The Purpose of Christ's Birth

For two thousand years, non believers have been asking, “What purpose did Jesus have for coming to the world?” Some Christians have a hard time answering this question, other just give a stock answer, (for the Salvation of mankind), still others will answer, “I don't know, it's whatever you want to believe” (which is going to be a topic for another discussion). The Holy Scriptures gives a clear answer to this question, “What is the purpose for Christ's birth?”

The one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3:8 NASB). The purpose of Christ's birth is to destroy the works of the devil.

To fully grasp the purpose, we need to understand what the works of the devil are. First, the devil introduced sin into the world. The devil was not created evil, but he sinned, and not just one sin and then reform, he has continued to sin. He not only sinned by rebelling against God and bringing the fallen angels with him, but he enticed mankind to sin and has continued to introduce sin into the lives of men.
The devil introduced sin into the world, by tempting mankind to disobey God. Sin is disobedience to Gods commands. When God says not to do something, and the person does it, they have sinned. The first introduction of sin came when mankind disobeyed God and ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God gave the command, mankind disobeyed, and sin entered into the world.
With sin entering into the world, the second work of the devil came into existence. Death entered into the world.
Prior to Genesis 3:6, death is only mentioned as a future tense possibility. Three times the phrase, “will die” is said. Nowhere is death mentioned as a current active presence. The reason: God did not create life for the purpose of death. Life was created to be eternal. God made a promise to mankind that they would die if they ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. God made good on His promise.
God can not be around sin. Thus, when sin entered into the world, God removed mankind from His presence. He through them out of the Garden of Eden. Sin separated mankind from God. After that point, mankind needed to be reconciled to God. The only way to do that is to have mankind's sin and death removed from them. Thus, Jesus was born.
Since sin and death came into the world because of man, they could only be taken away through man. Jesus had to come as a man, born as a babe, grow into adulthood, experience what mankind experiences and become the perfect sacrifice. “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil . . .For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” (Hebrews 2:14,17-18 NIV)
By Jesus destroying the works of the devil, mankind has been given a great gift. They have been given the gift of eternal life. As it is with any gift, it must be received. The gift of salvation is easy to attain. Some people will tell you that you must do a lot of good works, or other things to attain salvation. There are a couple of steps to accept the gift of salvation, and it is difficult to do. Not in the sense that it is hard to get accomplished but in the sense that it involves a drastic life change.
The first step to getting the gift of salvation is to admit that you are a sinner in need of a savior and to repent from your current sinful lifestyle. Everyone is a sinner, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23 NIV) Once you can admit that you are a sinner, you must repent from your sinful lifestyle. Repentance is a word that is often misunderstood. Repent does not mean to feel sorrow or sorry that you did something. Repent means to turn away. Literally it means to change your direction. When you repent, you turn away from your current lifestyle and where do you turn to. You turn to God for the forgiveness of your sins, “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,” (Acts 3:19).
Once you admit that you're a sinner and repent, you need to believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead. The most fundamental truth about Christianity is that Jesus was dead and buried and resurrected on the third day. If Jesus was not resurrected, then no one will be resurrected and there is no hope at all. Yet, Jesus WAS resurrected and we have the hope of being resurrected into eternal life.
Then confess that Jesus is Lord. Aside from an absolute life change, this is probably the hardest thing to do. Many people will be ridiculed for their confession. They will be branded as, “Jesus Freaks”, “Fundamentalists”, “Holy Rollers”, and many other names with negative connotations, yet, take them as a compliment, they at least know where you stand. When you believe and confess you will be saved. “That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved,” (Romans 10:9,10) The Scriptures are clear on this, believe and confess, “you will be saved.” It doesn't say “you might be saved.” It doesn't say, “You possibly could be saved.” It doesn't say, “You will be saved after you do some other things.” It simply says, “You will be saved.”
As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, let us remember the purpose of his birth. If you have not accepted Christ as your savior, today is a good day to do that.
Have a merry Christmas
Daniel

Thanksgiving: The verb

Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV)

At a country church, the Pastor always opened prayer with an expression of gratitude and thanks to God. Then one Sunday, there came a terrible winter storm. There was a foot of snow on the ground and a freezing wind blowing from the north. Due to the horrible conditions, few of the congregation showed up for church. Those that were there were anxious and wondering how the Pastor could be thankful this time. The Pastor approached the pulpit and began his prayer with, “Father God, thank you for this day, and thankfully it is not always like this.”
In the United States we are celebrating Thanksgiving. A time when we look back at the past year with fond memories, remembering to give thanks for the life that we have. It is also a time to look back at the struggles, and to see how we were delivered through those struggles with God’s help.
The pilgrims celebrated the first Thanksgiving, following a harsh winter and raids from the natives. After befriending another tribe, they were taught how to survive the surroundings and the climate. While they struggled, they still found time to thank God for His divine providence.
We need to realize when giving thanks to God, it is not something that we should do as an afterthought. The phrase given here is “in all circumstances.” It does not say, “after the circumstances,” nor does it say, “before the circumstances.” We are to give thanks while we are experiencing the circumstances. Good, bad, or indifferent.
While we find it generally easier to thank God during the good times and the normal times, it is far more difficult to thank Him during our struggles. Yet, it is through our struggles that we grow. We grow stronger spiritually, and we grow closer to God. The Holy Scriptures even tell us to be joyful when we go through trials. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:2,3,12 NIV)
The ability to give thanks in all circumstances was taught to the pilgrims by one of their leaders. William Bradford wrote in his journal, “Being thus arived in a good harbor and brought safe to land, they fell upon their knees & blessed ye God of heaven, who had brought them over ye vast & furious ocean, and delivered them from all ye periles & miseries therof . . . What could not sustaine them but ye spirite of God & his grace?” (http://www.pilgrimhall.org/bradfordjournalarrival.htm) Bradford is one who wrote from experience. While traveling across the Atlantic on the Mayflower, his wife fell overboard and died. He personally knew of God’s sustaining grace during the times of struggles.
It is customary to look back at all the good times and thank God for all the blessings that we have received. Let us not forget to look back at our trials and thank God for the deliverance the He gave us. It is through our trials that we learn to lean on God and grow in strength. Thanksgiving is more than a holiday family dinner. Thanksgiving is more than a proper noun. Thanksgiving is a verb. It is something that we must do. It is always appropriate to give thanks to God.

Obama's President . . . Now What?

