November 30, 2008
Wow! "Election Day 08" has come and gone in our country, and our church is a voting location and the voters were out the door and down the sidewalk when I showed up to vote. What most people(especially God's people) know and understand is that there was a huge amount at stake in this election. And we all know there are many that will never see or understand the real issues at stake in 2008. And I'm not talking about gas prices, war in Iraq, or the economy and $700 billion bailouts.
I'm talking about the really IMPORTANT issues. We call them moral issues. Things like abortion, marriage, and sexuality(and all three seem to have a connection to each other). Some folks just don't understand that there are things more important than the economy(believe it or not).
As I stood for about 30 minutes and waited my turn to punch the screen to vote, and as I smiled at each face in line, there were some questions that I wish I could have asked each and every person in the room without starting an all out brawl...
Q #1 – What are you really voting for?
Are you voting for or against a black man? Are you voting for or against a white man? Neither of those reasons are good enough! What's really driving your vote? High gas prices? Listen, I hate as much as anybody that gas prices are high, but gas prices don't determine anyone's salvation. What about gambling? Gambling can and will have something to do with the moral state of our state, town, and society. The state of the economy won't determine whether a person goes to heaven or hell. But babies being aborted or not aborted are pretty good reasons to cast a vote and speak for God on the issue. Men and women marrying people of the same sex is another great reason to get out and vote and say NO to that lifestyle!
Q #2 – Are you simply voting for a party?
I'm afraid that there are some folks simply voting for a party - meaning Republican or Democrat. In other words, some folks step to the voting booth and simply vote for a Republican or Democrat because that's the way they voted for the last 50 years! That's what they've always done. Geez...is about all I can say to that.
Is that really good enough in today's world? A little risky, don't you think? Maybe you could tow the party line 50 years ago, but you just can't do that today. As I've already said, there's just too much at stake spiritually. I mean, so you've always voted for one certain party, but what about the candidate's beliefs, morals, and faith for crying out loud? As a Child of God, can you simply & honestly vote for a certain candidate along party lines even though he or she is opposed to the things of God? What if they are for abortion? Homosexual rights? What do they believe about same sex marriage? Voting along party lines because that's the way you've always done it doesn't speak much about your heart. Where's your conviction? Where's your courage? And most of all, where's your guts? We must vote for the man in today's world that we best feel will honor God...not just for some party.
Q #3 – Who do you ultimately trust in?
Yes, I will practice my God-given privilege and step up and cast my vote. Sometimes there's not a perfect choice or candidate. But regardless, I don't put my trust in the President of the United States or the Vice President of the United States. I put my trust in the God of Heaven, the maker of heaven and earth. I put my total faith in Jesus Christ who died on the cross for me, and His Holy Spirit that lives in my heart. And though I really was thankful for the 'stimulus check' we received this summer, I don't put my hope and faith in money.
I appreciate that Barak Obama if the first black president, I really do. I believe that race relations can be POTENTIALLY HELPED during his Presidency. But I'm not putting my faith & trust in Barak Obama or any other candidate for that matter. It seemed that Obama was being worshipped the night he was elected. I've never felt that with any other candidate in my lifetime. There's been excitement that a certain man was elected. But I've never felt before what I felt on election night. There was just something that I sensed...and I didn't like the feeling. I just don't think that this choice will help the climate of our country spiritually one bit in the years to come.
The old saying says, "I don't know what the future holds...but I know who holds the future." And this is what I know...It's not Barak Obama or John McCain!
It's our God in Jesus Christ.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
"Dying of Thirst?"
There are many things that are a must in our Christian life and walk with God. Then there are a few things that may not be quite as important, but still need to be dwelled on in our walk. Some things must exist and be present if we are to experience God fully and in the way He desires.
Do you remember that wonderful verse in Psalm 42:1? Read the words closely once again:
“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.”
One of the things that are most important for God’s people is a THIRSTING! We must have a ‘thirsting’ for God and the things of God in our lives. As a pastor, I am sensing a dwindling thirst for God among His people. Don’t misunderstand me...I‘m not saying that God’s people are no longer thirsty, I'm just not sure we’re that thirsty for God. We’re just trying to satisfy our thirst with many other things. Mostly the things of this world. All the while, we are trying to slip God just enough into our lives to keep God happy and His benefits still coming to us!! Of course the problem for us is that the things of this world will never satisfy or quench the thirst we have inside of us.
We thirst for so many things. What are some of the things we find ourselves thirsting for that are not of God? Things like money(or just being rich for the sake of being rich...and we probably wouldn’t share one dime with someone else), personal glory or recognition, immoral sexual practices, revenge on those that have wounded us, and other things that bring a self-sufficiency into our lives that causes us not to need God at all.
The fact is we need God at all times. We need to desire God or thirst for Him each day of life because of who He is and what He does for us and in us. Also, times will come when situations & circumstances will bring periods of spiritual dryness causing us to thirst for God maybe like we never have before. In 1986 two brothers who live in a kibbutz or settlement near the Sea of Galilee made an incredible discovery. As these two Israeli fishermen monitored their equipment on the beaches of Gennesaret, they noticed something they'd not seen before. Something covered with mud glistened in the sun. Upon examination, archeologists determined that what the brothers had discovered was a fishing boat dating from the time of Jesus. The only reason the artifact was discovered was because of a three-year drought, resulting in unusually low water in the lake.
