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.

While it is commendable to be industrious and productive, we must resist the urge to trust on our assets to provide for our needs. Often when our assets are in the black, it is easy to “trust” God because we think we are financially safe. But when our assets are in the red, we tend to panic and beg God to deliver us. On both occasions, we are trusting in our assets. We are not seeking the kingdom.

Note here: In both passages above, Christ is not referencing the Kingdom of Heaven. Nor is He talking about His return, or reigning kingdom. Both times, He is talking about His Father’s kingdom, or the Kingdom of God, which He came to reveal. Therefore, we are instructed to pray for God’s kingdom and to seek God’s kingdom. In Luke 17:20-37, Christ describes what the kingdom of God is.

The Pharisees want a location for this Kingdom of God. Jesus’ response is that the kingdom is within us - or those who believe. “The Kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation . . . because the Kingdom of God is within you.” [v21]

Then Jesus turns to His disciples and instructs them on the coming of the Son, in His reigning kingdom - and what will be the test to prove those who had been seeking after the Kingdom of God. His warning is to pay no attention to people who claim He has come, because when He comes, we will need no notice. Christ will come riding in the clouds with lightning and thunder to announce His presence. (See also the companion chapter in Mat 24).

When He comes, it will be just like it was when Noah walked into the ark and when Lot fled Sodom: everyone will be doing what they always did before. Eating, and drinking and accumulating wealth.

The warning is the test: If you are on the roof and you see the Son of Man coming, don’t go into your house to retrieve your stuff. The same goes if you are in the field. Forget your stuff. Remember Lot’s wife. She disobeyed the command not to look back. She paused and mourned her loss - she wanted her stuff, instead of running toward God’s promise of rescue. So, she was turned to a pillar of salt. If you try to keep your life - or your stuff - you will lose your life. This is the night one will be taken and the other left (Luk 17:30-35).

If we are seeking the Kingdom of God, we will not be worried about our stuff. And when we see Christ return in redemption and great destruction, we won’t be looking for our stuff.

Now the disciples wanted a location for His return, or reigning kingdom. Jesus just rebuked the Pharisees for looking for a location. And He just described His coming with lightning, thunder, destruction, power, and such. Can we miss it? This is His response: “Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather.” [17:37] That our minds are even on our stuff after Christ’s description of His return is a demonstration of the death that easily grips us. And in this graphic way - relating to circling vultures, Jesus says again, if you look to the sky, it will be obvious when I return.

Where is our mind? I speak to myself as to anyone else in this matter. It is so easy to worry about our stuff, our finances, our life here on earth. When we do this, we are not seeking the Kingdom of God. In fact, Christ says we are following the ways of the pagans. (Mat 6:32) To seek first the Kingdom of God is to “worry” about God’s stuff.

• Have I been a witness with my life and my words today?
• Have I helped those God put in my path?
• Am I looking forward to Christ’s return - do I want Him to return right now?
• Am I praying for God’s Kingdom, or my kingdom?
• Am I praying “Thy will be done” or “my will be done”?

Peter warns us that everything in this world, including all our hopes and dreams - and our stuff, will be destroyed. Then he asks us, “What kind of people ought you to be?” [2Pe 3:11] We ought to live holy, godly lives - seeking first the Kingdom of God. That is how we speed His coming. We look forward to a new heaven and a new earth - the home of righteousness, not stuff.

He was the father of my friend, Jackie Juntti. In the thirties and forties, he was a favorite at rodeos all across the nation. He was a stunt man and double for Tom Mix and he and Rex were on many television shows. He married Helen Beck and she starred with him in his famous cowboy acts.

A while back, Jackie asked if I could get photos of her dad up on the web. So I built a website, JackCase.com. The background of the site is the letterhead for Jack Case’s rodeo business. The menu is stacked above the original left column, with artwork matching the original. However, the menu does not work in IE6.x or lower. So, we placed an additional menu to the right of the stationary. This is a work in progress and if you visit from time-to-time, you will find more images for your viewing pleasure.

Surf on over and take a look at  the site.

