Seriously? You Expect Me To Be Thankful For This?

As I write this, I’m unable to be with my family today, have numerous personal struggles, and have friends who are struggling to eat – much less walk in the fullness of their calling and careers.

On the national front, we see not only record poverty and unemployment, but - perhaps far worse - a poverty of character and moral compass that we as a nation used to be able to fall back on in crisis's of past.  A majority in our nation are enslaved by ignorance through a lying media and they continue to empower mostly spineless, weak and/or corrupt narcissists to spend our money and enslave all of us even further in more ways than we can imagine.  Communist owned Hong Kong is more economically free and former Soviet satellite Estonia may actually be a more free democracy than ours.

Seriously?  You expect me to thankful for this?

To the atheist or agnostic, (or self-absorbed) all that I can offer is that thankfulness is a key ingredient to happiness.  Researchers have proven that gratitude improves emotional and physical health, and it can strengthen relationships and communities.  Of course this required the subjects to FOCUS on what they grateful for as opposed to bitching and moaning about every problem they faced.  And if you believe that there is no purpose to your life other than a your carbon dioxide enrichment of our atmosphere – good luck with that.

However, the unfortunate thing is that without the acknowledgement of a Designer of your life you are akin to the kid who can only lick the cake batter spatula (after all your siblings and the family dog) as compared to feasting on the double fudge chocolate confection of REAL thankfulness to God that we Christians have.  Or are supposed to have despite crap hurricane that seems to never stop.

And for those that don’t just suspect or mentally suppose the existence of a Higher Power, but truly LEAN ON and TRUST Him, there is a much richer understanding and power available to you.

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NKJV)

Interestingly enough, the Apostle Paul wrote this amidst similar political upheaval.  Despite enormous paganism and the worship of thousands of Gods throughout the land, Christians were – at best – thought of as annoying cult of weirdo’s (not that much different from today, right?) and – at worst – were targeted for death by Jews who felt they were a threat to Judaism.  Remember Paul himself had been a Christian killer not too long before this.   And Rome’s new emperor, Claudius, had just succeeded Caligula who was assassinated by Senators and his own Praetorian Guard.  You think Obama’s bad?  Here is the Wikipedia short description of Caligula:

An insane emperor who was self-absorbed, angry, killed on a whim, and indulged in too much spending and sex. He is accused of sleeping with other men's wives and bragging about it, killing for mere amusement, deliberately wasting money on his bridge, causing starvation, and wanting a statue of himself erected in the Temple of Jerusalem for his worship. Once, at some games at which he was presiding, he ordered his guards to throw an entire section of the crowd into the arena during intermission to be eaten by animals because there were no criminals to be prosecuted and he was bored.

The point is, the “will of God” of being THANKFUL for those of us who believe in God isn’t subject to the success of our political freedom or prospects.  Which is very hard sometimes for us to grasp.

When I first heard this scripture in my 20’s after becoming a Christian, I thought “So should I be thankful if I get in a car accident and loose my arm?”

Many well intentioned Christian denominations have made it even harder by a false teaching that God inflicts us with these problems to make us stronger or to teach us “character.”

Funny, I can’t remember a SINGLE incident where a paralytic approached Jesus to be healed and Christ said, “You haven’t learned humility quite well enough yet.  Come back in two years after you’re REALLY grateful that you’re even alive.”

No!  Instead Jesus healed EVERYONE who came to Him.  And He went further telling us to ASK ANYTHING we wanted from Him.  And He reasoned that God gives GOOD things, not evil things when we ask:

…what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

Matthew 7:9-11

It is difficult for even Christians to fathom (let alone non-Believers), but GOD is “Love” as the bible states, and He is also an uncompromising Judge for perfection in thought as well as actions.  But as the reference from Matthew explains – we are to identify with God as “Daddy” first and foremost above His identity as the Supreme Ruler of the Universe who could snuff out our life with a mere thought. 

This shouldn’t be so foreign to us.  We ALL carry multiple labels and perceptions that differ from our family, our friends and those that work with us.  The child of a special operations Army Ranger RUNS to his father, even if there was a rifle in his hand, because that child knows that their relationship is in the bounds of “Daddy” and not “Sniper.”  That child doesn’t give a second thought to a misuse of his daddy’s power or intention against those who are enemies.  And it doesn’t make his father any less of a badass to Islamic terrorists who desire to do unspeakable things to that soldier's son.  (Just like the devil by the way.)

Go look it up.  JESUS always called God “Abba” (which means “Daddy”) except for the one instance where He took upon Himself all of our sin and condemnation and judgment on the cross. 

Yes, there will be a day of judgment.  But Jesus hasn’t come back to do that yet. 

And when we TRULY know God as Jesus did, (as Daddy) not only do we gain the gift acceptance, love and approval (bought for us by the perfection and blood of His ONLY truly “genetic” Son Jesus), we also now place ourselves in a position to RECEIVE from God what we ask and what we need.   TALK ABOUT A REASON FOR BEING THANKFUL!

(Did you get that?  Not only does the most powerful Being in the Universe SEE YOU like His perfect Son with NO sin, you can ask HIM FOR STUFF and He’ll HEAR YOU!)

Doesn’t the scripture tell us in one town, Jesus could not heal many because they simply couldn’t BELIEVE that He could or would?  Didn’t the “good” son in the parable of the prodigal never get a pig roast and party from the father simply because he never asked – or thought he could?

BELIEVING that God is good EMPOWERS you to receive from Him!

The first thing we should be grateful for is that God loves us each, individually as BELOVED children – regardless of how “good” we are since it is the blood of His Son that makes us righteous in the Father’s eyes.

And the second thing we should be grateful is that GOD IS WILLING to change our economy, our political and tax enslavement for us and our children.  HE said to ask him for “good things.”  Asking for a rebirth of FINANCIAL and POLITICAL FREEDOM qualifies, just as it did for His people enslaved in Egypt.

But it requires FAITH.  And here is the secret: THANKFULNESS that God will grant us what we ask.  (Because we know it is already granted to us by our Father – even before we ask for it!)

When talking about Wisdom, James says:

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. ⁶ But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷ For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸ he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

James 1:5 NKJV

The disciples were SHOCKED when Jesus merely spoke death to a fig tree and a day later it shriveled up.  He explained:

And Jesus, replying, said to them, Have faith in God [constantly].

Truly I tell you, whoever says to this mountain, Be lifted up and thrown into the sea! and does not doubt at all in his heart but believes that what he says will take place, it will be done for him.

For this reason I am telling you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe (trust and be confident) that it is granted to you, and you will [get it].

Mark 11:22-25 AMP

Notice Jesus said “GRANTED” as in PAST TENSE.  So our prayers for ourselves and our country should be in the EXPECTANCY that He is NOT done with us yet (as George Washington foresaw) and that He WANTS us to prosper as a Godly nation again.

If we ever needed anything lifted from the “dead” the state of our nation is it.  How did Jesus raise Lazarus? HE THANKED GOD THAT HE WOULD DO SO.

And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.

⁴² Yes, I know You always hear and listen to Me, but I have said this on account of and for the benefit of the people standing around, so that they may believe that You did send Me [that You have made Me Your Messenger].

⁴³ When He had said this, He shouted with a loud voice, Lazarus, come out!

⁴⁴ And out walked the man who had been dead, his hands and feet wrapped in burial cloths (linen strips), and with a [burial] napkin bound around his face. Jesus said to them, Free him of the burial wrappings and let him go.

