CHARLIE MIKE: An Attitude of Action

2 Timothy 2:3-4  Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.  4  No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

John 4:34  Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

    What does the term “CHARLIE MIKE” mean? In the Special Operations world – Navy SEALs, Delta Force, Green Berets, Rangers, Marine Force Recon, Air Force CCT/Para-Rescue, to name a few, they use the term CHARLIE MIKE as a code for Continue Mission when speaking on the radio to higher command or other teammates. Whether you’re about to jump from an airplane, dive from a boat or assault a target – CHARLIE MIKE is all about making the mission happen – it’s about Never Giving Up until you have completed the mission and hearing the words MIKE CHARLIE: Mission Complete.

    In 2 Timothy 2:3-4, Paul, an older battle tired veteran of the gospel ministry is encouraging a young preacher named Timothy to be faithful to the mission given him and to endure till the end. Jesus said in John 4:34 that his “meat” was to do and finish his father’s work. “Meat” or food refers to the substance that keeps the body nourished, moving and active. Jesus was saying, the work given to him of his father, that is the work of dying on the Cross to save mankind; kept him motivated and drove him to continue and complete his mission. Think of that, when Jesus thought of you it kept him going and motivated him to complete his mission.

    As Christians and soldiers of Jesus Christ we will face many battles and hardships. We will have battles until we see the gates of Heaven’s fair city, there will always be a trial to bear or a mission to complete. Trials will come in our work, home, church and personal lives, but we must purpose in our hearts and minds not to give up. We must determine to finish and complete our mission objective. We are to be working for our Lord, sharing his message of forgiveness and hope; we are to raise our children and influence others for His great cause, we must finish. Shout it loud, CHARLIE MIKE!

    One day when our work here is finished and only after the mission is complete; we will hear the trump of God sound its final call. The Lord will return from Heaven and from the clouds call his children home for the last time. The battle will be done, the Mission Complete! We will stand in our ranks before the great General of Heaven, and one by one receive the rewards for our work here below. We will be judged on our faithfulness and how we ran our mission. We will in some points receive rewards and sadly, in some cases we will suffer loss. It should be the desire of every child of God to faithfully conduct our mission so that Christ is pleased and our mission is successful. Until the Trumpet sounds, CHARLIE MIKE!

 

Through the Power of God’s Spirit

Romans 8:8-11  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.  9  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.  10  And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.  11  But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

A little boy struggled to move after he fell out of his wheelchair. His legs have not worked since birth and now he cannot on his own get back up. His flesh is weak from this horrible disease that keeps him from a full and happy life; playing and running with the other children. He is powerless to move on his own; he depends fully on his parents and caretakers.

You and I are similar to this young boy. We may not have a crippling physical condition but on our own, that is in our flesh we cannot please God. We cannot please God because we cannot overcome sin and temptation by ourselves, our flesh is just too weak. We cannot please God because our flesh is filled with pride, selfishness, worry and doubt; not to mention a host of other failures that handicap us. From time to time we may gain some temporary victory over our emotions or say no to a temptation, but sooner or later we fall because we are not strong enough to stand. Like the disease that hinders the life and joy of this child; our sinful flesh hinder us from living a victorious Christian life. When we fail it brings guilt, shame and frustration. We just cannot find the power to overcome and live in joy….

In this passage of scripture we find the power to succeed and overcome our failures. If we are saved, then we have the Holy Spirit of God living in us. At our spiritual birth, God sealed us with his Holy Spirit to be our guide, teacher and comforter as we walk the road to Glory. God’s children are promised that the same powerful Spirit that raised Christ from the dead will also “quicken” or empower our physical bodies to overcome and be victorious in life. All the power that brought back Jesus Christ from the dead, is working in you and for you. There is no enemy known to man that is stronger than death, and our Lord conquered death, hell and the grave.  1 Corinthians 15:55-57  O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?  56  The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.  57  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. In John 16:33 Jesus said “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” Christ is our victorious champion. The same Spirit of God that worked for Christ has been promised to work for us.