The URL is: http://jackcase.com/jack-case/

I don’t know how widespread this is, but I do know it is happening on a continued basis right here in Lewis County.  I don’t know all the parties either.  I had thought it was centered on Riverside Nursing and Rehab Center in Centralia.  However, I have since come across a case where the man is not in a nursing home, he has home care.  The one name I see most often is attorney Scott Blinks of Vander Stoep, Remund, Blinks and Jones in Chehalis.  But he is not the only one.

How it works is an elderly, disabled person with money and/or assets is identified.  Someone goes to court and alleges the person is not competent and petitions for appointment of a guardian.  A guardian ad litem is appointed for the victim.  The guardian ad litem then bring a doctor to interview the victim to see if he is competent.  The interview consists of firing questions at the victim so fast he or she cannot answer.

The guardian ad litem then makes his report to the court that the person could not answer questions and is not competent to take care of his or her own needs.  The judge, looking at all these reports, and not having the victim in the court, approves the arrangement.

Everyone who put the scam together gets paid, full bore, out of the assets of the victim.  Heck of a deal, isn’t it?

I first became aware of this about a year ago when I was asked to notarize a document for an elderly woman here in Winlock.  She had been in Riverside, and in spite of having family close by, she also had assets and they were going to get them.  She escaped, but everyone who was in on the scam against her got paid out of her money.  She couldn’t get around much, but her mind was clear.  Since then, more and more cases keep coming up.

This has got to be stopped.  Someone has to take an interest in protecting these vulnerable people.  Does anyone care?  What is going to happen to me for bringing it up?  Or is it already happening?

Don Lynch
360-785-4519

Since just before the election of Barack Obama in November, it has been interesting and quite shocking that a forty-year old, seemingly forgotten radical group called “Weatherman” is getting so much attention. Of course, Obama denies any connection to old Weathermen. Here’s a quick history of the “Weathermen” and why it’s relevant to a new president calling for an undefined “change.

You’ve heard the famous names: Bill Ayres, Mark Rudd, Bernadine Dohrn and Jeff Jones, among others. Today, Ayres describes himself as a professor; Dohrn is his wife and a clinical law professor, Jeff Jones, predictably is an environmentalist and political consultant, and Mark Rudd is now a teacher. Just normal Americans, living their lives. Really?

In 1962, Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) was born. It was a radical organization of college students. SDS quickly became the opposition to the Viet Nam War. They organized demonstrations on college campuses across the nation to mobilize students to take “direct action” against “racism, poverty and war.” In 1963, SDS got involved in “community organizing”, teaming up with the Black Panthers, the Hispanic Young Lords, and other radical organizations.

By 1966, SDS was moving in a revolutionary Marxist direction. Their demonstrations and marches became violent clashes with police, many turning into riots. About the same time, SDS was joined by the Progressive Labor Party (PL), a self-styled Marxist-Leninist-Maoist party, dedicated to implementing communist ideology.

By 1969, a majority of SDS found the PL’s strict Marxist ideology too restraining, hurting organizing and recruiting efforts. At the same time, SDS leaders were looking for a more long-term agenda to bring about a communist revolution in the United States. Simply fighting the war was too limiting. In June 1969, SDS held a raucous convention in which the PL was tossed out of SDS and a new faction took control. That faction was called “Weatherman.” It issued a long, rambling manifesto detailing the future direction of the movement. The document was entitled “You Don’t Need A Weatherman To Know Which Way The Wind Blows.” The title was taken from a Bob Dylan song.

The manifesto detailed Weatherman ideology and the means to create a Marxist revolution in “Amerika.” Some of its chapter titles include: “The Struggle for Socialist Self-Determination;” “Black Liberation Means Revolution;” “Anti-Imperialist Revolution and The United Front;” “The Revolutionary Youth Movement – Class Analysis;” and “Repression and Revolution.” The document called for a class war against America’s free market society. It talked of joining up with Marxist revolutions around the world, in China, in Cuba, and more. It called for the creation of a “Revolutionary Party.” Above all, it called for war against what Weatherman called “Amerika.”

