Being a Christian is not for the weak or timid: Part 1

As Christians, we are often misrepresented as being weak of heart and mind. But nothing could be further form the truth. It is true that "God's strength and power are perfected in our weakness". 2 Corinthians 12:9. It is when we are at our most vulnerable and humble that God's power is most evident. In examples such as these, there is no place or opportunity for self-glorification, nor is there a chance to extol the virtues and merits of any "power" we may have. In cases such as these, it is all God who worketh for His own glory and for our good.

However, we are often portrayed by the world as being "too weak to face life without the crutch of religion." And that this weakness leads us to have inferior minds and lower intelligence than the more "enlightened" people of the world. This concept is not new. Fortunately, God, throughout the history of the world, has used the people and things the world considers weak and foolish, to advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ to save those who believe. 1 Corinthians 18-31.

And consider the lives of early Christians. They were persecuted and executed for their faith in Christ. And yet, they still believed and held on to the promises God gave us in Christ. In the next post, we will look at some examples of how the "weak and foolish of this world" were made "strong and wise " by God in the face of adversity and certain death.'

Your brother in Christ

Politics and the Christian Part 5

Here I am one more time talking about the subject of politics and the Christian. This is my last post in the series.  I do not wish to belabor the point, and feel other topics need to be examined. Today, I want to focus on where the Christian puts their hope for their future as individuals, and the future of this country. Now my opinions, for whatever they are worth, should not be considered the gospel, for there is only one Gospel. But here goes.

I think Satan uses every measure possible to distract mankind from the things that really matter and that would bring us true fulfillment. The most important of which is to have an intimate and deep relationship with God in Jesus Christ. I think Satan uses politics to divide the masses. And not just divide the masses, but to destroy the very principle at the basis of the “greatest commandment”: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself’” Matthew 22:37.40.  This is not an optional platitude or some mission statement. It’s a directive. How does politics or the use of politics by the enemy seek to destroy this principle? By pitting neighbor against neighbor in the worship of their own political ideology. Our political ideology and party becomes our god. We trade in the strategic vision of the abundant eternal blessings, for the crumbs gained in the temporal political battle.

And this is not a new problem. Look back to the days of Jesus. If ever there was a viable political candidate, it was He. He related to the common man by sleeping in the fields and in houses of people who were generous enough to invite him in. He healed the sick, He fed the hungry, and He cared for the poor. He was also a true reformer. He ate dinner with tax collectors and prostitutes, He chased out those who turned the temple into a market place that exploited people desire to have their sins atoned for through sacrifices, and He pardoned the mistress caught in the very act of adultry. He had no wife, no mistresses, no shady business deals, and when given the opportunity to glorify Himself, He demurred. He refused to even debate with the body-politic on the subject of politics/religion. And He shared His power and authority with those who gave up the trappings of the world as He had done. Of course, His immediate ministry and future would be bright, right? The story ends with Him riding into town on a colt one Sunday. By Friday, a lynch mob had used the state political process to murder Him.

As a people, we can be quite vile, heartless, smug, self-righteous, and judgmental. And we can do this with very little effort. For all of the confidence we may have in our guile and intelligence, we can also be easily manipulated to do evil. Of course, we often disguise this natural tendency by keeping a close check on our behavior. But the problem still lurks in our hearts. It’s one of the many by-products of our sinful nature. Only in the sphere of politics is the aforementioned behavior justified. And not just justified, it’s encouraged.  And if someone has the gall to have a different political view, we consider them inferior to us. We have contempt for them. We mock them. We take glee in their shortcomings and their troubles. And we feel justified because our way is the right way. But is it?

In truth, God’s way is the right way. His ways encompasses everything that is true, right, and pure. He cares for the poor and the elderly. He also knows and loves the unborn. He hates the rich, who get rich by exploiting the poor and vulnerable. He also admires the diligent and productive worker who makes sound decisions with their resources. He calls us to emulate the ant, and not the sloth. But most importantly, He calls us to know and love Him, and to love each other.

Unfortunately, many Bible-believing, God-fearing Christians are so caught up in who is a Democrat and who is a Republican, we often end up discarding whole sections of the Body of Christ due to difference in our political opinions.   We are drawn into the little box that pumps out the clamor found on CNN, FOX, MSNBC, or the Big 3 broadcast networks. We feed on the words of the many experts, who provide so much information. Forgetting that this world has an appointment to be judged, and that Satan is working to ensure we are all caught by surprise when that appointment comes due.

We also tend to be highly selective of which tenets of God's word (which is His revealed will by the way), we think are important. We vote for candidates who will “take care of the poor”. Unfortunately, these candidates are either outright advocates or implicit accomplices of the killing of 50 million unborn in the past 35 years. We also vote for candidates who stand for “family values” and “small government”. But these same candidates voted for the greatest period of government spending in the history of this country, but not for the benefit of the common man. They also implicitly refuse to ensure the financial security of families who lose loved ones in wars they advocate. In short, the political system/parties/process only addresses a small sliver of the needs of mankind. It’s the same problem we’ve always refused to admit: That we can’t save ourselves or each other. God in Jesus Christ gets to the root of our needs: To be forgiven of our grievous offenses against God and each other, and to be restored to God. Jesus is the Remedy. Not Palin. Not Obama. Or any other Democrat or Republican.

As Christians, the desire to tell the world about the Remedy should be our work. Not wallowing in the cesspool of political group think the enemy so gleefully supplies us, in the hopes we forget about the eternal. And since we know what the enemy’s goals are, we should never be willing or unwitting participants in them. Again, please be mindful of the appointment that approaches.

Be blessed,

Your brother in Christ

 

Politics and the Christian Part 4

This is another post on the subject of politics, as it relates to Believers. I usually detest talking about the subject of politics, and I loathe the subject of politics when that discussion is framed as to which party is more in line with the things of God. Here is why.