John 11:41-44 AMP

Do we really think that complaining to each other – or God - about how bad Obama, the abortionists, the big bank cronies or race baiters are will change a single one of them?  We are fools if we think so because NO WHERE did Jesus or the disciples say, “If thou bitchest loud enough I will reenact the face melting scene of Raiders of the Lost of Ark upon those that violate the Constitution and blaspheme My Name.”

Even the Old Testament – which required “works” instead of faith (as is to those of us under the New Testament privilege of Jesus’ blood) said:

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 heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV)

The word “seek” (baqash) carries with it a demand, to require something.  In this case it is to get God’s attention.  IF you know Your Daddy is predisposed to your wellbeing and requests, especially those that are His Will, we now pray (as we read earlier) EXPECTING that we already have it.  The Apostle John put it this way:

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

1 John 5:14-15 (NKJV)

So what we are THANKING God for is not just the amazing grace and mercy He has shown us in not already allowing America to turn into Islamabad, but in EXPECTATION that He loves us, He has a covenant with us as a country, and that OUR BELIEF in His Goodness and in His Promise will be seen to glorify Him.

It’s NOT in our control but His.  But our FAITH that He will intervene essentially is “Thanksgiving in advance” for what we ask.

So yeah.  HAPPY Thanksgiving.

THANK YOU Lord that You are merciful and gracious to us individually, and as a country. 

Thank you that you DO still have a mighty work for America in demonstrating true FREEDOM with Your righteousness to the world, and positioning us again to be a FORCE FOR GOOD. 

THANK YOU for exposing and removing the pernicious political playmakers who have been subversively undermining our Constitution, our banking system, our economy and our culture and please Lord RELEASE Your Holy Spirit across this nation and give us pride once again in a nation UNDER GOD and Indivisible for You.

Amen. 

 

 

Jesus gave thanks BEFORE He multiplied the loaves and fishes for the 5,000.

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How Not to Be A Turkey (Like PolitiJim was) On Thanksgiving Day

There are some practical reasons to be thankful.  According to coverage by Breaking Christian News, being “thankful” can give you:

• Stronger immune systems and lower blood pressure

• Higher levels of positive emotions


• More joy, optimism and happiness


• Acting with more generosity and compassion


• Feeling less lonely and isolated

But when you are faced with very real problems of health, family problems, money problems, or just a general discouragement from a loss of Hope (or “change”), it takes an act of faith to be thankful when you don’t feel like it.

Thankfulness is not just a "glass half full" mental trick. It is a POWER that God promises will bring us into the very gates of God.  It also releases self-proclaimed curses on our lives. But you have to BELEIVE it works, for it to do so.

I used to hate the idea of looking at the poverty stricken paralytic in a third world country just to be grateful for something.  I even remember when I was an adventuresome young rebel wondering what was so special about “peace of mind” all the old people kept crowing about.  I WANTED ADVENUTRE NOT PEACE!  After years of trials (both self-inflicted and otherwise) I BEGGED for a few months of no drama and no turmoil, not realizing what a gift it really was.  And what’s funny is that I could have had it ALL ALONG, had i learned simply not only be thankful for little things but also to speak them as words of gratitude.

“How are you doing, Jim?”  (And then I’d list the 300 things that weren’t quite up to my idea of the perfect life.)  Guess what – I ALWAYS was slightly miserable because I ALWAYS wanted “just a little bit more.”

¹⁵ All the days of the desponding and afflicted are made evil [by anxious thoughts and forebodings], but he who has a glad heart has a continual feast [regardless of circumstances].

Proverbs 15:15 AMP

Medical science proved long ago that FEELINGS follow both WORDS and ACTIONS.  Depressed people became “un-depressed” when they exercised.  Plants REALLY do respond to words of love and caring versus hatred …or simple indifference.  Your words to yourself – and to God – are no different.

But what most of us do is let our WORDS and ACTIONS follow our feelings (or our pessimistic observations of our circumstances) rather than having a “glad heart” and finding the best we can in the situation.

The parable of the talents that Jesus gave provided a KEY.  You remember a Master gave ten servants a “talent,”  One person made a 1000% percent return (10 talents) and God gave them 10 CITIES over which to be in charge.  Another traded 1 talent into 5 and also made the Master very happy.  However, a “worthless servant” gave God back his original talent and then complained to God how worried he was that God would require more of him than he could provide.  He was fearful and thought it would be safer just to return the original “talent” back.   

The PolitiJim version of the bible explains God’s answer:

God:  Because you SAID I was a “hard and cruel Master,” therefore I AM that to you.  And the talent you gave back to me I’m going to give to the guy made 10 talents from 1.

Although the bible records the astonishment of the other servants that the “rich were getting richer” and God didn’t give it to one of the other less productive servants (Liberals would say “less fortunate”), we have no record of how the other seven servants did.  We certainly have no record of them SPEAKING their (bad) attitudes to God like the worthless servant did.  The REAL version of the bible continues with this (famous quote):

For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.

On the other hand the One Talent Wonder’s attitude even robbed him of fractional interest being too discouraged to even put it in the bank.  And he SPOKE words that cursed himself.  While this is a strong argument that God is indeed not only a capitalist, but a Venture Capitalist and a “personal responsibility” guy, the bigger lessons prove true in real life.  That is that:

• Complaining about how bad you got it will only rob you of what you already have.  (Words have POWER.)
  
• Having a belief that God will help you to prosper if you put to work WHATEVER He has given you is the ONLY option on how to face the unknown.
  
• Being grateful for the OPPORTUNITY not only will keep from what you have being taken away, it gives you a chance for 500% to 1000% returns in all areas of your life.

I am thankful for God's device of "thankfulness," His Goodness, His unmerited favor in doing things for me that I'm not even aware of - and the promise that He wants to (and will) give me EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANTLY EVERYTHING BEYOND ANYTHING that I can ask or think. In fact, He ALREADY has given it. In the gift of His Son.

So, not only am I saying “don’t worry, be happy,” I’m urging you to “don’t blame God or anyone else, but be thankful and get to work.”

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

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Sometimes You Just Need Someone To Believe In You

Cubs Outfielder Bryan LaHair is an overnight success and is on his way to playing first base at the MLB All Star game next week. 

“…to think that after my first full year on the books I’d be an All-Star, it’s kind of crazy.’’

Only one thing.  He’s not a child prodigy like Starlin Castro and he can’t blame the other “Castro” in Cuba for living in communist country that wouldn’t let him out.  He’s 29 years old and has spent over 5 years in the minors waiting.  Working.  And waiting some more.

Some of you may feel the same way about your lives.  Just like Bryan, you KNOW where you are at isn’t where you are supposed to be.  You can feel it.

‘‘I had a dream when I was little that I played in the major leagues and was an All-Star,’’ said LaHair, who got emotional last Sunday when he was told of his selection. “

Some of us have caused many of our own problems.  LaHair can relate.  In speaking of his coach (who is now the GM of the Toronto Blue Jays) he says:

‘‘I didn’t exactly take [Ricciardi’s] advice all the way through,’’ said LaHair, who was the Massachusetts high school player of the year in 2000 before going undrafted after a Clemson commitment and a perception that he was unsignable dropped him from consideration as a potential pick in the first five rounds. ‘‘I mean, if I would have listened to him, who knows? Maybe I would have been a first-rounder.’’

LaHair was drafted in the 39th round.  That’s like the round where the Big’s start laying claim to All City League players in juvenile detention.  And after your co-draftees start rising up through the system, or giving up to go back home, it takes a toll on your ability to believe.

It’s tough to do it by yourself.  His coach was key.

‘He always believed in me,’’ LaHair said. ‘‘He always told all the scouts, always told the GMs, always told all the agents that I was going to be a real good player and had a real shot.’’

