I read this article in World Magazine the other day that struck a divine chord. It reminded me that God is good and the devil is bad and the devil will ultimately lose the battle between good and evil. It seems that these three car thieves were stealing a car in Middletown, N.Y., when a cell phone in one of the back pockets of one of the thieves [accidentally] dialed 911. When the dispatcher took the call he heard everything that was going down. By the time the thieves hung up the phone the GPS information directed the police to the local auto body shop where the thieves were apprehended. Ain’t God good?! It never surprises me anymore to see the invisible Hand of Providence that somehow, someway, seems to right the wrongs of this life. You would think that this little situation might have turned out for a blessing for some one or other. For instance, what if the thief who had the phone was actually a backslidden Christian? Could you imagine the thoughts that are running through his head right now?

God has a way… He has a way of protecting the weak and defending the defenseless. He has a way of providing for the righteous and upholding the causes of the oppressed. He has a way of teaching the scholar and directing the sojourner. God has a way! David said that, “As for God, His way is perfect…” David could have grumbled that everything was going wrong while he was running for his life away from Saul. You see, the Prophet Samuel, had anointed David to become the next king over Israel, but it wouldn’t come to pass for nearly another dozen years. It wasn’t anything for God to install David upon Israel’s throne; He could have done it the day after Samuel anointed David. So, why the wait? God had to prepare David for the throne!

Here’s my point; don’t miss the forest for the trees. God has a way that, at times seems incredible; He can put despots on thrones and imprison the innocent. He can let the wicked prosper while the faithful joyfully accept the confiscation of their property. It does not matter the circumstance of any situation –God is still on the Throne and His will, will be done. This is good news for those who believe, especially in the times that we are living. God can prepare a table even in the midst of a desert and God can bring water out of the midst of a rock. God could get you and I a million dollars, or make us as famous as Brad Pitt or Angelina Jolie. He could divide the waters of any circumstance that obstructed us, any problem that would hinder us and any trial that could tempt us. But the really good news is that God sent His Son, Jesus Christ so that we, through faith in Him, could overcome all of the above “problems” that we experience in this life. God’s has a way of making you and I into the children of God that He knows, deep down, we desire. Do you see where I am going with this? It would be nothing for God to place me in the Oval office of this great nation, but that isn’t what God is preparing for me. Am I saying that God hasn’t blessed us with power and riches because we are not prepared for then? Absolutely not! What I am saying is that we shouldn’t look down on ourselves because we are not in those kinds of positions.

We know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him and are the called for His purpose. So be contented, for godliness with contentment is great gain. And have you never read that God has chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith? God has a way of making you the head and not the tail. We who are now looked down upon in this life will one day shine with all the brilliance of His glory. Trust God. Trust that He knows what He is doing and one day you will realize it to its fullest!
Have a great week! Pastor Jim

In just a couple of days history will be made in the United States. Tuesday is Inaugural Day and it will be the first time that an African American will be the Commander –in-Chief of this great country. People are saying that change is coming and President Barak Obama will lead us into this great change. The Democrats have control over the House and are ready to implement the programs necessary for the change. The talk I hear lately is filled with either excitement or anxiety concerning this change –this change that is coming. “Yes sir.” They say. “Our Country is heading in a new direction. Things are going to change in Washington. Things are going to change on Wall Street. Things are going to change on Main Street. Change is coming.”

I’m sorry, I don’t see it; I don’t see our country changing directions. I really don’t think it matters whether Congress is Republican or Democrat, whether the President is Republican or Democrat and it definitely doesn’t matter if he is white or black! There will still be high unemployment in some areas and jobs galore in others. We will still be dealing with high crime rates, high medical costs, and folks that get high. There will still be alcoholism and the abuse of prescription drugs. People will still be selling and using marijuana, Cocaine and other illegal drugs. There will still be rape, murder, burglary and arson. Television will still glamorize the debauchery of our culture and the Internet will still be filled with pornography. Abortions will still be performed and there will still be people more worried about the spotted owl than the unborn. Do I need to go on? I’m sure every Christian gets the picture. Folks, change will only come to the United States when its citizens, from the President down, fall on their knees and repent before God. We are a wicked people, who have forsaken our Bibles and quit praying to the One True God. How else do you explain the impotence of the churches these days. And if there was ever a time America needed her churches, it is now! But what do we find there? The same old –same old.

There are only two things necessary for real change, and they are, God and repentance. You can’t have one without the other! But, I believe that we could see a change that would bless your socks off if everyone began to seek the Lord in the way He has commanded. He did it for Nineveh! He did it time and time again for Israel. Church history is full of accounts where God turned and blessed beyond measure because the Church prayed. I want to see change just as much as the next guy. But I want change deep down in the heart of every person in America. We need that kind of change; and in truth, no other change will do. Church, let’s have that change begin today. Let’s have that change begin with us. Let us call upon the Lord. Let us humble ourselves under His mighty hand. He will have mercy on us. He will be faithful to his promise –“If My people, who are called by My Name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

Not only is the American Humanist Association spending thousands of dollars on bus ads, it seems the British are throwing themselves into the mix as well. The British Humanist Association in partnership with Professor Richard Dawkins, the author of the atheistic book, The God Delusion, have raised quite a bit of money for their little campaign. Their ads are even more illogical than America’s; There’s probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy life.