God is the full embodiment of holiness and righteousness. We know that He is eternal (Was not created); He is omnipotent (Not confined by any time or space continuum); He is omniscience (All knowing); He is holy (completely set apart and perfect in every way); and He is immutable (He does not change with evolution of the cultures and is consistent in His application of righteousness).

In short, He is not confined by any of the limitations of understanding, intellect, purity, or consistency (although we humans are capable and often succeed at being consistently sinful) that plagues humans. And it is these qualities, among others such as His grace and mercy, which allows us to have an honest and open relationship with Him. A relationship in which He seeks to “prosper us, not harm us”. (Jeremiah 29:11). 

Now, politics, political parties, and politicians seek to do what they deem as good for their fellow man. But this intent is subjective and is often subject to every conceivable human frailty. Man’s intent apart from God’s wisdom is what makes that whole "intent" thing discomforting, assuming the politician in question even has a personal relationship with God. But here is where God and the concept of politics completely diverge. God is completely truthful. He is incapable of telling a lie, or even stretching the truth to be malleable to different circumstances. He cannot be bought and one can’t barter with Him to allow wrong to occur in exchange for some benefit. Furthermore, He is not just honest. His character is the full embodiment of TRUTH and INTEGRITY. He “delights in those who are truthful and detests lying lips”. (Proverbs 22). But where is the divergence between the attributes of God, and the dynamics within the political culture.

Firstly, politics, while seeking to do good to some degree, is rooted in misinformation, lies, half-truths, and distortion.Some would say the "the means justifies the end", but others may argue "that the ends are insignificant when considering the costs to attain them". But the chaos, disorder, and lack of honesty that is part of the political process, is accepted (and encouraged) as the cost of doing business in that particular environment. It’s what political junkies call “Spin”. And an entire cottage industry is built on this concept. Political discourse in the public forum is often based on a set of bullet point concepts where one denies any culpability or accountability for a problem, and places all of the blame on an opponent or opposing party… even when the politician or political operative knows this is false or not accurate. In short, it is a lie. This process is used to shape the minds of the electorate, who in turn support a candidate or issue through the campaign financing and voting process.

Another example of where there is a divergence between God and politics is the corruption that occurs due to the fact the political culture is built on the practice of bibery. While there are often cases of politicians accepting actual bribes as in the case of Republican Congressman Duke Cunningham, or as suspected in the case of Democratic Congressman William Jefferson, there are other more subtle forms of bribery. Lobby groups who favor a particular issue donate money to politicians, employ family members of politicians, lend luxury aircraft to politicians, and pay for junkets to exotic places for them. And as seen in the case of Halliburton’s dubious involvement in the Iraq War, and the political involvement in the collapse of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac housing institutions, the misconduct spans the political spectrum. It is not confined to one political party, and the followers of the political parties excuse the misconduct of their own party, by pointing to the misdeeds of the other party. It is this poisonous culture within the political system that often leads to two possible results: Either the voters entrench themselves in the poison of the culture (exchanging righteousness for partisan loyalty... even mistaking the two as being the same), or they become disillusioned and wonder where is the God of order and righteousness in our political process?

The truth of the matter is, in our country, both political parties are corrupt and ungodly. They use clever marketing schemes to incite the passions a voter may feel on a particular issue. But, while they may be seeking to feed the poor or uphold marriage between a man a woman, or protect a the rights of a fetus or provide social spending programs to the country, they are lining their pockets with bribe money... I mean political contributions and PAC money. They are either encouraging the growth of the billion dollar taxpayer funded military industrial complex, or they are encouraging the growth of the billion dollar abortion industry. They are completely mishandling and mismanaging the public's money. They are voting one way on legislation for an issue, and misrepresenting their prior statements and stances on on the same issue.They are involved in sexual misconduct, power grabs, awarding friends and family members lucraative government contracts, and actively seeking ways to create disunity among the electorate. And these are some of the more "honest" politicians. While regular citizens are on the verge of killing each other, based on the representations of their particular party's politicians, the very same opposing politicians are smoking cigars and sipping martinis with one another  in exclusive DC clubs..

If one is to profess faith and trust in God, then we must be honest about who we are, and we what we encourage (or allow) to happen. Can an outsider look at the conduct of a Believer and the conduct of an unbeliever in the politicaal realm and see a difference in conduct? Or would they see everyone foaming at the mouth, in the midst of all of the chaos? Furthermore, what options does a Christian have in making a difference in our society, yet alone the world? I don't have the answer, but God's perspective on these issues may shed some light.

Until next time,

your brother in Christ

Politics and the Chrtistian Part 3

It's been a minute since my last post, and luckily the free world is not depending on me for up to the minuet news breaks. I competed in a student mock trial competition earlier this month, and spend the few weeks before the election preparing for it. As it was, I was unable to keep current with my blogging.

But the election is over. Senator Barack Obama won resoundingly over Senator John McCain. The contest was over before 11pm on election night, which has been uncommon, the past few presidential elections. The country is in a transition from the Bush presidency to the Obama presidency, and that transition is rocky to say the least. The world's markets are collapsing... as they always seem to do every 8-10 years, and yet, everyone is "surprised" at the state of the economy. Particularly an economy that is built on the concept of credit. But that is another rant for another day. Unemployment is going up, and the world seems to be precipitously hanging on the edge of some new crisis.

