Happy Birthday USA, Part 1

This coming Fourth of July is our country’s 235^th birthday. Happy birthday! Interestingly, the cover of the July 4, 2011 issue of Time magazine shows a shredded Constitution and asks the question: “Does it still matter?” The tone of the cover article makes Time's answer to that question obvious—no.

The author, Richard Stengel, begins his article by telling us all the things our founding fathers were unaware of saying, "Here are a few things the framers did not know about: World War II. DNA. Sexting. Airplanes. The atom. Television. Medicare. Collateralized debt obligations. The germ theory of disease. Miniskirts. The internal combustion engine. Computers. Antibiotics. Lady Gaga."

The point of the article and one made repeatedly by people who desire to remove our Constitution as the basis for our government, is that the Constitution can be admired, but it’s outdated and has served its purpose. Advocates of this idea don’t understand how a document written over 200 years ago can adequately govern a modern country.

But what opponents of our Constitution don’t understand is that the principles of government laid out in the Constitution were already “outdated” in 1787. For example, the basic concepts of separation of powers and federalism were already well-established features of republican governments in ancient Greece and Rome. 

So why did our founding father’s believe these old ideas would meet the needs of an18th-century population? Simply put, they understood that these principles are timeless. The principles in our Constitution help root us in common sense, personal freedom and responsibility. The principles incorporated into our Constitution keep us from the slippery slope of fashionable political trends and power hungry politicians. One thing that does limit the power of our Constitution is that it was meant for a godly and moral people; thus the fall of ancientGreece and Rome.

John Adams, the second President of the United States said “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” And our first President, George Washington, declared, “It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible." If someone in government said this today the ACLU would be screaming from the roof top, but Washington and Adams were right.

Here is a promise that God made to the nation of ancient Israel “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)." The best gift we can give our country on its birthday is to pray for it and proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ.

How Should We Then Live?

Here are some recent headlines in the news: “Radical Islam breaks into American prisons,” “Greek debt worries hit global shares,” European debt crisis may result in global spillover” “Stagflation is here,” “The great food crisis of 2011” and “US Housing collapse steeper than thought.” It’s not good news. Why?

In 1976 Francis Schaeffer wrote a book and produced a video series titled “How Should We Then Live? The Rise and Decline of Western Thought and Culture.” Dr. Schaeffer’s work was in applied philosophy and theology. The book begins with an analysis of the fall of Rome and then looks at key moments in history up to the atomic age. Schaeffer presents the reasons for society’s critical state of affairs and then offers hope—the good news of Jesus Christ. Towards the end of the book he writes,

"Overwhelming pressures are being brought to bear on people who have no absolutes, but only the impoverished values of personal peace and prosperity. The pressures are progressively preparing people to accept a manipulative, authoritarian government. Unhappily, many of these pressures are upon us now."

Dr. Schaeffer then lists these pressures: economic breakdown, war and the serious threats of war, terrorism, political violence, the radical redistribution of wealth, shortages of food and natural disasters. In 1976 Schaeffer’s words were prophetic! Here we are today where he said we would be.

What can be done? The Bible says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death (Proverbs 14:12).”  The Old Testament prophet Hosea declared, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6).” This was not a lack of scientific, academic or political knowledge. It was a lack of knowledge concerning God and His will for mankind. So many people lack this biblical knowledge today.

The Lord Jesus Christ made this promise: “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life (John 8:12).” There may not be much that we can do to stop the world from spinning out of control. But you can bring your life into control and fill it with light, love and peace. Jesus Christ is “the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6).” Following Him is the answer to the question “How Should We Then Live.”

If you would like to know more about how to follow the Lord Jesus Christ you can. The church I pastor offers a foundational Bible class titled “Powerful Christian Living.” This class is offered free of charge in both audio and written formats at the “Teachings” section of our web site,

www.graceministryinternational.org

You will need a New King James Version of the Bible for the class, and a heart that wants to learn. Finally, if you are in the Chicago area you are welcome to worship with us on Sundays at 10:30 AM, at the Gorton Community Center, 400 E. Illinois Rd, Lake Forest, Illinois.      

Happy Father's Day

This coming Sunday is Father’s day. Happy Father’s Day to all of you dads! As Christians the God we believe in is not only the Creator of the heavens and the earth, He is not only a righteous Judge, He is our Father. The New Testament declares that we can call God “Abba, Father (Galatians 4:6). By the way, “Abba” is Aramaic for “Daddy.”

As your Father, God loves you. He loves each and every one of us, passionately and deeply and forever. We have this truth confirmed to us by the Son of God himself, Jesus Christ. In his high priestly prayer before his sacrifice on the cross for our sins Jesus prayed that we would know that God, our Father, loves us just as much as He loves Jesus (John 17:23). Take this to heart—God loves you just as much as He loves Jesus, the only Man who has ever loved Him with his whole heart.

Take comfort in that truth. You have done nothing to earn this love. And you can do nothing to lose it. God simply loves you “according to the good pleasure of His will (Ephesians 1:5).” In other words, He loves you because it pleases Him to do so! And God proved His love to us in a tangible way. Scripture says that “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).” When we had nothing to offer God, He gave and sacrificed deeply for us. This is the mark of a Father’s love.

Here are some Father’s day tips on being a good Dad:

1. Patience – Psalm 86:15 says “But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.”

Be patient with your children. Good fathers understand the difference between immaturity and rebellion. Give your children time and opportunity to mature.

2. Provision – Psalm 23:1 declares, “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

Good fathers desire to provide for their children in both material and spiritual things. Not only do children need food, clothing and shelter, they need to see love, kindness, and forgiveness. They need to see you loving and serving God. Fathers are to bring up their children “in the training and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4).”

3. Protection – Psalm 46:1 reveals “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.”

There are a lot of things in life designed to harm your children both physically and spiritually. While your child or children are young you are to be their shield. But as they grow teach them to discern right from wrong and good from evil. Help them to understand Scripture, the will of the Lord (Ephesians 5:17).

4. Permanence – Hebrews 13:5 proclaims of God, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Dad, make sure your children know that you are there for them through good times and bad. Make sure they know that you are a solid rock they can count on. Being patient, providing provision, protection and the permanence of your love will help your children to one day love and trust their heavenly Father.

And one last thing—love your wife devotedly. Scripture says to husbands, “love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her (Ephesians 5:25).” Joyfully loving your wife is one of the best things you can do for the heart of your children.

Happy Father’s Day!

Beginning

We are all time travelers moving forward each second into the future. What will that future hold? What will occur at the the end of the journey? What will we face as we travel into the future and how will it affect our journey? An old poem says,

But to every mind there openeth,
A way, and way, and away,
A high soul climbs the highway,
And the low soul gropes the low,
And in between on the misty flats,
The rest drift to and fro.

But to every man there openeth,
A high way and a low,
And every mind decideth,
The way his soul shall go.

One ship sails East,
And another West,
By the self-same winds that blow,
'Tis the set of the sails
And not the gales,
That tells the way we go.

Like the winds of the sea
Are the waves of time,
As we journey along through life,
'Tis the set of the soul,
That determines the goal,
And not the calm or the strife.
(Ella Wheeler Wilcox)

"Tis the set of the soul..." This is our mind set, the focus of our heart. The Bible is where my soul is set. Through the Bible, I have seen who God is, what He requires of us and what He desires for us. It is where I gain insight, wisdom and direction for all of life. In this blog "Essential Matters" I will share biblical truths to help us set our souls as we travel in time towards our goal no matter the calm or the strife.