BIBLICALLY CORRECT
SEPTEMBER 1
!Bible Reading: Psalm 33 Key Verse: Psalm 33:12- “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.”
Key Words: Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD
There was a time when almost everyone could name the Ten Commandments. But in today’s world, most people not only cannot name the Ten Commandments, they appear to oppose them - if not in action, then certainly in word. I can remember a time when stores were closed on Sunday out of respect for “the Lord’s day.” But today, Sundays are just another day of business. There was a time when our Can you name the citizens stood up and opposed the homosexual lifestyle and pastors Ten proclaimed “hot and hard” from the pulpit Commandments? the wickedness of adultery and promiscuity. Cursing and obscene language were unthinkable and considered a moral wrong. But today, when polled on such issues, citizens view them as acceptable or inconsequential. My, my, how times have changed! The strong Christian influence and spiritual standards that helped to shape our culture have given way to compromise and paganism. Yes, I said it: paganism (the practice of one who is not a Christian or someone that worships a false god). In the United States, political leaders, legislative bodies, and our courts have adopted an anti-Christian attitude and agenda. We have been so bent on being politically correct that we are spiritually wrong. " Public institutions and officials now no longer call it homosexuality, it is called an “alternative lifestyle.” " It is no longer called abortion; the courts call it “reproductive freedom.” " Instead of calling it fornication and sin, we say that kids should have “safe sex.” " Graphic, vulgar language is called “freedom of expression.”
We live in a society that is so bent on being politically correct that we have become spiritually grievous to God. " Believers today would rather please the flesh and the world than please God. Often our churches are no more Biblically correct than the government. " Churches today have become worldly in philosophy for the sake of gaining numbers rather than giving God the glory.
" " " "
Churches today talk about religious freedom to assemble together, yet the church doors are closed today more than they are open. Churches today fight for the rights of the children physically but ignore them spiritually. Churches fight to have God put back in our schools, but lock Him out of our churches. Churches fight for the right of prayer in public schools, but many churches no longer have prayer meeting.
Let us be Biblically correct; but let’s be correct in all areas, not just in areas of our choosing.
What to do: ! Remember, if you are not Biblically correct, then you are just flat wrong.
PATRIOTISM
SEPTEMBER 2
!Bible Reading: Psalm 144 Key Verse: Psalm 144:15- “Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.”
Key Words: happy is that people, whose God is the LORD
Maybe you saw all the news shots and photographs of President Barak Obama, standing on the platform with his hands to his side while the National Anthem was being played. You probably have heard him say that patriotism is not in the wearing of the American Flag pin. And some weeks ago, he said that patriotism is not in whether you are a Republican or a Democrat, but patriotism is in your love for your country, no matter what your political views may be. Now, while I understand what Mr. Obama was saying, I also understand that one cannot be truly patriotic until they understand that true patriotism sees America as being a nation, not controlled by mankind, but controlled by God. Our country’s Pledge of Allegiance was written especially for children in 1892 as a part of a celebration for Columbus Day in public schools all across our land. The original version first appeared in an educational publication called The Youth’s Companion on September 8, 1892. It read: “I pledge allegiance to my flag and the republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” The author, Francis Bellamy, was an assistant editor for the Companion. It was
intended to be used just for the 400th anniversary of Columbus’ discovery, but its popularity led to an annual tradition. The pledge later became a daily ritual in school rooms throughout the country. In 1923, the first revision was made: “my flag” was replaced with the words “the flag of the United States of America.” Then in 1954, President Eisenhower signed a bill at the people’s urging that added the words “under God.” You see, in 1954 people understood that there could be no true patriotism until a nation has submitted itself, not to man’s rule or authority, but to God’s rule and authority. Now, from that I will let you judge which of our politicians are true patriots.
What to do: ! Are you a true patriot?
THE GREATEST LIBERTY OF ALL
SEPTEMBER 3
!Bible Reading: John 8:1-32 Key Verse: John 8:32- “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
Key Words: the truth shall make you free
It was in 1776 that the Liberty Bell was rung for the first time. Fifty years later, on July 4, 1826, it ushered in what was known as the Jubilee Anniversary of the American Republic. The bell is now cracked and no longer tolls, but it is still very much a symbol of our freedom. No doubt, our forefathers were well acquainted with the Bible; so it is not surprising that they associated liberty with a bell. You may recall that on the Day of Atonement, the High Priest went alone into the Holy of Holies to offer a sacrifice for the nation “…the truth of Israel. When he entered the tabernacle, he had on a beautiful robe. At the bottom of that shall make you robe was a series of tiny bells (Exodus 28:33free.” 34). As the priest moved inside the Holy of Holies, the bells could be heard, but when it was time for the sacrifice to be made, the High Priest would take off the robe and it could not be put on again until God had accepted the sacrifice for sins. When the
people would once again hear the bells, there was great rejoicing, for they knew that God had accepted the sacrifice and their sins were forgiven. Christ, our Great High Priest, also laid aside His garments of Glory and made atonement for us. As a result, the spiritual liberty bell of freedom can ring out anthems of joy for we are free – not because of our effort but because of Jesus. You too can be free today if you would but trust Jesus as your Savior. John 8:32, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
What to do: ! Thank God today for your “spiritual” freedom.
THE ANT & THE GRASSHOPPER SEPTEMBER 4 !Bible Reading: Proverbs 6:1-11 Key Verse: Proverbs 6:6- “Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:”
Key Words: Go to the ant, thou sluggard
The following was sent to me, and I thought I would share it with you. Two different versions! Two different morals! Old Version: The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter. The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away. Come winter, the ant is warm and well fed. The grasshopper has no food or shelter, so he dies out in the cold. Moral of the Story: Be responsible for yourself! New Version: The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter. The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away. Come winter, the shivering grasshopper calls a press conference and demands to know why the ant should be allowed to be warm and well fed while others are cold and starving. CBS, NBC, PBS, CNN, and ABC show up to provide pictures of the shivering grasshopper next to a video of the ant in his comfortable home with a table filled with food. America is stunned by the sharp contrast. How can this be, that in a country of such wealth, this poor grasshopper is allowed to suffer so? Kermit the Frog appears on Oprah with the grasshopper, and everybody cries when they sing, “It’s Not Easy Being Green.” Jesse Jackson stages a demonstration in front of the ant’s house where the news stations film the group
singing, “We Shall Overcome.” Jesse then has the group kneel down to pray to God for the grasshopper’s sake. Nancy Pelosi and John Kerry exclaim in an interview with Larry King that the ant has gotten rich off the back of the grasshopper, and both call for an immediate tax hike on the ant to make him pay his fair share. Finally, the EEOC drafts the Economic Equity & Anti-Grasshopper Act, retroactive to the beginning of the summer. The ant is fined for failing to hire a proportionate number of green bugs and, having nothing left to pay his retroactive taxes, his home is confiscated by the government. Obama gets his wife to represent the grasshopper in a defamation suit against the ant, and the case is tried before a panel of federal judges that he appointed from a list of single-parent welfare recipients. The ant loses the case. The story ends as we see the grasshopper finishing up the last bits of the ant’s food while the government house he is in, which just happens to be the ant’s old house, crumbles around him because he doesn’t maintain it. The ant has disappeared in the snow. The grasshopper is found dead in a drug-related incident and the house, now abandoned, is taken over by a gang of spiders who terrorize the once peaceful neighborhood.
P. S. This article was used previously, but re-used by special request.
What to do: ! Make sure you always vote.