Like all world leaders, President-elect Obama will have his hands full. We often envision a world with no wars, no hunger, no financial collapse, no political ruin, and no chaos. But that is not the reality that has been consistently outlined in the Bible. Jesus Christ, the Savior of mankind AND the Judge of all creation, personally and through His messengers, has referred to Satan as the "prince of this world" ( John 12:31;14:30;16:11), the "prince of the power of the air" (Ephesians 2:2), and the "god of this world" (2 Corinthians 4:4).  Peter, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, warned believers to "be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour". 1 Peter 5:8. Satan is also called "the father of lies" ( John 8:44), and "a murderer" ( John 8:44). In the Book of Job, we see a detailed account of how Satan instigates, and takes part in the attempted destruction of an innocent man, in an attempt to antagonize God. Job Chapter 1.

I say all of this to say that, any hope in a different outcome of the world’s problems is naïve and misplaced. God, for a season, is allowing Satan a certain level of control over the Earth. This includes the Earth’s political system, the economic systems, and the minds of the unsaved across the face of the Earth. In the end, mankind will be witness to the greatest and most anticipated battle in the history of creation, between God and Satan which will take place at Armageddon. Until then however, there will be a large degree of instability and chaos. This is not to say that the election of the President of the United States is an insignificant event. Particularly the first African-American elected president in the same country that outlawed slavery only 146 years ago, and continued to marginalize African-Americans in varying degrees since then. But President Obama is not Jesus, and as man, he is of limited resources to fix what truly ails the world. Granted, a godly man engages in the things of God, for the advancement of the Kingdom of God. But again, it is God who works to resolve those issues. And it will be God, in the Person of Jesus Christ, who will one day, fix all that ails the world. It is He, who should be our source of hope and security in times of uncertainty.

Be blessed.

 

Politics and the Christian... Part 2

I personally think that politics bring out the worst in people. That maybe an over generalization, but I doubt it.I think the quest for power, absent the spiritual discernment and influence of the Holy Spirit, puts sinful man on a path to destruction and chaos. Listen to the national tone, and you see some pretty harsh rhetoric coming from supporters of both presidential candidates. What is also evident is the bitterness, condescension, and contempt that is displayed among the rival supporters. I don't think this has anything to do with the candidates themselves, although I do acknowledge political candidates encourage this partisan atmosphere for their personal and political gain. 

Unfortunately, it has been this way in this country for every election since Adams ran against Jefferson for the presidency roughly 192 years ago. And even Adams at the time, detested the corrosive nature of politics. And while the dynamic of politics in our country has mostly been extremely polemic, it is even worse in other countries. Unfortunately, these attributes foster a sense of chaos among the electorate, which encourages chaos in the government's operation. Politicians often exploit this sense of chaos and partisanship for personal and political gain. But what is lost on most voters and politicians is the role God should play in a nation's governments. 

Romans 13:1 acknowledges that God's is the author of government: "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God." Even more so, by reading Exodus 18, we understand that government should be comprised of people who fear and honor God: "21 But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 22 Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. "

So, we see that God is the author of government, and that godly men (people) should be leaders in government. What else do we know about government? That God never intended for government to replace God as the savior of civilization. Samuel learned this firsthand. As judge of Israel, he provided godly leadership and instruction to the people. However, the people wanted a king. In Samuel chapter 8, Samuel, tried to dissuade the people that a king would " 6 take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots... 14 He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. 15 He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. 16 Your menservants and maidservants and the best of your cattle ^[b] and donkeys he will take for his own use. 17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. 18 When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, and the LORD will not answer you in that day... 19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel. "No!" they said. "We want a king over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles."

Why would the people choose an earthly king as their ruler, over God? Galatians chapter 5 gives a clue: "17For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. Additionally, "19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like." 

This presents another question; Is our government dysfunctional because we are dysfunctional, or are we dysfunctional because our government is dysfunctional?

Politics and the Christian

This is Part 1 in a series of my thoughts, as a Christian, on the issue of politics and all that it involves. I'm no political guru. I am a law student, and a financial analyst by trade. I have B.S. In Biology, and an MBA in Finance. I state this not to brag about my accomplishments, as at this stage, I have only accomplished to amass a massive amount of student loan debt. But that is another rant for another post. I state this as an indication of my personality: Organized and methodical, rigid, a bottom line kind of mentality, one who is focused on just the facts. and one who categorizes something as truth, a mistake, or an intentional lie. In short, I think my nature is often antithetical to the political process

Now, politics, by its nature, is one half partisan and one half compromise. Very seldom is resolution of any given issue the goal, but is more so part of the process to gather power. This in itself is not ungodly per se, but can result in ungodly attributes in the individual immersed in the world of politics. At what cost is one's politics successful? And when that power is obtained, how should one maintain it?  Furthermore, as Christians, how far should we go to support one party's quest to maintain control, especially considering the goal of politics is not to solve problems, but to create chaos? What is one to think of the inevitable result that politics often divides the masses? Pits neighbor against neighbor?  Pits family member against family member?

Now, I think all Christians walk a tight rope when it comes to the issue of politics. We should all exercise our God-blessed right to vote. Especially in light of the fact that, what is my opinion, God helping to foster a country such as ours, where religious freedom to worship Him was one of the key principles of our country's founders. However, as Christians, we should not become so immersed in politics that we are sucked into the cesspool dynamic that have governed politics since the creation of government thousands of years ago.

The United States is currently immersed in a political season, that will soon come to a climax on November 5, 2008. Republican Senator John McCain is vying against Democratic Senator Barack Obama for the most powerful position in the world, the presidency of the United States. In my opinion, this election has been tame by most recent standards. But for me, the most remarkable aspect is not the candidates or their campaigns; Its what happens to most people who become immersed in politics? This inquiry is not just on politicians, but involves everyone. Even more, what effect does this dynamic have on the individual and their relationships with other people,  and is God in the midst of this obvious divisive environment?

I hope to examine how the issue of politics has played out in the Bible and throughout history, and try to look at the limited scriptures of how Christ reacted to dynamics and issues that were political in nature. I will also try to address two conflicting realities of how "God has the hearts of kings in His hands", and "how Satan is the prince of this world". These two biblical concepts alone imply a fact lost on most people, believer or not; That spiritual battles not only play out in our individual lives, but also in governments and their leaders.

