With All of Your Heart

“5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your body
And refreshment to your bones.”
Proverbs 3:5-8

“28One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?” 29Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord; 30and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ 31“The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Mark 12:28-31

There is not a Christian living who hasn’t gone through ‘dry spells’ when they didn’t feel that God was near, or that He was directing their steps. The phrase, “Leaving us to our own devices.” comes to mind, the idea that God gave us the Bible to show us how to live, the Spirit to live in us, and is now like the absent landlord of the parable who bought a piece of land, set workers to maintain it, and then traveled off to a far country.

It all comes down to faith, friends, in a way that you might not have thought of. Or you could be nodding your head, far ahead of me already: Faith in something seen is not faith. Remember Hebrews 11:1-
“1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2For by it the elders obtained a good report. 3Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.”

God is indeed working in every moment of our lives; we simply are limited in our vision. In our corrupt physical bodies we cannot appreciate the 99999999999.9999999999999999amount of work which God does every millisecond of Eternity. That is why we are commanded to ‘not lean on our own understanding’.

The dry spells? God knows why they happen. My guess is that they are opportunities to draw closer to Him, seek Him because the dry spells make us miss Him.

If you are trusting God ‘with your whole heart’, loving God ‘with your whole heart’, and leaning on faith, not your own understanding, my friend, don’t worry about the dry spells. Accept that God is in charge, directing your steps, my steps, and all the events taking place on the world’s stage. Just because we cannot understand all that He is doing, that doesn’t mean that He is not doing it. It just means that we must accept on faith that he is in control. What does God tell us all through His word? “Don’t Worry!”
It’s just like the song:
“Because He lives,
I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives,
All fear is gone.
Because I know
He holds the future
And Life is worth the living
Just
Because He lives.”

Advice to Those Who Would Print Classified Information in Time of War

Harry Anderson, artist. U.S. Government Printing Office. 1943

Loose Lips Sink Ships

le

These Fifty United States

I received this in one of those emails that go on and on, I imagine, and I like it. It's just a list of of mentions of the Almighty from our state constitutions. Enjoy!