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.” (John 14:1)

The election is over and Obama is President. Now what? As a believer in Christ, what should I and every other Christian do? What should we believe?
Is Obama the AntiChrist (as many e-mails have erroneously suggested)? Will the ultra liberal left wing political faction run rampant, unchecked to pass all their agendas? Will churches be forced to to perform homosexual marriages? Will the pro choice movement get looser abortion laws passed so that any woman seeking an abortion can attain one, even after the fetus has reached 12 years in age? What will the next four years be like for the United States?
It has been said "For a nation to get on it's feet, it must first get on it's knees." All throughout history, God has rewarded nations that favored Him, and destroyed nations that turned their back on Him. In the book of Judges, a theme that was repeated is, "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes." When a nation strayed from God, they were punished by either God himself (as in the case with Egypt) or the nation was punished by outside sources (Israel and Judah by means of Assyria and Babylon). Each time a calamity would strike down upon Israel, a cry was heard from the people, "What have we done against God." They would then repent and turn back to God. Until God's patience ran out and they went into captivity.
Right now, the United States is not at that point (repentance, not sure about God's patience though). Whenever a calamity has been brought against the United States, the response is, "Why would God allow this to happen to us, we have done nothing wrong." Again, repeating the refrain, "We are doing right and good." Then we wonder why another tragedy befalls us.
What must we do to help the situation that we have found ourselves in.
We must get on our knees and pray fervently for deliverance and forgiveness for the sins of the nation. Also we must pray for our leaders, even if we don't agree with their politics. “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. (1 Timothy 2:1,2 NASB emphasis mine) Pray that they will seek God's wisdom, but above all, pray that God's will is done.
The believer must also preach louder and harder, "See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son." (Hebrews 12:16 NIV)
We must continue to live the life that God has called us to live, we must be obedient to what God has commanded us to do. "Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king." (1 Peter 2:13-17 NIV)
Finally, we must not give up nor become downcast for the “bleak” future. As Jesus said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.” (John 14:1). We must not be troubled by these events. We must put our trust in God and know that He is in control.
God raised many ungodly leaders for Israel and Judah to recognize their sin. When their sin became apparent through the actions of it's leaders, they repented. Will this be a wake up call for the believers and for the nation, or will we (the nation) continue to live in ignorance to all the things that are going on?

Mything the Facts

Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the
immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and
reptiles. (Romans 1:22,23 NIV)

“Education based on fact, not myth” Christopher Renner candidate for Kansas State
Board of Education.

In 2004 the Kansas Board of Education adopted a science standard that included criticism to the teaching of evolution. It allowed for discussion of other alternative manners in which the creation of the world and mankind came into existence. It did not remove the teaching of evolution and promote the teaching of intelligent design and creationism. It allowed the teacher to include alternative methods for the creation of the universe including evolution, the big bang theory, intelligent design and creationism. But, as Christopher Renner pointed out, we need education based on fact, not on myth. So, let’s separate the fact from the myths.

Myth #1: Theory of Evolution is a fact.
Fact: How is the word theory defined in the dictionary? A proposed explanation whose status is still conjectural, in contrast to well-established propositions that are regarded as reporting matters of actual fact, guess conjecture. The theory of evolution is not a fact and is considered by many scientists to be merely a conjecture. Without a definitive link between humankind and apes, it can only be classified as conjecture. So what are these “educators” afraid of when allowing alternative methods to be discussed? Isn’t that the purpose of science anyway? To discuss viable alternatives and solutions to a problem. To only allow one view to be presented promotes and encourages lemming like thinking and narrow mindedness.

Myth #2: Top scientists accept evolution as fact.
Fact: Never mind the fact that the bulk of pre 20th century scientists were Christian ie Copernicus, Galileo, Isaac Newton (who wrote more articles and books on Christianity than he did on gravity). Look at the 20th century scientists. Over 80% of the Nobel prize winners in Physics, Chemistry and Physiology or Medicine have extensive Christian backgrounds and have defended their beliefs.
A poll conducted in 1980 amongst biologists with Masters or higher, 72% believed evolution to be a fact. In 2000, the same poll showed that 47% of the same group believed evolution to be a fact. When it comes to the power of the universe, Isaac Newton summed it up best, “Gravity explains the motions of the planets, but it cannot explain who set the planets in motion. God governs all things and knows all that is or can
be done.”

Myth #3: Since all humans came from apes, all humans are equal.
Fact: Darwin was a racist. Consider the subtitle to Charles Darwin’s The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection. The subtitle is: The Preservation of Favored Races in the Struggle for Life. “Favored Races?” What can he be referring to with this statement? The answer is found in his work, Descent of Man, “At some future period, not very distant as measured by centuries, the civilized races of man will almost certainly exterminate, and replace, the savage races throughout the world. At the same time the anthropomorphous apes, Professor Schaaffhausen has remarked, will no doubt be exterminated. The break between man and his nearest allies will then be wider, for it will intervene between man in a more civilized state, as we may hope, even than the Caucasian, and some ape as low as a baboon, instead of as now between the negro or the Australian and the gorilla.” (Descent of Man, Chapter Six: On the Affinities and Genealogy of Man, On the Birthplace and Antiquity of Man). Darwin taught the inferiority of certain humans, specifically the dark skinned humans of the Afrikaners and the Australian Aborigines. Why is this teaching overlooked by those who support evolution? One thing I learned in middle school dealt with true/false statements. In order for the statement to be true, it must all be true, if one part is false, then it is all false. Which is it then for the evolutionists: Are we created equal by our Creator as the Declaration of Independence states, or did we evolve into separate superior/inferior races as Darwin proposes. (I often wonder if Hitler read this work and gleaned his general idea of “exterminating” the Jewish people from it.)

Myth #4: Darwin accepted his teachings as fact.
Fact: Darwin even wrote that he was unsure of the validity and truth about his theory. In chapter 10 of the Origin of Speicies (the Imperfection of the Geological Record) he wrote, “So, that the number of intermediate and transitional links between all living and extinct species, must have been inconceivably great. But assuredly, if this theory be true, such have lived upon the earth.” He even wrote “if” this theory is true. Even he acknowledged that what he wrote is not true, but by the outside chance that his theory is true, then we would find these “missing links” because they would have lived on the earth. If he knew it wasn’t true, then why teach evolution as truth. All throughout the Origin of Species, Darwin used the qualifying disclaimer “if” signifying his uncertainty to what he wrote as fact.

I do agree with Christopher Renner that we do need an education system that is based on facts and not myths. The truth must be taught. “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32 NIV)
Just so you know, I do believe in evolution. . . just not Darwins evolution.



Geoff Moore and the Distance - Evolution: Redefined.