Finally, I will prayerfully consider how should the Christian involve themselves in politics, and how we should prioritize our alliances with our party oriented government. This includes consideration of our primary roles as Christians doing the work of the Father, to bring light to the world, and winning souls to Christ. We often forget the fact that we are not of this world, and should be just as focused on winning people to Christ by being vessels of God's love and truth, as we are often focused on the things of this world. Should we check our politics at the church door, or should we check our spirituality at the door of the poll? I don't know, and don't know if I will ever have an answer. I do know that often when I am overcome with the noise and frenzied divisiveness that is part of the political process, a voice inside my head cautions, "He is coming back.  Stay watchful". I then fear, that politics is just one tool of Satan, to distract people from God and His impending judgment of this world.

Warning to Those Who Expolit the Vulnerable in the Pursuit of Wealth

"He who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth and he who gives gifts to the rich—both come to poverty." Proverbs 22:16 (NIV) 

God is a God of love and mercy. He is also a God of divine judgment... a just God if you will. In His infinite wisdom, He has declared that no person who has amassed their wealth at the expense of the oppressed, or who has tried to curry favor with the rich, by giving them gifts, will escape financial ruin. Why? 

To the first issue, God hates man-made systems that are created to enrich people at the expense of other people who are helpless or vulnerable. Is God against capitalism? I would think not, as he requires each man to be compensated for his work. In Leviticus 19:13, the Lord outlined within the law “Do not defraud your neighbor or rob him. Do not hold back the wages of a hired man overnight.” In the marketplace where goods and services are exchanged for currency, God has ordained that we are to pay a fair wage for services or goods that we receive. Those who do otherwise will lose the wealth they so desperately cling to.

To the second issue, why would a person give a gift to a rich person who probably has more than he needs? While silent on the issue, the context implies that the rich person in this case is a person of influence and power. The gift is not given in the spirit of love, generosity or grace. If so, one could consider giving it to someone who was of more meager means than the giver. In fact, the gift is nothing more than a bribe, given to curry influence or consideration to future wealth or power. Here the goal of the gift is to obtain wealth. It controverts the principles outlined inProverbs 22:9 that states “A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor” and Proverbs 28:27 which also states “He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses.” One who seeks to obtain true wealth by means of a bribe or seeking to curry favor with the person who would actually receive the “gift” will not have the discernment to escape calamity, and will lose their riches.

I Suck At Blogging

I get this ingenious idea to blog, but I can never do so consistently. When I'm not studying for class, I'm reading other people's blogs. Instead of writing long, drawn out posts, I will try to keep it short and pithy. 

To the one or two people who have stopped by to graze, thanks and come again. To others, let me experiment by blogging for one week straight, before you pass judgment.

Thanks

The Case Aginst Abortion

Often times, the topic of Abortion is discussed in a purely political context. Terminating a pregnancy is often articulated in the context of "A Woman's Choice". Dissenters to the practice of abortion are often labeled using the complementary "Pro-Life," or the impliedly derogatory "Anti-Choice." Proponents of abortion lean on the Roe vs. Wade decision from 1973, in arguing that the Due Process Clause in the 14th Amendment and the Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution, entitled a woman to the "right to privacy" in terminating her pregnancy. Justice Harry Blackmun wrote the reasoned opinion that supported a woman's right to have an abortion, making Roe vs. Wade one of the landmark cases of this country's judicial and political history. When considering the term "Abortion" does not not appear in the Constitution, proponents point to the evolution to America's social and political landscape over the past century to be more "enlightened" as to the superior intellectual and social qualities of mankind.

But a woman's right to "Choose" to end her pregnancy has far greater implications than those presented in the political sphere. Women in the present day can choose to a large extent: what career she will pursue; her husband (Some women will argue a thinning herd of marry-able men makes this option one of semantics); where she will live; her friends; what form of contraceptive she will use (I'm not advocating this option or a trying to imply biblical approval; but am simply elaborating on the "choices" a woman can make); and her eternal fate. It is true that women do not enjoy complete equality with men, but this examination is not one of comparing secular roles and liberties. It is an examination of mankind's role in the creation process, and a woman's God ordained role as the catalyst for all human life. So the central issue of choice is not really one of life and freedom, but is really a question of whether God's gift of life to us supercedes His gift of free will to us.

You see, God is the author of life. In the book of Genesis, Chapter 1, one witnesses The Holy, Living, Thinking, Reasoning God proclaim in v.26 "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness..."

He thought about doing it, then He did it:

"v.27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."

God created man and woman, and gave them the gift of life. Not only the ability to live and grow, but to create others like them.

Now, it is true he also gave this same gift to the beasts of the animal kingdom. But like the seasons, the cycle of life within the animal kingdom is really one similar to an automatic timer. The animals have an internal clock that governs their need and desire to procreate and perpetuate life in their individual species. Human on the otherhand, have more autonomy. Besides, it is we who were created in God's image.

The gift of life God gave man is special for another reason. Not only do we have the ability to take part in the creation process, when a husband and wife express their love and attraction for each other through sexual intercourse. But, when man and woman unite in physical intimacy protected within the bounds of marriage, God is also present. He sanctions the union of a man and his wife in their intimacy. What is even more mind-blowing, He communes with the unseen, but fully alive fetus as it grows in the inner most parts of the woman's body. In Psalms 139, King David laments how God's delight in us begins even as we grow in our mother's wombs:

"13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.

14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.'

Even in our mother's wombs, God knows us and communes with us. With that in mind, what conclusion would a rational person come to, as it relates to God's opinion on the issue of abortion?
It is true, the political opportunists in our country have used the issue of abortion as a wedge issue in national politics, to create division and obtain a political advantage. But God is not a politician, and when Christ was here on Earth, He seemed to go to great lengths to avoid political debates altogether.