Dear reader, quench not the Spirit that is pledged to help you. Don’t put out that holy fire working in you, but allow him free reign in your life to convict you of sin and when he does show you truth and error, choose truth. Follow the Spirit in every decision and you’ll not go wrong even once. Also, grieve not the Holy Spirit of God. When he bids you to follow him, do not walk the other way. He loves you and desires you to go well; never cause him to be saddened or ashamed. Be obedient to his persuading; he has been sent as a gift from God to help you succeed and to please God in your life.  

You may feel like you have no strength, that you have exhausted all and are ready to fail, “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” When your strength stops, the sustaining grace of God begins; his strength is enough for you.  Pray, read your Bible and go to church; there is strength for you through the power of God’s Spirit. Invite him to work in your life today.

 

What Changes our Children? Part 2

Proverbs 22:6  Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

2. They will not raise themselves, correct themselves or grow out of their bad habits by themselves: Proverbs 29:15  “The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.” God has placed the parent as the Teaching Authority over the child, to instruct them in the ways of God, in those things that will be right and honorable, and in those things that will be most helpful to them when they grow and leave the home to start a family of their own. When children fall into sin and wrong behavior a great lie of the world is; “They are just going through a phase, they will grow out of it” or something like; “We did that when we were young, we grew up and turned out alright” the worldly educators and child psychologists want you to think this behavior is normal, transitional or just temporary with no lasting effects, but even nature shows us that when a tree starts out growing crooked it stays that way throughout its lifespan; why would we expect less of our children?  So how is this behavior corrected? I will use one very old fashion word – discipline! Yes, I mean physical correction…a spanking to be crystal clear. This should be done in a controlled manner, in a loving attitude and it should end with you praying with your child. I have found that explaining to the child what he/she has done wrong and how it violates the Bible and the rules of the home, then spanking them (so they feel it and know you mean business). After spanking them, tell them how much you love them and that you don’t want them to grow up rebellious and on the wrong side of the law, pray with them and have them ask God and you for forgiveness, explain to them this is the Biblical way that pleases God and honors their parents. You are their parent first and their friend last, be a parent, they will love you more later, and they will be better for it.  

3. The responsibility falls to the parents: the command in Proverbs 22:6 to “train up” the child is directed to the parent; it is not directed to the school, government or even the church, it is not up to the media, television, social networks and friends to train your children…it is your responsibility to train your children. The fact that this is a command given in Scripture means that it carries a penalty if we do not follow it through; we are responsible for the actions of our children. When they leave our homes, then God will deal directly with them, but as long as they are living under your roof, you Dad & Mom are responsible for all they do. You are responsible for the things they see and learn, for their internet surfing, the movies they see, music they listen to, the clothing they wear, the attitudes they develop, the places they go and the people they call friends. This parental responsibility has been down played in our society and our children have paid the price. Current TV sitcoms portray the dad as a mindless, beer guzzling buffoon; mom is often running the home and plays the harlot while the kids are left to fend and raise themselves. This may be how America views the home but it is certainly not how God designed it. Parents, live godly, take responsibility and take back your home and children from the influences of the world and the devil. Your children are counting on you.

 

What Changes our Children? Part 1

Proverbs 22:6  Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Why would a kind, obedient and interactive child, grow up and become cruel, rebellious and isolate themselves from their family? Why do so many “good” children, from solid families turn out the opposite of their conservative upbringing? While there are many factors to this change taking place, I believe there is a large component we often overlook and many times secular authorities downplay the importance of…INFLUENCE. I believe a child changes over time because of the influences in their lives. Their parents, teachers, friends, music, television, internet and surroundings will play a major role in their overall development. The Bible says in Proverbs 13:20 “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.” This verse shows the importance and outcome of the people we associate with. Those who interact with godly people will be godly and those that run with worldly people will become worldly. Just like the old saying goes “Birds of a feather flock together.” 

 I have seen outstanding “church kids” overtime become some of the worldliest youth I know. It saddens me to see young people grow up and leave the church to run with the devils crowd and all the negative influences of the world. I for one would love to see something different. I believe God’s plan for raising children will work and will be effective to all who use it. The idea behind Proverbs 22:6 is this, if they are trained properly, they will stay the way they are trained. This is easier said than done but I believe God’s way works. I would like to state a few helpful insights that I feel will be a great help in saving our youth.