PRESIDENT NIXON
SEPTEMBER 5
!Bible Reading: Mark 8:31-38 Key Verse: Mark 8:36- “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”
Key Words: For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
As a college student, former President Richard Nixon wrote that he did not believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus. There is no proof that he ever changed his mind. Mr. Nixon never gave testimony to having a salvation conversion. Knowing these things, it should not surprise us that he used profanity as if he were addicted to it. He was known in political circles as a deceitful man, thus the reason for his nickname, “tricky Dick.” Politically, Nixon was a genius. Although I do not personally agree with all of his politics, Lyndon Johnson called President Nixon “the best president in history.”
Time magazine said, “He was the most important person of the post-war era.” Jonathan Aitken, a former member of British Parliament, called Richard Nixon “the finest foreign policy president of the 20th century.” Nixon opened foreign policy with China. He began dente with Russia. He convinced both President Bush and President Clinton to help reorganize Russian government. President Nixon negotiated the peace agreement between the U.S. and Viet Nam. The list could go on and on. But, in spite of all of President Nixon’s accomplishments, he undoubtedly would give them all up for a drop of water as he burns in hell, which raises the question for us: “What have you accomplished if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?” Your salvation is the most important decision you will ever make. Everything else pales in comparison. Have you accepted Christ?
What to do: ! Make sure of your salvation.
THINK ABOUT IT SEPTEMBER 6 !Bible Reading: Philippians 4:1-8 Key Verse: Philippians 4:4- “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.” Key Words: Rejoice in the Lord
Finally, they may be getting it! The following article ran in The Birmingham News on September 10, 2008. “Marie Leech - Birmingham News Staff Writer MONTGOMERY – Although Alabama’s education system is well-funded, its academic results are some of the lowest in the nation, according to a report released Tuesday by the Alabama Policy Institute. The group describes itself as ‘a nonpartisan, nonprofit research and education organization dedicated to the preservation of free markets, limited government and strong families.’ The 116-page report – ‘Alabama’s Public Education Dilemma: Does Funding Influence Outcomes?’ – states that Alabama’s education investment, or ‘input,’ is high. Teachers’ salary and benefit packages rank 19th highest in the nation when adjusted for pensions, cost of living and other value factors, it states. However, the results, or ‘outputs,’ don’t add up, the report states. Alabama students consistently score below those in most states on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, also known as the Nation’s Report Card, and on the ACT
college entrance exam, it states. Alabama’s graduation rates are 45th in the nation, and the state spends between $304 million and $454 million per year on remedial education. John R. Hill, author of the report, used a Score-Spending Index for individual school systems and found that students’ test scores were usually higher where the per-pupil spending was below the state average, and lower in schools that spent hundreds more dollars per child. ‘Throwing more money at these problems does not appear to be the solution,’ Hill said.” The government makes a poor educator. Nowhere in God’s Word do you find that the government is responsible for the education of our children. That responsibility belongs to the parents. Why, just a simple reading of the book of Proverbs makes that clear. The lack of education in our society is just a little glimpse at the national problem with our economy, same-sex marriages, and abortion rights – and the list goes on and on. When will we come to the realization that righteousness exalts a nation? We cannot continually be wrong and live wrong and expect things to turn out right!! Think about it!!
What to do: ! Remember, it is the Lord who makes a difference so rejoice in the Lord, not money.
GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS
SEPTEMBER 7
!Bible Reading: Titus 3 Key Verse: Titus 3:1- “Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,”
Key Words: to be subject to principalities
Today many believers find it difficult to submit to government, primarily because government has stepped outside of its boundaries and gone against the very principles, not just of our Constitution, but of God’s Word. Charles Colson, in his book, Why America Hates Government, says that “the federal government has reached its tentacles into more and more areas never before under its jurisdiction – most of them controversial social issues that tie the government up in endless political conflict. As sociologist James Q. Wilson explains in ‘The Public Interest,’ before the 1960s the federal government was much more
limited. The few tasks it did, it did well: it ended the depression, helped win World War II, built the interstate highway system, and established Social Security. Americans took pride in their government. But today the federal government has plunged into every area imaginable. It tries to control education, manage race relations, stop sex discrimination, set up universal health-care schemes, and even outlaw so-called hate crimes (as though the state could control people’s motives). These are all issues over which the American people themselves disagree sharplywhich just about guarantees that the government will be tangled up in constant ideological warfare. “Maybe it is time to ask whether the government really should be taking on all these tasks. What is the proper role and function of government? Biblically speaking, the purpose of government is twofold: to promote justice and restrain evil. The first is a positive task: promoting harmony among people so they can live together in shalom, the Hebrew word for ‘peace.’ Even if there were no sin in the world, societies would still need organization and leadership. Someone would have to work out procedural rules to maintain public order, starting with simple things like where to place traffic lights. But after the Fall, a second task was given to government: restraining evil. Public order must now be maintained through coercion. The angel that drove Adam and Eve out of the garden, with flaming sword in hand, was the first cop on the beat. In Romans 13, Paul says God has given the state the power of the sword to punish evildoers. The Biblical teaching of a limited state is revolutionary. We must remember that in the first century when Paul was writing his epistle, the Biblical idea that the state has specific, limited tasks was revolutionary. It meant that government does not have ultimate or unlimited authority over its citizens. Yet, at the very time these words were penned, the Roman emperors were making a claim to exactly that kind of unlimited authority. They were setting themselves up as deities. It was a collision course that ended with Christians being thrown to the lions. “In our own age, Christians aren’t faced with a Roman coliseum, but the Biblical teaching is just as revolutionary. Our national government increasingly rejects any inherent limits. It keeps reaching deeper and deeper into social and moral issues that ought to be the province of churches, families, and local communities. That may well be why Americans hate politics.” The answer is not to withdraw and hide our heads in the sand. The answer is in knowing what God’s Word says and in acting on it. Amen and amen!!
What to do: ! Do right. Be kind. Be loving...but you cannot just do nothing.
YOU TELL HIM, SENATOR
SEPTEMBER 8
!Bible Reading: Proverbs 12:1-17 Key Verse: Proverbs 12:17- “He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.”
Key Words: He that speaketh truth
While former Senator John Glenn and I would never be in agreement in the political arena, I do admire what he said from the floor of the Senate on January 26, 2004. Senator Glenn’s address was sparked by one of his colleagues, Howard Metzenbaum, who said, “How can you run for Senate when you’ve never had a real job?” The following is Senator Glenn’s response: “I served 23 years in the United States Marine Corps. I served through two wars. I flew 149 missions. My plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire on twelve different occasions. I was in the space program. It wasn’t my checkbook, Howard; it was my life on the line. “It was not a nine-to-five job where I took Speak the time off to take the daily cash receipts to the truth! bank. I ask you to go with me as I went the other day to the Veteran’s Hospital and looked at those men with their mangled bodies, and I want you to tell them they didn’t hold a job! You go with me to the space program at NASA and go, as I have gone, to the widows and orphans of Ed White, Gus Grissom, and Roger Chaffee, and you look those kids in the eye and tell them that their dads did not hold a real job. You go with me on Memorial Day, and you stand in Arlington National Cemetery, where I have more friends buried than I would like to remember, and you watch those flags waving. You stand there and you think about this nation, and you tell me that those people didn’t have a real job. I will tell you, you should be on your knees everyday of your life thanking God that there were some men who held a real job – and their job required a dedication to purpose, and a love of country, and a dedication to duty that was more important than life itself. Their sacrifice is what makes this country great. I have held a job – a real job. What about you?” Way to go, Senator!
What to do: ! Speak the truth, but make sure it’s true and always given in love.
TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES
SEPTEMBER 9
!Bible Reading: Psalm 34 Key Verse: Psalm 34:17- “The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.”
