Is the world in crisis....or am I over-reacting?

Are things in a crisis? With all the politics taking place these last few days, I was think about a event that took place awhile back....stricter laws to protect people from questionable banking practices were issued. Banks had to change some of their policies to comply. To notify me of such changes, my bank sent me a letter. But when I got to the end I had more questions than answers. The use of phrases like “we may” and “at our discretion” certainly didn’t sound like anything I could depend on!

In contrast, the Old Testament quotes God as saying “I will” numerous times. God promises David: “I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever” (2 Sam. 7:12-13). No uncertainty in those words. Recognizing God’s faithfulness to His promises, King Solomon says in his prayer of dedication for the temple: “You have kept what You promised Your servant David my father; You have both spoken with Your mouth and fulfilled it with Your hand” (2 Chron. 6:15). Centuries later, the apostle Paul said that all of God’s promises are “yes” in Christ (2 Cor. 1:20).

In a world of uncertainty, our trust is in a faithful God who will always keep His promises.

Whatever trouble may assail, 
Of this we can be sure: 
God’s promises can never fail, 
They always will endure. —Hess

As for me and my house, we will trust the Lord! I also know without doubt...strength will rise for those who wait on God. You know I love ya, Don

He Needs to Know Jesus... as do we.

On April 15^th, 2013 two young brothers left their homes with bags filled with pressure cooker bombs. They deposited the bombs on the finish line of the Boston marathon. The two bombs took three lives and maimed and injured many more. A search ensued for three days until the two brothers were isolated in a suburb of Boston. The older brother was shot and killed in the crossfire while the young brother was injured in the fight. The next day after many events and police actions, the younger brother was captured, arrested and taken to a hospital under intense police guard. These events are tragic and horrific. The victims are in my prayers, as well as in the thoughts of so many Christians. The awareness of God's goodness also sparks within the believer a desire to reach out to the surviving brother. He committed awful acts of evil. He will be held accountable for his crimes against society. The eternal perspective of a Christ-follower is that he also needs to know Jesus.

The world is filled with people who have belief that God exists. The awareness of and knowing God are different. When a person knows God, the “knowing” draws a person to a place of goodness in response to God. It is this goodness which motivates followers of Jesus to be more like Jesus. Dallas Willard defines it with: “Discipleship can be made concrete by loving our enemies, blessing those who curse us, walking the second mile with an oppressor-in general, living out the gracious inward transformations of faith, hope, and love.” Our accomplishments are not as significant as how we touched others for the cause of Christ in this world.

"Oh Lord, please bring a message that has an eternal perspective to this young man. Remind me that I am significant in your plan of reaching out to the twisted and misguided so that you might bring a renewed hope again. I love you, Lord. Amen."

You know I love ya, Don