Tuesday, November 15, 2005

Proud to be an American?

Ask anyone in the United States, “What is your nationality?” and they will invariably respond incorrectly. They will insist they are American. They are American but not by nationality. The continent of America contains many nations. Canadians are Americans. They are North Americans. We have Central and South Americans as well.

When you tell persons in the United States that they are not American by nationality, and push them further to state their true nationality, they will instead insist (also incorrectly) that they are German-American or African-American. These may be the birth countries of their ancestors but that is not THEIR land of birth. They are uniquely United Statesians!

Why are United Statesians so confused about their nationality? It is because we do not have this term United Statesians in our vocabulary. Even my spell checker, as I am typing this, underlines it as an incorrect word! Neither do my countrymen recognize it. Yet, United Statesian is our nationality.

United Statesians are confused by the disease of multiculturalism that has robbed us of our honorable birthright, our common language, our unique culture, and our Christian heritage. It is the reason why we continue to be divided by race and culture.

I am proud of my heritage. I proclaim it. I advocate it. I teach it. I promote it. I advance its honorable and divine principles. These are the only principles that will sustain us in our desire to remain one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Monday, November 07, 2005

Voices

I am often asked, "How do you distinguish the voices deep within?" An excellent question. My quickest answer is, "Fruit! I watch what results when I follow each impression placed on my heart." I had to learn to discern.

John, the Gospel writer, says in Chapter 13 that at the last supper the devil "had already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot" to betray Jesus. In the same way good impressions are placed on my heart by God, Satan enters. The voice I choose to obey brings results. These bear "produce" plainly visible in my life...either fruit of the Spirit or works of the flesh.

Maturity is determined by whether or not good fruit is present and increasing. Do I have more joy, peace, and love today than I did this time last year? If so, God gets the glory. Without Him, I can do nothing. This is clearly explained in John 15.

When I feel my peace and my joy leaving, I know that I am no longer listening to God. That's when I turn immediately and start, once again, seeking the face of God. I don't want to live like that anymore. Been there, done that, not going back.The desires of my flesh no longer enslave me. Hey, I'm human. I still have problems. I am no longer ENSLAVED to them. There are things I cannot defeat with my will alone. I need SUPERNATURAL help.

With God present in me, I don't have to listen to my flesh or to Satan. This is explained in Romans 7 and 8. Pay close attention to the contrast here in the two voices, flesh and Spirit:

"Because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. If Christ is in you...the spirit is alive because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh...for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God."

Which voice is which? Look at the crop! Watermelons don't come from pumpkin seed! HA!

Supernatural Joy!

The first time I ever experienced pure joy is still etched in my brain. I could take you to the very spot on the highway where it happened as I returned from work one day. All of a sudden...BOOM! Inexpressible joy! Immediately, these thoughts came from within...somewhere deep inside:

Me: "Where did that come from? Was I doing something to cause it? Was it a song I was listening to? It had to be a thought I was thinking...no, that can't be it. I want that back!"

God: "It's a gift."

Me: "A gift?"

God: "Yes, a gift. You've been obedient to me. You've been listening to me and I wanted to give you something to show I love you. Don't make the mistake of thinking you earned it. You can't earn this. It's a gift. And, don't try to pay me for it. That would offend me. Just stay obedient to me and I will give you more. Oh, by the way, I'm proud of you. I love you."

***speechless***

My Bottom

It all came apart around 1989. I can't give specifics here, too personal. It was bad...real bad...so bad that I contemplated taking my life. Yes, I had reached my bottom. There's nothing lower or more self-centered than wanting to "end it all"! That thought, killing myself, so frightened me that I cried out to God.

Now, I had been preaching over 12 years at that time! But, I never needed God so badly before. And, I only knew him intellectually, not relationally. My journey was about to begin. At this point, everything I knew about God failed me. He was supposed to protect me! We had this deal. He would give me his best and I would serve him faithfully with my best. I kept my end of the bargain. Where was He? How could he allow something SO bad to happen to me? I was VERY angry with Him. And, I let Him know it! Here's how the conversation went deep in my heart, my soul:

Me: "God, where are you? You come speak to me right now! You owe me an explanation! We had a deal, remember?"

God: "I don't make deals."

***long pause, I wasn't expecting that reply***

Me, humbly: "I need you. I don't know where to turn. I don't have anywhere else to go. My wife is leaving. I don't have a relationship with my kids. Please, I need you. I don't have anyone."

God: "Are you sure you need me? Is there something you can try? Don't you usually tell people in pain at your church to get in church, to read the bible? Are you saying that is not working for you?"

Me: "Yes, it's not enough!"

God: "How about those Christian books? What was that title again?"

Me: "Not enough."

God: "Anything else you may want to try? Drugs? Alcohol? Another relationship?"

Me: "No. I need you!"

God: "So, you DO believe in me?"

Me: "Yes. I'm the preacher, remember?"

God: "People preach for all sorts of reasons. Aren't you from a long line of preachers? Are you sure you believe in me? Maybe you believe because your family or your Daddy believes."

Me: "I believe you are real."

God: "Good. Do you believe I am still good...though I permitted these bad things to happen to you?"

Me: "I don't know. I'm pretty upset about that. Let me think about it. I'll get back to you."

God: "Take your time. I'm here."[Several agonizing months later.]

Me: "Okay, I see you loved Job even though you allowed Satan to destroy his relationhips, his health, and his wealth. You remained good. I accept that you remain good regardless of the bad here."

God: "Great! When will I be enough?"

Me: "What do you mean?"

God: "Will our relationship be enough for you? Or, will you insist on having me PLUS something or someone else? Will you be satisfied with just me and what I am willing to supply you each day? Or, will you insist once more on getting from others what only I can provide? When will I be enough for you?"

WOW! That took years. It started me on my journey to know God, myself and others better. Eventually I was able to humble myself, seek daily the face of God, discover my own spirit within, get in touch with God's spirit inside of me, lower my expectations of others, and expectantly wait for God to supply what I needed. This changed everything, especially my relationships. I finally could answer, "Yes, Lord, you are enough." That was when the SUPERNATURAL love, joy, and peace began to bubble up inside my soul and overflow to others. (We give to others out of our excess.)

Honestly, if you could get from others what only God can supply, what need would you have of God? He can't allow that! He loves you too much!

God placed in all of us a "hole" only He can fill.