The greatest issue facing our culture today is one of authority. Who gives the orders that people are compelled to obey? The need for and the problems with government have remained an age-old crisis, however, when the right person or people are in charge, a harmonious and peaceful state of being exists. Conversely, when the wrong person or people are in charge, the results are chaotic and confusing. The authority to lead is delegated by those who either appoint or submit to leadership. Delegated authority may evolve into absolute authority when left unchecked, thus causing laws and practices to shift in the direction of the whims and moods of the individual. The adage is true that “power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Yet in spite of the downfalls of corrupted government and despots with no regard for the future of the people, someone has to lead. But the leader is delegated with both the authority and responsibility to lead responsively. Responsive leadership denotes leadership that is responsive to needs, but at the same time, is established upon the standard of truth. You cannot draw a straight line using a crooked ruler. Society as a whole has lost its moral…
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The beauty of creation is that God allows us to participate in His continuing work. He alone can make something out of nothing and preserve it in order for future generations to gain a profitable return. But He allows those things that originated from Him to pass through a vehicle of delivery. The attachment to and love for what has become an extension of the person is inseparable. Think about it…God made woman for purpose of procreation. The continuance and expansion of creation has been given to her charge. Without her, life would end at the death of what currently exists. Things die during the winter season and life appears to be suspended. But when springtime comes, new life begins to bud in places of lifelessness. The barren womb rejoices over the pregnancy of hope while latent potential is developed as the process continues in the secrecy of the hidden place of the womb. Only God could have thought of such a grand idea and purpose as to place so magnificent a wonder in His creation. The complexity of the process may be studied and examined but never completely figured out. The personalities of two distinct individuals merged into one…
- May 6, 2014
Unless there is death, there can be no resurrection. The things that remain alive within us determine the course of our lives along with God’s plan for the life that He gives. The natural tendency of each person is to get whatever he can for himself and live his life unto himself. Selfishness is hard to explain, but easy to practice because self-centeredness is deeply ingrained within the nature of fallen man. We do not know why we do the things that we do, and often are unaware that we are doing it. Ask a person what he thinks of himself and he will speak of his good intentions. Compare his assessment to God’s standard and the defects in his character are exposed. Although you were created for a purpose far greater than you realize, what is accepted as normal competes with God’s original plan. It casts a shadow over the potential of your life and reduces living to merely settling for basic needs and meeting unrestrained passions. Sin is defined as “missing the mark.” It is not just the act, but the life that is bent in the wrong direction. The tendency to rebel against God is deeply ingrained…
- April 1, 2014
Seasons change, conditions are changing, and people will change. The world is in a constant state of motion. Life is a linear move towards a future state of being. Yes, we are changing, but the question is what are we becoming? Some would like to believe that they are making progress, while the mental attitudes of those who see themselves as progressives constantly pump themselves up with positive affirmations. Even though words do in fact have power, the truth will set you free. Constantly saying a thing is not the exercise of faith. Faith must involve seeing the right path on which your life must travel. Then by faith, you must continually seek God’s direction to avoid veering from that course. Change presents the challenge to travel down the path of least resistance and it can be so subtle that it may happen unnoticed. This is not the same environment of the previous decade. Decisions have been made that influenced the mindsets of society as a whole, and now, it has become more difficult to express the values you once held dear. If you for a moment are more concerned about the majority opinion rather than maintaining a commitment for…
- March 11, 2014
This month, I will turn 65 years of age. This would be a fearful thing if there was no future beyond this life when we reach the twilight of our years. The intrigue of what may exist on the other side leaves many bewildered and worried. There is a spark of eternity that exists within each life that reminds the individual of expectations beyond our current experiences. It takes too much effort to drown out the conscience which reminds us of the truest meaning of life. That is life’s biggest struggle—silencing the inner reminders that ought to be given the greatest attention. When the self is the primary objective for living, what happens when you are alerted to the awareness that those hours are rapidly slipping away? Some try to revert back to their second childhood or adolescence. Unfortunately, the nostalgia of the past becomes the time warp where they try to recapture their lives. That person will eventually die the death of a fool. Solomon’s assessment of life was a simplistic approach with a focus on immediate returns. He assessed life as “vanity of vanity, all is vanity.” Life was really the smoke of smoke, giving an appearance of…
