the full counsel of God and decided to act and give his all.  May Germans revere his legacy amidst Hitler's and ask themselves whose constructs are they following more these days?  When we hear of Christian home-schooling families in trouble with their German government, one wonders have they not learned at all of the path they are re-visiting?

Leo Alexander, who was consultant to the Secretary of War and on duty with the office of Chief Counselor for War Crimes in Nuremberg, says that what happened in Nazi Germany "all started with the acceptance of the attitude that there is such a thing as life not worthy to be lived."

An elderly German man who lived through the Holocaust tells the following story:

I always considered myself a Christian. I attended a church since I was a small boy. We had heard the stories of what was happening to the Jews; but like most people in America today, we tried to distance ourselves from the reality of what was really taking place. What could anyone do to stop it?

A railroad track ran behind our small church, and each Sunday morning we would hear the whistle from a distance and then the clacking of the wheels moving over the track. We became disturbed when one Sunday we heard cries coming from the train as it passed by. We grimly realized that the train was carrying Jews.

Week after week that train whistle would blow. We would dread to hear the sound of those old wheels because we knew that the Jews would begin to cry out to us as they passed our church. It was so terribly disturbing! We could do nothing to help these poor people, yet their screams tormented us. We knew exactly at what time that whistle would blow, and we decided the only way to keep from being so disturbed by the cries was to start singing our hymns. If some of the screams reached our ears, we'd just sing a little louder until we could hear them no more.

Years have passed, and no one talks about it much any more; but I still hear that train whistle in my sleep. I can still hear them crying out for help. God forgive all of us who called ourselves Christians, yet did nothing to intervene.

This year hopefully, may be a year, for more to remember where their true blessings come from and what it truly means to be a Christian.  Beyond our church walls is a world that needs us to be involved and show Christ.  May America and the world remember the effects of the one whose birth we just celebrated.   Many througout history has given their very best, as his followers, and may we remember with grateful hearts their legacy.  Maybe then, Europe can come out of its downward spiral and along with America and the rest of the world, truly learn from the One who came as a Light to the world.

Faith in Christ vs Faith in Man--choose well--read history starting with the Bible--for your eternal future depends it.  America's history shows that great men knew America needs to pray.  Hope you will for yourself too.

Ben Franklin--

In the beginning of the Contest with G. Britain, when we were sensible of danger we had daily prayer in this room for the divine protection.- Our prayers, Sir, were heard, graciously answered....

I see of this truth- that God Governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings, that "except the Lord build the House they labour in vain that build it." I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better, than the Builders of Babel...

I therefore beg leave to move- henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business...

 This article inspired by Hosea 11 --God's love and man's ungratefulness.

Remedy for Depression of the Economy and People-- Christmas and the Wonderful Music It Brings

Christmas makes the world's economies go round.  Early on, it was amazing to hear news on Bloomberg, how plans were being made for orders to fill demand this time of the year when the world give gifts in honor of Christ's birth.  Indeed, it is a culmination with physical and spiritual implications.  And this year more than ever it gives meaning to the survival of many businesses.  Even many atheists unknowingly put their hope on this celebration of the Savior-- hoping their stocks and/ or its subsidiaries does well on the check-out registers.  Even great and mighty nations hold their breath, hoping against hope for a great celebration of Christmas.  Only God can do such a thing.

It is incredible how Christ's birth parallels the hope it gives for the soul of each man.  How Christ is perceived and truly celebrated also means survival of the soul when this world is no more.  Christ saves.  God knows we are not just men but also spirit and I believe he gives us lessons of the physical and spiritual as well of now and tomorrow all wrapped up in the birth of his Son.  Christmas gives a taste of joy now and joy to come forever eternally--when his gift is accepted returned with our only gift worth giving.  And it's certainly not money, nor gold , nor fame as none of that matters to the maker of Heaven and Earth.

But when we give what we have--what does He give us?  An inheritance in heaven, no man can take away and sins forgiven and life with meaning in the eyes of him from whom all blessings flow. 

The whole world has been searching for it...if you don't know... Him...today is a great day to embark on that journey.  And you will find you will never walk alone...But for the grace of God--it makes all the difference!  Trust him after all he gave his "all" for you.   Merry Christmas.

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
1 Corinthians 2:8-10

Enjoy the musical celebration--some favorites--the first written in 1872 by Christina Georgina Rosetti

Link to words

Kathy Mattea sings "Mary Did You Know?"

Listen to more from Celtic Woman and wonder what heaven sounds like...Merry Christmas!!!  God loves you!!!

Mosab Hassan Yousef--Son of Hamas Gives Answer For The World

In an interview with Pat Robertson aired on Thurs, March 11, 2010 Mosab Hassan Yousef was asked

What will bring peace?  His answer was I believe a breath of fresh air.

"Of course, the world doesn't want to hear this -we tell them Jesus Christ will bring peace.  So everybody is telling me --do you want to convert everybody to christianity in order to bring peace?  We tell them this is not our goal ...we don't push Jesus Christ to anybody.  We give them a gift.  We tell them here is the gift--of unconditional love, the gift of forgiveness and this is how you will be able to move on.  We.. accept this gift from us--you don't have to come to church and worship with Jesus Christ with us but those are  principles that Christ brought to us. 

Would you adopt those principles in your lives.  If they agree humbly to adopt those pinciples, I guarantee you that there would be peace in the middle east, it's not a matter of Palestinian State or East or West Jerusalem, first people need to have peace inside  to be able to  have peace  outside."

He is so right, peace begins in the heart of man.  Jesus Christ who lives within our heart brings that peace.  You can see it in his eyes, in his voice.  True compassion not just for his own countryman but others because he sees things a lot clearer through God's eyes and in God's eyes--we are all his children--a part of the family of God.

In Zechariah 1:2-4 God's Word says:

"The LORD hath been sore displeased with your fathers.  Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.

Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets have cried, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith the LORD."

God is saying that again today, and he is using Mosab Hassan Yousef to warn--we don't have to follow our forefathers who disobeyed God and bore the consequences.  We can be different, and there is nothing greater than (like this former son of Hamas) having our name written in heaven and like Jesus be a part of the family of Almighty God.

My prayer is that many more like him realize the truth that the God of the Bible so loved us that He gaves his one and only Son so that we can have life abundant, the peace that no man can take away, and a relationship with the One and only who is able to redeem us from the pit of destruction... if we would just put our faith and trust in Him. 

Indeed it is a free gift and just a prayer away.  And how do we know the God of the Bible is real? 

Besides the facts that keeps coming up in the various fields of archaeology (how we depend on the Bible for historical accounts), astronomy (amazing at the number of astronomers that are Christians), biology etc.-- is the simple irrefutable changed life when a man meets his Savior.  The Savior that Mosab Hassan Yousef has met--made all the difference in what seemingly before was a dark and hopeless world.  The Son shone through.  He is our light in the dark!

Truth that must be shared as it can change the world!