Instead God is the loving Parent who gives His precious children a gift, in the hope we use it with the respect and reverence one should have given the magnitude of of the gift's power.

So, with that in mind, how does God feel about the topic of abortion? Does He nod in affirmative approval? Shrug His shoulders in preoccupied indifference? Or does he cry inconsolably as the cycle of life He gifted to His children, comes to a violent end?

It Really Is Time For A Change

Turn on any news program, and one will be filled with stories of doom and gloom. News reports of "Global Warming", "Rising Energy Prices", 'Rumors of Wars", and a "Sense of Restlessness" permeate the airwaves. Why?

Is it because Republican President George Bush has been in office for the past 8 years?

Is it because of the war in Iraq?

Is it because this is an election year, and people are just ready for a new political climate?

Is it because of the failing financial markets around the world?

Will a change in the affiliation of the political party in the White House cure what ails the masses? Or bring comfort to the human heart?

Isaiah 55 states:

"55:1 “Hey, all who are thirsty, come to the water!
You who have no money, come!
Buy and eat!
Come! Buy wine and milk
without money and without cost!

55:2 Why pay money for something that will not nourish you?
Why spend your hard-earned money on something that will not satisfy?
Listen carefully to me and eat what is nourishing!
Enjoy fine food!

55:3 Pay attention and come to me!
Listen, so you can live!
Then I will make an unconditional covenantal promise to you,
just like the reliable covenantal promises I made to David.

55:4 Look, I made him a witness to nations,
a ruler and commander of nations.”

55:5 Look, you will summon nations you did not previously know;
nations that did not previously know you will run to you,
because of the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel,
for he bestows honor on you.

55:6 Seek the Lord while he makes himself available;
call to him while he is nearby!

55:7 The wicked need to abandon their lifestyle
and sinful people their plans.
They should return to the Lord, and he will show mercy to them,
and to their God, for he will freely forgive them.

55:8 “Indeed, my plans are not like your plans,
and my deeds are not like your deeds,

55:9 for just as the sky is higher than the earth,
so my deeds are superior to your deeds
and my plans superior to your plans.

55:10 The rain and snow fall from the sky
and do not return,
but instead water the earth
and make it produce and yield crops,
and provide seed for the planter and food for those who must eat.

55:11 In the same way, the promise that I make
does not return to me, having accomplished nothing.
No, it is realized as I desire
and is fulfilled as I intend.”

55:12 Indeed you will go out with joy;
you will be led along in peace;
the mountains and hills will give a joyful shout before you,
and all the trees in the field will clap their hands.

55:13 Evergreens will grow in place of thorn bushes,
firs will grow in place of nettles;
they will be a monument to the Lord,
a permanent reminder that will remain.

Wow!! God promises to fulfill our needs and give peace in our hearts. But that fulfilment only comes when one returns to God and enters into a real relationship with Him.

Thus the crux of the problem when Man has the free will to choose his path, and that path takes him away from the God that created him.

The news reports don't reflect a need for a change in public policies. They reflect the frustrations of mankind in being disheartened with the path he is has pursued apart from God.

Man has become blind, weary, disillusioned, and frustrated. We worship the Earth. We worship political parties. We worship ourselves. We worship the idols we have crafted of wood, brick, silver, and gold. In Biblical times, they were pagan gods.

In the modern day, they are the homes, cars, clothes, and lifestyle that are a little too luxurious for our wallets.

And yet, we as humans are still unhappy...

God's promises to give what our souls thirst so much for. Him. We were created with a God shaped hole in our hearts that only He could fill.

Putting our hopes for peace, fulfillment and salvation in anything besides Him will always result in more despair and decay.

Instead of hoping in Obama or McCain to fix all that is wrong in the world, hope that the authority and person of Jesus Christ becomes more of a reality with each passing day.

Back Up and Running

I must have been smoking crack, when I decided to start a blog while a full-time law student, part time law-intern for a law firm, part-time mediator for state court, father of 2 kids (ages 4 and 3), and the husband of the baddest chick on the planet. In other words, I not only don't have time, I probably need an extra 20 hours each week. But God gives strength to the weary, so I hope to be more diligent going forward.

I just completed my second year of law school, while working full time hours as a law intern for a small firm, and doing an externship for state court as a mediator. At this point, I am pretty much fried. I am enjoying spending time with my wife and kids over the summer. I will enjoy this time next summer even more, which is when I hope to graduate from law school. In the mean time, I hope to post at least 1 small entry each day.

Till next time... God Bless

Going Home to Glory

On January 30, 2007 Janette Ridely, Tamila's grandmother, passed away after battling respiratory ailments for the past two months. She had finally succumbed to cardio-pulmonary failure at the age of 76 years old.


Of course Tami and her mom, Shirley (Mom), took it hard. We all hoped Ms. Ridley would get better, as her doctors stated they were hopeful she would be able to go home soon. But her ailments were too much for her to overcome. This all started one day back in the middle of October. Ms. Ridley started having problems breathing, and Mom had to take her to the hospital. She was initially in the hospital for about 5 weeks, as she had a shunt put into her esophagus to help her breath, and overcome what the doctors believed to be a generalized respiratory infection. It was hard for the doctors to determine exactly what type of infection she had, because her ailment was further complicated by the fact she smoked up until the day she went into the hospital in October.


Ms. Ridley had been a life long smoker, so it was hard to determine exactly whether she had pneumonia, bronchiolitis, bronchitis, pulmonary hypertension, or a generalized Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, of which emphysema and chronic bronchitis are grouped. All of these illnesses have some overlap of the same symptoms. Since Ms. Ridley had been a smoker all of her life, she probably suffered from a severe form of a Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, which basically destroys the air sacs in the lungs, causing shortness of breath and wheezing as the body struggles to absorb air. Ms. Ridley was also a diabetic, and suffered from imbalanced insulin levels in the week before her passing. I am sure it was the combination of these two ailments that overwhelmed her body.


