The Christian Example?

This past week saw new tragedy and suffering beyond
comprehension in Japan. It follows similar horror and chaos in
Haiti and other tragedies. But Japan’s troubles are further
reaching. The tsunami killed and displaced thousands in a
densely populated country, and unleashed a new and
potentially even worse tragedy with the nuclear power plant
failures. Their financial future hangs in the balance.

The most overwhelming vision to me this past week has been
the deportment of the Japanese people as a whole, culturally
and behaviorally.  They have suffered extreme loss, are
homeless in cold temperatures (it snowed this morning and
may be radioactive snow at that), have no way to leave, or even
eat at this point and now must fear what they don’t know-how
bad the radiation may be or get to be.

Even with the fear and loss, their sense of order, discipline and
generosity has been a shining example to people everywhere.
No looting. No fights or violence. Orderly lines with parents
holding children patiently for hours for whatever aid they can
get are normal.
 
The shelter set up with family clusters and a recycling center. 
A recycling center! Remember the coliseum where the Katrina
victims sheltered? A very different picture. Hundreds in Japan
waiting patiently in line for any gas left for their cars. Quiet.
Orderly.  Respectful and caring of others.  Dedicated. The
homeless with pets who cling to a blanket and their dog, while I
see Americans every day toss animals away because they
became inconvenient-divorce, new job, new housing.  The
respect, patience and DIGNITY in the face of adversity are
amazing.

I then think with shame about one of our own examples,
Katrina. Looting, violence, filth, corruption. No respect for
anyone or anything. I am not saying all are guilty, but it is a very
stark contrast as a people as a whole. The lack of work ethic
and sense of entitlement by many only hindered those who so
desperately were trying to aid victims. I remember being
horrified by my own countrymen and their actions; many acted
like thugs.

I feel further ashamed as we are a viewed as a western culture
based in Christianity, while Japan is an eastern culture based
in the eastern religions of Buddhism etc. Who has set the good
example here? Can you imagine Christ’s view on this? I am
further reminded of Mahatma Gandhi’s quote about
Christianity, “I like your Christ; I do not like your Christians.
Your Christians are so UNLIKE your Christ.”

I further drive this point home with a simple visual. I often see
cars with the universal Christian fish sign on them, designating
them as Christ’s “fishers of men”. Do you know how many times
these same cars are the ones that speed, drive aggressively,
cut people off, and have even flipped the bird? Guess what kind
of a message and example that just set! While we can’t be
perfect, if you are showing yourself in public as an example, it
behooves you to act like it. I cringe to imagine standing before
God one day justifying those actions while wearing His tag.
Here are some examples of order in the Bible. Without God’s
order, these accomplishments would have been impossible.
But they all included obedience, patience, faith, and respect.

Genesis 7
The Great Flood
1 Then the LORD said to Noah, “Come into the ark, you and all
your household, because I have seen that you are righteous
before Me in this generation. 2 You shall take with you seven
each of every clean animal, a male and his female; two each of
animals that are unclean, a male and his female; 3 also seven
each of birds of the air, male and female, to keep the species
alive on the face of all the earth. 4 For after seven more days I
will cause it to rain on the earth forty days and forty nights, and
I will destroy from the face of the earth all living things that I
have made.” 5 And Noah did according to all that the LORD
commanded him. 6 Noah was six hundred years old when the
floodwaters were on the earth.
7 So Noah, with his sons, his wife, and his sons’ wives, went
into the ark because of the waters of the flood. 8 Of clean
animals, of animals that are unclean, of birds, and of everything
that creeps on the earth, 9 two by two they went into the ark to
Noah, male and female, as God had commanded Noah. 10 And
it came to pass after seven days that the waters of the flood
were on the earth. 11 In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in
the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, on that
day all the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the
windows of heaven were opened. 12 And the rain was on the
earth forty days and forty nights.
13 On the very same day Noah and Noah’s sons, Shem, Ham,
and Japheth, and Noah’s wife and the three wives of his sons
with them, entered the ark— 14 they and every beast after its
kind, all cattle after their kind, every creeping thing that creeps
on the earth after its kind, and every bird after its kind, every
bird of every sort. 15 And they went into the ark to Noah, two by
two, of all flesh in which is the breath of life. 16 So those that
entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had
commanded him; and the LORD shut him in.