Alabama 1901 , Preamble. We the people of the State of Alabama, invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish the following Constitution.
Alaska 1956, Preamble. We, the people of Alaska, grateful to God and to those who founded our nation and pioneered this great land....
Arizona 1911, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Arizona, grateful to Almighty God for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution...
Arkansas 1874, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Arkansas, grateful to Almighty God for the privilege of choosing our own form of government...
California 1879, Preamble. We, the People of the State of California, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom...
Colorado 1876, Preamble. We, the people of Colorado, with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of Universe...
Connecticut 1818, Preamble. The People of Connecticut, acknowledging with gratitude the good Providence of God in permitting them to enjoy.....
Delaware 1897, Preamble. Through Divine Goodness all men have, by nature, the rights of worshipping and serving their Creator according to the dictates of their consciences...
Florida 1885, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Florida, grateful to Almighty God for our constitutional liberty, establish this Constitution...
Georgia 1777, Preamble . We, the people of Georgia, relying upon protection and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish this Constitution...
Hawaii 1959, Preamble. We, the people of Hawaii, Grateful for Divine Guidance . Establish this Constitution...
Idaho 1889, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Idaho, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings...
Illinois 1870, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Illinois, grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy and looking to Him for a blessing on our endeavors....
Indiana 1851, Preamble. We, the People of the State of Indiana, grateful to Almighty God for the free exercise of the right to choose our form of government....
Iowa 1857, Preamble. We, the People of the State of Iowa, grateful to the Supreme Being for the blessings hitherto enjoyed, and feeling our dependence on Him for a continuation of these blessings, establish this Constitution...
Kansas 1859, Preamble. We, the people of Kansas, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious privileges, establish this Constitution...
Kentucky 1891, Preamble. We, the people of the Commonwealth, are grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties...
Louisiana 1921, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Louisiana, grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties we enjoy....
Maine 1820, Preamble. We, the People of Maine, acknowledging with grateful hearts the goodness of the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe in affording us an opportunity .... And imploring His aid and direction.....
Maryland 1776, Preamble. We, the people of the state of Maryland, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberty...
Massachusetts 1780, Preamble. We...the people of Massachusetts, acknowledging with grateful hearts, the goodness of the Great Legislator of the Universe .. In the course of His Providence, an opportunity and devoutly imploring His direction ..
Michigan 1908, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Michigan, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of freedom, establish this Constitution.....
Minnesota 1857, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Minnesota, grateful to God for our civil and religious liberty, and desiring to perpetuate its blessings:
Mississippi 1890, Preamble. We, the people of Mississippi in convention assembled, grateful to Almighty God, and invoking His blessing on our work....
Missouri 1845, Preamble. We, the people of Missouri, with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, and grateful for His goodness .. Establish this Constitution.
Montana 1889, Preamble. We, the people of Montana, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty establish this Constitution.
Nebraska 1875, Preamble. We, the people, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom. Establish this Constitution.
Nevada 1864, Preamble. We the people of the State of Nevada, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom establish this Constitution...
New Hampshire 1792, Part I. Art. I. Sec. V. Every individual has a natural and unalienable right to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience.
New Jersey 1844, Preamble. We, the people of the State of New Jersey, grateful to Almighty God for civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing on our endeavors....
New Mexico 1911, Preamble. We, the People of New Mexico, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty...
New York 1846, Preamble. We, the people of the State of New York, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to secure its blessings.....
North Carolina 1868, Preamble. We the people of the State of North Carolina, grateful to Almighty God, the Sovereign Ruler of Nations, for our civil, political, and religious liberties, and acknowledging our dependence upon Him for the continuance of those....
North Dakota 1889, Preamble. We, the people of North Dakota, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, do ordain.....
Ohio 1852, Preamble. We the people of the state of Ohio, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings and to promote our common ..
Oklahoma 1907, Preamble. Invoking the guidance of Almighty God, in order to secure and perpetuate the blessings of liberty.. establish this ...
Oregon 1857, Bill of Rights, Article I. Section 2. All men shall be secure in the Natural right, to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their consciences..
Pennsylvania 1776, Preamble. We, the people of Pennsylvania, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, and humbly invoking His guidance...
Rhode Island 1842, Preamble. We the People of the State of Rhode Island grateful to Almighty God for the civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing....
South Carolina, 1778, Preamble. We, the people of the State of South Carolina grateful to God for our liberties, do ordain and establish this Constitution....
South Dakota 1889, Preamble. We, the people of South Dakota, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberties....
Tennessee 1796, Art. XI.III. That all men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their conscience...
Texas 1845, Preamble. We the People of the Republic of Texas, acknowledging, with gratitude, the grace and beneficence of God....
Utah 1896, Preamble. Grateful to Almighty God for life and liberty, we establish this Constitution.
Vermont 1777, Preamble. Whereas all government ought to enable the individuals who compose it to enjoy their natural rights, and other blessings which the Author of Existence has bestowed on man.....
Virginia 1776, Bill of Rights, XVI. Religion, or the Duty which we owe our Creator can be directed only by Reason and that it is themutual duty of all to practice Christian Forbearance, Love and Charity towards each other....
Washington 1889, Preamble. We the People of the State of Washington, grateful to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution...
West Virginia 1872, Preamble. Since through Divine Providence we enjoy the blessings of civil, political and religious liberty, we, the people of West Virginia, reaffirm our faith in and constant reliance upon God ..
Wisconsin 1848, Preamble. We, the people of Wisconsin, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, domestic tranquility ....
Wyoming 1890, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Wyoming, grateful to God for our civil, political, and religious liberties, establish this Constitution.

Now, I haven't checked all these, so if you notice an error, please let me know and I will correct it.

le

Basics

Sometimes we have to get back to the basics.