The Bible tells us that in times of spiritual dryness, God may uncover something of fabulous value within us--his presence. That’s what we thirst for...God’s closeness.
I hope in all of our lives that there will always be a thirsting for several things:
1. God’s Will
I hope we will always desire to find, understand, practice, and stay in God’s will!
There’s no where else we need to be but in that place. My wife and I have always said, "We won't nothing more or less than to be in the center of God's Will."
2. God’s Word
The desire to always have a steady diet of God’s Word is a must. Without a thirst for the Word, we will be malnourished children of God.
3. Prayer
The thirst to daily pour our hearts out to God. To communicate with Him what we often can’t tell anyone else.
4. The Preached Word
The thirst to sit under the preached Word of God. God’s truth sometimes hurts. But God’s people must be under the anointing of God’s hand from His preached Word.
5. Saying NO to sin
As there is a thirst for God in our lives, there must be a thirst to say no to sin. As we draw closer to God, we will draw closer to that place where we will actually hate sin.
6. God’s Church
I want to thirst to be in God’s house. Vs.2 of Psalm 42 finds the Psalmist asking ‘where he can go and meet with God.’ One place is God’s church. As each Sunday dawns, do we thirst to be in God’s house?
7. Regina & Thomas
I pray that I will always thirst for the presence of my precious wife and little partner. Without them I am absolutely nothing. With the divorce rate so high these days, it seems men and women are only thirsting for new mates, new families, and new lives.
God’s people not thirsting for Him is like a college baseball team in the NCAA World Series that doesn’t really care whether they hoist the National Championship trophy or not. Wouldn’t that be sad? Are our churches like that today? Are God’s people like that? Do we really care that we’re not real close to God and His church...as maybe we once were?
Are God's people thirsting for God during these days?
I guess we’ll find out this coming Sunday.
Blessings!
Bro. Eric
Do you remember that wonderful verse in Psalm 42:1? Read the words closely once again:
“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.”
One of the things that are most important for God’s people is a THIRSTING! We must have a ‘thirsting’ for God and the things of God in our lives. As a pastor, I am sensing a dwindling thirst for God among His people. Don’t misunderstand me...I‘m not saying that God’s people are no longer thirsty, I'm just not sure we’re that thirsty for God. We’re just trying to satisfy our thirst with many other things. Mostly the things of this world. All the while, we are trying to slip God just enough into our lives to keep God happy and His benefits still coming to us!! Of course the problem for us is that the things of this world will never satisfy or quench the thirst we have inside of us.
We thirst for so many things. What are some of the things we find ourselves thirsting for that are not of God? Things like money(or just being rich for the sake of being rich...and we probably wouldn’t share one dime with someone else), personal glory or recognition, immoral sexual practices, revenge on those that have wounded us, and other things that bring a self-sufficiency into our lives that causes us not to need God at all.
The fact is we need God at all times. We need to desire God or thirst for Him each day of life because of who He is and what He does for us and in us. Also, times will come when situations & circumstances will bring periods of spiritual dryness causing us to thirst for God maybe like we never have before. In 1986 two brothers who live in a kibbutz or settlement near the Sea of Galilee made an incredible discovery. As these two Israeli fishermen monitored their equipment on the beaches of Gennesaret, they noticed something they'd not seen before. Something covered with mud glistened in the sun. Upon examination, archeologists determined that what the brothers had discovered was a fishing boat dating from the time of Jesus. The only reason the artifact was discovered was because of a three-year drought, resulting in unusually low water in the lake.
The Bible tells us that in times of spiritual dryness, God may uncover something of fabulous value within us--his presence. That’s what we thirst for...God’s closeness.
I hope in all of our lives that there will always be a thirsting for several things:
1. God’s Will
I hope we will always desire to find, understand, practice, and stay in God’s will!
There’s no where else we need to be but in that place. My wife and I have always said, "We won't nothing more or less than to be in the center of God's Will."
2. God’s Word
The desire to always have a steady diet of God’s Word is a must. Without a thirst for the Word, we will be malnourished children of God.
3. Prayer
The thirst to daily pour our hearts out to God. To communicate with Him what we often can’t tell anyone else.
4. The Preached Word
The thirst to sit under the preached Word of God. God’s truth sometimes hurts. But God’s people must be under the anointing of God’s hand from His preached Word.
5. Saying NO to sin
As there is a thirst for God in our lives, there must be a thirst to say no to sin. As we draw closer to God, we will draw closer to that place where we will actually hate sin.
6. God’s Church
I want to thirst to be in God’s house. Vs.2 of Psalm 42 finds the Psalmist asking ‘where he can go and meet with God.’ One place is God’s church. As each Sunday dawns, do we thirst to be in God’s house?
7. Regina & Thomas
I pray that I will always thirst for the presence of my precious wife and little partner. Without them I am absolutely nothing. With the divorce rate so high these days, it seems men and women are only thirsting for new mates, new families, and new lives.
God’s people not thirsting for Him is like a college baseball team in the NCAA World Series that doesn’t really care whether they hoist the National Championship trophy or not. Wouldn’t that be sad? Are our churches like that today? Are God’s people like that? Do we really care that we’re not real close to God and His church...as maybe we once were?
Are God's people thirsting for God during these days?
I guess we’ll find out this coming Sunday.
Blessings!
Bro. Eric
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