Tandem Vincitur

“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. [Mat 6:31-34 NIV]

Jesus begins the Lord’s Prayer (Mat 6:9-13) with “. . . Your kingdom come, Your will be done.” It is common in our flawed, human existence to be preoccupied with what we can see and touch. Instead of praying for God’s will, we are often praying “my will be done . . .” Like Peter on the water, we lose focus of the One who is in control and our eyes are on the problem.
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This was sent by my friend, John Beal. Not certain the author.

At the end of the poem, I have attached one of my favorite verses. May this bless you as it blessed me.

God moves in a mysterious way

   His wonders to perform:

He plants His footsteps upon the sea,

   And rides upon the storm.

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Titus chapter one:

The key verse is in the greeting: “. . . the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness.” [v1] In other words, sound doctrine leads us to proper obedience. Paul warned later in verse twelve, “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.” So, it appears Paul’s purpose in writing to Titus was to encourage him to encourage the Christians to be different from the norm, to rise above evil and sloth and to follow Christ.

Sidenote: Some friends are missionaries on the island and they tell me not much has changed. The people still are much the same as Paul described.

v2 - Paul claims that God gave the hope of eternal life even before He created us; “promised before the beginning of time.”
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2Timothy, chapter one:

v3f - Paul remembered to pray constantly for his brother in the faith and he admonished him to “fan into flame” what the Lord had given him. This reminds me of Php 2:12-13: Paul tells us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling for it is God who works in us, causing our will and our actions to accomplish His good purpose. Therefore, knowing that God will accomplish His work in us, “do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord.” Be willing to join with our brothers in suffering for Christ.
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by David Crowe RestoreAmerica.org

For several decades Hollywood has depicted pastors, preachers, evangelists, and priests as mushy brained, out of touch, backward, and ignorant fools, but in the last few years, the God haters in America have come out of the closet in open hostility to Christ, Christians, and the institutions of Christianity.

Depiction of Christ in urineIn 1989 a photograph titled “Piss Christ” by American photographer Andres Serrano depicting a small plastic crucifix submerged in a glass of the artist’s urine, won an award in which the author received $15,000 in tax payer money through the National Endowment for the Arts. The left in America defended the ‘work of art’ as “an issue of artistic freedom and freedom of speech.”
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by Olivern “Olie” Dithmar Isaacson
(Jan 8, 1926 - Jul 17, 2007)

My most sincere wish for this Christmas day,
is that souls that are lost may find their way.
And that the hungry around me somehow be fed.
For the weary, I wish a pillow for resting their head.

For the hungry of spirit, I would seek as my goal,
that they should find satisfying food for their soul.
And for those who would long for a child today,
I wish them the laughter of children at play.

For those without love, who need love to find,
I wish someone to love them, who is thoughtful and kind.
And if there is someone without a song in their heart,
I wish that a melody within them would start.

For the homeless among us, who are sad and alone,
I wish them friendship and love, in a comfortable home.
And I wish the satisfaction of unselfish giving,
for those with a surplus in their daily living.

May the love that’s within us be spread all around,
and our spirit of giving in abundance be found.
Then, because we’ve responded in this positive way,
the Christ of Christmas will be honored today.

A few days ago, I received an email that was forwarded with a message from a pastor. I do not remember his name, so we will call him Pastor Salvation Only. His message was he never gets involved in political issues because his mission is the gospel of Jesus Christ. According to him, the people sent a message loud and clear in this 2008 election, they are looking for Jesus Christ. He gave two examples, one was we have abused credit and now the people voted for Obama in repentance for their financial excesses. The other example I do not remember. He then went on to rebuff pastors that get off the track of preaching salvation through Jesus Christ and that now, because the people are truly looking for Jesus Christ, that is our only mission.

Pastor Salvation Only is very wrong. In fact, he is part of the problem. The Bible tells us clearly that man is not looking for God, as Pastor Salvation Only claims (Isa 64:7, Rom 3:11). While there are several admonitions to seek after God, the Bible tells us man may tip his hat to God while seeking his own way (Isa 58, Jer 7). Pastor Salvation Only is wrong, in that this election was not a declaration that man is looking for Jesus Christ, or looking for repentance. This election was a declaration that man is looking for a messiah, a rock star, a leader who will make them feel good about themselves, a leader who will bring change, without requiring them to change their lifestyles - or repentance.
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By Renee Johnson (my sister), Nov 2002.

Thanksgiving to me is a lifestyle, not just one day of celebrating the abundance we enjoy with the people that we love.  It is continually reflecting and giving thanks for all God’s goodness and grace.  We may not have all that we want, but God has promised to provide all that we need (Php 4:19).  Am I truly thankful for the way God has provided for me, or am I complaining about what I don’t have or cannot do?  Am I jealous that my neighbor is prosperous while my finances are going down the tubes at a rather fast rate?  Do I truly see the blessings God gives to me each day?

These are the thoughts I ponder daily.  God, in His great mercy, lovingly shows me His ways and His plans for what my life is all about, and what to truly be thankful for.  I am thankful that the struggles of this life will not last forever, and that this is not my home. Lamentations 3:21-26 says, “Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassion’s never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him.’  The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.”
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Reprinted from an article by Dean Isaacson 10 Feb 2008.

“So the administrators and the satraps went as a group to the king and said: “O King Darius, live forever! The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or man during the next thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into the lions’ den. Now, O king, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered — in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” So King Darius put the decree in writing.

“Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.” [Dan 6:6-10 NIV]
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Yesterday, a friend stopped by the shop to visit. He has four sons and a daughter, all are high school age and above. These are smart kids; they work hard, they study hard and they make good friends. They were home schooled, for the most part.