Why is that significant today? Because the authors of the document were the leaders of Weatherman – Mark Rudd, Bill Ayres, Bernadine Dohrn, Jeff Jones, and others. Weatherman’s first public act was what it called “Days of Rage.” It called on students to leave their classrooms and engage in three days of violence and street demonstrations. They smashed windows of businesses and cars, and attacked police lines. Mark Rudd himself was arrested in Chicago while leading the violence. The result of the three days of violence was 287 people arrested, 800 automobiles and 600 windows were smashed. The combined bail was over $2 million.

In spite of the damage, Weatherman was disappointed with the turn out of demonstrators. They had hoped to bring thousands to the streets, rather than the three to five hundred who turned out. Mark Rudd and the other Weathermen concluded that white people weren’t ready to engage in revolution, as did their “black brothers” in the Black Panthers. To win, decided the Weathermen, whites had to share some of the cost of revolution by “picking up the gun.” To not do so was racist, they believed.

That decision led Weatherman leaders Ayres, Dohrn, Rudd and Jones to make the decision to declare war on “Imperialist Amerika” by going underground to foster direct violence against the state. They then became known as the “Weather Underground.”

During their reign of terror, the Weather Underground bombed corporate headquarters, burned ROTC buildings on college campuses, and even planted a bomb in the US Capitol building. They used anti-personnel bombs filled with nails, staples and other shrapnel designed to hurt and kill people. Several of those bombs were planted in police stations resulting in the murder of Police Sgt. Brian McDonnell in San Francisco; another officer was permanently maimed and two others were injured in that attack. A police informant, Larry Grathwohl, who working inside the Weather Underground, reported that Bill Ayres planned the bombing and Bernadine Dohrn planted it. There were more such bombings in other cities. Later, Mark Rudd was the sole survivor of a bomb explosion that went off as he was building it in a Weather Underground safe house in New York. That bomb and more were to be placed in a dance hall at the Fort Dix Army base. They would have killed hundreds of soldiers and their dates.

As they engaged in their revolution, the Underground would, from time to time issue “Communiques,” much like Osama Bin Laden does today, to send messages to followers. In “Communique #1 From the Weather Underground,” it reads, in part, “Hello. This is Bernadine Dohrn. I’m going to read A DECLARATION OF A STATE OF WAR” (emphasis hers). In the document she warned, “Within the next fourteen days we will attack a symbol or institution of Amerikan injustice.” It was issued on May 21, 1970.

On June 9, 1970, came “Communique #2 From The Weather Underground.” It reported, “Tonight at 7 PM, we blew up the N.Y.C. police headquarters…. The pigs in this country are our enemies…. The time is now. Political power grows out of a gun, a Molotov, a riot, a commune…and from the soul of the people.”

There’s much more to the history of violence and revolution pulled off or attempted by Ayres, Rudd, Dohrn and Jones (and others in their clan). But these examples should give anyone enough of an idea as to their dedication to destroying America.

But what does that have to do with today? And how does it connect to Barack Obama? The bad boys and girls of the Sixties like to portray themselves as just some college kids that got a little carried away. It’s in the past, says the news media. It has nothing to do with today – or Barack Obama, say his supporters.

It is vital that Americans understand that these were dedicated revolutionaries determined to destroy America, by violence if necessary. They used every means possible to recruit America’s youth into their revolt. They marched in the street, chanted pro Mao slogans, started riots, disrupted schools, burned college buildings, and eventually bombed symbols of the American establishment they hated, resulting in the deaths and maiming of police officers sworn to protect it.

These were not just over-active college kids. The agenda they followed sought to destroy every aspect of American life. They hated private property and wanted it all redistributed with no ownership – like the communes they chose to live on. They hated free enterprise and wanted all business run by the workers – no bosses, no owners. The only private business they would tolerate were those run by individuals that hired no one. They knew to achieve these things they had to start by changing the history taught to a young generation in the schools. They hated religion and wanted to run it out of the country. They hated the family unit, saying it subjugated women, who should be liberated. They sought to build divides between the rich and the poor, creating a class struggle in America that really didn’t exist before. And they didn’t hesitate to use violence to achieve their goals.

