Making a Differencewith Pastor Phil Erickson

Mar 5th Just for Ladies – by Camille Stahl

Today’s Passage – Deuteronomy 12 – 14 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read –  2 Corinthians 9 – 13; Proverbs 5; Psalms 21 – 25

Scripture Memorization for March – 1 Corinthians 6:9 – 20

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Isaiah 40:31

Read a previous post from today’s reading – “Biblical Separation“

Read the “0305 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

Read “The Best Advice I’ve Received as a Pastor” by Pastor Cary Schmidt

A Study of Women Of The Bible

The Parable Of The Ten Virgins

“Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.” (Matthew 25:1-13)

Although this is a parable, a fictional, there is much to learn from this passage.

Oil in the Bible represents the Holy Spirit. In order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, the Holy Spirit of God must live within you. The vessel is your heart. The Holy Spirit enters when we accept what Jesus did for us on the cross.

In the parable, we see there where those who were wise, they had oil, the others were foolish. They had what they needed for the present time, just to make a show, with no real intent to be ready for the bridegroom. They had a lamp in their hands for show, but nothing within for the long haul like the seed that fell on stony ground. They did not prepare or think of the time to come after-wards as the ant does, nor lay up for the time to come.

“Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.”  (1Titus 6:19)

The wise virgins took oil in their vessels. They were prepared to meet the bridegroom even if He was delayed. No one knew when He was coming; they just knew He was coming. They were ready.  They thought of their future.

Now lets take a closer look at this parable.

Both groups appear as followers of Christ. They both carried their lamps and they both saw the groom as ‘Lord’.  Both groups were invited to the wedding.

The wise and the foolish virgins slept. All awoke when the bridegroom arrived. Note: It’s not about working, because salvation is not a result of works but of being ready.

We know that it’s talking about salvation because the parable starts out by saying “Then shall the kingdom of heaven…” .

It may come as a surprise that the five wise virgins did not share their oil. We know that they could not share their oil because they would have run out. We can’t lose our salvation but on the other hand, others can only be saved by their own salvation. So when the foolish went to go and find it, the door was shut and it was too late.

“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” (Hebrews 9:27)

Later in Matthew 25:11 we see the foolish virgins say, “Lord, Lord open to us”

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”    (Matthew 7:21-23)

Jesus is warning us that there will be people who look like Christians, who act like Christians, and talk like Christians, who are not Christians. We are never to assume that anyone is saved no matter how good they appear. But time is getting short. People are dying and going to hell. Their door is shut. We cannot give them our oil, but we must show them how to get their own. What they do with it is up to them as it was for the foolish virgins, but we are commanded to tell them. Those who don’t take the oil are refusing the warnings of God’s Word of salvation through Jesus Christ. They don’t think they need it. They believe they have plenty of time to get oil. It was this way in Noah’s day. The people had a false sense of security but they were warned, the door was shut and it was too late. Can you hear them scream, “Open the door! Why didn’t you tell me? NO PLEASE, OPEN THE DOOR!! DON’T LEAVE ME HERE!!”

There is still plenty of room at the table in family of God. Won’t you invite someone to come and dine with you? Someone invited you!

Thank You

1 John 5: 13

Jan 26th Use It Or Lose It – The Saturday Morning Post (Sunday Edition) by Pastor Ted Stahl

Today’s Passage – Exodus 22 – 24 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – Luke 9 – 10;  Proverbs 27; Psalms 131 – 135

Scripture Memorization for January – Philippians 3

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 47:1

Read a previous post from today’s reading passage – “Living in Canaan”

Good morning! Did you get to wake up yesterday morning to a wintery scene, with your yard all covered in clean, white snow? Do you think Heaven is like that? Could you imagine the colors you will see in Heaven on your arrival? Heaven will be hard for us to imagine. The Bible says, “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (1Corinthians 2:9).