Key Words: the righteous cry, and the Lord heareth
The American government is trillions of dollars in debt. General Motors, AIG, Bank of America, and other institutions now belong to and are being run by the government. Unemployment is over 8% and climbing. The President just announced that he is pushing for a “national health care” program that will cost the American taxpayer trillions of dollars more. America is on the verge of no longer being financially solvent. We borrow almost daily from China and Middle Eastern countries in order to stay afloat. Gas prices are going higher; government is growing while everything else is shrinking. The baby-boomer generation which had dreams of retirement now has nightmares of what might happen. Now, with all that being said, we are still pretty well off, are we not? What we are experiencing is nothing compared to what Israel has been through as a nation. Imagine wandering through a wilderness with no food or water and no place to call home. Or even imagine in more recent days living in Europe during the World War II: no food, millions homeless, sickness on every hand and bombing raids continually. Or even yet a more recent time: remember Rwanda? Thousands upon thousands died due to a famine - homeless, helpless, and hopeless. Think of Chad, Africa, where over 50% of the population has died or is dying because of famine and sickness. Imagine as a mother watching your children starving to death, and you are helpless to stop it. And even worse yet, imagine those who will be left behind after the rapture to go through and merely exist during the tribulation period. It is time we as believers stop our “doom and despair” attitude, and begin to cry out to God to save not just our nation but the souls of men and women, boys and girls all across the world. We are the light of the world; we are the salt of the earth, so let’s let our light shine and our salt preserve. I close with the words found in II Chronicles 7:14, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
What to do: ! Don’t get down and out; get up and at ‘em.
PAID NOT TO WORK
SEPTEMBER 10
!Bible Reading: II Thessalonians 3 Key Verse: II Thessalonians 3:10- “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.”
Key Words: that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
I read the following and thought you should as well: From the Desk of:
Don Genereaux Honorable Secretary of Agriculture Washington, DC
Dear Sir, My friend, Dan Hansen, over at Honey Creek, Iowa, received a check for $1,000.00 from the government for not raising hogs. So I want to go into the “NOT RAISING HOGS” business next year. What I want to know is, in your opinion, what is the best kind of farm not to raise hogs on? And what is the best breed of hogs not to raise? I want to be sure that I approach this endeavor in keeping with all government policies. As I see it, the hardest part of the “NOT RAISING HOGS” program is keeping an accurate inventory of how many hogs I haven’t raised. My friend Hansen is very joyful about the future of the business. He has been raising hogs for twenty years or so, and the best he has ever made on them was $422.90 in 1968, until this year when he got your check for the $1,000.00 for not raising 50 hogs. If I get $1,000.00 for not raising 50 hogs, then would I get $2,000.00 for not raising 100 hogs? I God’s plan is plan to operate on a small scale at first, holding WORK! myself to about 4,000 hogs not raised the first year, which would bring in about $80,000.00; then I can afford an airplane. Now another thing – these hogs I will not raise will not eat 100,000 bushels of corn. I understand that the government also pays people not to raise corn and wheat. Would I qualify for payments for not raising these crops not to feed my hogs I will not be raising? I want to get started as soon as possible as this seems to be a good time of the year for the “NOT RAISING HOGS” and “NOT PLANTING CROPS” business. Also I am giving serious consideration to the “NOT MILKING COWS” business and any information you would have on the endeavor would be greatly appreciated.
In view of the fact that I will be totally unemployed, I will be filing for unemployment and food stamps, and was wondering how long that process takes. Be assured, Mr. Secretary, you will have my vote in the upcoming election. Patriotically yours, Don Genereaux P. S. Would you please notify me when you plan to give out the free cheese again?
What to do: ! Work. It is God’s plan.
I DARE YOU!
SEPTEMBER 11
!Bible Reading: Job 12 Key Verse: Job 12:23- “He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again.”
Key Words: He increaseth the nations
I read the following article and found it interesting. “For those who want to light Old Glory on fire, stomp all over it, or spit on it to make some sort of ‘statement,’ I say let them do it. But under one condition: they MUST get permission from three sponsors. “First you need permission from a war veteran. Ask any veteran who faced and fought the Axis on foreign soil in every corner of the globe. The American flag was raised over Mount Surabachi upon the bodies of thousands of dead buddies. Each night spent on Iwo Jima meant half of everyone you knew would be dead tomorrow, a coin flip away from a bloody end upon a patch of sand your mother couldn’t find on a map. Or maybe ask a Vietnam vet who spent years tortured in a small, filthy cell unfit for a dog. Or a Korean War soldier who helped rescue half a nation from Communism, or a Desert Storm warrior who repulsed a bloody dictator from raping and pillaging an innocent country. “That flag represented your mother and father, your sister and brother, your friends, neighbors, and everyone at home. I wonder what they would say if someone asked them permission to burn the American flag? “Second, you need a signature from an immigrant. Their brothers and sisters may still languish in their native land, often under tyranny, poverty and misery. Or
maybe they died on the way here, never to touch our shores. Some have seen friends and family get tortured and murdered by their own government for daring to do things we take for granted everyday. For those who risked everything simply for the chance to become an American, what kind of feelings do they have for the flag when they pledge allegiance the first time? Go to a naturalization ceremony and see for yourself, the tears of pride, the thanks, the love and respect of this nation, as they finally embrace the American flag as their own. Ask one of them if it would be OK to burn the flag or spit on it. “Third, you should get the signature of a mother. Not just any mother. You need a mother of someone who gave his or her life for America. It doesn’t even have to be from a war. It could be a cop, or a fireman, maybe a Secret Service or NSA agent. Then again, it could be a common foot soldier as well. When that son or daughter is laid to rest, their family is given one gift by the American people – an American flag. Go on. I dare you. Ask that mother if you can spit on her flag. “Away from family, away from the precious shores of home, in the face of overwhelming odds and often in the face of death, the American flag inspires those who believe in the American dream, the American promise, the American vision. Americans who don’t appreciate the flag don’t appreciate this nation. And those who appreciate this nation appreciate the American flag. So if you want to desecrate the American flag, before you spit on it or before you burn it, I have a simple request. Just ask permission. Not from the Constitution. Not from some obscure law. Not from the politicians or the pundits. Instead, ask those who have defended our nation so that we may be free today. Ask those who struggled to reach our shores so that they may join us in the American dream. And ask those I dare you to who clutch a flag in place of their sacrificed sons and daughters, given to ask… this nation so that others may be free. For we cannot ask permission from those who died wishing they could, just once – or once again – see, touch, or kiss the flag that stands for our nation, the United States of America, the greatest nation on earth. Go ahead, ask. I dare you!”
What to do: ! Pray for those who stand daily in harm’s way for our freedoms.
THE HUMANIST MANIFESTO
SEPTEMBER 12
!Bible Reading: Proverbs 4:14-27 Key Verse: Proverbs 4:23- “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”
Key Words: keep thy heart
You have probably heard of the Humanist Manifesto. It is the bible for propagating humanism around the world. It is a socialistic one-world “movement” promoted by a humanistic philosophy. Time and space do not allow us to print the manifesto, but below is a brief summary of its contents. 1. “We find insufficient evidence for belief in the existence of the supernatural. No deity shall save us; we must save ourselves.” (Atheism) 2. “We regard the universe as self-existing and not created, the human species an emergence from natural evolutionary forces.” (Evolution) 3. “Ethics is autonomous (not controlled by others): birth control, sexual preferences, lifestyle, all is based upon a person’s self-interest and needs.” (Amorality) 4. “We have reached a turning point in human history. We believe in maximum individual autonomy, reject all religious and moral codes that suppress our individual freedom. We demand civil liberties, including the right to socialized medicine, a right to die with dignity (euthanasia), and suicide (socialism).”