If you’re like PolitiJim, you’re happy for Bryan LaHair but you can’t help but wish you had someone like that.  And perhaps in the middle of your pity Spring Break, it might dawn on you there is Someone who does.  Or perhaps many someone’s whether they are currently in your life or not.  It may be one small encouraging word from a teacher from 7th grade, or an Aunt you seldom saw.

But know that that dream wasn’t put in you to waste away.  And also know that even more than you believe in God, He believes in you.

I wrote an article yesterday on how we Americans have to BELIEVE that God isn’t done with our great country yet for Him to work. 

The same is true for the destiny you dared to dream once.  Keep waiting expectantly.  Keep doing what you can to improve your skills in that area.  Trust God and one day, like Bryan LaHair, you’ll finally get called up to live your dream.

God IS faithful.

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All quotes from the GORDON WITTENMYER column in the Chicago Sun Times.

Photo: ESPN - Benny Sieu/US Presswire

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America’s Best Days Are Ahead

It’s not hard to feel like it’s lunchtime in America and all that’s on the menu is a crap sandwich with a side order of French lies. Joel Rosenberg’s IMPLOSION focus (namely that the moral corruption is leading us to not just a cultural meltdown, but an economic and political one as well), isn’t that hard to fathom when our government and media not only is built on lies, but it defends them.  As we all were supposed to learn in kindergarten, if you lie and steal it doesn’t turn out well.  As many of us learned in grade school, if you keep lying and stealing, life gets harder and harder.  If the teachers have no morality, not only does the school cease to function in it’s purpose, they raise platoons of intellectually and moral perverse young people.

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WARNING: For those of you A) do not believe in God and/or B) do not believe in the power of God via prophecy, healings and the like -  this will likely annoy you greatly.  I do my best to give objective references for those, but this article is not really written for you.  It is written for those “who call on the Name of the Lord.”

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The President is literally destroying the economy and the Constitution of the United States.  Media and government refuse to address the crimes he perpetrated to get in office, or the ones he continues to perpetrated to stay there.  Even those who seem to be on “our side” either spinelessly cave to the fear of man, or worse, perpetrate their own abuses for selfish ambition over principle.  It seems like right now that the wicked succeed at everything they do, and the “righteous” are schmucks for doing what is right. 

But our best days are ahead of us.

Sure, it’s easy to see things going to hell when those sworn to defend the Constitution not only allow clear perversions to take place, but perpetrate them.  But may I suggest one thing?  Change doesn’t take place without those who believe.

That works both ways.  Barack Obama and his merry Marxists believed they could change this country to one of European socialism and they fearlessly continue to do so despite obvious problems for all the world to see.  But they are succeeding in their belief of god by government.  The bible even says

^{Prov 16:30} He who shuts his eyes to devise perverse things and who compresses his lips [as if in concealment] brings evil to pass.

I’m amazed at how much power one single person’s belief and tenacity can defeat enormous forces against them.  Colleen Vera is a retired school teacher of 30 years.  She was incensed that a “fake” county school board was illegally double taxing Houston residents and splurging it on 5 star restaurant meals, payoff’s to political cronies and themselves and worse.  The “fake” district itself had zero students, but performed services by taking bad students from other schools although taxpayers already pay for theses services to be provided by the state through other state taxes.  Through her researching and blogging on TexasTrashTalk.com, she stopped a rate hike that the county’s own tax assessor showed wasn’t necessary.  She helped force a change in the rules that finally allowed more than 3 citizens to speak at the board meetings.  She has stopped thousands of dollars from being spent on frivolous and not so frivolous expenditures.  She also stopped what surely was an attempt by a Soros backed, Malcolm X advocate getting a foothold in the Harris County GOP and this corrupt institution.  You wouldn’t believe the disparaging remarks and pressure put on her by the Board of this group and others.  It would have been easy to second guess what she was doing and all the beneficiaries of her work – Harris County tax payers – kind of shrugged with amusement.

It boggles my mind how much corruption and waste would have rolled forward without her effort.  None of the major newspapers, TV stations, radio stations (whose job it is to do this) not only weren’t on top of this, they just didn’t seem to care.  The same is true with Donna Laframboise, the creator of NOconsensus.org who has single handedly brought truth to the sinister plans of the United Nations and the World Wildlife Fund’s to exploit the “fake” global warming movement to gain control over nations.  At the True the Vote National Summit, there was a panel of 5 everyday humans who started looking at the integrity of the vote in their respective states.  Cathy Kelleher just an average realtor in Maryland, was shocked to find that her team was the only one looking into this in her entire state. 

“We questioned 5400 irregularities in one single county that simply shouldn’t exist.  And rather than appreciate the help, the people in government whose job it was to make sure the voter roles were accurate actually began to defend the inaccuracies rather than just fix them.  I couldn’t believe that not only weren’t the people who were being paid to do this not doing it, but that if we hadn’t – it might still not have gotten done.”

So, you can keep cursing the darkness in the cavern – or light a candle as this patriot did in taking seriously her responsibility as a “We the People.”  You will be surprised how many patriots will come along side your efforts as they have the original 5 founding patriots at Election Integrity Maryland experienced with 75 people now committed to their cause.

I personally (as you see from my posts) don’t think it is helpful to ignore the problems or to only present the “positive” spin on everything.  The Resurrection of Christ is meaningless without also knowing he was crucified.  And running farther and faster than the boundaries of your enlightened candle allow will at least result in bruises if not into an unexpected chasm you didn’t see coming.  But there is a spiritual truth that dwelling on how bad things are actually CAUSES more bad things to come.

^{Proverbs 15:15} All the days of the desponding and afflicted are made evil [by anxious thoughts and forebodings], but he who has a glad heart has a continual feast [regardless of circumstances]. (Amp)

Suburban mom Catherine Englebrecht of True the Vote could have just tweeted the how terrible the Texas voter fraud was and – it might have made a few people unaware.  But helping Rick Scott and Florida purge millions of dead people and illegals from voter roles, and suing the State of Indiana to do the same with Judicial Watch wouldn’t have happened without BELIEVING something could be done about it.  Being personally pilloried in the local and national press as a “racist,”  and being personally sued by the Soros surrogates would have been fine times to say it wasn’t worth the financial, emotional or relational stresses on her and her family. 

She believed the best days were ahead of us, for her, her family and our country.

American Idol star Danny Gokey appeared at Lakewood Church in Houston to give a short testimony and sing his song, “I Believe.”  In this clip, he describes how when his wife died and everything looked darkest, it was the process of having faith – that not only inspires and changes lives through his music and made things better for himself – but his non-profit foundation helps thousands.  All from someone who didn’t just sit and complain about how unjust his situation was.

Newt Gingrich often talks about how, in the winter of 1776, George Washington’s troops had dwindled from 30,000 to less than 3,000 and about 1/3 of those had no shoes, leaving a trail of blood wherever they went.  It would have been easy to start “rethinking” the battle, just go home and give up taking a “moral” victory for what had come to pass.  But in their most weakened condition when they were separated from their loved ones and the comforts of home on Christmas Eve, they attacked.  What gave them the gall to do so?  They believed. 

It wasn’t blind belief.  They knew the German mercenaries would be caught off guard, if not drunk and they knew they had many natural advantages.  They could have said, “what’s the point?"  Even if we win we still have less than 30% of our fellow Americans whom we are fighting for and certainly no cash to continue the next battle.”  But they chose to step out in faith, knowing the righteousness of their cause and, as we know from Washington’s letters, some sense of God’s Divine Providence.