When the violence failed, the Weatherman core and their followers didn’t give up or fade away. They remained underground in a new way. They melded into society, they took teaching positions in college to reach that younger generation. They took jobs in the media to take control of its message. They worked their way up in the hated corporations to gain control of policy. And they surged into government at all levels, boring into the core of America, to impose their agenda at every chance, from the Federal government to state legislatures to city councils. Today, for example, we have Congressman Bobby Seal, one of the infamous Chicago Eight; State Senator Tom Haydon, the founder of the SDS and another of the Chicago Eight.

It’s interesting to note that a great number of the members of the “revolution” went into the environmental movement. Unable to get Americans to outright accept Marxist ideology in their revolution, instead they wrapped it all in a nice green blanket of environmental protection. Ever since, under the banner of environmental protection Americans have happily tossed their liberties on the bon fire like a good old-fashioned book burning. They accepted the premise that private property and business must be controlled or destroyed, simply for the good of the environment. It’s not just a happy coincidence. In this way, the revolution of the sixties is now progressing at a rapid pace.

And what of Ayres, Dorhn, Rudd and Jones?

Ayres took the route into education as a professor. But that certainly hasn’t replaced his activism for the cause of communism. Recently he traveled to the new red Mecca, Venezuela, a nation quickly falling behind a new red curtain of tyranny under Hugo Chavez. Ayres is influential enough with the new American-hating dictator to meet with him and appear on the same platform. There, Ayres proclaimed his support for “the profound educational reforms underway here in Venezuela under the leadership of President Chavez. We share this belief that education is the motor-force of revolution… I look forward to seeing how you continue to overcome the failings of capitalist education as you seek to create something truly new and deeply humane…” Does it sound like Ayres has changed a single stripe from his “college activist” days?

Mark Rudd also went into education. He feels at home there, after all, he is the man who shut down Columbia University with a student strike in the Sixties. And he is still active in the cause. Recently, he turned up making comments on a radical blog called Rag Blog, where he attempted to calm nervous “progressives” (a new euphemism coined a few years back to provide cover for those who didn’t want to be called communists). The “Progressives were growing nervous by the cabinet appointments Obama has been making. These people are so radical that they actually consider Hillary Clinton to be from the right! Of course keeping a bunch of old Clintonestas, not to mention a Bush holdover like Secretary of Defense Gates, has caused great concern for those who thought Obama was the answer to the revolution. Said Rudd, the Obama appointments are part of a deliberate strategy to “feint to the right” and “move left.” He said, “Any other strategy invites sure defeat.” Rudd, to be sure, wants Obama to be victorious in his goals. Now why would that be? Rudd is a dedicated communist, yesterday, today and tomorrow, seeking to destroy the American way of life.

Jones is now a political consultant and a dedicated environmentalist. One of his clients is the Natural Resources Defense Council, a radical environmental group made up of some of the most radical and most vicious lawyers ever assembled. Some on Capitol Hill have called them a street gang. They are revolutionaries in suits. They intimidate companies with their lawsuits and delight in suing the government to get their way. Their lawsuits help stop the drilling of American oil and American logging, and more. And when they win, they fill their coffers with taxpayer money as reimbursement for their legal costs. It’s the proper place for a former underground terrorist.

Dohrn is Ayres’ wife. They went underground together in the old days of the revolution. Today she continues to spread her brand of revolution by reaching into the community of families as a clinical law professor and director of the Children and Family Justice Center at Northwestern University. She forces children’s rights today to create tomorrow’s revolutionaries.

Still, what is the Obama connection to these dedicated revolutionaries? It’s perhaps ironic that all four former Weatherman terrorists today work through an organization called “Movement for a Democratic Society.” That organization is the parent to another one called “Progressives for Obama.” They raised funds for Obama, they promoted his candidacy, and they helped to recruit activists to support him.