. . . So Goes the Nation

“Then if they will really learn the ways of My people, to swear by My name, 'As the LORD lives,' even as they taught My people to swear by Baal, they will be built up in the midst of My people. But if they will not listen, then I will uproot that nation, uproot and destroy it," declares the LORD. (Jeremiah 12:16,17 NASB)

In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes. (Judges 17:6 NASB)

How does one destroy a nation? The destruction does not come from weapons, it does not come from economics, and it does not come from any outside source. The destruction of a nation comes from within and it begins with the removal of morality.

In 1919 the Communist Strategy for Revolution was captured in Düsseldorf, Germany. The very first plank of that strategy states: A. Corrupt the young. Get them away from religion. Get them interested in sex. Make them superficial; destroy their ruggedness.

The first step listed is not invasion, it is not economically, it is not through disease. The first step listed is a subtle attack, yet the most dangerous attack, it is the attack on the youth. Not a physical attack, but a psychological attack. Corrupt the young.

How does one corrupt the young? The answer is found in the next sentence, get them away from religion. Teach them that there is no such thing as a religion, it's all myth. (Which is the topic for my next entry). Get them interested in superficial things i.e. sex. Teach them that if it makes them happy, then it is OK to do. Teach them ego centrism that it's all about themselves. If something interferes in their life, then get rid of it. Remove their moral compass and watch the nation disintegrate from within.

In the United States there is a movement to destroy the moral foundation, by corrupting the young. While many naïve people believe that sex education is being taught in the High Schools, a recent study showed otherwise. 70% of the public schools today teach sex education in 7th grade. 20% of the public schools teach sex education to 5th graders. 90% of the public sex education is taught to children that are 13 years old and younger! And it's not abstinence that is being taught. 82% of the sex education classes taught, teach safe sex: Before you undress your Venus, dress your penis is the motto. These are children that are now finding out the thing they urinate with has another purpose, and there is no moral ramification if they use it in that manner. Most of these children haven't begun puberty or are just hitting puberty. With raging hormones, unsure of what to do with themselves, they now have been taught what to do with that. And they have been taught, not to worry about the consequences. There are ways of dealing with any “problem” that may arise.

It's not just sex education that is being taught at an early age. First graders and younger are being bombarded with a twist on a classic children's stories: See Spot, Dick and Jane has now become: See Dick and Dick or See Jane and Jane. One father in Massachusetts objected to his kindergarten son being taught the “normalcy” of homosexuality and went to court. The court told the father there is nothing morally wrong with homosexuality and if he didn't like it, he can homeschool his child (except in California).

The human courts have decided that they are the judges not only over the laws, but they also are the judges over moral laws. (Which is interesting because it's the ACLU's mantra that you can not legislate morality . . so which is it either we can or we can not legislate morality) Who established the moral laws? It wasn't the United States court system, nor was it the European court system. The moral laws were established on a mountain, written by God's own hand and given to the world through a prophet with a speech impediment. Regardless of what man has to say about it, if God calls it a sin, then it's a sin. If God calls it an abomination, then it's an abomination.

All throughout history, when a nation turns its back on God, God uproots it and destroys it. Israel, Judah, Rome. None are of the same prominence as they once were. Israel is the chosen nation, blessed by God. Yet, they turned from God and was destroyed. When will God's patience run out with America, a nation that was founded on the ideals of Christianity. A nation that put God first for the first 150 years. Now a nation that thinks murdering babies for choice is all right. A nation that places money above morality. A nation that no longer fears the Lord. A nation that will no longer exist unless we get right with God. “My concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right.” Abraham Lincoln


http://www.learn-usa.com/of_assistance/Stuter38.htm
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=77373

Where Morality Goes . . .

And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them. (Romans 1:28-32 NASB)

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? (Mark 8:36 KJV)

Throughout the history of mankind, one thing has truly remained a constant. When nations and empires were at their greatest, so was national morality. When national morality began to decline, so did the power and influence of that nation. Morality is what keeps a nation growing, or lack of morality will destroy a nation from within. Those who want to destroy the moral fabric of society want to destroy the nation in itself. Thus, in a democracy, the moral issues should be the forefront of all other issues.
There is a false teaching amongst the secularists: You can not legislate morality. What Christians and non-believers must realize is that there is not a single law that has ever been passed that was not first a moral issue. God knew that immorality would destroy a nation, and gave his 10 laws. These laws are known as the 10 commandments, and also the Moral Laws.
As of right now all 50 states have a law against murder, stealing, rape, etc. All of these are considered crimes against humanity. Are you aware that all 50 states also have laws against adultery? While the penalties vary from state to state all have a law against adultery. In Michigan adultery can be punished by a life sentence, “In a ruling sure to make philandering spouses squirm, Michigan's second-highest court says that anyone involved in an extramarital fling can be prosecuted for first-degree criminal sexual conduct, a felony punishable by up to life in prison.”1 Is this not legislating morality?
Still secularists will use the “moral relativism” argument. They base this argument on if it doesn't harm anyone else, and it makes you happy, then its all right to do. If that's the case, then why are there laws prohibiting the use of drugs. If someone wanted to drop acid in their home, never leave so they're not in danger of hitting someone, and fry their brain that would be all right? That's nonsense! Laws are not just meant to protect us from other people, but they must be in place to protect us from ourselves.
Again, we are in the midst of an election year. I have by many people been called a “racist”, a “single issue voter”, and “not caring about the future of our country”. We are in the midst of economic ruin, and I won't support the one who, by the medias account, will get us out of our economic crisis and lead us back into a golden age of prosperity.
I had a lengthy debate with a co-worker who was trying to understand why I won't support Obama. They even tried to convince me using the conservative approach. “Obama doesn't support gay marriage, so you should vote for him.” (In the Vice-Presidential debate Biden admitted that he and Obama are against homosexual marriage.) They tried to convince me that Obama's economic plan would save the nation and everyone can gain the whole world (see opening quotes). After a couple of minutes of my co-workers monologue I just responded, “Whatever you did not do for the least of these, you did not do for me.” I can not support someone who has no conscience when it comes to the murder of babies.
I do want to make one thing clear: I do support the woman's right to choose. She can choose to make sweet love or not. That's the choice she makes. I do not support anyone's “right” for murder. And what truly is the clincher is “that man” tried to get legislation passed in his home state that if a baby is born alive during a botched abortion, the doctor can let the child slowly die outside of the womb. "The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.'” (Matthew 25:40 NASB) Imagine the legislation he would try to get passed if he were allowed to be President.
Why is that when it comes to choice, the persons whose life is affected the most, the babies, they are not given the choice? Where is their choice? I have often wondered, what would the people say to Helen Keller who support murdering babies if they will be born with a disability. What would they say to her to convince her that the life she led was worthless?
Instead of worrying about the economy, this nation needs to get back to the basics. This nation needs to follow the Laws of the Lawgiver. Look at how prosperous the nation was when we prayed in school, when we studied the Bible in school, when we put national morality above everything else. When this nation will put God and His laws first, follow the morality that God established, we will once again become an economic prosperous nation. That is a promise of His everything we need will be given to us and more will be added if we seek Him, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33 NASB). Don't believe me, look at Solomon. When Solomon sought after God, he became one of the wealthiest people in the world. When he sought after the pagan gods, he lost everything, especially his conscience.