It is important to know that the war would go on for 6+ more years.  Many more homes would be destroyed and many more would be killed.  But it was enough to give those who DIDN’T have the faith in the Divine cause of Liberty, enough to start believing themselves.  As often as I want to get mad at our own conservative media for ignoring the great forgery every perpetrated on our country, it is important to realize that some weaker people simply need the acceptance of others before they have the courage to do what is right.

Want proof we have to believe for God to work?  Jesus went to a city to heal the sick and do other miracles.  But,

… he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

Matthew 13:58

Even after hundreds cheered Jesus on Palm Sunday and only a few stayed with him during the crucifixion, God didn’t wait for the entire world to believe in Him before He gave us the Power to teach all nations about him in the Upper Room.  There were only 40 who prayed despite Jesus showing himself to over 500.  It was a one-eyed itinerant black preacher named “Seymour” in Los Angeles who stood in faith for God to move in the middle of a nation in chaos.  The country was just beginning to distance itself from the animosities of the Civil War, as well as surviving the Spanish American War.  Working conditions in most areas of the country were deplorable as the industrial revolution was accelerating.  The injustice of woman’s right to vote was building into frustration.  Drunkenness was rampant.   People felt victimized by almost every institution of society while the rapid changes in the first airplane flight, the invention of the motion pictures, and the new electrical age were frightening to many.

Similar conditions happened around the world but a few people knew that the world had lost any focus of God and/or morality in exchange for an embrace of self-ambition and materialism.  In Wales, Joseph Jenkins simply gathered some people “to deepen their loyalty to Christ.”  Not necessarily a great political strategy that Karl Rove or James Carville would have orchestrated I bet.  But just like Los Angeles and New York – the IMPACT of this humble actions of belief in a Creator who would change their world was evident.  Here is what happened in Wales:

Whole communities were turned upside down and were radically changed from depravity to glorious goodness. The crime rate dropped, often to nothing. The police force reported that they had little more to do than supervise the coming and going of the people to the chapel prayer meetings, while magistrates turned up at courts to discover no cases to try. The alcohol trade was decimated, as people were caught up more by what happened in the local chapels than the local public houses and bars. Families experienced amazing renewal, where the money earning husband and father, the bread winner, had wasted away the income and sowed discord, but now under the moving power of the Holy Spirit, following the conversion to be a follower of Jesus Christ, he not only provided correctly for family needs, but was now with the family, rather than wasting his time, and wages, in the public houses of the village or town. Souls were saved, individual lives were changed and Society itself was changed. Countless numbers were converted to Christ. (Source: truthinhistory.org/the-welsh-revival-of-1904-1905.html)

There have been many of these “awakenings” where entire regions or countries suddenly have a mass change not only in how they act – but in how they see themselves.  And lest you think it is mass hypnosis or hysteria, go Google similar reports in the Los Angeles and New York Times from the era.  One report in New York had passengers pouring out of a train in tears crying out to God in repentance of their pride and sin spontaneously.  Another report describes how the New York police force had to find other employment because crime rates dropped so low.  These “revivals” also preceded both the American Revolution and the Civil War.  Of course it is banned from modern public school textbooks but it is likely that the American Revolution would not have occurred without The Great Awakening, not only giving the colonists a renewed sense of justice and destiny, but in enlightening their thinking to the idea that God wanted every man to have an opportunity to own property and have his own “rights” not dependent as coming from either a political or religious ruler.  It also eliminated the religious schisms that might have prevented a unified rebellion, reducing the Puritan and Anglican denominations form 40% to less than 3% of the population.

Just as Jesus usurped the Pharisees and King David supplanted a controlling and tyrannical King Saul, God will orchestrate chaos to overthrow ANY entity that tries to put itself before God and his people – secular, religious or economic.  And He can move mightily in a few pioneers asking GOD to give them a pure heart – rather than those who try to convince us of their own righteousness.

The understandable fear is that if you do NOT hold up a standard of “right” and “wrong” you end up with – Lady Gaga and the 2012 Grammy Awards blaspheming the Catholic church.  But history shows these revivals and national repentances are never led by popular culture.  They are led by the Spirit of God.  The Great Awakenings, Azusa Street and the rest all started from a very small group of people crying out to God just like it did in the Upper Room. Not through billboards or even the charisma of any individual pastor or political leader. 

Could you imagine what would happen if every politician governed himself or herself on the issue of crony capitalism?  Could you imagine politicians not being told to come clean when they screwed up, but doing it themselves because they couldn’t live with their conscience?  Those trying to ridicule or manipulate people and events in secret couldn’t simply because there was no one to believe or help them in their deception?

The whole purpose of this post was inspired by an email I received this morning – describing what happened to a pastor who was meeting and praying with some government officials in the Philippines.

On Monday May 14, 2012 we were taken to meet with the mayor and other government officials of the region. The day before the mayor had attended the first service, where he was miraculously healed by the power of God. This, in turn, opened us a door to speak into the government of the region. While in the meeting on Monday morning, a powerful prophetic anointing came into the room and in the center of the table a tangible cloud began to form as I prophesied into what God was going to do in the Philippines. Suddenly, as I was prophesying the cloud took me into a vision of an open door. Then the Lord spoke to me that what I was seeing was the Door of the Lord and that He was releasing to America the key of David, once again in this hour, to unlock its destiny. I continued to prophesy to this mayor as God released this vision to me and a word for America. Unaware to those in the room, the past, present, and future was passing before my eyes. It was

And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father's house.
(Isaiah 22:22-23:)

This pastor goes on to say that God made it clear to him that God gave America a similar opportunity in the 1950’s and people were to busy with the “American dream” or to caught up in their own intellects to respond with humility and praise and acceptance to the Almighty.  At one point (1956) a preacher declared in Chicago (of all places) that since they Americans had rejected God’s offer, this movement would dry up.  In months it did.  A few years later school prayer was declared “unconstitutional” despite 7 references to God in the Declaration of Independence and continuous calls to prayer AND FASTING by Presidents from Washington to FDR.  Here are some other things that happened over the next 40 years:

• the murder rate tripled;

• Violent crime went up 544%;

• Prior to 1963, divorce had been declining for 15 consecutive years. After 1963, the divorce rate more than doubled;

• unwed birth rates 10-14 years of age shot up 553% by 1983;

• Sexually transmitted disease rates (15-19 years of age range) shot up 226% by 1975;

• the percent of children living in fatherless households increased from 6% to 40%.

For those of you who don’t believe God speaks to people anymore, (even when an agnostic investigative reporter verifies it for himself) this may all seem as important as a childhood nursery rhyme.  We won’t judge you especially since so many of us were in the same place before we experienced God’s love and mercy in our lives.  I even ridiculed and ATTACKED Christians for the foolish silliness.  Go figure.

But it is God’s nature to save His people from destruction EVEN WHEN they don’t deserve it.  Just read the Exodus!  The “believers” complained constantly.  And even when they got impatient and set up a gold cow to worship, God still brought them into a promised land.  With the terrible things our country has done to the native American Indians and to those victims of slavery, we don’t DESERVE a damn thing.  Actually, “damn” it’s exactly what we do deserve even with all the good America has done to and for us to make us the greatest country in the world, the hope of freedom and the beneficiary of God’s benevolent grace.  “God shed His grace on Thee,” indeed.

When you can grasp that it is not because we accomplished more, or were more deserving, than other nations – but because our forefathers believed in, and gratefully accepted, God’s mercy and unmerited favor, then we will be like the Roman Centurion of whom Jesus boasted had “great faith.”