In the past forty years, Ayres, Dorhn, Rudd, and Jones have not been heard from in the mainstream media. They have not been an issue in a presidential election. They have not openly promoted or supported a candidate, snubbing even John Kerry and Bill and Hillary Clinton as not being revolutionary enough for their agenda for the destruction of America. Until now – until Barack Obama. These four are dedicated Marxist revolutionaries. Why now? Why Obama? You don’t need a Weatherman to know why.

“In Chicago, January 2003, Barack Obama was chairman of The (State) Senate Health & Human Services Committee and played a major role in pushing through Senate Bill 1332.  The Bill reduced the number of (Planning) Board members from 15 to 9, making votes easier to pass. Board members would be appointed by Governor Blagojevich.” (Hilites mine - Crowe)

“Stuart Levine sought Board reappointment and told Blagojevich he would vote however they wanted when approving projects.”

“Jennifer Thomas, a former Blagojevich aide, testified that she attended weekly meetings at Tony Rezko’s office between spring 2003 and November 2004 where Rezko said Levine should be reappointed.” (Blagojevich and Rezko were working together and it appears that Obama was either knowingly involved or extremely naieve and easily duped.)

“Planning Board nominees were all major contributors to the campaigns of Blagojevich, and then US senate hopeful Obama.”

“On June 30, Michael Winter, who served as a funnel for money paid through an investment firm, donated $3,000 to Obama.  Obama also received contributions directly from appointees Jack Carriglio and Anthony Abboud.”

“In June 2003 - Rezko held a lavish fundraiser for Obama at his Illinois mansion, providing key seed money to launch his U.S. Senate campaign.”

“On July 15 the Board’s then chairman, Thomas Beck, brought a $1,000 check to Rezko to make sure Blagojevich reappointed him. Beck was reappointed. Beck testified that Rezko told him Blagojevich was set to appoint Rezko’s three doctor friends to complete the voting bloc:  Dr Michel Malek, Dr Fortunee Massuda and Dr Imad Almanaseer. Malek gave $25,000 to Blagojevich and $10,000 to Obama.
Massuda gave $25,000 to Blagojevich and $2,000 to Obama. Almanaseer gave $3,000 to Obama.”

“A June 2003 email shows Obama received the names of the Planning Board nominees in advance from the office of David Wilhelm.  Wilhelm headed Blagojevich’s 2002 campaign for governor. Planning Board nominees were all major contributors to the campaigns of Blagojevich.”

Towner’s research shows that, “Rezko was a major fundraiser for Obama’s presidential campaign and helped to bankroll Obama in five election runs - for the state Senate, U.S. House and U.S. Senate. Obama said he sometimes talked strategy with Rezko daily. (Rezko is now in prison awaiting sentencing on corruption charges.)”

Are we, the watching public, to believe that Obama really ‘didn’t know’ what these people were all about? Considering his relationship with Rezko and his role in passing a bill that favored Blagojevich’s desire to control the decisions of the Planning Board, Obama could not have been so naive.

These facts should be of concern to all Americans, no matter how much the media, party talking heads, and Obama supporters wish to ignore it.  It is like the proverbial elephant in the room that no one wants to notice or talk about, and he is getting more constipated by the minute!

It stretches credulity that Obama, purportedly one of the brightest minds and political strategists in America, could be so ‘outside the loop’ in Chicago politics, when in fact, he was right in the middle of it all!

Obama’s credibility, integrity, judgement, and credentials (and those of his campaign team) to occupy the White House are now, unavoidably, in question.  He is either incredibly naive, or a willing participant in the corrupt political machine that has plagued Chicago for decades. Whichever, his qualifications to be President of the most powerful nation in the world are now in serious question.

If Obama’s Chicago connections had been investigated thoroughly and reported honestly by a doting media (as had been done to Sara Palin), the American people might well have chosen otherwise. Hopefully, for all Americans, and for our well being as a nation, the truth will not be suppressed.

David Crowe
Director

*  Zee Towner’s Sources include: “Trial testimony, Chicago Sun-Times, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune”

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.

Deep in unfathomable mines
   Of never - failing skill,
He treasures up His bright designs,
   And works His sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
   The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break
   In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
   But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence,
   He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,
   Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
   But sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err,
   And scan His work in vain;
God is His own Interpreter,
   And He will make it plain.