Now, let’s see; the AHA tells us to be good just for goodness’ sake and the BHA tells us to stop worrying and just enjoy life. I can’t figure this one out, but let me try! Both of these organizations are implying that there is probably no God. One tells us to stop worrying and enjoy life while the other tells us to just be good for goodness’ sake. The first thing that comes to mind is the fact that if I am doing good there is no reason for me to worry. But the ad goes further; stop worrying and enjoy life! Wait a minute here. If I am being good for goodness’ sake alone, then I should be enjoying my life of “being good.” What does the ad imply when it tells us to stop worrying? Is it not telling us that there is really no threat of eternal punishment because there is probably no God?

But didn’t God tell us that if we did right we would be accepted? Gen.4:7 And Jesus even told us that those who did good would rise to eternal life. John 5:29 So, my question to all agnostics and atheist would be; why would you worry if you are already being good (for goodness’ sake)? There should be no threat of eternal punishment hanging over your head.

Hanne Stinson, chief executive of the BHA believes that the bus ads are “overwhelmingly positive” and were intended to reassure agnostics and atheist that there is nothing wrong with not believing in God. Positive? You mean to tell me that these same folks who deny a loving Sovereign Creator, because of all the evil that exists in our world, are now telling us that denying that this God exists is overwhelmingly positive?

Then what are we to do about the existence of evil? Is it going to be around all my life? What is so positive about that? These folks confuse me! And I really don’t think the problem lies with me here. I think they’re hiding something. I think they really want the freedom to live any way they want (be it good or bad) and not feel they will be accountable for their actions. I think they have a problem with only one God.

I don’t see them writing anything like; There is no Allah… on the buses. No, they have a problem with Jesus Christ and His God. Because, deep down, they know He is right and every time they think about it, they stand condemned even in their own conscience.

You must understand, Christian, these folks aren’t “evil” people. Some are Philanthropists, humanitarians and highly educated people who have witnessed the injustices of this life. Then comes along some “Christian” whose actions don’t line up with their talk; and the hypocrisy is the last straw on the camel’s back.

News flash for every Christian; Jesus loves Prof. Dawkins and his band of confused “merry men” just as much as He loves Christians. The only difference between them, and us is that we believe and receive the love Christ has for us. You see, when a person believes the Gospel, the threat of eternal punishment vanishes and now he can go on in hope that this Loving God will also do away with all evil and injustice. A man without hope cannot enjoy life. And a man who believes that this is all there is to life (i.e. there’s probably no God) cannot have the same measure of hope as does the Christian. So, I’m coming out with a new ad. Living as if there is no God? Don’t hope on it!

This last holiday season the American Humanist Association spent $40,000 dollars for an ad campaign, placing these ads on D.C. buses: “Why believe in a god? Just be good for goodness sake.” What a waste of money! How could anyone in his or her right mind be good just for goodness’ sake? The very first question I have for the AHA is: Could you please define goodness for me? What is goodness? Where can one find it? Is there a storehouse for it; or is it just everywhere? Well, I know for certain that it’s just not everywhere, because badness exists just as well. But why are some things bad? Is it because they are not good? Sounds simple enough for me. So, if you’re not being good, then you’re being bad –right? Or, does the AHA want us to believe that some folks aren’t being bad or good? Then what are they being? And if they are not being bad or good, what is the incentive for being good. Haven’t we heard of many injustices being done to good people? Haven’t we seen bad people prosper and live in extreme wealth and comfort? What is the point of being good and what rewards are there for doing so? Telling us to be good for goodness’ sake is like telling us to think of a plate of food when you’re hungry. Now, that’s confusing!

Goodness is a reality; there should be no argument about that. Where things start to get foggy is when we try to define it. One person says this and another says that. It is sort of like when we try to define what love is. A couple married for over 25 years defines it one way; a teenage boy with his girlfriend in the back seat of a car defines it another way. Get the picture? How then, do we define what is good? A football player who runs fast, hits hard and has endurance to finish the game is defined as a good player. Should we then define a mugger who can run fast, hit hard and endure through the whole mugging as a good mugger? When someone is spoken of as a “good liar” we don’t consider that person as being good! The AHA wants us to be good for goodness’ sake, but they have failed to tell us what goodness is –that’s not good!

There was a man who came up to Jesus and asked Him, “Good Master, what must I do to enter eternal life?” and Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.” In essence, Jesus was asking the young man, “Do you believe that I am the Son of God?” For if the young man thought that Jesus was good, then he could trust that Jesus wouldn’t lie to him about such important matters. Jesus was telling him and all of us that goodness comes from God alone. Goodness cannot just exist of its own accord; it is only logical that it has a Source. If goodness did exist of its own accord, then the logical conclusion would be that evil would always exist as well. If that were the case, then I want to go back to an earlier question; what reward is there in being good for goodness’ sake? Being good for goodness’ sake is a pipe dream. Why? Because those who would be good for goodness’ sake would eventually have to become self-righteous –and that is not good! “Thanks but no thanks, AHA. I am going to be good for Christ’ sake –because that is what He wants for all of us. Plus, He promised to reward us for doing good and that’s more than what you can offer!”