According to Tim LaHaye in the book, The Battle for the Mind, the following organizations are “card-carrying humanists.” ADA (Americans for Democratic Action) AEU (American Ethical Union) ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) SIECUS (Sex Information and Education Council of the United States) NOW (National Organization of Women) NEA (National Education Association) The Ford Foundation The Carnegie Foundation UNWHO (United Nations World Health Organization) UNICEF (United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund) UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organization)
These are just a few of the many organizations that promote the humanist agenda, along with Hollywood and much of the media.
We teach the kids the song, “Be careful, little ears, what you hear. Be careful, little eyes, what you see.” But I am afraid that today much of what they hear and see is humanistic. We must protect their ears and eyes, but most of all, their hearts by teaching them moral righteousness and Biblical truth. Without parents being extremely vigilant, Proverbs 22:6 can and will never be fulfilled.
What to do: ! Be eternally vigilant in the training up of your children.
FORGIVE AND FORGET SEPTEMBER 13 !Bible Reading: Zechariah 8:16-23 Key Verse: Zechariah 8:16- “These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates:”
Key Words: Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour
The following is taken from Chuck Colson commenting on the government. --September 14, 1998 Forgive and Forget? The Christian View of Impeachment “All America is reading the shocking Starr Report, and as you might guess, my phone’s been ringing off the hook. Naturally, the press wants comparisons to Watergate. But Christians are asking questions as well. Do we forgive? And is it right for Christians to urge impeachment? Isn’t that a political question? The first question is easy: I’ll take the President at his word in his statement of repentance at his prayer meeting Friday. And if so, God forgives, and so should we. The second question is more complicated: Several Christians, including some pastors, have argued that God has raised up both righteous and unrighteous leaders for his people Israel. They believe that in the modern era as well, we should accept our leaders. After all, Jesus didn’t advocate rebellion. And the Apostle Paul said obey your rulers. Well, these Christians’ ideas miss the great political changes brought about during the Protestant Reformation. The reformers had a great phrase: Coram Deo, meaning we live in God’s presence, literally in His face. So man no longer has to deal with God through the church or through the king. Instead, God deals with man directly. The state, therefore, has limited authority over man. A corollary was the principle of Lex Rex – the Law is King. It means that every single person is subject to the rule of law – the ruler and ruled alike. These two doctrines made
western democracy as we know it today possible. Our rulers rule with the consent of the governed and are subject to the same laws we all are. The rule of law is the heart of a free society. So Christians have no business avoiding their political responsibility. In western democracies we vote for our leaders. And as Christians we should do so using Godly wisdom. And the same principle would hold true for impeachment, a political process. Impeachment, remember, is essential to preserving the rule of Pray for your law because under our Constitution, a sitting congressmen… president cannot be indicted for crimes. So the only way to make him subject to the law, and preserve the rule of law, is through the impeachment process. This is why Christians have every right, indeed, a moral duty, to express their views on this subject. We are entrusted with preserving the rule of law, which is a product of our Christian tradition. Now, the president said Friday that he wanted to be forgiven and to get on with the job of government. Is that appropriate? As most of you know, I’ve had some personal experience with this. Twenty-five years ago, I became a Christian in the midst of Watergate. I asked forgiveness for my sins, and I knew God forgave me. But I also knew I had but speak to them to pay the consequences for breaking the law. I pled guilty – and went to also! prison. I hope and pray President Clinton is genuinely repentant, and that he’ll be restored to his family, and that Americans will forgive. But that doesn’t mean he’s entitled to avoid the consequences of his sin. If the law has been broken, justice demands a penalty be paid. Congress therefore must do its duty, and decide if the facts warrant impeachment. There’s much more involved here than a salacious sex scandal. What hangs in the balance are the two most important principles undergirding our free society: limited government and the rule of law. No man is above it. These are profoundly Christian principles. Yes, we’d better care – and care deeply.”
What to do: ! Pray about everything, but speak the truth with your Congressmen and Senators as well. P. S. This is not a spiritual endorsement for Charles Colson, just an interesting article.
WE THE PEOPLE
SEPTEMBER 14
!Bible Reading: Psalm 106:1-25 Key Verse: Psalm 106:25- “But murmured in their tents, and hearkened not unto the voice of the LORD.”
Key Words: But murmured in their tents
I have discovered that some Americans are just like some Israelites. They love to complain. So for those Americans, I have included the following article. The following has been attributed to State Representative Mitchell Aye from Georgia. “We the sensible people of the United States, in an attempt to help everyone get along, restore some semblance of justice, avoid more riots, keep our nation safe, promote positive behavior, and secure the blessings of debt free liberty to ourselves and our great-great-great-grandchildren, hereby try one more time to ordain and establish some common sense guidelines for the terminally whiny, guilt ridden, delusional, and other liberal bed-wetters. We hold these truths to be self evident: that a whole lot of people are confused by the Bill of Rights and are so dim they require a Bill of NON-Rights.” ARTICLE I: You do not have the right to a new car, big screen TV, or any other form of wealth. More power to you if you can legally acquire them, but no one is guaranteeing anything. ARTICLE II: You do not have the right to never be offended. This country is based on freedom, and that means freedom for everyone–not just you! You may leave the room, turn the channel, express a different opinion, etc.; but the world is full of idiots, and probably always will be. ARTICLE III: You do not have the right to be free from harm. If you stick a screwdriver in your eye, learn to be more careful; do not expect the tool manufacturer to make you and all your relatives independently wealthy. ARTICLE IV: You do not have the right to free food and housing. Americans are the most charitable people to be found, and will gladly help anyone in need, but we are quickly growing weary of subsidizing generation after generation of professional couch potatoes who achieve nothing more than the creation of another generation of professional couch potatoes. ARTICLE V: You do not have the right to free health care. That would be nice, but from the looks of public housing, we’re just not interested in public health care. ARTICLE VI: You do not have the right to physically harm other people. If you kidnap, rape, intentionally maim, or kill someone, don’t be surprised if the rest of us want to see you fry in the electric chair. ARTICLE VII: You do not have the right to the possessions of others. If you rob, cheat, or coerce away the goods or services of other citizens, don’t be surprised
if the rest of us get together and lock you away in a place where you still won’t have the right to a big screen color TV or a life of leisure. ARTICLE VIII: You do not have the right to a job. All of us sure want you to have a job, and will gladly help you along in hard times, but we expect you to take advantage of the opportunities of education and vocational training laid before you to make yourself useful. ARTICLE IX: You do not have the right to happiness. Being an American means that you have the right to PURSUE happiness, which by the way, is a lot easier if you are unencumbered by an over-abundance of idiotic laws created by those of you who were confused by the Bill of Rights. ARTICLE X: This is an English speaking country. We don’t care where you are from, English is our language. Learn it or go back to wherever you came from! ARTICLE XI: You do not have the right to change our country’s history or heritage. This country was founded on the belief in one true God. And yet, you are given the freedom to believe in any religion, any faith, or no faith at all, with no fear of persecution. The phrase IN GOD WE TRUST is part of our heritage and history, and if you are uncomfortable with it, TOUGH!!!!”
What to do: ! Remember what you do not have a right to do.
SAD BUT TRUE SEPTEMBER 15 !Bible Reading: Ephesians 4:17-32 Key Verse: Ephesians 4:30- “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”
Key Words: and grieve not the Holy Spirit
The following is an excerpt from William Bennett’s speech entitled “What Really Ails America.” “Last year I compiled the Index of ‘Leading Cultural Indicators,’ a statistical portrait of American behavioral trends of the past three decades. Among the findings: Since 1960, while the gross domestic product has nearly tripled, violent crime has increased at least 560%. Divorces have more than doubled. The percentage of children in single-parent homes has tripled. And by the end of the decade 40% of all American births and 80% of minority births will occur out of wedlock. These are not good things to get used to.