1 http://web.archive.org/web/20070206173058/http://freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070115/COL04/701150333

Disarming Peter Pt III: Sheathing the Sword

In disarming Peter, Christ disarmed all Christians. Tertullion 2nd Century AD.

The disciple Peter was a hothead. He was boisterous, arrogant, proud, and stubborn. He was the unspoken leader of the twelve disciples. He was the first to jump into a situation, first to defend Jesus, and subsequently, he would often times, be the first to fail. Peter was the prototypical fundamental evangelical Christian. Like all Christians, Peter had his trials, and his failures. It is through his life, that we can learn how to get up when we fall.
Peter was always ready to protect and defend Jesus. He didn't want Jesus to go into Jerusalem, for he know that Jesus was a wanted man, and that entering Jerusalem meant certain death. Then, on a certain day in the Garden of Gethsemane, it happened. Peter's biggest fear was being realized, they came after Jesus to take him away. Peter had to leap into action, to help Jesus, to save Jesus. He drew his sword ready for a rumble. Then Jesus with a harsh rebuke, disarmed Peter for the third time, “Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.) Jesus commanded Peter, 'Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?'” (John 18:10,11 NIV)
How many times do Christians prematurely draw their swords ready to defend Christ, yet fail in the process? Many times, Christians will jump to the wrong conclusion, start quoting the Scriptures, trying to make everything right, but end up making a bigger mess of it. Though our hearts are in the right place, the timing is not what God wants. We must be patient and allow God to work in us, and then work through us. When Peter drew his sword the priest's servant's heart became full of fear and possibly hatred. When Christians attack non believers, how many do it in a ruthless way, as to put hatred in the heart of the person. When Christians start quoting the Scriptures, and telling non believers they will burn in Hell, you're not winning them to the Lord, you're pushing them away. Love them as Christ loved them.
One example of Christ's love for the sinner is the adulterous woman. Jesus knew she was a sinner, the whole world basically knew she was a sinner. When the teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought her to Jesus to trap him, Jesus could have consented to their actions and condemned the woman. He could have gone with the crowd and said, “You're a sinner, you must die.” Yet, he didn't. He had compassion upon her and did not condemn her. He did warn her to change her life, but he did not condemn her. Not once throughout the Holy Scriptures did Jesus emphatically tell someone they are going to Hell. He warned them by telling them they are in danger of going there, but he never condemned someone to an eternal punishment. Since Jesus did not condemn the adulterous woman, why should we condemn sinners for their actions.
There is a difference between condemning and warning. Condemning is emphatic and permanent. Warning is attempting to turn the person away from their sin. People are more open to change, when warnings are done in love and respect. They are not open to change with an emphatic and permanent condemnation. When coming to Jesus defense, we must understand that Jesus is bigger than us. He doesn't need us to defend him, but he does want us to show our love for him by promoting him and his actions. We must remove our own anger, malice, and condemning attitude and look at people the way Jesus looked at people. “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:31,32 NIV) “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5 NIV)
When Jesus took away Peter's sword, he was removing the one thing that would harm Peter's witness. From this point on, Peter's sword was God's Word. Peter gave the sermon at Pentecost, that led to thousands coming to salvation. Peter witnessed before the Sanhedrin, even defying their order not to mention Jesus name. Peter witnessed to Cornelius. All of these things Peter did, knowing that death was not far behind, and knowing he had a sword, just not the one he used in the garden.

Disarming Peter II: Spirituality

In disarming Peter, Christ disarmed all Christians. Tertullion 2nd Century AD.

The disciple Peter was a hothead. He was boisterous, arrogant, proud, and stubborn. He was the unspoken leader of the twelve disciples. He was the first to jump into a situation, first to defend Jesus, and subsequently, he would often times, be the first to fail. Peter was the prototypical fundamental evangelical Christian. Like all Christians, Peter had his trials, and his failures. It is through his life, that we can learn how to get up when we fall.
Peter was a spiritual person. He knew the Scriptures and their meanings. He was the first to accept and state Jesus was the Messiah. Even though Peter knew the Scriptures, he wasn't going to allow what was written to take place, “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” Isaiah 53:3 NIV) “From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!" Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." (Matthew 16:21-23 NIV) Peter knew the Scriptures and he knew what was going to happen, yet he felt he could stop it, because of the great love for Jesus that he had. Jesus disarmed Peter spiritually with his rebuke, that Peter had the things of men in his heart, and not the things of God.
We as Christians, though we know the Scriptures, we have a hard time allowing the Scriptures to work in us. We don't want to follow and obey what the Scriptures say, though we know it is what is best for us. We have a hard time applying the very Scriptures that we live by, when the time gets rough. When things become spiritually tough what should we do to overcome the burdens.
The first step is to keep in mind the things of God. We need to seek after His kingdom first, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33 NIV) When we line up our heart first with God, everything else will fall into place. God will cover all of our needs, if we only have the trust to put into Him, and not doubt that He will fulfill his promise.
The second step is to continue to get our spiritual batteries recharged. This is done through fellowship with other believers. Attending a church is a start, but maintaining a relationship with people outside of the church walls is better. God stated it is not good for man to be alone, not just in a physical sense, but also in a spiritual sense. We must have healthy relationships with other people who can encourage us as we walk with the Lord.
The third step is to accept rebuke when we are wrong. The hardest thing for anyone is to admit they made a mistake, and even harder to listen to someone else as they tell them they made a mistake. Jesus didn't pull any punches with Peter, he told it like it is, “Get behind me Satan! You are a stumbling block.” When we are wrong, we need to be able to open our hearts and our minds, and accept when someone is rebuking us. In this instance, did Peter argue back. It doesn't say, but Peter recognized that Jesus had authority over him, and accepted the rebuke. If we close our hearts to rebuke, we are closing our hearts to spiritual growth.
While Jesus disarmed Peter spiritually, he was also teaching him a lesson. Peter became one of the strongest leaders in the early church, and was very strong spiritually. When we begin to learn from Peter's lessons, we will begin to grow spiritually.
Have a blessed week.
Daniel V

Sweet Caroline

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you. (Psalm 139:17,18)