The centurion answered and said Lord I am not worthy that thou should come under my roof, but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. Matthew 8:8

It isn’t believing in OUR goodness or righteousness that will turn things around, but in God’s.  It is incredibly important to read the entire thing as I’ve edited some of these thoughts, but it offers a great bit of hope to the prospect of those who still are concerned about frailties of American even if ObamaCare is repealed and someone other than Obama is elected President.  The pastor continues (empasis mine):

The Lord revealed to me that He had personally offered to many of that time this dimension of His glory. Yet, because they felt the price was too great they let the door pass before them without stepping through to the other side. God wanted to take that generation far beyond the place of simply laying hands on individuals to see miracles…

The Lord said to me that only one man tasted in a measure what He is now going to release to this generation in full. Towards the end of William Branham's life (the pastor who experienced the offer of God in the 1950’s) he tasted in a measure what God wants to pour out in abundance in this generation.

A Great Revealing of Manifested Sons and Daughters

This a time of resurrection and of great grace (Acts 4:33). God has opened to us this great door of opportunity to embrace this new place. We are going through to the other side. There will be a great revealing of manifested sons such as no generation has seen before. In this place we will speak the word only and they will be healed.

This pastor is not the only one prophesying this and many have even talked about a new season of grace on the Church beginning this year.  When you become a Spirit-filled believer you quickly learn it doesn’t matter WHO says WHAT, but what that Spirit confirms within you.  Believe me when I say, there are probably MORE so called “prophets” who get it wrong than get it right.  We are ALL always responsible to seek God and hear for ourselves what God is saying.  I urge you to do that about this word.

Intellectually, you never see God leave His people to wallow in pig pens of life, but always gives them a way back.  America wasn’t over when we fought through a civil war.  America wasn’t over when we looked outnumbered by the world in two world wars.  America wasn’t defeated in the “Great Depression” nor even the malaise of the Carter years.  Yes.  There were certainly logical economic and political changes that helped America recover from those spiritual, economic and cultural doldrums.  Our schools have buried the not only the evidence of Divine Interventions, but the published humility and petitions of our leaders who asked it to happen.  There were many Divine “coincidences” that defy explanation in winning the Revolutionary War.  A one time “deist” – and by the end of his life an admitted Christian – Benjamin Franklin put it this way:

"I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth--that God Governs the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?"

If that isn’t convincing enough you should read his letter to Thomas Paine, who was trying to deny the act of Providence (God) in the founding of the country.  Don’t forget that not only was Franklin not only one of the supreme intellectuals of America, he was also one of the leading scientists, philosophers and the founder of the first secular college – the University of Pennsylvania.

Lost in history was that the “remnant” of believers in America – did what they were supposed to do.   Believe.

And I pray, and believe, America’s best days are ahead of her, as we ask for repentance for abdicating the responsibility our founders entrusted to us in the power of WE THE PEOPLE over our government.

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Brandon Marshall Is My New Tim Tebow

 

Yep.  You heard it right.  After being pessimistically distant from any good expectations out of ‘da Bears - much less happy about who they ARE as people – I am now rooting for Brandon Marshall the way I did Tim Tebow last season.

Unlike some fans who only root for winners regardless of how immoral, crude or unlikeable their sports heroes are – I’m ain’t one of ‘em.  Having a likeable or loveable player isn’t MORE important to me than winning, but, it is a requirement for my affection.  For instance, I could never root for Mike Tyson as long as he derided common decency no matter how dominant he was in the ring.

I officially entered NFL fan free agency last year when my Bears couldn’t even lose without blaming everyone else on the team or looking like spoiled brats.  Cutler DID begin to show some sportsmanship and leadership toward year’s end but – as noted in this video – I wasn’t the only one to find him as one of the 5 most annoying players in the NFL.  Thank God for Devin Hester.  Tom Waddle dissing Pastor Joel Osteen and the supposedly Christian Coach Lovie Smith making overtly racist campaign commercials for our infanticide loving President made me feel like I was married to Janet Napolitiano. Yup.  Sick to my stomach.  I may still love my Chicago Bears – but I didn’t like them or the company I was keeping in rooting for them. 

The apologists on both national and local TV played the same old liberal violin with regards to Matt Forte’s contract blaming “the man” (who happens to be a woman) without ever acknowledging that Forte himself turned down an extremely lucrative contract to play last season without a net.  The Bears are a business, and like Chris Harris during the walkout, they somehow felt that the NFL teams owed them the right over business decisions without those players taking any fiscal risk and responsibility themselves.  Call it – Occupy NFL.  Finally, my favorite Chicago media scribe that I have bipolar opinion on – the love/hate David Haugh – said what I have been saying since LAST year.  Forte’ is a petulant prim Madonna.  Hardly worth looking forward to no matter how many games he play without getting inevitably injured as he is since arriving.

I’ve written about the terribly dishonest and non-objective reporting of the Chicago sports media at times (and more than once), but Jared Hopkins of the Chicago Tribune has written an amazing piece on former Denver Bronco and Jay Cutler teammate Brandon Marshall that may be some of the best sports writing I’ve ever read.  Only one small angle at the end rubbed me wrong, and my addressing that observation by Mr. Hopkins, is the ONLY thing I could possibly add to this well told story.

BRANDON MARSHALL Career highlights and awards

3× Pro Bowl (2008, 2009, 2011) All-Pro (2009) 2× AFC Offensive Player of the Week - Week 2 (2008), Week 14 (2009) Most receptions in a game in NFL history (21) 2012 Pro Bowl MVP 2005 Hawaii Bowl MVP Second-team All-C-USA (2005) List of records and milestones

Career NFL statistics as of Week 17, 2011

Receptions 494 Receiving Yards 6,247 Receiving TDs 34 Stats at NFL.com

Hopkins interviewed Marshall’s homeys in his old hood of Pittsburgh which prompted a call from Brandon himself:

"You want to understand me? Come and stay with me."

The Chicago Tribune reporter landed a plumb opportunity by actually living with Marshall and his wife for 3 days so that he could better “understand” him.

Hopkins points out that Marshall is the best receiver the Bears have ever had, even before he plays a single down in a slightly different shade of Burnt Orange and Navy from those hanging in his closet from Denver.  And despite Bear’s history from Tank Johnson to drug runner Sam Hurd, Marshall could also compete as the worst off field head case.  Hopkins contrasts it in two paragraphs showing two extremes:

The numbers suggest Marshall is already the best wide receiver the Bears have ever had. Since the team was founded in 1919, only one player has caught 100 passes in a season. Marshall did that three years in a row from 2007 to 2009 — an accomplishment matched by only four other players in NFL history.

But since the Broncos drafted him in the fourth round in 2006, Marshall has become known for more than his stats: Arrests for domestic violence and drunken driving. Arguments with coaches. Acknowledging he suffers from a mental illness.

So how does extreme (but hip) Jesus freak, PolitiJim dare to put Bad Boy Brandon in the saintly Tebow sphere of fan worship?  The same reason that the Apostles Peter and Paul means more to me than the Apostle John who was the “good son.”  Like the vast majority of Americans, I am only too aware of my shortcomings.  I have no illusion that after I made 5 years old, I have never been on the Catholic Church’s short list of priestly prospects.  The “perfect people” who never make mistakes are not only annoying to me, they keep reminding of me what I can never be.  When I “backslid” as a young Christian, many in the church pretty much said, “Well, God will forgive you but He can no longer use you the way he could have.”  It was clear.  I could NEVER be Tim Tebow.