“In 1940 teachers identified the top problems in America’s schools as: talking out of turn, chewing gum, making noise and running in the hall. In 1990, teachers listed drugs, alcohol, pregnancy, suicide, rape and assault. These are not good things to get used to, either. “There is a coarseness, a callousness and a cynicism to our era. The worst of it has to do with our children. Our culture seems almost dedicated to the corruption of the young. We have become inured to the cultural rot that is setting in. People are losing their capacity for shock, disgust and outrage... Make sure your “The ancients called our problem children know how acedia meaning “an aversion to spiritual things and an undue concern for the to walk with God! external and the worldly.” Acedia also is the seventh capital sin – sloth – but it does not mean mere laziness. The slothful heart is steeped in the worldly and carnal, hates the spiritual and wants to be free of its demands. “When the novelist Walker Percy was asked what concerned him most about America’s future, he answered, ‘Probably the fear of seeing America, with all its great strength and beauty and freedom...gradually subside into decay through default and be defeated, not by the communist movement, but from within, from weariness, boredom, cynicism, greed and in the end helplessness before its great problems.’ “I realize this is a tough indictment. If my diagnosis is wrong, then why, amid our economic prosperity and military security, do almost 70% of “If we have cities of gold the public say we are off track? I and alabaster but our submit that only when we turn to the right things – enduring, noble, children have not learned spiritual things – will life get better. how to walk in goodness, “Most importantly, we must justice and mercy, then the return religion to its proper place. American experiment, no Religion provides us with moral matter how gilded, will bearings, and the solution to our chief problem of spiritual have failed.” impoverishment depends on spiritual renewal. The surrendering of strong beliefs, in our private and public lives, has demoralized society. “Today, much of society ridicules and mocks those who are serious about their faith. America’s only respectable form of bigotry is bigotry against religious people.
And the only reason for hatred of religion is that it forces us to confront matters many would prefer to ignore. “Today we must carry on a new struggle for the country we love. We must push hard against an age that is pushing hard against us. If we have full employment and greater economic growth – if we have cities of gold and alabaster – but our children have not learned how to walk in goodness, justice and mercy, then the American experiment, no matter how gilded, will have failed.”
What to do: ! Make sure – make very sure – that your children know how to walk with God. Wednesday night prayer meeting, Sunday School, both Sunday services, and a Family Altar are certainly good ways to learn how to walk with God.
HUMANIZING AMERICA SEPTEMBER 16 !Bible Reading: Romans 1:18-32 Key Verse: Romans 1:22- “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,” Key Words: they became fools
During the last 200 years humanism (man’s wisdom) has controlled the thinking of the western world. After conquering European colleges and universities, humanism spread to America where it has developed a stranglehold on all public, private, and much of our Christian education. Recognizing the strategic importance of education and communication, the humanist developed a monopoly on magazines, newspapers, television, and the movie and music industry. The reason humanism is so successful is that it seems so credible and logical to those who do not understand the wisdom of God. Today’s wave of crime and violence in our streets, promiscuity, divorce, shattered dreams, and broken hearts can be laid directly at the doorsteps of humanistic philosophy. As the scripture says in Romans 1:22, Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools. We have learned from history that the ultimate end of humanism is always chaos. Simply defined, humanism is “man’s attempt to solve his own problems independently of God.” Since moral conditions have worsened in direct proportion to humanistic influence, you would think that even the humanists would begin to see the error of their ways.
An obvious example of the futility of humanistic thinking appears in the United Nations. Sixty-one years ago the world’s humanist who founded the U.N. promised that it would solve the problem of war and usher in peace. Since that time we have had more wars, deaths, international catastrophes, and terrorist activity than in any comparable world history. If you doubt that statement, just ask what the U.N. has done to help the Cambodians, Vietnamese, Angolans, Ugandans, and other wartorn countries. One did not have to be a prophet in 1945 when the U.N. was founded to predict it would never meet its goals. The reason being is that the Lord warned mankind that without me ye can do nothing. (John 15:5) Today we put over $220 billion a year into our public education system because we believe money produces a quality education, which is totally false. God alone provides a quality education. I realize I do not need to remind you, but righteousness exalts a nation. It has been proven that humanism is the ruin of a nation. Let me close by asking, who is teaching your child and what are they learning?
What to do: ! Make sure your thinking is Biblical, not humanistic. See what to do for September 15 to see some aids for thinking Biblically.
PATRIOTISM IS NOT ENOUGH SEPTEMBER 17 !Bible Reading: Romans 5:1-10 Key Verse: Romans 5:10- “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.”
Key Words: we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son
When nations are engaged in deadly strife, it is common for patriots to declare that he who gives his life for defense of his country may be certain of a home in heaven because of having made the supreme sacrifice. This teaching is in accord with the principles of the Moslem religion and not with true Christianity. Mahomet promised his fanatical followers a place in Paradise if they died for the faith in conflict with the “infidels” who rejected his teachings. Patriotism is a virtue of which any man may well be proud. But patriotism, praiseworthy as it is from the human standpoint, will never fit the soul for the presence of God. It can never wash away the guilt of sin. The
testimony of Edith Cavell, the brave British nurse who was killed by the Germans during the former world war, is well worth considering in this connection. This noble woman was born in Swardeston, Norfold, on December 4, 1865. She entered the London Hospital for nurses’ training in 1895. In 1907 she was appointed first matron of the Berkendael Medical Institute at Brussels, Belgium. This became the Red Cross Hospital in Belgium at the outbreak of the conflict in 1914. From August of that year, until August, 1915, Nurse Cavell helped to care for wounded French, Belgian, English and German soldiers alike. She ministered faithfully even to those who had fallen while fighting against her own nation. Naturally, her We need sympathies were with the Allies, and in cooperation with the efforts of Prince Reginald de Jesus! Croy, she aided many derelict English and French soldiers who had fled from the Germans. These escaped by “underground” methods to the Dutch frontier, where, with the aid of guides, they were conveyed across to Britain. When some of these fugitives were traced to her house in Brussels, she was immediately arrested and after a courtmartial was sentenced to face a firing squad. All her kindness to the German wounded was forgotten. Her captors considered her a spy and treated her accordingly. Just before the bandage was placed over her eyes, as she stood fearlessly facing the soldiers who were about to take her life, she gave a last message to the world. “I am glad,” she said, “to die for my country. But as I stand here I realize as never before that patriotism is not enough.” Then she went on to give a clear, definite testimony to her personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and her assurance of salvation, not through laying down her life for others, but because He laid down His life for her. In perfect composure, she submitted to the bandaging of her eyes and, in a few moments fell, pierced by many German bullets. Her words “patriotism is not enough!” have spoken loudly to many in the years that have gone since she died a martyr to her convictions. “What more is needed?” you may ask. The answer is “Christ!” It is through faith in Him alone that the soul is saved and heaven assured.
What to do: ! Remember, patriotism is not enough. The world needs Jesus. You need Jesus as your Savior.
THE FUNCTION OF GOVERNMENT
SEPTEMBER 18
!Bible Reading: I Peter 2:1-16 Key Verse: I Peter 2:14- “Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.”