Within my primary Bible is a list of verses used for daily meditation. How fitting that this is the verse that is listed on March 14th. When pondering God's thoughts for us, we count the blessings that He has bestowed upon us. On March 14th we were blessed with an addition to the Vandenburg clan with the birth of our daughter Caroline Elise Vandenburg.
Many times we take God's blessings for granted: a raise at work, a new job, a sunny day, a rainy day, or any variations on the good things that happen to us. The birth of a child tends to put everything into perspective. While all those other things are nice, nothing compares to holding your child for the first time. You look at their small faces and tiny bodies, the very image that was created by two people. (Thankfully, Caroline's image is closer to Jennifer than me, though we still see me, something about stubbornness, I don't understand that though, since I am not stubborn). Realizing that they will depend upon you for everything. They can accomplish nothing without your help.
It is very similar to how God views us. He sees our small faces and tiny bodies, created in His very own image. We are created to rely on Him for everything, and apart from Him, we can accomplish nothing. When we are fussy and worn out, God cradles us in His arms, sings us a lullaby and soon, we are at peace with Him. Whatever ails us, whatever troubles us, is gone. God brushes the hair out of our eyes, kisses our forehead, and tells us, “Everything will be all right, I am here.”
We have been given a magnificent and awesome responsibility. Nothing is greater than caring for a child from God, for God. We are basically renting her from God to be good stewards of His gifts. God looked down upon us and said, “Jennifer and Daniel, here is my most precious thought for you. Teach her well, and raise her with My guidance. There will be some heartache and pain, but there will be a lot more joy and happiness. You are blessed.”
“How precious to me are your thoughts.”
God bless
Daniel

Welcome Home, Roy

Tuesday, April 8th, I lost a spiritual mentor. Roy Irwin, went to be with the Lord that morning. I wrote an essay for the newspaper and this is it in it's entirety:


There are a few people that can have a profound and positive affect on many people without being in the “public” eye. Roy Irwin was one of those people.
I readily admit that I only knew Roy for that last fifteen years of his life (though he knew me when I was much younger) and even then it was primarily at the bowling alley. Yet, he left an indelible influence on my life. I learned from Roy how to approach life, with a Christ like attitude, using examples from our lives on the lanes. He taught me:
Diligence. “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14 NIV) Just because you throw the ball in the gutter, is no reason to quit. Continue to work out your struggles. No matter how hard life is at the moment, don't give up, continue on with perseverance until you reach the prize.
Teamwork. “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” (Romans 12:15 NIV) When one person on the team struggles, the whole team struggles. When one person on the team succeeds, the whole team succeeds. In the family of Christ, when one struggles, it is our responsibility to reach out to them and help them along. When one rejoices we are to rejoice in their happiness. The true testament to friendship is when one person has a good thing happen, and you are genuinely happy for them, not covetous of what they have.
Remain joyful. “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV) When you throw a split, there's no use cursing or kicking things; you look like an idiot, the pins can't hear you, and you might break your foot. Regardless of the struggles we go through, we should give thanks in all circumstances and consider it pure joy when we go through those trials. When we get through those trials, we will grow as a person in wisdom and in our spirit.
Love the children. “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” (Proverbs 22:6 NIV) Teach the children the proper procedures to bowling. When dealing with children, do not discourage them, but encourage them. Get involved in their lives and teach them in the way they should go, so that they will not depart from it when they get older.
Finally: When you can't see the pins, use binoculars. In the latter years of his bowling career, Roy used binoculars to see the pins. When you are faced with struggles, do your best to change your perception of the situation. No matter how distant or difficult a problem is, bring it closer to you to solve the problem.
While many remember Roy as a bowler who was a Christian, I remember him differently. I knew him as a Christian who bowled. He loved Jesus, he loved his family, and he loved children. He always had a positive outlook on life. He lived his life as an example of Jesus, so those who didn't know Jesus, could see Jesus. Though I mourn for the loss physically, I rejoice in my spirit. I can see Jesus with his outstretched arms, embracing Roy and saying, “Job well done good and faithful servant, welcome home Roy.”

Disarming Peter Pt I: Faith

In disarming Peter, Christ disarmed all Christians. Tertullion 2nd Century AD.

The disciple Peter was a hothead. He was boisterous, arrogant, proud, and stubborn. He was the unspoken leader of the twelve disciples. He was the first to jump into a situation, first to defend Jesus, and subsequently, he would often times, be the first to fail. Peter was the prototypical fundamental evangelical Christian. Like all Christians, Peter had his trials, and his failures. It is through his life, that we can learn how to get up when we fall.
Many times, Christians will say they put all their trust and faith in Jesus to guide them in the direction that they need to go. But, do they really? How many times have you prayed, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”, without putting your own conditions on the prayer. One day, Peter was tested in his faith.
“Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. 'It's a ghost,' they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: 'Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid.' 'Lord, if it's you,' Peter replied, 'tell me to come to you on the water.'
'Come,' he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, 'Lord, save me!' Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. 'You of little faith,' he said, 'why did you doubt?'” (Matthew 14:22-31 NIV)
Peter did what many Christians do, he took his eyes off of Jesus and focused on his own understanding. He knew it is impossible to walk on water, yet, being focused on Jesus, he knew anything was possible. Then, he became aware of his surroundings, and lost his focus on Jesus. It was at that point, that he began to sink. The good thing, when he began to go down, he had the sense to call out to Jesus to save him.
How many are like Peter? Focusing on Jesus, then something comes along and removes your focus on him and onto the other things. Many times, we wait until we are sinking to seek Jesus. It was that action, the action of little faith, that prompted Jesus to step in, save him, and rebuke him.
When Peter was focused on Jesus, everything was going perfectly for him. He was walking on the water just like Jesus was doing. The wind then struck his face, and Peter's faith diminished, and what was possible, became impossible. Peter took his eyes off Jesus and failed.
When we are facing impossible tasks, we need to realize that Jesus needs to be our focus. When we are faced with impossible tasks, then how do we keep our eyes on Jesus.
The first step is to surround yourself with Christians who will help you keep your focus on Jesus. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1,2) By surrounding yourself with Christian people, they can help you keep your focus on Jesus. Good accountability partners can keep your focus on Jesus, and warn you when you begin to take your eyes of of Jesus.
The second step is to turn everything over to him. Whether it is marital problems, work problems, school problems, or any problem that you are facing, turn it over to Jesus. He wants to be the one to carry our problems, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” ( Matthew 11:28,29 NIV). Don't be afraid to ask for help, before you need it. Pride has a way of getting in the way and preventing people from asking for help. If you know it's going to be a daunting task, ask for help before you get started. Don't try to do it on your own. Go to Jesus first, and get the guidance that you need.
The third step is to ask before it becomes too much of a burden. Peter waited until the last moment to ask for help, don't wait that long. Though patience may be good, it can also be a hindrance to getting things done for God. By incorporating the first two steps, you won't need to use the third step. Peter, if he would have kept focused on Jesus, wouldn't have begun to drown.
During WW II, the Germans were bombing London. One day, a father and daughter were trying to escape the bombings. They came to a hole in the ground and the father jumped in first. The father yelled to his daughter to jump in. She cried back, “Daddy, I can't see you, the smoke is too thick.” The father yelled back, “That's OK, I can see you, go ahead and jump and I will catch you.” No matter how small our faith is, if we remain focused on Jesus, he will take care of us.