Nor could the Marshall-man.  At 3 years old, Brandon Marshall saw his Dad coldcock his mom in the front seat of their car, stop, go around to the other side and do it again.  He saw hate, violence and who knows what other form of trauma and abuse before he was five years old.  He ended up repeating what he saw and was taught.  Slum survival, hood hustling or street smarts, he did what would not get him killed and bring him even a momentary shred of happiness.  And yet despite excelling physically and professionally into the NFL – he wasn’t happy, fulfilled or even enjoying his amazing accomplishments.

But he also met Jesus.  And for the first time in his life, even while he struggles with his “flesh” (as they say in religious circles), he is showing his family how to receive the grace of God and enjoy life.  I can relate to this guy much more than Tim Tebow, despite being a white, Christian conservative who lives in the former Rebel territories.

As I’ve gotten older and actually READ the Good Book for myself, I found out that the “sin once and you’re done” theology was that not true.  Former Christian murderer Paul and the lying, God-denier Peter, prove that those Christians still trying to make people be “Perfect” are theologically ignorant and unhelpful to REAL life.  Don’t believe me?  Then let’s do a little test.

Name a brand of Christianity (Methodist, etc) that is dead set against drinking.  Go on, I’ll give you a second….  Most of you likely said “Southern Baptists” and you’d be correct.  Yet, Southern Baptists have the highest reported incident of alcoholism among all denominations.  Why?  The prodigals like me can tell you – the more you tell someone what they can and can’t do, the more likely they are to fail. 

I’ll never forget going to TGIFridays after a church softball game with a Dallas Baptist church I had just joined and ordering a pitcher of Miller for the table.  (I was politely asked not only to do that again, but uninvited me from leading the bible study the next week.)   Their reaction did nothing to make me like them, much less want to be a judgmental teetoatling Baptist.  I personally never had a problem with drinking (I did it quite well thank you), but I was a male slut and a terrible liar. 

For a long time even AFTER I was a Christian, I had to admit, I didn’t even want to be a Timmy Tebow type because it seemed like you were giving up all the fun of life to go sit in a church with old ladies and drink bad Hi-C all Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday.  When God began to do miracles in my life, I suddenly found out three things:

1. There weren’t nearly as many killjoy rules as I thought, (drinking itself wasn’t a sin),
2. The “rules,” like not being a drunkard were actually beneficial physically, emotionally and relationally, and,
3. Because of all the cool stuff God was doing with, through and in me, I ended up WANTING to do good things for Him.

I wonder if I can sue the Christian church that got me saved for false advertising or malpractice?   I guess I could, but Lord knows I too have passed on bad advice to too many others to face that Karma.

Don’t get me wrong.  I love Tim Tebow and wish I had matured enough when I was younger to never get messed up with all the bad stuff I did.  But once you screw up – Tebow offers me very little hope except a reminder of what I fell short of.

Tell me, which is more heroic to you?  An athletically gifted runner who wins every race by a mile, or the scrapper who has one last chance, falls behind and miraculously comes from behind to win the only Olympic gold he or she ever will see?  Give me the 1980 Olympic Hockey team over the perennial Championship Russian National team any day.  Give me 5’ 6” Rudy Ruettiger (RUDY) over Albert Haynesworth; and Seabiscuit over Secretariat every time.

We certainly want our kids to idolize Tim Tebow over  O.J. Simpson.  But for those of us for whom it is too late to qualify for the Mother Theresa Lifetime Acheivement award, Josh Hamilton and Brandon Marshall show us that our future can succeed no matter how bad our past.

Brandon Marshall and his wife (the same one who was charged with attempted murder on him following his stabbing over a year ago) now go to church and even couples counseling.

"Me and my wife, we were doomed from the beginning because of the relationship I got out of," he says, a reference to Watley. "I wasn't vulnerable to her."
During my visit, the couple's time together is tranquil. They lounge in his theater room, watching television. They stroll along the docks after dinner, arms interlocked.

The (stabbing) incident in 2011 came two months after they devoted their lives to Christianity at an elaborate retreat for pro athletes. Two photos in the kitchen chronicle the process. Now Marshall says grace before meals, listens to gospel music.

"I didn't read my Bible every day like I do now; pray every night, every morning, throughout the day; go to church every day — because I was in the world, just like a ton of people out in the world, chasing worldly things instead of godly things," he says one day while driving.
"You get caught up in all of this" — he waves out to the cars on the highway from his Mercedes — "which is nothing. That's what consumes you. That's your god. Money becomes your god. Girls become your god. Cars become your god. Houses become your god. Clothes become your god. You start caring about what other people say about you.

"It doesn't matter. There's only one person who can judge you. There's only one person that you have to answer to, and that's God. None of these people — not you, no media, not ESPN, no coaches, no Roger Goodell. I don't have to answer to them."

He says he never thought about why his parents weren't churchgoers in Pittsburgh. He pauses. "You go into some of these areas, man, at-risk areas, poverty-stricken areas, and there's not a lot of God there," he said. "On Sunday people are watching football instead of being in church."

And this is where I have a minor issue with the writer Mr. Hopkins.  He closes his Pulitzer worthy piece this way:

At times he has created order in his life, keeping his family and his past — the chaos that produced him — behind a boundary. He wants to be seen as living in the moment — a family man, a follower of Christ, someone who gives back to the community, a man in transition.
But he cannot seem to escape trouble.

He goes on to cite an allegation by a 24 year old woman that Marshall slugged her in the face.  Scribe Hopkins then makes an observation that Brandon’s famous BEAST moniker was on his dress shirt cuffs in church and Marshall commented that “we are trying to phase that out.”

The reader can reach no other impression that Marshall is STILL grappling with his demons and could blow at any time.  It makes for a very dramatic and foreboding effect – surely aimed to excite his literary agent.

But it’s not the truth.

He wasn’t alone hanging out with thugs as the whole “nightclub” story would seem.  He wasn’t trying to pick up chicks.  Marshall’s own wife was hit with a bottle as they were leaving the New York Nightclub.  Hopkins conveniently left that part out.  In fact, if you read Marshall’s estimation you get an entirely different vibe:

Prior to the incident, Marshall said he often rationalized his attendance at nightclubs as "what you're supposed to do to enjoy life."

"Before this situation, I thought, hey, I'm still young. I want to enjoy life," Marshall said. "We have no kids yet. So let's enjoy each other. This is my wife's and my conversation prior to this incident.

It's, 'Hey, let's enjoy each other before we have children. We're finally on the right page. So before we bring children into this world, let's enjoy each other. So when the children come, we can focus on them.' "

"After this, I turned to my wife, and this is spiritually. I even talked to God, and I'm saying, 'What are you trying to tell me here?' " Marshall said. "In every situation, we learn something. We contribute to every situation. But we also learn from every situation. And in that, my wife turned to me and said, 'Maybe it's time for us to stop walking in slippery places.' "

Traded from the Miami Dolphins to the Bears in March, Marshall also described what he considers somewhat of a "tug of war" between professional athletes and their desire "to enjoy life."

"What I would say in a worldly answer is there will be a tug of war between, you know what, there's fame, there's money. This is what you're supposed to do to enjoy life, you know?" Marshall said. "That's kind of the environment, so to speak, that NFL athletes or professional athletes we put ourselves in. That's supposed to be the lifestyle."

Marshall said he and his wife weren't actually partaking in some of the elements of "the lifestyle" when the incident occurred at the nightclub.

"In this incident, it wasn't a party," Marshall said. "It wasn't something that was we're out clubbing or drinking or things like that."

And despite the very prejudicial disclaimer the reporter added, that:

Charges are not expected; no charge of violence against Marshall has ever stuck in court.