Now on a personal level, Ms. Ridley was the typical grandmother and great-grandmother. I had been told she battled all kinds of adversity as a young lady, but she managed to raise two high-quality, loving young ladies in my mother-in-law Shirley and her late sister Gwen. Ms. Ridley had also been feisty as a younger woman, but she had really mellowed out when she got older. She was a little eccentric, but she was always personable. I always told Tam Ms. Ridley was as tough as iron, and that if someone dropped a nuclear bomb, the only person that would survive would be Ms. Ridley. She was literally unbreakable or unbendable, and was quite set in her ways. After living a life of adversity, she had conquered everything. In the end, God took mercy on her and relieved her of her failing earthly body. He called her Home to be with "He who knew thee as she was being formed in the womb".


She was always sweet to me, and always made an effort to speak to me whenever I went over my mother-in-law's house, even if she had to holler down the stairs from her bedroom as I came into the front door. She loved my wife Tam and her sister, Tameka. She simply adored her great-grand kids ((Tam and I kids Olan (4) and Cassidy (2), and Tameka and Antoine's kids Aniyah (4) and Isaiah (2)). In the year before Ms. Ridley passed away, my mother-in-law had kept Cassidy during the day. It was during this time Cassidy and Ms. Ridley became running buddies. I would usually get to Mom's house when Ms. Ridley was eating breakfast, and Cassidy would run over to the table next to Mr. Ridley and snatch one of her biscuits. Ms. Ridley always had bisuits and grits for breakfast. Ms. Ridley would often feed Cassidy out of her plate, which was a miracle in itself since Mr. Ridley did not mess around when it came to her food. Her name for Olan was "Sweet Boy", and it would bother her if Tam or I had to discipline Olan when he misbehaved. The great-grand kids loved her, and Ms. Ridley ate it up.


Although Tam and I worked, and she was on a fixed income, Ms. Ridley would sometimes give us money. She would also give me money to tithe at our church, even though she was not a member. I never saw her laugh as much as when the kids were around her. She had mellowed out to the point where she would hang out with the kids , watch TV, and nap through out the day. Tam told me the day Ms. Ridley left the house to go to the hospital back in October, Cassidy cried and went upstairs to Ms. Ridley's room and sat on her bed. Tam had to go up there to calm her down. Cassidy was really upset Ms. Ridley was leaving the house. The two of them had really become that tight.

Christmas morning, Tam, myself, and the kids went to see Ms. Ridley at the geriatric hospital she was at. It was the last time we saw her before she passed away. We sat with her for about half an hour, and decided to leave because she was tired. Before we left, the kids gave her kisses. I'm glad she lived to long enough to spend time with her great-grand kids. They gave her a lot of joy.

Here is to you Ms. Ridley. We will miss you and long for the day when we all fellowship with you again, as that will be when we all are in the Presence of The Lord in Heaven. Rest well, you have earned it.

The Fear of The Lord Part 1

Proverbs 1:7 "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction."

Why did Solomon state in the Book of Proverbs that fearing God, is the point of origin from which all wisdom flows?

• Is it because God is the source of all knowledge, and all should consider and absorb His take on the matter in question?
• Or is it because when one fears the Lord, he will be more conscious of his actions and their eternal consequences of those actions?
• Or is it because since God is Omnipotent (Unlimited Power and Authority) and Omnipresent (Present Everywhere At The Same Time), He is able to to help us navigate our path, to ensure we are not victim to the pitfalls and snares that entrap others?
• Or is it because we are fragile, and without God giving us wisdom, we are more likely to to allow our sinful nature to dictate our actions, which is almost a guarantee for tragedy?

As a matter of fact, all of the answers are true. When Solomon first became king of Israel, God appeared to Solomon in a dream and asked him “Ask! What shall I give you?” (I Kings 5). Please note, Solomon could have asked for wealth, health, long life, women, good looks, a head full of hair, or power. Instead he responded with 'Now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. 8 And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted. 9 Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?” (I Kings 6-9).

God was so impressed that Solomon did not ask for something he could use for selfish gain, He not only gave him wisdom, He made him the greatest and wealthiest king in the world. And given that King Solomon's reputation as one of the wisest and splendor-drenched kings in the history of the world is still intact too this day, God's blessing was no small feat.

What would you ask for, if given such an opportunity as Solomon?

Merry Christmas Lord

Disclaimer: I am a born again Christian. I did not grow up in the church or in a Christian household. I actually submitted to the authority of Christ as my Lord and Savior, as a 21 year old Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force, stationed overseas in 1991. I had enough of living in selfishness, emptiness, and simply ran out of options. So, my turning to Christ was more out of survival than of looking for some self-congragulatory "Religious" experience. Like all relationships, it has been one of ups and downs. And those vacillations have been totally my fault, as Christ's purpose and goals for my life have never changed. I was just too immature to appreciate where He wanted to take me.

With that said, I take the opportunity today to wish Him a Happy Birthday, and to thank Him for all he has done for me, and all he has done for all of mankind. One day, He will make all that is wrong, right... In the meantime, I await His arrival, and long to be totally submitted to His plan and purpose.

Happy Birthday Lord and Have Blessed Day

Saying Goodbye to an Old Friend

Looking back in hindsight, I now see that she was really sick. Like any person with cancer, she had her good days and her bad days. Because she was a 10 year old dog, Sheba had slowed down quite a bit from the days when she was an energetic puppy. And it was difficult to distinguish the bad days from the days when she was just plain tired. As a puppy she was always high energy.. too high energy. She flat out wore me out some days, but she was a good dog. To be more precise, she was a human dressed like a dog. Now matter how long an obituary I could write, no amount of words could do justice to describe Sheba Gill's involvement with the Gill family. But I'll give it my best shot. Here goes.