28And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
31What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? 33Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; 34who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. 35Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36Just as it is written,
“For Your sake we are being put to death all day long;
We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:28-39

I do not worry about tomorrow, even when my tomorrows are filled with troubles.
If we allowed ‘tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, or sword’ to separate us from Christ, we wouldn’t be His followers.

46While He was still speaking to the crowds, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him. 47Someone said to Him, “Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside seeking to speak to You.” 48But Jesus answered the one who was telling Him and said, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” 49And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, “Behold My mother and My brothers! 50“For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.”
Matthew 12:46-50

And how do we ‘do the will’ of our Heavenly Father? Believe on His Son. It’s that basic.

Fine Dry Political Whine

My friend Kevin suggested the title and I’m going with it!

What’s up with the rise in popularity of anti-Judaism among the (I want to say far) left? Read this article by Robert Goldberg, vice president of the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest, and you will be as dumbfounded as I was to read of the anti-Semitic sentiments of the Moveon.org Action Forum members.

"Mel Gibson's [anti-Semitic] erroneous, raging, and drunken words are closer to the true sentiments of most American democrats and other voters than it's governments, politicians, Jewish, and media's sterile support for Israel."

Eighty-seven percent of MoveOn members approved of this post. William Kristol has more to say here .

Want to hear something that is just strange? Scroll down to the heading regarding Bob Dylan and have a listen . Am I wrong or does not something seem amiss? Well, if you don’t think so, maybe you will after hearing what was said on Dylan's Theme Time Radio Hour by steel player Kevin Moore, transcribed at YudelLine.

“When I look at the Bible, and they say, this is the book about God's word, I don't think God is that confusing. Why would God write such a confusing book? I think it's written by men, trying their best to interpret the word of God. Everything is the word of God, because we're all the product of God. I think God has showed up in many, many books, God has shown up in songs, God has shown up in a lot of places, so I think that the Bible gets too much credit for being the only word of God.”

Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.

You know I’d never say that the left is on the side of the Jihadists. But I do think it's fair to say the Jihadists are very fond of the left, as they find many of their statements a la Fahrenheit 911 and various and sundry newsmakers of the left to be helpful in their efforts.

Did anyone else think that it was wrong when Democrat politicos made a veiled threat to pull ABC’s license if they dared to show The Path to 911 without censoring certain portions?

“The Communications Act of 1934 provides your network with a free broadcast license predicated on the fundamental understanding of your principle obligation to act as a trustee of the public airwaves in serving the public interest. Nowhere is this public interest obligation more apparent than in the duty of broadcasters to serve the civic needs of a democracy by promoting an open and accurate discussion of political ideas and events.”

As Mr. Victor David Hanson from Clear Politics said:

“When ABC cut portions of the most controversial segments before airing the film, there was no outcry from the American Civil Liberties Union that has so often and so loudly lectured us on the dangers not merely of government censorship, but of insidious self-censorship as a result of public pressures. Nor did the New York Times or the law faculty of Harvard University rush to the producers' defense, despite the long-held and self-acclaimed commitments of both to free speech and the First Amendment at nearly all costs...”

I hear you, Mr. Hanson.

Okay, enough whining! Have a lovely day.

le

Correction 09-15-06 I incorrectly stated that Mr. Robert Goldberg was chair of the UJC. He is, in fact, vice president of the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest. Also Kevin Moore was just a steel player on the radio show, not Mr. Dylan's steel player. Thank you for correcting me, Mr. Yudelson.