Key Words: for the punishment of evildoers
The general function of human government, as instituted by God, may be said to be threefold: to protect, punish, and promote. The Function of Protection: The moment Adam sinned it was obvious that civilizations would need some form of restraint and rule to protect citizens from themselves. An example of this function is seen in Acts 21:27-37 where Roman soldiers step in and save Paul from being murdered by his own enraged countrymen in Jerusalem. The Function of Punishment: Both Paul and Peter bring this out. Paul writes that duly appointed human officials are to be regarded as God’s servants to “bear the sword,” that is, to impose punishment upon criminals (Rom 13:3, 4). Peter tells us that governors are “sent by him for the punishment of evildoers” (I Peter 2:13, 14). The Function of Promotion: Human government is to promote the general welfare of the community where its laws are in effect. Paul commands us to pray for human leaders “that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty” (I Timothy 2:1, 2). 1 Peter 2:13, Our Responsibility of Human Government
It is impossible for a believer to be a good Christian and a bad citizen at the same time. As children of God our responsibility to human government is threefold: We are to recognize and accept that the powers that be are ordained by God. “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God” (Romans 13:1). This truth applies even to atheistic human governments unless, of course, the law is anti-Scriptural. In that situation the believer must obey God rather than man (Acts 4:18-20). In fact, when Paul wrote those words in Romans 13:1, the evil emperor Nero was on the throne. See also Titus 3:1. We are to pay our taxes to human government (Matthew 17:24-27, 22:21; Romans 13:7). We are to pray for the leaders in human government. “I exhort therefore, that first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men: For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour” (I Timothy 2:1-3).
We must pray for our government leaders but we must always look to God for answers, not men. If we spend more time being political activists than we spend as prayer warriors, we are bound for failure.
What to do: ! Understand what the true function of government is, and pray that those in government will “do right.”
BIBLE IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS! SEPTEMBER 19 !Bible Reading: Revelation 22 Key Verse: Revelation 22:19- “And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”
Key Words: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
There is a movement afoot to have Bible taught in our public schools. Now while this may sound like a step forward, let me assure you that it is not. The Bible course being pushed for the public schools in Alabama is called The Bible and Its Influences or The Bible Literacy Project. The Bible and Its Influences is being backed and promoted by the National Education Association (NEA), the ACLU, People for the American Way, Council on Islamic Education, and the course in part was developed by the Communitarian/Pluralist and anti-National Day of Prayer teacher, Charles Haynes. A sample of the quotes from this curriculum is very revealing about how antiGod this Bible course would be. For example... " “Do you think Adam and Eve received a fair deal as described in Genesis?” " “If God allows evil things to happen, can God honestly be described as good?” " A statement from page 163 of the textbook reads, “Many students, although aware of good and evil, have not thought deeply about it. In the Judeo-Christian tradition God is considered to be all-good, allknowing and all-powerful, yet the view presents many problems.”
Also on page 161 of the textbook it reads, “Job is one of the most difficult books in the Bible in that it provides no clear-cut answer to Job’s situation.” " “Gideon won the battle with the Midianites by a bit of trickery” (page 181 in the textbook). As you can see, this Bible course does not attempt to glorify God as much as it questions the very action of God. When you allow secular humanists to “develop” a Bible curriculum, the end result will always be a “Godless” curriculum. "
What to do: ! Pray for our country. ! Make sure your children receive a Christian education (you can’t afford not to). ! Make sure your worldview is Biblical, not humanistic.
THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
SEPTEMBER 20
!Bible Reading: Joshua 1:1-9` Key Verse: Joshua 1:9- “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”
Key Words: Be strong and of a good courage
Joshua, no doubt, did have courage to do as God commanded because of his love for God and his desire to see his people blessed. One of my favorite stories is about Mike Christian, a POW in Viet Nam during the Viet Nam war. This story is told by Senator John McCain. “As you may know, I spent 5 ! years as a prisoner-of-war during the Viet Nam war. In the early years of my imprisonment, the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) kept us in solitary confinement or two to three to a cell. In 1971, the NVA moved us from these conditions of isolation into large rooms with as many as thirty to forty men to a room. “This was, as you can imagine, a wonderful change and was a direct result of the efforts of millions of Americans on behalf of a few hundred POWs. Ten thousand miles from home one of the men who moved into my room was a young man named Mike Christian. Mike was from a small town near Selma, Alabama. He
didn’t wear a pair of shoes until he was thirteen years old. At seventeen he enlisted into the Navy. He later earned a commission by going to officer training school. He then became a Naval Flight Officer and was shot down and captured in 1967. Mike had a keen and deep appreciation of the opportunities this country, and our military, provide for people who want to work and want to succeed. “As a part of the change in treatment, the Vietnamese allowed some prisoners to receive packages from home. Some of the packages were handkerchiefs, scarves, and other items of clothing. Mike got himself a bamboo needle. Over a period of a couple of months, he created an American flag and sewed it on the inside of his shirt. Every afternoon, before we had a bowl of soup, we would hang Mike’s shirt on the wall of the cell and say the Pledge of Allegiance. I know the Pledge of Allegiance may not seem the most important part of our day now, but I can assure you that in that stark cell it was indeed the most important and meaningful event. “One day the Vietnamese searched our cell, as they did periodically, and discovered Mike’s shirt with the flag sewn inside, and removed it. That evening they returned, opened the door of the cell, and for the benefit of all of us, beat Mike Christian severely for the next couple of hours. Then, they opened the door of the cell, and threw him in. We cleaned him up as well as we could. The cell in which we lived had a concrete slab in the middle on which we slept. Four naked light bulbs hung in each corner of the room. As I said, we tried to clean Mike up as best we could. After the excitement died down, I looked in the corner of the room, and sitting there beneath the dim light bulb with a piece of cloth, another shirt and his bamboo needle, was my friend, Mike Christian. He was sitting there with his eyes almost shut from the beating he had received, making another flag. He was not making the flag because it made Mike Christian feel better. He was making the flag because he knew how important it was to us to be able to pledge our allegiance to our flag and country.” So the next time you say the Pledge of Allegiance, you must never forget the sacrifice and courage that thousands of Americans have made to build our nation and promote freedom around the world. You must remember our duty, our honor, and our country. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
What to do: ! Be thankful for the brave soldiers who gave their lives for your freedom to go about your daily activities today. May God bless America!
WHY I OPPOSE THE STIMULUS PACKAGE
SEPTEMBER 21
!Bible Reading: Haggai 2:1-9 Key Verse: Haggai 2:8- “The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts.”
Key Words: The silver is mine and the gold is mine
Proverbs 14:34, “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” On Tuesday, February 17, 2009, President Barack Obama signed the 787 billion dollar stimulus package into law. Both our President and Vice-President tell us that this plan will do the following: # It will give immediate action to create new jobs. # It will give immediate relief to struggling families. # It will give immediate assistance for homeowners and business owners. # It will help solve our current financial crisis. Now, I’m not a sadist, but the stimulus package is not going to work. The reason is that the problem our country faces is not a financial or economic problem, it is a spiritual problem that has at its core “righteousness” or a lack of righteousness. Let me list for you seven areas of unrighteousness in our country. 1. We are unrighteous in our abortion of over one million babies each year(Psalm 139:14-17). 2. We are unrighteous in our Finances are not educational system that bans prayer and the Bible. really the 3. We are unrighteous in our sexual problem. conduct. Forty percent of all adult men are involved in pornography on the internet. Seven out of every ten teenagers are involved in immorality before they graduate. 4. We are unrighteous in that we look to the government for answers, not God (Haggai 2:8). 5. We are unrighteous in that we have love for the dollar more than we love God (I Timothy 6:10). 6. We are unrighteous in that we as believers are ignorant in our knowledge of God’s Word. Let me prove it to you. Answer the following questions without looking up the answers. A) Name the three sons of Noah. B) Name five of the Ten Commandments. C) Name half of the sixty-six books of the Bible. How did you do?
7. We are unrighteous in that we have failed to stand for righteousness in our church attendance (Hebrews 10:25).
The stimulus package will not work because finances are not our problem, righteousness or the lack of it is our problem. Dedicate yourself to righteousness for as David said, “I have been young, and now am old, yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging bread.”