He told me a story about his eldest son, who is in college and has befriended a Muslim. One day, his son and the friend  were visiting the multicultural center at the Muslim’s request. Of course, everyone in the center, working or visiting, is black. His son was the only white face to be seen.

While traveling on the elevator, the son and the Muslim were debating the presidential campaign and the son conceded McCain was the lesser of two evils. At that point, the elevator stopped and six burly black guys came aboard.

As the door closed, the Muslim asked the son, “So, you really think Obama is evil?”
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At breakfast the other morning, we were talking about the betrayal of Jesus Christ and His presentation before Pontius Pilate. Our study was from Matthew chapter twenty-seven. The church leaders and local politicians of the day, no matter the evidence, chose to ignore the deity of Christ and moved Pilate to execute Him.

It did not dissuade them that His betrayer, Judas, gave them their money back! They hated Christ so much, they even claimed they were willing to bear the curse for slaying innocent blood, and even pass that curse down to their children, when Pilate disclaimed all responsibility for executing an innocent man.

“Envy,” exclaimed Hal. “Nothing but pure envy.” After a brief pause, he continued, “Envy is a great evil and it can lead one to murder. There is no other sin like envy. . . but what is it? What, really, is envy?”
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[this just in . . . via email from a Christian friend]

It is critical that Christians pray for the coming presidential election.  There is amazing power in united prayer.  Please print out this prayer guide and pray daily until the election.  Pray with others whenever possible.  The power of prayer can overcome any obstacle or ungodly influence and, indeed, do great things!  Please forward this to every Christian you know.

08/01–08/07 Psalm 32:6-11 - Pray that Christians will be motivated to pray faithfully for this election and that the Lord would deliver us from the wrong leaders.

08/08–08/14 Psalm 16:7-8 - Pray that the Lord would give wise counsel and guidance to His choice for president in this campaign.

08/15–08/21 Proverbs 16:12-16 - Pray that our nation will listen to the truth and not be led astray.

08/22–08/28 Psalm 18:32-36 - Pray that the Lord would arm the man of His choice with strength; that He would guide him in battle (this election), and that He would sustain him and give him victory.

08/29–09/04 Hebrews 11:32-34 – Pray that God’s man could, through faith, persevere and maintain his courage throughout this election.

09/05–09/11 Psalm 125 - Pray that those who trust in the Lord will not be shaken.

09/12-09/18 Psalm 86:14-17 - Pray that the Lord would defeat those who have no regard for Him in this election.

09/19-09/25 2Cor 12:9 – Pray that the Lord would empower and enable his man in any area of weakness.

09/26-10/02 II Kings 13:16 - Pray that the Lord would put His hands on the man of His choice for president (and his team) and guide them in this election.

10/03-10/09 Proverbs 1:5-7 - Pray that God’s man will listen with discernment, add to his knowledge, and receive wise counsel in this campaign.

10/10-10/16 John 16:33 - Pray that the man of God’s choice would be given wisdom and ability from the Lord to overcome any obstacle or difficulty during this campaign.

10/17-10/23 Acts 17:30 - Pray for repentance for yourself and for our nation.

10/24-10/30 Luke 12:54-57 – Pray that God’s man and our nation will be discerning and do what is right.

10/31-11/06 Phil. 4:13 - Pray that the Lord’s choice for President will have special strength and unusual ability from God.

11/07-11/11 Habakkuk 1:5 and 3:2 - Pray that the Lord would do something that would utterly amaze us and give His servant victory.

During the days of Nov. 7 - 11, be encouraged to set aside a time of fasting during these days to commit this election to the Lord in whom we put our trust.  Acts 14:23

Remember 2Chronicle 7:14: ‘If My people who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.’    And, The USA sure needs the Lord’s healing!!

[Flame Ministries - September 2008 Newsletter]

You will probably be hearing about an event called “Loving God and Neighbor in Word and Deed: Implications for Christians and Muslims” so . . . read on . . .

In October 2007, 138 Muslim religious authorities and organizational leaders, representing 41 nations, issued a letter addressed to Christian scholars and clerics of every denominational stripe.  It is called A Common Word Between Us and You.  In response, a document was produced by the Yale Divinity School entitled, “Loving God and Neighbor Together: A Christian Response to a Common Word between Us and You,” published on Nov. 13, 2007.  (more…)

This just in from Jackie Juntti: According to today’s Seattle P-I, a Republican fair booth worker was handing out fake three dollar bills with an image of Barak Hussein Obama wearing a turban and an inscription, “IBD14UOK” (I be de one for you, OK).

The reactions to this are a perfect sequel to my post yesterday, The Sin of Cain: Attitude or Action? Once again, the world is horrified if someone finds a little humor in the truth or something like it, at a public person’s expense. What is wrong with a little laugh -especially in politics? There used to be a saying, “If you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen.”

True to their politically correct form, the politicians reacted. “Snohomish County Republican Chairwoman Geri Modrell said she started making phone calls Tuesday morning as soon as she heard the bill was being distributed. And by the time she got down to the booth that afternoon, the bills had already been removed. ‘I sincerely apologize to the Democratic Party for any perceived offense - personally, I find it somewhat offensive myself,’ Modrell said.”

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revised from an article written by Dean Isaacson ©2004

“What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son , go and work today in the vineyard.’
“‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
“Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go. Which of the two did what his father wanted?
“‘The first,’ they answered.
“Jesus said to them, ‘I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.’”  [Mat 21:28-32 NIV]

In 1994, the Republican Revolution turned Washington State politics on its head. They swept the House and increased their seats in the Senate of this formerly Democrat dominated State. However, as the biennium approached its close, it was clear very little of the promised reforms had received ever so much as a committee hearing, and most of the efforts of these newly-powerful Republicans were spent on bad law - even law that was opposed to the laws of the Bible.

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