Another great example is the Exodus.

The Exodus
Exodus 13
31 Then he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said,
“Rise, go out from among my people, both you and the children
of Israel. And go, serve the LORD as you have said. 32 Also
take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone;
and bless me also.”
33 And the Egyptians urged the people, that they might send
them out of the land in haste. For they said, “We shall all be
dead.” 34 So the people took their dough before it was
leavened, having their kneading bowls bound up in their clothes
on their shoulders. 35 Now the children of Israel had done
according to the word of Moses, and they had asked from the
Egyptians articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing. 36
And the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the
Egyptians, so that they granted them what they requested.
Thus they plundered the Egyptians.
37 Then the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to
Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides
children. 38 A mixed multitude went up with them also, and
flocks and herds—a great deal of livestock. 39 And they baked
unleavened cakes of the dough which they had brought out of
Egypt; for it was not leavened, because they were driven out of
Egypt and could not wait, nor had they prepared provisions for
themselves.
40 Now the sojourn of the children of Israel who lived in Egypt[a]
was four hundred and thirty years. 41 And it came to pass at
the end of the four hundred and thirty years—on that very same
day—it came to pass that all the armies of the LORD went out
from the land of Egypt. 42 It is a night of solemn observance to
the LORD for bringing them out of the land of Egypt. This is that
night of the LORD, a solemn observance for all the children of
Israel throughout their generations.

God established law right from the get go. Remember the Ten
Commandments? Our first full set of laws and order. These
were to treat each other with respect. Discipline was and is
required to achieve His purpose in our lives. In case you forgot,
here they are:

Exodus 20
The Ten Commandments
1 And God spoke all these words, saying:
2 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of
Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
3 “You shall have no other gods before Me.
4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness
of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth
beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 5 you shall not
bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God,
am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the
children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate
Me, 6 but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me
and keep My commandments.
7 “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for
the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.
8 “ Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you
shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is the
Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you,
nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor
your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is
within your gates. 11 For in six days the LORD made the
heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and
rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the
Sabbath day and hallowed it.
12 “ Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be
long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you.
13 “You shall not murder.
14 “You shall not commit adultery.
15 “You shall not steal.
16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not
covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female
servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your
neighbor’s.”

As you go about your daily activities, try to pause and ask
yourself what kind of example you are setting. Japan at this
moment has been embodying what many of us should strive for
in how we conduct ourselves. How more so should the child of
Christ set this basic example.

Pastor HB









 

Prophecy I

We can start reading and studying the bible in Genesis, which is
very good reading. But we become more alert when we get to
books such as Daniel and Revelation. They speak of the future,
and who doesn't want to know about the future, especially when
we expect good things to happen? On The Search For God, we
will look at the beginning and the end. Rev. 21:6, "And He said to
me, 'It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and
the End'.

Many biblical scholars have tried to target a date for the end
times, but it is difficult to understand why they would waste so
much time. In Matt. 24:36, Christ himself tells us "But of that day
and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My
Father only". If we are committed Christians, we either must
accept as total truth Christ's teaching and statements, or we are
not true Christians. You can't choose where to believe or agree.
The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are in charge.

Sometimes in studying the books of the Old Testament, you may
think you are reading a repeat or near repeat of a previous book.
You are correct, because although there is new material, you
may observe a pattern. God is trying to explain the common
nature of man. You will see God's Chosen (Israel) receive
a blessing after having to fight against oppression, enjoy a fruitful
and joyous period, and then take the blessing for granted and
forget where it came from. Then comes a warning to deaf ears,
followed by punishment.