This reminds me of one of my favorite verses:

Let the morning bring me word
     of Your unfailing love,
     for I have put my trust in You.
Show me the way I should go,
     for to You I lift up my soul.
Rescue me from my enemies, O LORD,
     for I hide myself in You.
Teach me to do Your will,
     for You are my God;
May Your good Spirit
     lead me on level ground.
[Psa 143:8-10 NIV]

As you look to Christ, may your spirit be lifted this Christmas season and throughout the coming year. Amen.

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.”

v5f - Paul left Titus on Crete to raise up leaders in every town. The criteria for an elder:

1. Blameless,
2. Husband of one wife,
   1. This is obvious, Paul is talking about divorce and faithfulness, but some people want to split hairs, claiming he means non-polygamous, to allow for those who have been unfaithful to be in positions of leadership and preaching.
3. Whose children are believers and not wild and disobedient,
4. Not overbearing,
5. Not quick tempered,
6. Not given to drunkenness,
7. Not violent,
8. Not pursuing dishonest gain,
9. Hospitable,
10. Loves what is good,
11. Self-controlled,
12. Upright,
13. Holy,
14. Disciplined,
15. Holds firmly to the trustworthy message as Paul taught,
    1. So he can encourage others by sound doctrine, and
    2. He can refute those who oppose sound doctrine.

v10f - Speaking of sound doctrine: Paul refutes those “of the circumcision group,” the Judaisers.” These were those who taught you cannot be saved without following the law. We see this today: those who want to add rules to being a Christian. But it comes down to Paul’s warning in Hebrews chapter ten, that if we add to our faith, we are trampling on the cross of Christ. Paul also refutes this false doctrine in the book of Galatians. We come to Christ by faith. It is the Holy Spirit within us leading us in obedience that causes us to do good works but we cannot add good works to our salvation.

So, Paul says they claim to know Christ but deny Him by their actions. The actions are two-fold: one the one hand, you have the Judaisers, and in the modern sense, some fundamentalists, who add works to faith for the obtaining of salvation. On the other hand you have those who are lazy and do not want to leave their life of sin. Both deny Christ by their actions and neither one is saved, whether they gave a confession of faith or not.

Titus chapter two:

Paul reinforces the importance of sound doctrine, without which error will creep into the church. In chapter three, he ends this segment with a warning to avoid foolish controversies. In every instance that he preaches on sound doctrine, he tempers with this warning. It is human nature to be carried to extremes. Thus, “sound doctrine” could be carried to the extreme of the Jewish leaders and their book of Torah, where they even define how far one can walk on a Sabbath. Sound doctrine always leads to following Christ with a pure and faithful heart but it never adds works or frivolity to our faith.

A list of things to teach (in accord with sound doctrine):

1. Teach the older men to be
   1. temperate,
   2. worthy of respect,
   3. self-controlled and
   4. sound in faith, love and endurance
2. Teach the older women to be
   1. respectable in their lifestyle,
   2. not slanderers,
   3. not addicted to much wine,
   4. teach what is good.
   5. Then they can train the younger women
3. The younger women should be taught by the older women (as opposed to male teachers) to:
   1. love their husbands and children,
   2. be self-controlled and pure,
   3. be busy at home (not busybodies travelling the globe in their SUVs),
   4. be kind,
   5. be subject to their husbands (sensitive one in these modern, feminist times).
4. Encourage the young men to be self-controlled (encourage, as opposed to teach?)
   1. Set them an example by doing what is good
   2. In teaching demonstrate
      1. integrity,
      2. seriousness,
      3. soundness of speech that cannot be condemned (as opposed to the modern practice of frivolity and pushing the envelope)
5. Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything
   1. try to please them,
   2. not talk back to them,
   3. not steal from them,
   4. demonstrate integrity and faithfulness and so make the teachings of the gospel attractive.

Sidenote: The Bible, while not promoting nor condemning slavery, recognizes the reality of it. Paul told those who were slaves, if they were able to obtain their freedom (lawfully) to pursue it (1Co 7:21). Nonetheless, regardless of status, we are all slaves of Christ and we are to act in that respect.