Everything we receive in Heaven comes from God who understands what we would like better than we understand ourselves. Think about it. You think you want something, you buy it, and then you lose interest in it: it’s not what you really wanted. But an all knowing God will give you what He knows will satisfy you. A perfect gift from a perfect God. Heaven will be just as perfect to you as it is to me. But what about the things we get here on earth? God allows us to have things here on earth. They don’t belong to us, they belong to Him. He allows us to use them in our quest to be a good steward. There is also the stuff we buy that we think we need, or will make us happy. It only ends up in the basement, attic, garage, or shed. And that is where it stays until you pass. You can’t take it with you. Some of it will be given as gifts, some of it will end up at the flea market or garage sale, the rest thrown out as garbage. God tried to teach this to the children of Israel in Exodus 16. The Bible says, “And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground. And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat. This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded, Gather of it every man according to his eating, an omer for every man, according to the number of your persons; take ye every man for them which are in his tents. And the children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less. And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating. And Moses said, Let no man leave of it till the morning. Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and stank: and Moses was wroth with them.” (Exodus 16:14-20).

Here is some stuff about our stuff that we can glean from this passage. The first and most important is that everything we have is from the Lord. God’s Word tells us that He will provide our every need (Phillippians 4:19). He will also give us the desires of our hearts (Psalm 37:4). Be careful with this: Israel got tired of the manna, and wanted meat. God sent quail that they could eat till it came out their nostrils!

The second item we can glean, knowing first that everything we have is from the Lord, is that everything we have was made to be used. In the parable of the talents, A lord had three servants. He gave one, three talents; the second two talents; and the third, one talent. The first two put what they received to use and turned a profit for their master. The third did not…

“Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.” (Matthew 25:24-27).

Maybe it’s time to sell off the excess stuff in our basements, attics, garages, and sheds; pay off some debt, and help others. Turn a profit for our Lord.

And that leads to our third gleaned item: everything that we have that we don’t use will decay, stink, and breed worms. The things that God has allowed us to have are for a reason. If we do not use them, they fall into a state of decay that will eventually render them useless and worthless.

The space in my shed appears to be shrinking. I have to unload everything in order to get through the door. It is probably time for myself, and maybe others, to clean up our acts, and get organized. And then remember, you can’t take it with you. It will only remain for someone else to give away, sell at the flea market, or throw out. Paul wrote to Timothy, “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.” (1Timothy 6:7-12).

Peace. (1Timothy 6:7)

Jan 19th Which Way Are You Going? – The Saturday Morning Post by Pastor Ted Stahl

Good morning. Do you already have it fixed in your mind what you are doing today? Which way are you going? Are you following someone else? Are you going your own way? If you’re a Trekkie, are you boldly going where no man has gone before? Where are you going? Blind Bartimaeus wasn’t going anywhere: he was just sitting and begging on the side of the road. From the spot where he sat, blind Bartimaeus had to decide which way he should go. In Mark chapter 10, the Bible says: “And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.” (Mark 10:46-52).

Bartimaeus was blind. He had a need: the need to see. Which way would he go? Would he just stay on the side of the road begging, or would he take action to resolve his need? Which way would he go? He decided to be proactive and cried out to Jesus for mercy. Many people who were there told him to shut-up and sit down. Would he go with the flow and give up?

Which way would he go? He cried out even more, Jesus stopped and called for blind Bartimaeus. And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. Which way would he go now that he could see? He followed Jesus.

We have had our eyes opened. Which way are we going to go? You can follow people who think they can spend their way out of debt. You can follow people who take away you defense rifles, your hard-earned money, and your freedom. Which way will you go? Blind Bartimaeus had to make that decision. His eyes were opened and he followed Jesus. Which way will you go? There is still hope for America. “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.” (2Chronicles 7:14).

Peace. (2Chronicles 7:14).

Jan 12th Proverbs 12:19 – The Saturday Morning Post by Pastor Ted Stahl

Good morning. The Bible says, “The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.” (Proverbs 12:19). Compromise, political correctness, bumper stickers telling us to co-exist: they are all lies. It almost seems that who ever has the most believable lie wins: his lie becomes truth. There can be only one truth. Compromise or political correctness, anything that varies from the truth is a lie. Where does this tendency to lie come from? Jesus told the Pharisees, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.” (John 8:44-45).

Proverbs 12:22 says, “Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.”

Here is a statement: “All politicians are liars.”

Add some political correctness, and you get: “Politicians sometimes may stretch the truth.”