Many preachers will tell you God doesn't punish good little boys
and girls. Ah, but we're adults, and once past the age of
accountability, we are expected to purport ourselves as
worshipping Christians. God gives us plenty of warnings
and admonishments, but we are busy with worldly things. Those
of us who are financially well set have plenty of ways to enjoy
ourselves. We don't need to remember where our blessings come
from, right?

Well, God is long-suffering and patient, but the time always comes
when it's necessary to say, "THAT'S IT". Over and over, God has
found it necessary to prevent people from destroying themselves.
They have had many alternate opportunities to prevent disaster,
but frequently made decisions to suit their
purpose, not God's. While we are talking about sin here, we must
go beyond personal sin to national sin. Of course our personal sin
also translates and contributes to national sin.

A major problem Christians in America have is the personal
conclusion they have made concerning hot topic issues. The
unfortunate part is they have not bothered to learn all the facts,
but have accepted what they have been told by their leaders.
This gets political, and I don't want to go there until we have taken
a very sharp look at where we've been and why we're going
where we're going. I do want to warn you not to listen to some of
the whackos in politics such as a representative who opposes
global warning because the bible tells us God won't cause
another flood. Perhaps he should consider radiation, another
earthquake strong enough to move a major island or the power of
the ocean.

As someone who's been on this earth for more than three
quarters of a century, I've been a keen observant of human
nature and the passing generations. There are some things each
generation does differently, but the most recognizable is a
change in attitude. I'll give you a brief description of generations
in preparation for prophecy fulfillment.

At the turn of the century (1900) we had sweatshop and child
labor, we had the financial barons, oppression of the fledgling
middle class, the beginning of the machine age and assimilation
of people from many countries into our society. Our leaders then
tried to legislate society by prohibiting liquor. We know how that
worked out, as crime and loose living pushed Christianity and the
people who wanted to control society into the background. The
Roaring Twenties showed us at our worst.

God showed His displeasure by showing us what a depression felt
like. There are many stories about that era, but unless you
experienced it, you can't possibly understand the physical and
mental horror of those years. This is history, and you better pay
attention, because you will experience what others have passed
through.

God gave us an opportunity to redeem ourselves by giving us the
leadership position when Germany tried to eliminate and
exterminate the Jews (Israel). We paid the redemption price in
the blood and sacrifice of our soldiers, their families, and
personal sacrifices by almost every American This was a period
of time when America stood as ONE. Greed and "getting ahead"
were not a part of us.

In that roughly 46 years, we saw the coming of two generations,
and, as always, the intermingling of at least three generations.
We entered the Golden Age of our nation following World War II. It
was a marvelous time, with so many veterans home to raise
families and work. The war had matured them beyond their years,
and colleges welcomed them because there was no nonsense
and booze. The Godly things flourished. Revivals were held, and
Christians really meant what they said.

Then a new generation emerged with a different attitude. The
respect for elders and authority waned. No one wanted to serve
our country unless they received a great deal more for their time
and energy, and certainly not in the military. We added
a new element to education--the career college attenders who
spent years without graduating and actually going to work. Our
population was growing quite fast, and previous generations and
values became a minority. This group enjoyed the blessings,
but forgot where they came from and themselves became
"worshippers" of self.

Now our nation was split between the older generations who
were more conservative and the younger generations who were
more liberal in attitude. This split quickly became worse because
both groups are adamant to push their agenda. We learned in
grammar school that a nation divided cannot stand, but no one is
heeding that warning. Our current generation is obsessed with
getting everything "yesterday", and has an attitude of self
entitlement. Many of the younger people have never really
worked for anything, and don't even have a foggy idea about God.
This hasn't been good reading, but is the basis for approaching
end times and the tribulation. We are in a period of time where we
may expect judgment. There are many things we have done
wrong as a society, and the entire remainder of the world has
done no better and has few real committed Christians.

As John the Baptist was sent to urge people to repent, now is the
time for Christians to repent. When I speak of societal ills, each of
them seems to relate to a political party, and sometimes to both.
Either way, the message of repent brings out the worst in people.
Politics always leads the way, as one or the other
political parties consider it an attack on their party.