Here is the fundamental of what Titus was instructed to teach:
“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldy passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope - the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, [who are] eager to do what is good.” [v11-14]

Titus chapter three:

Continuing the list of teachings in sound doctrine:

6.    Teach the people

a.    to be subject to rulers and authorities,
b.    to be obedient (as opposed to being rebellious),
c.    to be ready to do whatever is good (this requires keeping your eyes open as well as maintaining a pure heart),
d.    to slander no one (even politicians you do not like),
e.    to be peaceable and considerate,
f.    to show true humility to all men (while humility is not being a milk toast or a doormat, we serve Christ first and others over ourselves).

Paul reminds us that we were once foolish and caught up in the world with all its passions, sin and hate, but God saved us, “not because of the righteous things we have done, but because of His mercy.” [v5] This reminds me of Daniels prayer:  “We do not make requests of You because we are righteous, but because of Your great mercy.” [Dan 9:18] So, it is not because of us but because of God and His plan - keep that in mind. And we are reborn and renewed through the Holy Spirit, given generously to us through our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Because of this, we should hold to sound teaching, or doctrine, but not get caught up in “foolish controversies,” or “disputable matters,” as Paul says in Romans chapter fourteen. We hold to truth but we do not create division. Division is properly defined as dividing people against Christ. A divisive person is to be warned, once, then twice. The third time, have nothing to do with him. This person condemns himself and demonstrates that he is “warped and sinful.”

Philemon:

Paul asks Philemon’s permission to free his servant so that he is available to work with Paul. As we said before, the Bible is generally neutral on slavery, neither condemning nor condoning, except for specific instances. Most people understand that slavery is wrong, with few exceptions. In America, we condemn it and we stand in judgment above our predecessors with little regard or acknowledgment for the realities of the day. Slavery is real today in most the world: and those who condemn our predecessors (as if their fault were our own) fail to address the injustice around the world today.

Paul recognized that Philemon’s slave was his property. Regardless his views on the institution of slavery, he could not stand in judgment of his brother, nor could he declare his slave to be free because of his higher authority. Instead, Paul gracefully requests freedom on behalf of Onesimus. The Bible does not tell us the outcome of this request. Paul has confidence in his brother to do the right thing and it is reasonable to assume that is what happened.

With that run-through, here is what I see as the key verse to the book: “I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.” [v6] Isn’t it true, the more we share our faith in Jesus Christ, the more we understand what God has rescued us from?

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.

v9f - “He saved us and called us to live a holy life - not because of anything we have done but because of His purpose and grace.” Once again, it is all about God’s will. This reminds me of what Paul said in Eph 2:8-10 “. . . saved by grace . . . not by works . . . For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Christ is our Creator and God had all this planned in advance, including what He wanted us to do. God designed each one of us, especially those who are His, to accomplish part of His plan. That is why we must work out our salvation and live holy lives, so we can be His instrument.

God brought His grace to light through the death and resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ. He destroyed death and through Him we can see life and immortality (eternal life). We are no longer bound to darkness, sin and death. The world will choke this message and that is why Paul suffered for the gospel. But because of our hope in Christ, he is not ashamed to suffer. He is convinced that what he has labored for God will be guarded until the day we stand before Him.

chapter two:
v1f - Stand strong.
1.    Entrust the gospel to reliable men who will, in turn, entrust that gospel to others;
2.    Endure hardship.

Paul gives the example of the soldier, the athlete and the farmer and he told Timothy to reflect on this. That is for us as well. Read the passage and reflect on the application to our lives.

Though Paul is chained, the gospel is not. We are to endure hardship and be diligent to speak the gospel so that all the elect will hear and “obtain salvation in Jesus Christ.”
1.    If we died with Christ, we will live with Him.
2.    If we endure hardship, we will reign with Him.
3.    If we disown Him, He will disown us.
4.    If our faith becomes weak, He remains faithful.