In June of 1997, I was home in Atlanta during summer break from college. I was entering my senior year at Hampton University, which I was attending on a football scholarship. One Saturday, my mom brought a little puppy home she had got from a friend of the family. The puppy was a golden brown... almost blond. She had big floppy ears and a purple tongue. I almost thought she was a Chow, because Chows are one of the breeds that have purple tongues. I asked my mom what she was going to name the puppy, to which she replied "Sheba". Now mind you, Sheba was originally my mom's dog. I was going to school in Virginia and was only home for the summer, so raising a dog was not anywhere in my plans. But Sheba and I really took to each other.

The same day my mom brought her home, I started potty training her. I ran to the store and got some puppy food and dog treats. From that day on, were inseparable. Tamila Hill, my girlfriend at the time (who would later become my wife) also took to Sheba. And Sheba took to her too. We would go out on dates to Piedmont Park and take Sheba with us. For the rest of the summer, Sheba pretty much hung with me. Right before I went back to school in August, my mom started having second thoughts about keep Sheba. She suggested she would keep her until I graduated and then I would take Sheba as my own. I agreed. I

Sheba and I were tight, even though my schedule was hectic. I would let Sheba out in the morning. Then I would go to class at Georgia State , get out of class at 11am and catch the bus to work . I would work 2pm-10:30pm and catch the bus home, getting home about 11:30. I would then let her out when I got home. So during the week, I would not get to spend a lot of time with Sheba, but the weekends were different. Tami would usually come over Saturday morning. Unless we were going to a mall or a movie, Sheba would hang with us. Parks, drives around the city, going to Stone Mountain, you name it, Sheba was there. In November of 1998, I proposed to Tami and she accepted. We began to look forward to our lives together as a family.

I ended up needed to go back to Hampton for to take my last two of the needed three classes. Like a bonehead, I registered at GSU as a transient student, which meant I could only go to school at GSU for one semester. So I finished the Fall of '98 at GSU and continued to live in the apartment and work at AAA until May '99. I then had to go back to Hampton to take the last two classes: 1 during the summer and 1 in the fall. I left Sheba with my mom and moved back to Hampton. Tami was home in Atlanta planning our wedding that would take place on December 18, 1999. I completed the needed classes over the summer and fall, taking my last final on December 6th, 1999. I left the exam room, went back to my dorm room, and was on a Greyhound back to Atlanta within 2 hours.

A few weeks earlier over the Thanksgiving break, Tami and I had a found an apartment in Atlanta (Riverside Apartments, now called Riverside Vinings) that took pets and one that we could afford. It was a small apartment. A 900 square foot apartment with one bedroom and a kitchenette. But it was home. Starting out, money was TIGHT, but it was fun. Tami, Sheba and I would all pile into my old full size bed at bedtime. On weekends, I would get some hot dogs and cheap $2.00 steaks and grill on the patio (Violation of the City Fire Code). Sheba could eat her weight in steak. Tami and I also found a trail that led to a path that ran along the banks of the Chattahoochee River. We would take Sheba down there and let her walk through the water. Life was simple. However, it was at this time I noticed some quirks in my dog.

Sheba had pretty much been raised by my mom, which means my mom let her do whatever she wanted. Sheba would brazenly eat out of the garbage can. And would stand 6 inches from you, when you were eating, to beg for food. When she did not get any food, she would urinate on the carpet out of spite. This was always a pet peeve of mine. Whenever she would urinate on the carpet, I would get livid, because she had been house-trained since she was a month old. She also hated to get wet, which was strange for a dog. If she was standing in wet grass, she hold up one of her paws, as if to say she was too prissy to get wet. Whenever I gave her a bath, I had to put on swimming trunks because I would get just as wet as she did. Sheba also had the bad habit of chewing the toes out of my socks, only mine.

But she was a part of the family... Our family. And like all families, you get used to each others quirks. We eventually moved into our first home in Douglasville, Ga. After being married about 3 years, Tami and I bought a Boxer puppy from on of my best friends. We named him Dutch-Daddy, or Dutch for short. Of course, Sheba did not like this. She would nip at the Boxer puppy, or sulk in the corner whenever he came into the room. But they eventually became pretty tight. One time I took Dutch and Sheba to the vet after Dutch's face became really swollen (He got stung when he ate a yellow jacket). When the vet tried to touch Dutch, Sheba tried to bite her, and started barking. So she took to protecting him, while he was still a puppy.

Tami and I would have two kids (boy, then a girl) along the way. Sheba went from sleeping in the bed, to sleeping on the floor. Eventually, Sheba and Dutch would have to sleep in the garage because they would tend to roam around the house and get into things. We no longer spent all of our time with her, taking her to parks and letting her ride in the car when we ran errands. The kids and our work week became the priority, and the dogs , while our pets, became more like pets and less like our kids. And this is the way it remained until the second week in October 2007, when we first started noticing Sheba was really lethargic. She started peeing on the carpet. But suprisingly, I did not get mad at her. I would see the pee stain, and she would give me a look that said "Sorry", and "I would tell her it's okay Sheps". She began to eat less as well. She would still be outside when I came home from class, but know she would be laying by the back porch, instead of running around the yard.