If you really want to follow Christ, you must put your political
beliefs behind you, because it is heavenly true that God, Christ
and the Holy Spirit are not politicians. The Holy Spirit told me
some time ago to divorce myself from all politics, even to
the writing of a letter to the editor about religion. If you cannot
separate politics from Christ, you are not following Christ, but
politics. You can't have two masters: Luke 16:13, "No servant can
serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the
other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other.
You cannot serve God and mammon."

Rev. Walbear












 

SEARCH FOR GOD I

If you begin your spiritual journey in Genesis, you see how God created
various parts of the universe and all things necessary for our world. You
also see He created humans and spoke to them. Like children, the humans
did not always respond as they should have. Mankind has always had a
hazy idea of God, but went to all kinds of trouble trying to create a god
rather than having an intelligent, open mind to hear from God. Volcanoes,
the sun, and other objects were worshipped.

As you see, man's attempt to find the real God of Israel, and later of
Christianity, did not bear fruit. The problem was that man wanted to be the
leader frequently, and was not equipped to share or supersede God's
power. So, man's search for God wasn't working.
At the same time, God was often disappointed, and He began a search for
a man who would listen to Him and follow His directions. It became God's
search for a man who would listen and be obedient. Finally God found His
man, not perfect, but an intelligent man with a mind open to hear God's
directions without thinking he knew more than God.

Gen. 12:1-3, "Now the Lord had said to Abram: Get out of your country,
From your family And from your father's house, To a land that I will show
you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name
great; And you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, And I
will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall
be blessed." There may be people still searching for God today, but unless
they heed the above scripture, they will not find Him.

To be one with God is our goal, and it is necessary to understand the broad
picture of the bible. While most of our journey is spiritual, it is not readily
visible to the naked eye. It is difficult to believe what you cannot see. That
is where faith takes over. There is also a physical side that sometimes is
necessary for the spiritual work to be completed.

No matter how hard we try in our effort to be one with God, we always fall
short. God knows this, and with His mercy, He may overlook our failure if
we have done our best to comply. He gave us a simple set of rules to
follow, and we must adhere to them to the best of our ability. The rules
begin with the Ten Commandments. The first rule of any covenant is
always the unbreakable one. Ex. 20:2-3, "I am the Lord your God, who
brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You
shall have no other gods before Me."

This is a law for Jews and Christians that cannot be broken or bent for any
reason. Some pastors tell me we should be more tolerant of other faiths
and accept their gods.  Why should we defy God's first and supreme
commandment? If we won't follow that direct order, we can't expect the
Holy Spirit to help us in any way.

Why do I keep referring to the Holy Spirit? Because He is the power of
God, replacing Christ on earth when He was called to heaven. Christ
served the supreme spiritual sacrifice. The importance of the Holy Spirit is
difficult for most people to understand because some of His work seems
so insignificant compared to major works of miracles. When you deny the
Holy Spirit, you commit the one error that will cancel your membership in
heaven.

See Matt.12:31, "Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be
forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven
men." You must have a spiritual driven life, not a material driven life. Our
rewards are to be given us in heaven, not necessarily on earth. 2 John 8 is
only one of many scriptures that warns us "Look to yourselves, that we do
not lose those things that we worked for, but that we may receive a full
reward."

You see, friends, if we are truly Christians, we are seeking fellowship with
God. That is spiritual fellowship. There's nothing wrong with material
fellowship, but a spiritual driven life far supersedes a material driven life.
We all want to be successful, but if that desire is embodied in a quest for
riches (money), fame, or the like, we usually must break some of the rules
God gave us.

When I'm asked to share the pulpit with someone of another faith, I refuse.
The God of Christians and Jews does not stand beside, behind or in front of
any other "god". Christ frequently quoted from the Old Testament, and
we will begin looking at that important teaching next time.

Rev. Walbear