He doesn’t come right out and admit that an investigation WAS PERFORMED by the NYPD and that they announced they would not press charges.  Nor have any witnesses come forward to corroborate the story of the 24 year old chick who waited over a day to report the incident.  I guess that gold is not just dug in Denver, huh?

And I get it.  Christians are easy targets of hypocrisy.  How can you preach goodness, peace and love and 2 months later attempt to kill your husband with a knife.  Or be involved in a nightclub incident?

It’s not like we haven’t had examples from Swaggert to Haggard to prove that those that preach holiness don’t always practice it. And there certainly are many people who intentionally use the “Christian” label for PR.

But is the implication then, that since no one can tell truth all the time, we shouldn’t teach it?  Would you rather someone give up on TRYING to do good because they weren’t perfect at it yet?

This type of coverage comes from ignorance of the “born again” experience.  Was King David any less of true God-lover because he slept with a married woman and murdered her husband?  Of course not.  When you accept God as not just the One who will save you from troubles but also as the Boss of your life, only your SPIRIT becomes perfect with Jesus.  Your mind, will and emotions have to be trained and disciplined.  And God is ALWAYS willing to forgive, whether you still have to take care of the mess you made here on planet Earth.

I know this because I accepted Jesus in my teens to bail me out of all kinds of problems I was in.  When, in 24 hours, all my problems were still there, I went off and stole a car to take matters into my own hands.  I was so used to relying on my street wits – that when God didn’t show up when I wanted Him too, my fear doing nothing overcome my very new and tender belief that God really was WITH me and would direct me.

Brandon Marshall and his wife’s attempt to LEARN from mistakes of their past, and to let God change them, is FAR more inspiring to me than a Pastor’s kid who was brainwashed from birth to live by the Good Book.

I don’t mean to disparage Tim Tebow, or to diminish his temptations and trials about which we don’t know.  The truth is that Tim Tebow himself admits he’s had advantages AND that he’s not perfect.  The truth is that it is easy to sit back and judge people like Brandon Marshall because their sin is either more visible or more graphic than ours.  The truth is that Jared S. Hopkins himself, if all he did was pad his expense account or cheat on his taxes, is no less guilty of Marshall’s “sin” in God’s eyes or the other taxpayers he screwed over.  Just as it is with every person on the planet.  In fact, if you THINK you are perfect – and have done no wrong – that is a lie and a sin too.  It’s called Pride. (The bad kind.)

It’s not that there are “troubled” people and “good” people.  The Bible couldn’t be more clear that EVEN BILLY GRAHAM’S BEST work, was like old, soiled Maxi-pads.  (That is LITERALLY what the original Hebrew scripture translates into.) 

Those of us that know God (it ain’t exclusive – you can too), know that the only righteousness that exists is a FREE GIFT that comes by trusting, leaning on and believing in the Messiah.  Once you come under His authority – God sees you as if you are as perfect as Jesus – no matter what you do.  And you find yourself no longer alone, and no longer guilty.  You start to stop doing destructive things not because you HAVE to – but because you WANT to.

For the other 99% of humans that are trying to overcome the temptations of everyday life – Brandon Marshall is a stud.  He is the guy I am rooting for.  He might not just may resurrect my beloved Bears, but has already resurrected his own life. 

This is the guy I long to see miracles from  - not just on the field, but off.

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Australian Reporter Covers His OWN Healing

I’ve had and seen supernatural healings.  It’s not spooky or weird for me.  But even some people who claim to be Christians, don’t believe God (you know – the Supreme Omnipotent Ruler of the Universe and Beyond) heals people today.

An Australian reporter investigates “faith healing”….and is healed.

Read of more miracles at AwesomePower.net.

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Christians Giving Christians a Bad Name

PolitiJim loves him some Jesus.  On the contrary I have a real hard time with some of my “brothers” and “sisters” in Christ.  Jeremiah Wright would be one.  Is he even truly a Christian?  None of us knows.  Know one knows the heart of men except God.   What we DO know is the crap that spews out of his mouth.  As Thomas Sowell said about Santorum’s electability, “I wouldn’t put my rent money on it.”

I wrote yesterday (unexpectedly) about a Christian brother who wants us all to vote for the best Sunday School Teacher instead of the best man qualified to actually LEAD the country and reform our government to get back on a Constitutional footing in it’s finances to judiciary.  The mere possibility we suspect at least 4 Supreme Court Justices are willing to force tyranny upon Americans in supporting ObamaCare, is demonstration enough of how close we are to losing the heritage of Hamilton, Jefferson and Washington.  Those who ORIGINALLY pledged their lives, fortunes and sacred honor, also followed through on sending it in.  (Unlike some of you PBS or TBN telethon types.)

I have been meaning to write about the pastor that claims voting for Romney is a vote for satan and when someone sent me a video of a fiery “hell and brimstone” preacher who introduced and prayed over Rick Santorum, I thought I’d write about both. 

A preacher named Dennis Terry introduced Rick Santorum and you will see that he is very angry at homosexuality and overt sexuality overrunning our culture, the courts allowing Buddha in school but banning Jesus, and, at one point, he tells non-Christians and liberals to “get out” of his church if they don’t like what he’s saying.  Here is his full pulpit meltdown prior to introducing Saint Santorum, Supposed Savior of American Christianity.  (I’m guessing this pastor didn’t know that Rick claimed Protestants caused all this and were in “shambles.”)

Fiery Santorum Preacher Tells Athiests to Leave

On one hand, most conservative Christians would agree that our Founders would likely tar and feather all of us for letting our culture get so far away from their original ideals.  The Christian and Catholic churches BOTH decided that government was too “unholy” in the early twentieth century and abandoned it.  It has taken us 50 years to even get a place back at the table, let alone being the ones who serve the dinner or decide the menu.

But Ricks’ Pastor buddy is theologically and biblically wrong on a number of his statements and just outright foolish in his fiery rhetoric.

First, I need to tell my friends who don’t know Jesus (and now are much less likely to want to know Him), this is NOT someone showing what Jesus taught.  Contrary to the tone of Greenwell Springs Pastor here…,

Jesus is not mad at you.

And He would NEVER EVER, make you unwelcome in a church.  The only people Jesus cussed out were the religious folk.  Personally I suspect Jesus would leave with you, were you in this service.  Yes, there will be a time when Jesus comes back in judgment.  Not to “get even” or angrily release pent up hostility like some spoiled third world dictator insecure in his own power.  He doesn’t need ANY of this and is not threatened by the tiniest sin or the greatest blasphemy.  We are told He “sits in the heavens and laughs,” at men conjuring up all their plans.  We are also told that He weeps like a parent whose child is wasting or ruining their life, or a parent who has to see his child go through pain.

No – he’s given the whole planet to us, and even provided mechanisms to take back control after Adam and Eve decided to trade it for a promise much simpler than “Hope and Change.”  But not through threats, or anger or violence.  Any example is terrible, but His anger will be directed against satan and those who have tried to kill or deceive His children.

The Baptist preacher was also quite incorrect that God would come back to America after Christians had taken over the government.  It has NEVER worked that way and isn’t likely to this time.  And He doesn’t require men to get their act together before He get’s involved.

Our revolution against British tyranny came AFTER a historical spiritual revival.  As did the economic resurgence in the early 1900’s and the 1980’s.  (What? You don’t remember the “Jesus” movement?)

Laws and Government do not change people’s hearts.  (Other than depress them.)  I think one of the brilliances of Gingrich was understanding that Reagan’s conservatism would have been as temporary as that of Coolidge if people didn’t see a “payoff” to conservative ideas.  It is why he actually helped Reagan not cave to Bob Dole’s insistence to water down the tax cuts.  And in Contract With America he selected legislative initiatives that were ALREADY popular with the American people.  They rewarded the second modern conservative movement with expansion of their power in Congress and historic approval ratings.