It may be stretched, but it’s still truth. No. It’s a lie. And do you know why politicians lie? Is it to get more money? Maybe. Is it to keep their jobs? Could be. Is it for more power? Ahh! You may be on to something. Let me give you a quote from a famous SOCIALIST about truth and lies…

“If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State.” – Joseph Goebbels. He was the Reich Minister of Propaganda in Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945.

I am so glad we don’t have to rely on politicians for truth. We have God’s Word, the King James Bible as our source of truth. And we have the Holy Spirit living inside us who will show us what truth is.

Peace! (John 4:24).

Dec 31st (No Title)

Read your favorite Bible passage today

(Second Milers also read – Proverbs 31)

Memory passage for the month of December – Luke 1:26 – 38

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 48:1 & 2

Dec 29th The Press Towards “The Mark” – The Saturday Morning Post by Pastor Ted Stahl

“And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.” (Revelation 13:16-18).

“And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.” (Revelation 19:19-21)

Good morning! Great news! Jesus is coming back soon! Each new day brings us closer to His coming! New technology is released daily that will help the antichrist to pretend he is a god. This new one comes from Google. If you want to see something interesting, do a Google Search on Google Wallet. This is a new app for your phone. All my credit card accounts are kept in the secure Google Cloud somewhere in cyberspace. To make a purchase in a store, all I need do is tap the back of my Android phone to the sensing device, and all the information is transfered for the credit card I wish to use. No more carrying around cash for thieves to steal. No more physical credit cards to lose or forget. Everything is right there in you smart-phone. Isn’t that great! If your phone gets lost or stolen you can lock your account remotely, and secure it.

Soon you will not even need a phone. You will not have to carry cash, or credit cards. All you need do is put your right hand, or your forehead, near the sensor and your account information will be transfered. That technology is here now, and has been. The implants that the vets put in our pets can be used on people too.

These are just signs of the times. Jesus said behold I come quickly. His is coming back soon. Are you ready? Do you know, that you know, that you know? Jesus said, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:21-23).

Does Jesus know you? He is the only Way, the only Truth, and the only Life: your only way to Heaven is by and through Him. Call on Him. Ask Jesus to forgive your sins, and welcome Him into your heart, and He will save you. (Romans 3:10,23; 5:8; 6:23; 10:13). Jesus said, “…It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:6-8).

Peace! (Revelation 22:20-21).

Dec 28th God’s Perfect Plan – The Saturday Morning Post On Friday by Pastor Ted Stahl

A few days ago, Camille and I were reading our Bibles together. We went through the Book of Ruth. It was only four chapters, but I got a comforting thought from this Book. Just a few days before this was Christmas Eve. This would be our first Christmas without Melissa. Standing over the grave, Camille was weeping because she missed her daughter. I was weeping, because my wife hurt, and there was nothing I could do to comfort her except to pray that the Holy Spirit would give her the comfort she needed. Naomi, Ruth’s mother-in-law, was going through it too. She had lost her husband. She had lost both of her sons. Her one daughter-in-law had gone back to her own people. Naomi had lost almost everything, but she still had Ruth. “And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law. And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me. When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her. So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi? And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me? So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.” (Ruth 1:15-22).

Naomi asked to be called Mara, which means bitter. She had come back home empty. But God had a bigger and better plan. His plan was to bring Boaz and Ruth together. His plan was to bring comfort to a hurting Naomi. His plan started before time began, and this is only a small part of it.

“So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son. And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel. And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him. And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it. And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David. ” (Ruth 4:13-17).

Ruth became the mother of Obed, King David’s grandfather. Obed was given to Naomi to replace the two sons, and husband, she had lost. Obed would be a comfort to her: a restorer of life, ans nourisher of her old age.

These are the thoughts I got out of the Book of Ruth…

1) God’s plan is perfect, and has been running perfectly since it’s start. God doesn’t make mistakes. We do. So don’t be too hard on yourself when you mess up. God already knew about it and placed it in His perfect plan. You cannot through a ‘monkey wrench into the works’, and derail God’s perfect plan. He already knows what we will do, and He took care of that. And God’s perfect plan will continue to run flawlessly forever.