Idle Worship

We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. 2 Thessalonians 3:12 (NIV)

Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.” Matthew 9:37 (NIV)

Imagine if you will, your bank calls you up and tells you every morning at opening you will be given 86,400 pennies. They give you one stipulation: You must spend it all in one day or lose it. You can not save it for a rainy day, it must be spent or lost. This will be done everyday. Spend the money or lose it. How would you spend that money?
A recent survey once asked: What is the one question you would want God to answer if you are standing in front of him?
34% What is my purpose?
19% Is there life after death?
16% Why do bad things happen?
12% Don't know what to ask
7% Is there life elsewhere?
6% How long will I live?
94% of the answers were shown.
The question that I would ask: How may I serve you better?
To paraphrase President Kennedy, “Ask not what God can do for you, but what you can do for God.” The harvest is plenty but the workers are few. Why are there few workers, because people aren't willing to do the work. We allow various excuses to enter into our minds to prohibit us from doing the work that God has called us to do.
What stops us from serving God?
1. Fear. We are afraid of what other people will think. We're afraid that we'll do it wrong and that we'll be judged harshly by others for it. We apprehensive that it is actually something that we should do. We won't do anything unless we get approval from others. We are afraid that we won't be accepted by others for doing the work that we are doing. We are afraid that we would teach it wrong.
2. Ignorance. We don't know how to do it. We don't understand our own capabilities and what we are capable of doing. We feel that only a Pastor can serve God. Since most Christians aren't Pastors, they don't serve.
3. Shame. We are ashamed of our past sins. We feel that we can not serve God, since we are sinners. We are ashamed of the actions of other “Christians” that we don't want to be known as a Christian, because we don't want to give the appearance of being those “Christians”.

How then do we serve God?
We have to devote time to God. How much time do we spend in the Holy Scriptures on a daily basis? Just like a car, we need to be refueled to be able to go. Just that our refueling is a daily basis. By spending time in God's word, we will be prepared to serve God in the capacity that He wants us to be in.
We need to spend time in prayer with God. I pray five times a day. I'm not boasting, I'm more ashamed of that number. I know that I should spend more time in prayer than I do. I have noticed that when I pray more times than just the eating times, I have a more blessed day. I get more done for God than I do when I only pray at meal times.
Most importantly though, we need to be a better witness for Christ. We need to always be prepared to give an answer for our hope that we have in Christ. By spending more time in God's word and in prayer, we are preparing ourselves to give an answer. We are growing in knowledge of Christ.
We need to act like a Christian. The best way to be a better witness for Christ is not by what we say, but by what we do. As Francis of Assisi said, “At all times preach the Gospel, when necessary, use words.” We are known by our fruit. If our words and our actions don't measure up, we are called hypocrites by those that don't know us. If our words and our actions do measure up, we are called Christian.
We must refrain from “Idle worship”. Christians get comfortable in their own salvation and fail to tell others about God. We are warned against being idle. The Thessalonians were being idle. They felt that since they had received the gift of salvation, then they don't need to do anything else. Yet, we are commanded by Jesus to spread the Gospel. We must not become complacent in our own salvation, but we must lead others to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ our Savior.
We need to set aside our own fears and let God work through us. We must not be comfortable being back row pew sitters. We must move to the front of the sanctuary and raise our hands and say as Isaiah said, “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?' And I said, 'Here am I. Send me!'” Isaiah 6:8 (NIV)
There are many ways of serving God than being an evangelizer. Some people are gifted in mercy and are able to listen to people. Some people are gifted with the ability to write poems, or songs. Some people are good at exhortation. Whatever your gift, use it for the glory of God. Don't get involved in idle worship.
We are given 86,400 pennies on a daily basis. Only it's not in monetary form, but it is in seconds. God has blessed us with time. How are we going to use the time that we have on a daily basis?
This year, we are given an extra day. Who are we going to serve with this extra day? Are we going to serve our own wants, or are we going to serve God's needs.

Have a blessed day
Daniel

Today (Feb. 29th) is my nieces first birthday. Don't let my brother fool you into telling you she's four. Last time I checked, this is the first 29th of February that we've had since she was born, therefore she is 1.

America & Ancient Israel Pt 4: Romans

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God —the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. Through him and for his name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith. And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ. To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 1:1-7)

“Those who don't know history, are destined to repeat it” Edmund Burke

Four hundred years after the Jews were allowed to return to their homeland from Babylon captivity, the nation of Israel found itself being occupied by the Romans. The Romans were a polytheistic nation, yet an intelligent nation. They knew, the best way to assimilate a conquered nation, was to allow it to continue certain aspects of their culture. One thing that the Romans did, was to allow the nation to continue to worship the way that they saw fit. The Jews, therefore, prospered during this time and even traveled throughout that Roman lands, without fear of destruction. One of the major cities for Jews to congregate was the capital of Rome.
After the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, it was common to spread the Gospel of Jesus, first to the Jews and then to the Gentiles. Rome became a place of contention among the Jewish Christians. Some Gentile Christians were bringing their pagan practices into the synagogue, while Jewish Christians were demanding the Gentiles convert to all the Jewish practices. Paul wrote the letter to the church in Rome to encourage both sides and to help both sides to accept the others.
In the opening chapter, Paul shows the wrongs of Roman paganism. These practices by the Romans, eventually led to the demise of Rome. He writes how God will judge the wickedness and godlessness of Rome. In America, how much of this godlessness is true today.
Romans 1:21 “For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.” It has been established through history that the United States was founded as a Christian nation, upon Christian ideals, for Christian to worship peacefully. As a nation, do we continue to glorify God?