Dunkin’ Douglas

The water really wasn’t too cold. What with it being September and everything, and a cool evening.
I am now a full member of the church I’d been visiting for a few years, having been baptized last Sunday afternoon along with a couple of other candidates. I didn’t need to join the church, but I felt that God was directing me to do so, and I’m glad that I did.
I had been baptized in another church some 20 years ago, and if I had stopped by and asked the Pastor to look it up, I could have shown a document to my new church and not needed to be baptized again.
Baptism is an outward act of an inner change, showing that we have died to our old nature, been buried with Christ, and, having had our sins washed away by his blood, risen again a new creation in Christ.
So why did I go through the ceremony again, nearly 30 years after becoming a Christian? Submission.
That’s a word that usually sets off ‘cult radar’ as men have often twisted scripture to set up their own little cults, where they tell their followers to submit to their authority. Let me state right here that I’m talking about being submissive to God, and His established pattern for Christians.
We are called to come together in worship, teaching and edifying each other, encouraging each other as we follow the path that God has set us on.
Paul’s letters to Timothy and Titus show how a church should be set up, and James warns his readers not to forsake assembling together.
We do better as a group, a body of believers. When I began visiting my church, I didn’t speak up right away in the bible studies, as I had been in other churches, and didn’t want to bump up against different doctrinal beliefs. Instead I learned, and am learning. And in my submitting to the request of the elders of the church that I be baptized, I am respecting their authority, their leadership. They are good men, and ours is a good church family. It is a wonderful thing to be where God wants you to be, and I praise Him for leading me to become a member of the church family.

Dawn of a New Day

I was having my morning coffee, catching the news at CNN’s website, when I noticed something about a plane accident in New York City. I moved on and was visiting my other ‘bookmarks’ but after a few minutes I thought I should go back and read about that airplane. Then I ran to the TV just in time to see the second plane hit.

That was how I discovered that 9-11-2001 would be burned into our consciousness forever, just as December 7th, 1941 had been 60 years earlier.

Consider this an open post to share, if you’d like, what 9-11-2001 was like for you.

He Didn't Have A Plan To Win The Peace

War begets war begets war and no one is safe. Children are dying and it’s hard to get anyone to stop shooting long enough to care.
The chances for Peace are fleeting like Summer in September, and the fault lies with strict adherence to a game plan that is not working.

There. Have I summed up the main points of those who do not believe that Jesus Christ is our Lord and the Savior of the world? It’s hard to believe that He is in control of the world when there is so much chaos and pain, suffering going on. Hard to believe, that is, if you don’t actually believe that He is God.

Consider this. Man is living in a fallen, corrupted world. Sin actually put us in opposition to God, makes us God’s enemies. But Jesus does have a plan to win the Peace, end our war with God, and His game plan took Him to a cross on a hill known as Golgotha.

When you hear of unrest anywhere in the world, ask yourself if it is caused by sin. Keep a copy of the 10 Commandments nearby while watching TV or surfing the news, and put a checkmark next to the Commandments as they are broken.
Palestinians want Israeli land? Coveting.
Iraqi insurgents killing everybody? Shalt not kill.
Iran wanting to nuke Israel for Allah? You shall have no other God before Me.
You get the idea. You’re not seeing random acts of violence. Or calculated acts of terror. You are seeing Sin. Sinners working out their own destruction. And that Sin has an expiration date.
A man’s individual sinning is finished only when he dies. But Sin itself in all of its permutations: Hate, War, Evil, Injustice, etc. will be wiped out when our Lord returns and wipes it out.
It is an article of faith for Christians that God is taking care of us, working out things in this world for our benefit. That doesn’t mean that everything is pleasant, or that we will never have troubles. We have buckets of troubles, even as Christians. But sometimes the troubles we endure are put in our lives to draw us closer to God, build our faith through struggles and tribulations. And I guarantee you that it is hard to see God’s plan for our lives when, for example, a child dies. That hits us where we live. But no matter whether or not we can understand His purposes, our lives belong to Him, and we must trust in His Sovereignty.



37 Who is there who speaks and it comes to pass,
Unless the Lord has commanded it?
38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High
That both good and ill go forth?
39 Why should any living mortal, or any man,
Offer complaint in view of his sins?
40 Let us examine and probe our ways,
And let us return to the LORD.
Lamentations 3:37-40