14f - Warn our brothers against quarreling about things that don’t matter. This reminds me of Romans 14 and Paul’s warning against dividing the brothers on disputable matters. This is not an order to stand down on doctrine. In the fourth chapter of 1Timothy and 2Timothy, Paul warns against falling for, or allowing, loose doctrine and false doctrine. We stand on doctrine, but we do not divide on the things that do not matter.

This goes along with the next verse: ” . . . a workman who is not ashamed . . . who correctly handles the word of truth.” Then, the next verse, “avoid godless chatter.” Once again, Paul hammers the message: Stand on truth, hold firmly to doctrine but do not become involved with the frivolous and do not divide on things that do not matter.

This has been the downfall of many. Paul implies here that many who have professed faith in Christ were not truly saved and their teaching has destroyed the faith of others. But God knows those who are His and if we are among them, we have an obligation to live a holy life. Paul gave the example of place settings for daily use and others instruments used for a banquet. Then we are admonished to clean ourselves up and make ourselves useful for a banquet.

This goes along with the next verse: “Flee the evil desires of youth.” And clean ourselves up, if you will, by pursuing righteousness (holiness), faith, love and peace, calling on the Lord with a pure heart. This verse is part of a trio:
1.    Flee overcomes the flesh;
2.    Faith overcomes the world (1Jo 5:4); and
3.    Resist overcomes the devil (Jam 4:7).

This section begins with a warning against quarreling and ends with a warning against quarreling. Paul instructed Timothy to patiently instruct “in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.”

Everyone is created to accomplish a part of God’s purpose; more so for the elect. Satan has taken some captive to do his will. We live a holy life so that we are useful to God - banquet dishes, if you will. We stand firmly for the truth, holding firmly to doctrine, but we do not divide on disputable matters and we do not quarrel. Our hope is not in the affairs of this world. It is in Jesus Christ who destroyed death and conquered Satan. God’s purpose will always trump Satan’s will. That is our hope and we will see it if we endure hardship.

That is all the time. We will catch some more on our next run through the book. Tomorrow is the book of Titus.

The article titled, “Swedes Confront Shift To Right,” begins with recounting the origin of the Nobel Prize and the current celebration in Sweden. Then, she continues with support for and quotes from anti-war activists in that country. She praises those who do damage to property under the guise of, as she says, “the biblical prescription of Isaiah 2:4, turning ’swords into plowshares’.” In this, she dramatically misuses the Scriptures because this is not a “biblical prescription.” It is a prophesy of Christ’s reign on earth, that He will bring peace and nations will then turn swords into plowshares.

Suddenly, the article shifts from the Nobel Prize and anti-war activists and focuses on Sweden’s Prime Minister, Fredrik Reinfeldt. She credits his ability to shift the country from the left to the right due to consultations with Karl Rove and his visit to George Bush. She claims Reinfeldt wrote a book in 1993 where he claimed “the welfare state should only prevent starvation, nothing beyond that.” [her quote, not the book]

“This week, a new coalition of center-left political parties formed to challenge this rightward drift,” she claimed after expressing her concern for the new focus on tax relief, cutbacks in social-welfare and “the silent war on the labor movement.”

Now comes the confusing part: Her final paragraph appears to be a repudiation of the failed labor movements and social policies in Sweden and America, in an apparent warning that what did not work in Sweden will not work in the United States.

“The U.S. electorate has thoroughly rebuked the Bush administration, handing Barack Obama and the Democrats a mandate for change on issues of war and health care, among others. One of the world’s leading laboratories for innovative social policies, Sweden is now wrestling with its own future. Those seeking change in the U.S. would be wise to watch Sweden, beyond Nobel week.”

Whatever it is she meant, I am going to have to agree with her as written: We have watched the failed policies of the left in Sweden and America. The last thing our nation needs is a race to socialism. And I do not believe the election of Obama was a mandate for the failed liberal policies of the Democratic Party nor for the failed labor practices forced upon our corporations by the unions. If the right was rebuked by this election, it was for getting off track and adapting the policies of the left, clinging to power over principle.

The voters claim to be looking for change, what they really want is principle.