What to do: ! Remember our blessings come from God, not from government.
WHEN THE WICKED RULE
SEPTEMBER 22
!Bible Reading: Proverbs 16 Key Verse: Proverbs 16:25- “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
Key Words: a way which seemeth right unto a man
John Adams wrote, “Our constitution was made only for moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for the government of any other.” Our rejection of his thoughts can be summarized by these truths: " In public schools you may distribute condoms to twelve-year-olds without parental consent, but you may not give them a Bible under any circumstances. " At school you may attack individuals with racially-motivated hate language, but you may not pray God’s blessings over them. " You may not display a cross on public property, unless it’s on fire, in which case the First Amendment protects your action. " In most states a minor may abort an unborn child without her parent’s consent, yet she can’t go on a field trip to the zoo without parental permission. " In America, arguments are waged against the use of dogs for medical research but in favor of the right to abort babies for the same purpose. The end of man’s ways always leads to death.
What to do: ! Make sure – make very sure – it is God’s way, not your way.
THE RIGHT ANSWER
SEPTEMBER 23
!Bible Reading: Psalm 51 Key Verse: Psalm 51:6- “Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.”
Key Words: thou shalt make me to know wisdom
I love David, don’t you? David was the apple of God’s eye for a number of reasons. One of those reasons had to be his honesty. He frankly admits to the Lord, “I sinned with Bathsheba because, quite honestly, I’m just not very smart.” Reminds me of a story I read that goes as follows. Given that Al Gore has no job, he decides to take a sightseeing vacation to Europe. While visiting Europe, he is invited to tea with the Queen. He asks her what her leadership philosophy is. She says that it is to surround herself with intelligent people. He asks how she knows if they’re intelligent. “I do so by asking them the right questions,” says the Queen. “Allow me to demonstrate.” She phones Tony Blair and says, “Mr. Prime Minister, please answer this question: Your mother has a child, and your father has a child, and this child is not your brother or sister. Who is it?” Tony Blair responds, “It’s me, ma’am.” “Correct. Thank you and goodbye, sir,” says the Queen.
She hangs up and says, “Did you get that, Mr. Gore?” “Yes ma’am. Thanks a lot. I’ll definitely be using that!” Upon returning home, he decides he’d better put some of his old friends to the test.
He calls Bill Clinton and says, “Hi, Bill, I wonder if you can answer a question for me.” “Why, of course, Al. What’s on your mind?”
“Uhh, your mother has a child, and your father has a child, and this child is not your brother or sister. Who is it?” Clinton hems and haws and finally asks, “Can I think about it and get back to you?” Gore agrees and Clinton hangs up.
Clinton immediately calls members of his old staff, and they puzzle over the question for several hours, but nobody can come up with an answer. Finally, in desperation, Clinton calls Colin Powell at the State Department and explains his problem, “Now look here, your mother has a child, and your father has a child, and this child is not your brother or sister. Who is it?” Powell answers immediately, “It’s me, of course, you idiot.”
Much relieved, Clinton rushes back to call Gore and exclaims. “I know the answer, Al! I know who it is! It’s Colin Powell!” And Gore replies in disgust, “Wrong, it’s Tony Blair.”
Do not some politicians remind you of David who cried, “Make me to know wisdom”? In other words, they’re just not very smart. Have a good day. What to do: ! Put your trust in God, not politicians.
POLITICIANS AND PRINCIPLES
SEPTEMBER 24
!Bible Reading: Ezekiel 14:1-14 Key Verse: Ezekiel 14:14- “Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD.”
Key Words: Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord God.
It is a rare thing to find a politician who has Godly standards and upholds Godly principles, not just in this present day but also in every period of history. Politicians are known for a lack of adherence to Godly principles, and oh how true this is for our day! Today, politicians are known more for sex scandals and compromise. But in our text we find three men: Noah, Daniel, and Job. All three were “politicians.” Noah had to be a “community leader.” So it was with Job, and we know of Daniel’s “political leadership” under Nebuchadnezzar and Darius. How refreshing it would be to have men of their faith and character as leaders today!
With politicians in mind, have you ever heard of President David Rice Atchison? Yes, I do mean president, like President of the United States. Forget what the history books say. The 12th President of the United States was David Rice Atchison, a man so obscure that Chester A. Arthur seems a household word by comparison. At exactly 12 noon on March 4, 1849, Zachary Taylor was scheduled to succeed James Polk as chief executive. But March 4 was a Sunday and Taylor, a devout old general, refused to take the oath of office on the Sabbath. Thus, under the Succession Act of 1792, Missouri Senator Atchison, as President Pro Tempore of the Senate, automatically became president. Now, President Zachary Taylor was not a perfect man, but he at least understood something that our current President seems to have forgotten, and that’s the importance of being in church on Sunday. As a matter of fact, I’m sure some of you reading this devotion need to learn that same lesson. I trust you will.
What to do: ! Pray for the president and be faithful to “God’s house.”
A DIFFERENT TYPE OF POLITICIAN
SEPTEMBER 25
!Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes 10 Key Verse: Ecclesiastes 10:18- “By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.”
Key Words: and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.
The following article was taken from Reader’s Digest Strange Stories and Amazing Facts: America’s Past. “At a White House dinner for Nobel Prize winners, John F. Kennedy called his guests ‘the most extraordinary collection of talents that has ever been gathered at the White House, with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone.’ “Among America’s great statesmen, Jefferson stands out as a Renaissance man with an incredible range of interests, knowledge, and abilities. In the thick of politics for forty years, he still found time for other pursuits, including farming, architecture, law, geography, botany, natural history, playing the violin, and enjoying fine food and wine. With an inquiring mind and an incisive intellect, he wrote prodigiously and insightfully about anything that interested him. His writings on agriculture alone fill a 704-page book. An avid reader, he amassed a personal
library of 6,487 volumes that became the nucleus of the Library of Congress in 1815. “More than an armchair genius, Jefferson found practical application for his talents. A dedicated farmer, he was the first person in North America to raise tomatoes for food (they were considered poisonous), and his experiments with rice made the nation a leading producer of that crop. He also invented a new moldboard for the plow. Among his other inventions were a swivel chair, a pedometer to measure his walks, a chair that folded into a walking stick, a dumbwaiter, a revolving music stand, and a calendar clock. (So that others could have free use of his inventions, he patented nothing.) A talented architect, he adapted Roman classicism to native materials, developing a distinctive American style for the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. Not only did he design its buildings, he was also its general contractor, bookkeeper, overseer during construction, and landscape architect.” Perhaps Jefferson is best summed up in his own words: “Determine never to be idle. It is wonderful how much may be done if we are always doing.” Today we need more politicians like Thomas Jefferson who have determined not to live off the merits of others but to blaze a trail for others to follow. That’s leadership. That is what’s needed!
What to do: ! Teach your sons and daughters to determine to never be idle, and with all they do to put God first. ! Remember, an idle mind is the devil’s workshop.
THE LIBERTY BELL SEPTEMBER 26 !Bible Reading: II Corinthians 3 Key Verse: II Corinthians 3:17- “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”
Key Words: where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
According to the well-known story, on July 4, 1776, a boy ran to the steeple of Philadelphia’s Independence Hall and told the feeble, white-haired bell ringer that independence had just been declared. Rejuvenated by the news, the old man rang the bell so vigorously that it cracked.