Romans 1:22-24 “Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.” There have been many people who claim intellectual superiority yet bow down to other things. There is a resurgence of New Age philosophies, which incorporate ancient religions and mythologies. Wicca, (based on the ancient druidic religion) unheard of thirty years ago, is gaining acceptance in society. The Babylonian religion centered around Mithras is growing, as is the Egyptian religions concerning Horus. Amongst these religions is the teaching that Christianity stole their ideas from these ancient religions, so they can denounce Christ to gain their own followers. These religions teach freedom of sexuality and lust. Some of these religions have held “breeding parties”. Sexual promiscuity is accepted and taught as normal. They teach there is no sexual sin.

Romans 1:25 “They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.” The education system of the United States promotes the teaching of evolution as fact, yet denies the teaching of creationism as a viable option. They have exchanged God's truth for the lie of the Big Bang and evolution. (Why don't people point out that Darwins teaching of evolution includes the teaching of the subhuman race known as the African people. Yes, Darwin taught that those who are descended from people from Africa are not fully human, they are a subhuman species. Yet, they will hail Darwin as a scientific genius? I will pass on that bit of racism.)
The good thing about this opening, even with all the bad things Paul has opened with, he still pauses to praise God. Something we all should do, stop and praise God.

Romans 1:26,27 “Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.” The purity and satisfaction of sexual relationship within the confines of God order, became profaned. Women began unnatural relationships and men turned away from “natural relations with women” and turned to other men. Something that God called an abomination (Leviticus 18:22), something that Paul said is indecent and unnatural.

Romans 1:28 “Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.” Because the turned their back on God, He allowed them to sow what they would soon reap. He allowed them to give into their depraved mind, knowing that what they do, they shouldn't do.

Romans 1:29-31 “Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents. They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy.” This is pretty much self explanatory. Crime, especially violent crimes, have increased over the last 40 years. Corporate greed is running amuck in our capitalist society. People will do anything unethical to get ahead in the business world. Marriage promises are being broken daily. There is a complete lack of forgiveness in our society, people would rather give up than work it out.
The part of this passage I want to focus on is “invent new ways of sinning.” Watching the news, at least on a weekly basis, someone will say, “I never thought a person would ever be capable of doing this.” Parents are drowning their children, child predators are becoming more sly, pregnant women are being murdered for their babies, or worse, pregnant women are murdering their babies and told nothing is wrong with that. God despises the death of innocents, especially the death of children.

Is America becoming a second Rome? Remember Edmund Burke.

America & Ancient Israel Pt 3: The Turning Away

I will put my dwelling place among you, and I will not abhor you. I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people. (Lev 26:11,12)
"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. (Matthew 10:32,33)
Israel was God's chosen nation. He called them out out bondage from the Egyptians. He led them through the wilderness. He promised them a land to call their own. All they had to do was obey his commands. It was a simple task: Obey God. A task that they fell short on.
As they got into the promised land, surrounded by other nations, they slowly began to embrace the ideologies of those nations. They began to get involved in idolatry (Judges 8:30), polytheism (Jeremiah 2:28), murder(2 Chronicles 21:13), child sacrifices (Jeremiah 19:5), etc. God was patient for a little while. He sent judges to rebuke them, followed by prophets and kings. God continued to be patient, until His patience ran out. He then removed His hedge of protection and the Assyrians invaded and conquered the northern kingdom of Israel, and a few years later, Babylon conquered the southern kingdom of Judah, and took many captives. God allowed the Jews to return home after being held captive for many years.
God gave Israel many opportunities to reform their sinful ways. Many times they did, but many other times they did not. After God's wrath came upon Israel, they were no longer the strong nation they had become. After the Assyrians conquered Israel around 570 BC, Israel didn't exist as a nation again until 1948, almost 2400 years later. Because of repentant nature of Judah, they were allowed to return to their homeland, but never to be the dominant nation it was under the kingship of David and Solomon.

“Those that fail to learn from history, are doomed to repeat it.” Winston Churchill

The United States became a very strong a powerful nation. The founding fathers, made reference to the United States being a Christian nation. They wrote in their journals, speeches, and articles about the foundation of the United States being God driven and centered. The United States rose through the ranks of other nations, to become a prized nation. A model on the way a nation should become. The first “Super Power”. The United States represented all that was good in humanity. The national motto became “In God We Trust” (Psalm 56:11). Just as quickly as the United States rose to world prominence, they forgot who raised them up.
1962.
The United States began to worship an idol known as “Separation of Church and State”. The year was 1962 and with three Supreme Court rulings within 16 months of each other, the United States began a short process of turning its back on God. Engel v Vitale (public schools can not require recitation of prayer) Murray v. Curlett and Abington School District v Schempp linked together (public schools can not require reading of the Lord's Prayer or reading of Scripture) With the removal of any mention of God during the school day, it became increasingly difficult to teach morality. Something George Washington said would happen. But then something even worse happened. Legalization of the murder of children.
On January 22, 1973 infanticide became legal. The United States was duped into sacrificing children to Baal. Something that God would never approve of, nor anything He would ever demand of anyone. With the decline of God as a moral foundation, the United States began to compromise the founding fathers principles. Reverend Jeffery L. Osgood, pastor of the First Southern Baptist Church in Dover, wrote in the Delaware State News: Back in 1962, when prayer was removed by the Supreme Court, something happened to America's soul and America's schools. Our nation became increasingly secular and less tolerant of moral standards and values. Since America became too proud to pray to the God of Heaven who created us, we have been reaping the rewards. Crime is way up. The family has broken up. The test scores of students have taken a submarine dive. It's time for a change!
( http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~jlynch/prayer/pro.html )
September 11th, 2001 a great tragedy occurred in the United States. War was declared against the United States. This tragedy brought some people back to God. But within a couple of months, Americans began to doubt God again. They would ask why God would allow this to happen. On September 13th, Anne Graham Lotz was interviewed by Jayne Clayson on the CBS Morning Show, this is the question and her answer: Jayne Clayson – I've heard people say, those who are religious, those who are not, if God is good, how could God let this happen? To that, you say? Anne Graham Lotz – I say, God is angry when he sees something like this. I would say also for several years now Americans in a sense have shaken their fist at God and said, God, we want you out of our schools, our government, our business, we want you out of our marketplace. And God, who is a gentleman, has just quietly backed out of our national and political life, our public life. Removing his hand of blessing and protection. ( http://www.annegrahamlotz.com/index.php/Interviews )
America is repeating the sins of Israel. If we don't repent as a nation, we soon will be taken captive by the “Babylonians” and the “Assyrians”. Will God allow us to return or not? That is the question.