2) God’s perfect plan is filled with happiness and sorrow for us. Naomi had to lose what she had in order to return to Bethlehem. God wanted to bless Naomi in her old age. God needed Ruth to meet Boaz. God’s perfect plan called for taking her husband, and sons, home to heaven.

3) God’s perfect plan can also bring happiness and sorrow to God. To understand this better, we need to step out of Ruth, and go to the shortest verse in the Bible: “Jesus wept.” (John 11:35). Why would Jesus weep? Why would God cry? He already knew that He would call Lazarus back from the dead. He knew that Mary and Martha would see their brother live again that very day. Why did Jesus weep? Our perfect God with the perfect plan has perfect compassion on His creation. That’s why He gave us verses like Proverbs 3:5, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”

Or John 14:1-3, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. “

And my verse, John 16:33, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

4) God’s perfect plan called for man’s salvation. I don’t know what part Melissa’s death played in God’s plan, but I do know that because of His love, we will see her again. John 3:16 tells us so: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

And one of my favorite passages: “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.“

Isn’t it great to stand on God’s Word, and know that He has a perfect plan that includes you? To know that you are saved, and will someday be in heaven and see those who have gone on before us? But maybe you’re not saved. Maybe you’re not 100% sure you’re going to heaven. When the Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

They told him, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved…” (Acts 16:30-31). “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13).

Heaven or Hell, the choice is yours. Your part in God’s perfect plan doesn’t have to end in sorrow, it could end in happiness.

Peace. (John 14:27).

Dec 22nd Gun Control – The Saturday Morning Post by Pastor Ted Stahl

Good morning. If you’ve listened to talk radio at all, you know the main topic lately has been gun control. Law-biding citizens have been buying guns for fear that their right to bear arms will be taken away. Can you blame them? It’s for protection. There’s nothing wrong with that is there? Wanting to be safe? Do you really need an automatic weapon? If I was only able to get off one shot at an intruder and missed, what would happen? I’m more likely to obliterate the intruder, and the furniture, and the wall behind him, with an automatic. And I know he would not survive to take me to civil court and sue me because he broke into my house and I shot him.

Gun control will probably come. There is an example in the Bible. The Philistines saw to it that Israel could not rise up and take back control as a nation: as a free people.

“And the spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned unto the way that leadeth to Ophrah, unto the land of Shual: And another company turned the way to Bethhoron: and another company turned to the way of the border that looketh to the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness. Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears: But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock. Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads. So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found.” (1Samuel 13:17-22)

Two swords and some sharpened farming instruments are no match for the army of the Philistines. The Philistines would eventually catch up with Saul and Jonathan, and kill them in battle. But today, Israel is a nation. Where are the Philistines? Here are a few basic thoughts from the events of the past week.

1) Gun control could not have prevented the tragedy in Connecticut. If a person wants to kill, he can use anything from a knife, a club, or even his bare hands. If you take away the guns from the people, only the criminals will have guns. (And that includes a godless Socialistic government that will STEAL your rights, right out from under your nose.)

2) Life is eternal: it does not stop at death. Everyone has an appointed time at which he enters into an eternity with God in Heaven, or in a Hell that was prepared for the devil and his angels. (Hebrews 9:27, Matthew 25:41).

3) I’d rather be correct than politically correct. Do you know why our country is the way it is? Romans 1:28-32 says, “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”

Homosexuality runs rampant. Children kill children, and innocent bystanders on the streets of our cities. God is removed from our schools, our government. Since 1973, 30 million abortions have been performed. When the first murder occurred: when Cain murdered his brother Abel, God said to Cain, “What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.” (Genesis 4:10).

Can you imagine all the cries going up to Heaven from spilled blood these days?

4) Despite all this, there is hope. This hope starts with us. “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.” (2Chronicles 7:14).

It’s time we got the file out to sharpen our pitch forks, our goads, and our mattocks. We dropped the ball in getting the gospel out to the lost. But if my people, which are called by my name: Christian. Called by my name: Christian. If you call yourself a Christian, then you, me, and the others, need to humble ourselves, pray, seek God’s face, and turn from our our wicked ways of which complacency is number one on the list. Then God will hear from Heaven, forgive our sin, and heal our land. Our only hope should be in the Lord. In God we trust.

Peace. (2Chronicles 7:14).