We aren’t going to TALK people into giving up sin.  Why do you think Baptists have the highest divorce rate when they are the most (vocally) opposed to it?  What we can do is show them we are the best stewards of government and liberty, and demonstrate the financial, relational and other “successes” that make THEM choose to embrace our philosophy.  Christianity DOES offer (statistical) proof that it is the most fulfilling and happiest lifestyle.  Somehow I suspect Santorum’s Baptist preacher missed the survey.  Good thing or he might have skewed the results downward.

The Bible is unequivocal.  The “law” kills but “blessings” bring people to turn from bad ways.  Screaming about how bad people are, how much sin they commit or how “ungodly” they are won’t win a single person over.  But it will surely make those wavering consider abandoning your sphere of fear. 

My first thought while watching this was that how this will come across to MOST American voters.  It will do worse to Rick Santorum and the GOP than what Jeremiah Wright did to Obama.  The fury, you say?  One reason Wright didn’t “stick” as bad to Obama (although it did harm him somewhat) was because it was totally counter to EVERYTHING ELSE the public perceived about him.  Unfortunately, the “we are going to force our religion down down your thoughts” vibe, validates the fears about Santorum.  I have no doubt MSNBC will devote an entire hour rerunning this video.

What Lee Atwater and Reagan knew is that it isn’t WHAT IS SAID that persuades people.  It is their PERCEPTION derived from visuals and audio.  Meg Ryan can tell you to go to hell in her cute, pixie little voice and you’ll still love her.  John Kerry can tell you’ve won the lottery, but you’ll start worrying that he’s also going to tell you that the IRS wants it all.  I remember a story (if someone finds a link please post it in comments) that the mainstream media thought they had Reagan on a policy flub.  Brilliant campaign strategist Lee Atwater knew it didn’t matter because the image was of an “in charge” President that would outweigh all else.

Ben Shapiro, editor of Breitbart, emphasized this in a speech to King Street Patriots this past week essentially the same thing.  Republicans keep arguing facts, figures and logic while liberals tell an emotional story that tugs the heart.  The VAST majority of voters will allow emotion to sway them.  And in PolitiJim’s opinion, the above Baptist bombast will serve to blow not just our candidate out of the water, but our cause. (Liberal emotional advantages at 27 minute mark.)

Shapiro goes on to insist that the Obama campaign is COUNTING on diverting the campaign issues from economic to social issues and invented the contraception argument for just that person.  He singles out Santorum’s campaigning on these issues as a sure loser against Obama in the general election. (Santorum at the 47 minute mark.)

I had held back writing an article on another Christian preacher who made me sick by attacking Mitt Romney’s Mormon religion.  I actually picked Bill Keller up on my radar years ago when he started a 24/7 email and internet prayer ministry.  A few years later he launched 24 hour prayer channel.  I was enthralled with someone using technology to actually meet peoples needs and couldn’t imagine a better example of Christianity.  Until news articles began popping up about him saying some pretty weird stuff.  When he demanded a boycott of Trinity Broadcast Network and even Wallbuilders David Barton SIMPLY for supporting Glenn Beck’s Israel initiative.  David Barton who painfully researches the faith of our founders?  And the TV network that carries more Christian preaching around the world than any other network? 

These people are more mafia than Immanuel meditaters.

I wrote a long lengthy email pleading with Mr. Keller to start exhibiting the mercy and grace of our Savior and was shocked to get a reply.  A very nasty, condescending reply.  And EVERY reply after repeated attempts to appeal to him on a scriptural basis.  (PolitiJim started seriously searching scripture the excuse to revert back to his South Side roots, eviscerate this idiot and then repent later.  Never could find that scripture…..)

Only after multiple emails did the person with an email of “bkeller@liveprayer.com” and signature of:

Know that I am praying for you, be richly blessed,
Bill Keller
Founder,  www.liveprayer.com

admit they were not actually the Bill Keller, but one of hundreds of people who answer his emails.  Despite giving me his personal phone number.  I guess Mr. Keller missed those scriptures on DECEPTION.  You can read the entire fascinating email flurry here, but start at the bottom and read it (it deals with whether Beck has converted to Christianity).  If you contact this “fake Bill Keller” at the number he provided, be sure to tell him PolitiJim says hi.

Where was i?  Oh yes.  So, Mr. Keller released a letter to all Christians last week saying, “If You Vote for Mitt Romney You are Voting for Satan.”  This is aimed at CHRISTIANS by the way.

He is kind enough to offer a scripture even that begins:

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ…

Hmmmm.  ..the GRACE of Christ.  Not the condemnation, not the rules, not the “law,” or threats.  The free forgiveness to all who simply accept Him as the Son of God.  Which Bill Keller is quoting St. Paul who is talking about people like BILL KELLER deserting the GOOD NEWS of GRACE!

Now, as much evidence that there is of the extreme hidden evil of Barack Obama, I don’t think it is accurate (or helpful) to say that Barack Obama is satan.  And the overt lying and deceit of Mitt Romney have been WELL documented on PolitiJim.

As PolitiJim followers know, I’m much less worried about whether Mitt truly believes the stranger tenets of Mormonism than if he can beat Obama, repeal and reform the encouraging socialisms and sprawl of government, and motivate people toward conservatism.  I discuss my thoughts in the link above, but all in all if you have a lying, deceitful Christian and a lying, deceitful Mormon does it really matter?  As yesterday’s post discussed, born-again Christians that teach Sunday School are not necessarily great Presidents as Jimmy Carter has proven.

As I’ve said this past year, ALL OF THESE CANDIDATES will be exactly who they HAVE been and not what they SAID they have been.  A President Romney will be a RINO (and better looking) Boehner.  A President Santorum will be the WORST qualities of Dan Quayle and RINO George HW Bush combined.  A President Paul will be a resolute super-fiscal conservative isolationist who will do what always as – be extremely fiscally conservative and extremely unpopular with everyone except “his” people.  A Gingrich President would astound the media in getting legislation enacted with Democrats, be reformed minded, try to sell  few “big” ideas to inspire Americans and eventually have RINO’s try to sink his initiatives. 

To fellow Believers I say this:  Start leading with light instead of cursing the darkness to non-Christians or non-conservatives.  Inspire people to be like you and stop your arrogance that simply “being” a Christian actually translates to exceptional JOB PERFORMANCE.

To fellow conservatives who are NOT Abraham’s offspring I say this:  Honestly, we all aren’t this bad.  Statistically as a whole, we ARE happier, more fulfilled demographic than any other.  And the REAL Jesus isn’t uptight and angry at you.

To non-conservative moderates I say this: We want you to be wealthy.  We WANT your wellbeing.  Greece proves free stuff will eventually rob EVERYONE of peace.  The USSR (and China) prove that anything other than freedom robs your children of a safe future.  And as William Bradford learned in the Plymouth Rock experiment, there is a natural law of freedom God built in that DOES require a moral standard, but gives more than you could ever imagine.

To liberals I say this:  Screw You.

(Ha! Gotcha!  If you aren’t laughing just remember you are now acting like the uptight religious conservatives you can’t stand.)

Seriously, liberals, just seek truth.  We don’t wish you ill.  But if you try and steal freedom and future from our kids, even then we just want to stop you – not harm you.  You no longer have statics on ANY side to warrant socialism or communism (or moral relativism) so prove to us that you will make decisions based on intellect rather than selfishness. 

Honestly, we’ll get along a lot a better.

 

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