- February 7, 2014
Matthew 13:30 – “Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest, I will say to the reapers, ‘First, gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.” This year, there will be a distinct definition between where God is and where He is not, and who is He is and who He is not. One of the most popular songs of 2013 was Blurred Lines. The video, featuring Miley Cyrus and Robin Thicke, highlighted raunchy gyrations and simulated sexual scenarios to the playful lyrics that suggested the exploitation of women. Yet the rhythm is so catchy that most did not even take the time to listen to the words because of the mesmerizing beat and melody. The question that many fail to ask is does dancing to suggestive music affect behavior? Most certainly…Even though the video may have been censored, its popularity soared and many young women wanted to twerk and tried to emulate that behavior in everyday life. As for Cyrus and Thicke, they both attribute the activity in the video as having a little fun and being themselves. Some may highlight this as…
- January 1, 2014
“Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear!”James 1:22 (The Message) The application of biblical principles is the fuel for a revelation. A revolution is necessary when the direction of government, education, the economy, entertainment, and religion is on a collision course with the will of God. The alteration in reasoning allows room for the majority to intellectually argue their point in defense of error. Even when godlessness makes sense and explanations for foolish decisions make one appear to be wise, the end result remains the same; what is believed is fatal. Therefore, a revolution is needed today in order to rescue our generation from self-destruction. Although the potency and power of God is contained within the simple truths spoken, that power can only be released when the principles are applied. All truth is God’s truth. Truth is not always the way it appears because much of what is in process has yet to be fully revealed. Truth abides when it possesses the ability to survive the contrary winds that attempt to contradict it. Truth outlasts…
- May 21, 2013
“Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” Revelations 21:5 Jesus expresses His displeasure with independent decisions resulting from lawlessness and at the same time, His ultimate intentions for His creation. He will replace what appears to be the norm, which has been generated by the gradual falling away, with something different. While the evolution of thought continues on a natural course of rebellion in defiance to God’s rule, He still remains on the throne. His authority overrules what has been placed into motion by laws and decrees which only make sense to the spiritually insensitive. Yet He awakens and disturbs those who wish to know what He thinks about matters that concern the future of all mankind. Only those who are willing to inquire and allow their inquiries to extend beyond their pleasures will stop long enough to question the established course. It is not by coincidence that moral failures are now being celebrated and normalized today. And consequently, uncertainties are increasing and threatening the security of the whole human race. He who sits on the throne allows circumstances to…
- April 16, 2013
God’s objective is to make us both safe and secure. Uncertainties leave the majority in a state of flux and wonder fearful of the future. “What if” questions often plague the mind with the unending possibilities of disastrous occurrences.They restrict the activity of those who would otherwise move in a proactive direction facing the needs of today and resolving them. Many who were chosen for such a time as this, are too busy worrying rather than engaging in a process of clear and productive thinking. Productive thinking requires one to process information leading to a conclusion. Without it, one is caught up into circular thinking which leads to the same place where the journey first began. Too many are going around in circles rather than progressing towards an end that could produce a permanent resolve to what most people worry about. The first thing to consider is that none of the occurrences in life are merely random. God is a God of order who arranges circumstances and conditions for the ultimate good of those who love Him, and oversees and intercepts the decisions made by those who despise Him. He is not an absentee God, but is aware of the…
- March 14, 2013
God’s objective is to make us both safe and secure. Uncertainties leave the majority in a state of flux and wonder fearful of the future. “What if” questions often plague the mind with the unending possibilities of disastrous occurrences.They restrict the activity of those who would otherwise move in a proactive direction facing the needs of today and resolving them. Many who were chosen for such a time as this, are too busy worrying rather than engaging in a process of clear and productive thinking. Productive thinking requires one to process information leading to a conclusion. Without it, one is caught up into circular thinking which leads to the same place where the journey first began. Too many are going around in circles rather than progressing towards an end that could produce a permanent resolve to what most people worry about. The first thing to consider is that none of the occurrences in life are merely random. God is a God of order who arranges circumstances and conditions for the ultimate good of those who love Him, and oversees and intercepts the decisions made by those who despise Him. He is not an absentee God, but is aware of the…
- March 1, 2013