In fact, the bell never rang upon the news of independence. Declaration was not actually proclaimed until July 8, and the crack had occurred years before. The great bronze bell, inscribed with the words “Proclaim Liberty Throughout All The Land Unto All The Inhabitants Thereof,” had been ordered from London in 1751 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Pennsylvania’s democratic constitution. On arrival, the bell was hung in the belfry of the State House, which was later known as Independence Hall. The bell first cracked at this time, while it was being tested. It was melted down, recast, and rehung. In 1835 it cracked again – perhaps, as legend has it, on the day it tolled for John Marshall’s death. The clappers would have been muffled, however, which makes that legend unlikely. It pealed for the last time on George Washington’s birthday, in 1846, after which it was taken down. It was not until 1839 – when it was used as a symbol of abolitionists because of its inscription – that the State House bell came to be called the Liberty Bell. In 1847, George Lippard fabricated the popular story about the bell cracking on the first Independence Day in a book called Washington and His Generals, or Legends of the American Revolution. This is how the Liberty Bell was launched as one of the nation’s most potent and profitable symbols of patriotism and started to be depicted on every conceivable item from neckties and coffee cups to Liberty Bonds. But true liberty is not found through patriotism. True liberty only comes through the “Spirit of the Living God.” Let us forever ring this bell, for by it all men can be liberated.
What to do: ! Let the freedom bell of salvation through Jesus Christ be heard everywhere you go.
DOUBLE-MINDED
SEPTEMBER 27
!Bible Reading: James 1:1-8 Key Verse: James 1:8- “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” Key Words: A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
Have you ever heard of Richard Stockton? Stockton signed the Declaration of Independence. Just a few months after he had signed the Declaration of Independence, Richard Stockton of New Jersey recanted and swore allegiance to King George III.
Born in 1730 into a wealthy family, Stockton became a prominent lawyer and served on the provincial council of New Jersey under its Royal governor, William Franklin (the illegitimate son of Benjamin Franklin). At first in favor of conciliation with Britain, Stockton was won over to the cause of independence, and he became a delegate to the Continental Congress in June 1776. That fall, after signing the Declaration, Stockton was seized by New Jersey Tories, who were British loyalists. He was taken to New York, where he was imprisoned as a common criminal and subjected to cruel treatment. When his colleagues in the Continental Congress heard about it, they asked General Washington to intercede. Whether he did so is unknown, but in March 1777 Stockton was back home in Princeton. The British command had offered to pardon all Patriots who would recant the call for independence and take a pledge of neutrality. By the time spring rolled around, 4,800 people, most of them from New Jersey, had accepted British amnesty. Washington countered by ordering the defectors to “take the oath of allegiance to the United States of America.” Those who refused were to be treated as common enemies. Stockton, ill in health and broken in spirit, finally complied. The unhappy man, shunned by his former friends, died four years later of cancer. I have never known a double-minded person to be a happy person. May God bless you as you are single-minded for the cause of Christ.
What to do: ! Set a goal to be “single-minded” for Christ.
GOD’S PROTECTION SEPTEMBER 28 !Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 32:30-43 Key Verse: Deuteronomy 32:38- “Which did eat the fat of their sacrifices, and drank the wine of their drink offerings? let them rise up and help you, and be your protection.”
Key Words: and be your protection.
In our text God offers a challenge to the enemies of Israel. “Let them (your gods) rise up and help you, and be your protection.” No doubt that our protection comes from God.
Are you aware of the following story in regard to George Washington? If George Washington had not led the Continental Army in the Revolution, there might never have been a United States. It could have happened that way if it hadn’t been for Phoebe Fraunces, a daughter of a New York City tavern keeper, Samuel Fraunces. Phoebe Fraunces was a housekeeper for Washington when Thomas Hickey, a member of his guard, enlisted her help in killing the general. Fraunces’s role was to serve Washington a plate of poisoned peas, and she agreed to play it. But as she was serving Washington, she warned him, and he flipped the peas out the window. The failed plot came to light on June 17, 1776. By then Hickey, in jail for passing counterfeit money, was hatching another plot. He was trying to enroll God protects us… prisoners in a secret Tory corps within the rebel army; some 700 soldiers, Hickey Praise Him for boasted, were on the payroll of New York’s it! Tory governor, William Tryon, and New York City’s mayor, David Matthews. The men planned to support a British invasion by turning their guns on their comrades. New York City would be set ablaze while a drummer in Washington’s guard would stab the general. An investigation was launched. Mayor Matthews surrendered and was jailed; he later escaped to England. Hickey was hanged in New York City on June 28, 1776, before a crowd of 20,000. In reporting to Congress, Washington wrote: “I am hopeful this example will produce many salutary consequences and deter others from entering into like traitorous practices.” If nations rise and fall by the authority of God, and they do, then no doubt God’s protection was upon George Washington. And just as God protected George Washington, He protects each of us as well.
What to do: ! Praise God for His marvelous providence and protection.
GOD OR GOVERNMENT?
SEPTEMBER 29
!Bible Reading: Mark 8:1-9 Key Verse: Mark 8:1- “In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them,”
Key Words: Jesus
Why? Why did Jesus not seek the power of institutions to provide for others? Because He knew the infinite power and the infinite bounty of His Father, our Lord God Almighty! To put it in the vernacular, why fool around with a box kite when there is a Boeing 747 at your disposal? Remember the time Jesus fed the multitude? With seven loaves He fed them – four thousand persons, plus! There in the desert, away from the city, the crowds had gathered and Jesus ministered unto them. He healed the sick. He made the lame to walk, the blind to see, the dumb to speak, through the miracle of God’s love. At eventide the people were hungry and Jesus had compassion on them. The disciples questioned where they would get food to feed so many. But Jesus said, “How many loaves have ye?” “There is no need for them to leave. Feed them here.”
Feed them! With what? Seven loaves of bread? They asked this of Him to whom all power is given – in heaven and on earth. Jesus took the loaves and blessed them and gave them to His disciples to feed the multitude. And they ate – every one of them, the whole four thousand – plus women and children. They ate until they were filled, and even then there were seven baskets of food left over. How great, how truly great, are the works of the Lord! Oh, ye of little faith! How is it that we turn to Caesar for the answers to our problems? Why do we feel the government and not God is the answer for our lives, our families, our community, our state, our nation, our world? Where we look for aid says more about us than we realize.
What to do: ! Rely on God, not government.
THEY BELITTLED GOD
SEPTEMBER 30
!Bible Reading: Matthew 7:1-12 Key Verse: Matthew 7:7- “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:”! Key Words: Ask, and it shall be given you
Late in 1974, the ministerial association of Washington, DC, conducted a survey to check on the needs of the poor within that city. That survey indicated that there were some pressing needs: need for food, housing, clothing, and medical assistance. This is in a district that has a higher per capita income than any state in the union. Spokesmen for the ministerial association called a press conference to announce their plan of action to relieve the needs revealed by the survey: they would call upon government to provide the assistance required. One cannot fault the pastors for their concern. But, one can fault them for their course of action. Caesar was their answer. They belittled God. In their impatience they adulterated their compassion with a call for coercion. Every one of those pastors represented a congregation. What were the members of those congregations doing to help? What of their personal Christian responsibilities? Were they praying? Seeking God’s blessing? Doing His work? Everyone in those congregations – pastors and members alike – is the child of a rich and powerful Father. He holds the wealth of the world in His hands. Ask and you shall receive.
Had they forgotten that? Or, did they not believe?
What to do: ! Have we forgotten that God is the answer, or are we failing to believe?
I deeply appreciate the help of Laurie Blankenship Trisha Bookout Kathy Endicott Cathy Fortenberry Sandy Lancaster Cathy Lang Pam Lee Marie Moore Mary Parsons John and Tascha Piatt Reba Pontbriand And my lovely wife, Linda
Without God using these people to help this devotional would not have been possible.
Dr. Mike Rouse