On October 31st, I took her to the vet. The night before, I noticed she was barely able to stand, and looked really tired. She just sat in the corner and looked really sad. A couple of days earlier, she laid on the couch, while I sat in the floor in front of her and she laid her chin on my shoulder while I watched TV. She just looked really tired. At the vet, she could not get our of the car, so I had to carry her in. I laid her down on the table, and told the vet I thought she had a blockage in her intestines (her stomach had swollen to 3 times the normal size). He said she had cancer, probably lymphoma. He also said he could do surgery to make me happy to confirm it was cancer, but Sheba would still have to be put to sleep and I would be out of pocket close to a $1,000. I asked for a minute to say goodbye, and went out to pay the bill. When I went back to look at her, she was already gone. I had the doctor open up her abdomen (Remember, I was a Biology major, so I was not squeamish), and we both saw that her spleen was the size of a grapefruit (normally the size of a small banana cut in half). The doctor said it was probaly a lymphoma type blood cancer, and that is why her illness progressed so quickly.

Tami called as I was leaving the vet's office... as expected she was hysterical. She cried almost everyday for a month. Sheba had grown to become more her dog than mine, and she was kind of like our first child. The kids would ask about her, but they were too young to miss her. Besides, Dutch was the really the dog they played with. Tami still cries if she finds a toy of Sheba's, or a picture she took of her right before she died. I cried for 2 or 3 days aafter she died. I even went to the Humane Society looking to get another puppy. I eventually decided against it. I said if I still want one a month from now, I would get one, and I ended up not wanting another one. I decided to just spend more time with Dutch, and that has worked out good. Besides, Sheba had so much personality, I coould not replace her even if I wanted to.

That's it. That's my obituary to Sheba. A great dog, and a great friend. Thanks for ten years of friendship.

Our Sin Will Find Us Out

When we do not receive immediate consequences to our sinful behavior, do we really get away with it? King David's adulterous affair with Bathsheba and the horrible series of events afterwards answers the preceding question with a resounding "NO!"

First, we need to provide a little back-drop to this scenario. 2 Samuel 11 describes in detail how this tragedy began. While King David was on a little midnight stroll on his castle roof, he spotted a beautiful woman bathing. David inquired about her to his staff. The woman ended up being Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite, one of David's soldiers. David had Bathsheba brought to him and had an adulterous affair with her. The affair resulted in Bathsheba getting pregnant by David. To cover up the shameful conduct, David called Uriah from the field during war-time in the hopes Uriah would sleep with Bathsheba, so that the pregnancy would be attributed to him instead of David. But Uriah was so faithful to King David, he slept outside of David's house, instead of spending time with his own wife. David then sent Uriah back into battle, and ordered one of his commanders to send Uriah to the front line, but withdraw support so that he would be killed. The plan worked. Uriah was killed in battle. After allowing Bathsheba the customary time to grieve, David took her as his wife. She eventually bore David a son. In short time, God would send His prophet Nathan to rebuke David and announce God's judgment of his sin.

So David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” And Nathan said to David, “The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die. 14 However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die.” 15 Then Nathan departed to his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and it became ill. 16 David therefore pleaded with God for the child, and David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. 17 So the elders of his house arose and went to him, to raise him up from the ground. But he would not, nor did he eat food with them. 18 Then on the seventh day it came to pass that the child died. 2 Samuel 12:13-18 (New King James Bible)

David's first son he fathered with Bathsheba died as an infant, even as he pleaded with God to spare the life of the child. But God's punishment of David's sin did not end there. God's judgment that David's household would be filled with strife would come to fruition. His son Amnon raped his half-sister Tamar. David's son Absolom would later kill his brother Amnon. Absolom would also attempt a coup against David, to become king of Israel. As a result of this treasonous activity, Absolom would be killed in battle by members of David's army.

While David is called " a man after my own heart" by God Himself, and is considered by many to be the greatest king in the history of Israel, even he was not immune to the harmful effects of his sinful acts on his own life and on the lives of his loved ones.

The Best Advice A Father Could Give to His Son

1 Kings 2 (New King James Version) - "1 Now the days of David drew near that he should die, and he charged Solomon his son, saying: 2 “I go the way of all the earth; be strong, therefore, and prove yourself a man. 3 And keep the charge of the LORD your God: to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His judgments, and His testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn; 4 that the LORD may fulfill His word which He spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons take heed to their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul,’ He said, ‘you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel." - King David to his son Solomon, shortly before David's death

David was not only a king, a warrior, and a prophet; He was also a father to several sons. And like all good fathers, David wanted to impart his sons with some guidance they could apply to their lives. As the king of Israel for over 40 years, David had lived a life full of triumph and tragedy. At the end of his life, he had a lot of personal experience to offer his son, Solomon, as an example of how to conduct himself as the future king of Israel and as a man. Instead of putting the focus on himself as the example to follow, he pointed Solomon towards God. He extolled the virtues and benefits of following God, letting the tragedies of his life speak as examples of the consequences for not following God.

David understood that proving one's self as a man was not based on lustful conquests, being victorious in battle, or having others fear him. Proving one's self as a man could only be accomplished by committing one's way to God, and following His precepts. Today, we often seek to manifest our manhood or womanhood by exalting ourselves, or reducing ourselves to the behavioral least common denominator of the masses. In truth, many of us are really seeking The Right Path to take, as well as The Right Person to follow and emulate. We just don't realize it. How wonderful it is that David's advice to his son Solomon is as applicable today to all of us, as it was 3000 years ago.

Given the opportunity to elevate himself in the eyes of his son, Solomon, David deferred to God as the source of peace and abundant living. As a father, no greater advice could be given to my children, whether son or daughter, than to counsel them to commit their way and life to God in Jesus Christ. While I could try to have my children follow my life's examples, I love them too much to do so. While my life has been filled with triumphs and accomplishments, like David's, it has also been filled with sin, heartache and tragedy. The model of my life is flawed and distorted. But the advice of David to follow God, manifested in the person of Jesus Christ, is the gold standard to follow. This is the example I will put before my children to follow. I will counsel them to do so, and pray they take heed. Their very lives depend on it.