Free to Worship?

This Sunday, when you are in your relative comfort and freedom to worship the Lord Jesus, whether you do it in a house church or traditional setting, remember this story, found here. New Iranian followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, along with their house church leader, were arrested recently. In Iran, you are free to worship, just so long as it is the false god Allah. If an Iranian wants to follow Jesus, he is as good as dead. Yet men and women are turning to Jesus; why? They love the Lord Jesus more than their own lives.

In Pakistan, the Christians face the same kinds of horror. Muslims told one couple that guilt or innocence (of blasphemy against Islam) did not matter; they would kill them anyway. Death is the only thing a follower of Jesus deserves, according to these twisted men.

If you think this is isolated, maybe this story will be a little closer to home, especially if you live in a state like California. San Diego (or nearby) authorities have decide his home Bible study of five years is an unlawful assembly. The pastor and his wife are facing fines of up to a thousand dollars a day for gathering to worship.

Now granted, facing a fine does not even come close to the persecution others face. But wake up! It's a step in that direction. Forces against Christianity in the Western world are feeling bolder each day. Your freedom to worship will soon fade away, if something does not change.

It may well be that is what it will take to bring revival to the Western church. Also, it may well be that this will be the final days before the return of Jesus, something we Christians are exhorted to look for and desire.

Enjoy your freedom while you have it!

Starting Over

There are pros and cons to a new year. One thing against it is that inevitable sense of aging that some of us feel. I don't feel older when I look in the mirror, though I should; I feel older when I look at my friends who are my age! When did they turn grey!? When did their hair fall out!? I feel older when I see something physical I really want to do, know how to do, and then discover that now that I am not 20-something, my muscles won't do it.

One thing in favor is the chance to begin some things again. So there is one thing I am doing; I am beginning to count visitors on this site again. It begins from zero. I installed a new counter. I have cleaned the slate. I have forgotten that which is behind, so to speak. [Oh, there are other things I am beginning again; but those are between me and the Lord.]

Some of those reading this had a lousy year. You messed up. You have been at the bottom of the pile, looking up and wondering if there is a way out. There is.

Some feel like a flock of pigeons flew over you and, before you could get out of range, they bombarded you with a vengeance. Before you knew it, you were unpleasant to be around. Like fighting with a skunk, you may win; but the stink stays around. And you are wondering if there is a way to get out from under that. There is.

It's the beginning of January. Begin again. God's mercies are new every single morning. He is ready to throw a big party for you, if you will "come home." Even if your "problems" are the result of someone else's wrath, vengeance, stupidity, hatred, carelessness--whatever, you can open the cage that binds you with the key of faith in the Lord Jesus. Jesus is ready to help you begin again.

It's time to start over.

In ?? We Trust

Agnostics and atheists want to expunge God from America's motto and pledge. Yes, Mr. Newdow is back in court. He thinks that the name of God has no place in America's life. He would have us remove God from public life.

Much like his predecessor, Ms. Murray-"O"Hairy," Mr. Newdow suffers from the delusion that the courts will give him control over America's implicit trust in God. Given that he is working through those infamous Californian federal courts, that may happen on a temporary basis. Then wiser minds will prevail and things will revert to its historical normalcy once again.

Mr. Newdow reminds me of my daughters when they were around 18 months old. We would play hide and seek. My daughters would cover their eyes and, to them, they disappeared from our sight. No one could see them! Then suddenly they would uncover their eyes and there they would be once again. Mr. Newdow's fallacy is not unlike that. He believes he can expunge God from American life by hiding the motto, by removing the name of God from the pledge, by attempting the silence the voice of Christians and Jews who happen to believe those words. Cover his name and God disappears. God was here before the motto and pledge, and God will be here long after, should it ever be removed.

Or perhaps we should only replace it. With what would we replace the name of God, Mr. Newdow? Allah? Self? Buddha? Krishni? With what?

If the likes of Michael Newdow, whose right to protest is protected under this nation's constitution, do not wish to tolerate my belief in God, then may they find an island and start their own nation.

This Place Called America

I love America. I really do. I served our country almost 4 complete years. I still sing the National Anthem. I still place my hand over my heart when I say the pledge. I get misty-eyed at the sound of taps and the sight of the missing man formation when fighter jets fly over. I would not hesitate to answer "the call" even today.

Today I salute the thousands of men and women serving our country. Too often they get a bad rap by the media. In fact, if you listen closely, the media often insult the intelligence of those brave warriors. But I laud their prowess. I honor them.

This place called America has other warriors, too. They should be honored. I am speaking of men who are faithful preachers of the truth of God's word. Pastors are in the news lately, largely because of the most recent attention given by one of America's Senators.

I know there are some bad apples in the barrel. But folks, preachers too often get a bum rap. The average pastor, once respected as a leader in the community, now ranks down at the bottom with those particular lawyers who advertise big payoffs if you only use them to sue others. When that doesn't happen, he has to compete with those popular men who can afford to buy television time.

Yet on they plug, week in and week out; on they go, sharing the word of God, ministering to their flocks, and trying to encourage the downtrodden.

In the place called America these warriors are still able to preach and minister. So far. There is a subtle and dangerous move to eliminate those who are faithful to the word. There are attempts on the part of the perverted to make a hate crime of any speech against certain kinds of immorality. There is a theological move to lower Christianity to the level of false religions. Over half of evangelicals already believe that there is more than one way to be born again (but they are mistaken). More and more want us to denigrate the exclusive claims of the gospel.

I was reminded of that tonight. I was also reminded that there is one name whereby we must be saved: Jesus Christ. It does not matter your ethnic background, or your religious background. If you don't turn to Jesus Christ, you won't be saved.

In this place called America, I can say that. In some places around the world, I would be in jail for telling you that--if I lived. But if we do not repent, we may live to see the day that we cannot share that good news.

So, America, I have one word for you:

Repent!