America & Ancient Israel Pt 2: The Glory Years

It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religion, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ. For that reason alone, people of other faiths have been afforded freedom of worship here." – Patrick Henry
Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain and said, "This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: "You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites." (Exodus 19:3-6)
God promised Abraham he would be the father of many nations. God promised Israel, through Moses, that the nation of Israel will be a treasured, holy nation. There was only one stipulation: They obey God fully and keep His covenant. Throughout the history of Israel, when they obeyed the commands of God, they flourished, not just in combat, but in glory. (Book of Joshua, Judges, parts of it). But, when they turned to other gods and idols, God punished Israel justly (Judges).
In combat, Israel defeated many superior nations, sometimes without combat. (Joshua 6, 2 Chronicles 20). In economics, Israel was a rich nation (1 Kings 10). Israel was truly blessed by God.
At the birth of the United States, they fought a superior nation. The super power nation of the time. They didn't have a strong army, they didn't have superior fire power, they didn't have superior leadership. All they had was God.
At its initial meeting in September 1774 Congress invited the Reverend Jacob Duche' (1738-1798), rector of the Christ Church, Philadelphia, to open its sessions with prayer. Duche' ministered to Congress in an unofficial capacity until he was elected the body's first chaplain on July 9, 1776. (http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/religion/rel04.html) The first meeting of the Continental Congress, the first thing they did was . . . pray.
Later, at the forming of the Constitution, it was a Benjamin Franklin request to begin with prayer, “I therefore beg leave to move-that 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, and that one or more of the Clergy of this City be requested to officiate in that Service .” (June 17, 1787 in a speech by Benjamin Franklin and the reports of other who have been recorded as having spoken. As recorded by James Madison)(http://members.tripod.com/~candst/franklin.htm) God was at the forefront of the Constitutional Convention, made by a person who has at best been described a deist, and at worse an atheist.
As with any birth, comes the trials. After 87 years, the United States found itself is a great war. A war with itself. At what historically is called an insignificant battle, came the most significant speech in American history. Again, God was found at the forefront. Abraham Lincoln gave a three minute speech that shaped the history of the United States for the better. He reaffirmed that this nation was founded on the principles of God. “It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” (Gettysburg Address) Because of Lincolns leadership and, more importantly, his well worn knees, God blessed the nation.
God blessed the United States to become a powerful nation. A nation that the world has taken notice of. A nation that many other nations have tried to emulate, only to fail, because they forget to put God first. In combat, the United States defeated superior nations. In economics, the United States is a rich nation. In technology, the United States has led the way through the industrial age. In world politics, the United States is hated. Why? “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me.” (John 15:18-21) All of this, because the United States is a nation founded on the principles of God and the Bible. “It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible.” (George Washington)

America & Ancient Israel Pt 1: The Founding

In the name of God, Amen. We whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, etc.
Having undertaken, for the Glory of God and advancement of the Christian Faith and Honour of our King and Country, a Voyage to plant the First Colony in the Northern Parts of Virginia, do by these presents solemnly and mutually in the presence of God and one of another, Covenant and Combine ourselves together into a Civil Body Politic, for our better ordering and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute and frame such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions and Offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the Colony, unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In witness whereof we have hereunder subscribed our names at Cape Cod, the 11th of November, in the year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord King James, of England, France and Ireland the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth. Anno Domini 1620.
These are the opening words to the Mayflower Compact, written in 1620, before the pilgrims went ashore. They wanted to make absolute sure, that those involved were to give the glory and the credit to God, for their purpose. A colony, that later would be a nation, that they believed to be founded on the principals of God. Very similar to another nation, a nation that had it's origins with God's divine providence. The nation known as Israel.
“Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain and said, 'This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 'You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on my eagles wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.” (Exodus 19:3-6) God was separating Israel from the rest of the world. He was calling forth a nation to be solely unto Him.
The Israelites were the chosen people of God. They had the hand of protection over them. God had chosen the promised land for His people. All they had to do was go into and claim it as theirs. Following a short walk in the wilderness, because of disobedience, they were allowed into the promised land.
After they entered into the promised land, they divided the sections of the promised land into “states” of the nation. Each tribe had it's own territories, all with the laws of God to govern themselves. As long as they remained loyal and obedient to God, they were blessed. When they turned away from God, they were punished. God had founded a nation and had set it aside for Himself.
Later, a few thousand years later, some pilgrims boarded a boat and sailed to the Netherlands. They remained there for a while, before sailing to a new land for a divine purpose. They landed near Cape Cod and drafted a compact. It was the first document these passengers signed, giving the glory to God for getting them to that place, and to help guide them in a new world. The hand of God was upon them.
Not to be without conflict, this colony and a few more were involved in some wars. One special battle was recounted in the diary of one of the commanders.
July 9, 1755.The American Indian chief looked scornfully at the soldiers on the field before him. How foolish to fight as they did, forming battle lines out in the open, standing shoulder to shoulder in their bright red uniforms.The Indian braves fired from under the safe cover of the forest, yet the British soldiers never broke rank. The slaughter at the Monongahela River continued for 2 hours. By then, 1000 British soldiers were killed or wounded, while only 30 French and Indian warriors were injured.Not only were the soldiers foolish, but their officers were just as bad.Riding on horseback, fully exposed above the men on the ground, they made perfect targets. One by one the chief's marksmen shot the mounted British officers until only one remained. Twice this officer's horse was shot out from under him; he just grabbed another horse left idle when a fellow officer had been shot off it and kept going. Ten, twelve, thirteen rounds were fired by the sharpshooters, yet he still remained unharmed.The native officers couldn't believe it. Their rifles seldom missed their mark. The chief came to a realization that a might power was shielding this man. He commanded his men to stop firing at him and said: "This man is under the protection of the Great Spirit...this man was not born to be killed by a bullet." Later that evening, this British officer noticed several bullet holes in his uniform, yet he was unharmed. A few days later he wrote in a letter to his brother: "By the all-powerful dispensations of Providence I have been protected beyond all human probability or expectation; for I had four bullets through my coat, and two horses shot under me yet escaped unhurt, although death was leveling my companions on every side of me."
This battle was during the French and Indian War. This British officer, wrote many times in his journal about divine providence and the hand of God. He watched as God was forming a new nation. He felt so strong about the new nation, that he himself led some of the army during the American Revolution. He wrote in his journal about his devotional time, his prayer time, his time spent with God. He knew God was working great wonders in this new nation. When the nation was formed, he helped with the organizing of it. He knew the importance of Christianity in the new nation. He knew the importance of the Bible to the new nation. In one speech he said, “You can not effectively rule a nation without God and the Bible.” In his final speech he talked about national morality in which he called “a necessary spring of popular government” when he said: “Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths, which are the instruments of investigation in Courts of Justice? And let us with caution indulge the supposition, that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect, that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.”
Who is this person? A person by the name of General George Washington.