1. They need the right training: Children must start right if they are going to stay right. They must have a solid foundation of Biblical training. A child that learns to respect God’s authority will also respect the authority of his parents and others authority figures. Family Bible Time along with Family Prayer Time is a must in every home. Regular church and Sunday school attendance are a must for developing this solid foundation that will continue to support them through their adult life. Children also need the example of their parents & guardians to help set them in the right direction. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then the picture of a good example is worth the same. Don’t tell them “Do as I say, not as I do” but rather teach them “Do as I say, and Do as I do” lead by example. Parents, you are carving the path which your children will follow for their lives and then later they will teach it to your grandchildren; make sure the path is clear! Training is not simply telling the right things but it is showing the right things by your daily example. Use the limited time you have to develop godly habits and practices in your children and to cut out those things that will one day be a curse to them…..

 

Your Actions Will Always Follow Your Attitude

Proverbs 23:7 “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…” the biblical principle behind this verse is: Your Actions will always follow your Attitude! If you don’t care, you won’t succeed; if you predetermine to fail, then you can expect to fall.

On the other hand, God wants us to try hard, apply ourselves and put forth as much effort as we can. He wants us to keep our head up, our attitude positive and our thoughts on His Word. Christ is able to be the difference you need….let Philippians 4:13 be your thought process: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

The verse says I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me; what does this mean and how can we apply it to our lives today? By applying the principles of this verse, you will find the strength to maintain the positive attitude needed to produce the positive actions you are looking for. Here are some encouraging thoughts from this passage:

Christ is our source of strength. The same Jesus that walked on water in Matthew 14, then caused the destructive winds of the Galilean Sea to cease at his command in Mark 4, the same Jesus that healed the man with leprosy instantly in Luke 5, and caused the blind man to see in John 9, he is the same Jesus that died on the cross for our sins, was then put in the grave and three days later came back to life, this is the same Jesus that will one day return to earth to take his children home to heaven and THIS IS THE SAME JESUS  that is your strength today! Never doubt him; accept him, trust him and put your full confidence in him, He will never let you down.  

I can do all things. Christ strengthens us to do what we cannot. Through Christ working in me, I can do all things. I can make good decisions; I can overcome defeat, doubt and temptation; I can be a godly church member, parent, spouse and friend; I can overcome addictions, fears and worry; through Christ I can love, be kind and show generosity to others; through Christ I can be faithful and fulfill my commitments; through Christ, I can do what needs to be done! Paul wrote this letter not from a luxurious penthouse suite, but from a cold and dreary Roman prison; regardless of his present condition, Paul knew that whether good or bad he could do all things that needed to be done through the strength of Christ which was in him. Whatever you need to do, Christ has the strength to do it!

Through Christ. This means that Christ is the vehicle by which we succeed. HE is the fertile ground in which the plant can grow. He is the water, sun and nutrients that feeds the plant to its maturity. Christ says in John 15:4-5  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.  5  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. When we stay with Christ, in Christ and close to Christ; his strength and understanding empower and enable us to achieve our desired destinations. We are productive through Christ and helpless apart from him. Some may doubt their need for Christ, thinking they can succeed on their own. I ask that skeptic to use his own power to make the food he eats to grow out of the ground, let him heal his dying loved one from their death bed, let him recover his strength when he is sick and cannot work to provide for his own. We are limited in our ability but Christ is above all and overall and can never be less than completely perfect in his power and strength. Stay with the power, stay with Christ.

Your actions will always follow your attitude…so love the Lord, read his word and pray daily, go to church and tell others about His goodness. Keep a faithful attitude that obeys Gods every command, listen to the Holy Spirit when he moves you to action and you will grow in the strength of Christ. Your life will be productive and your heart will be at peace. Keep a “Christ-Attitude” and you will find that the right actions will follow.

 

 

 

Always Triumph in Christ

 

“Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ…2 Corinthians 2:14” 

No matter what we are facing, we have a Savior that is more than capable to meet the demands of the battle.

Specialist 5th Class Clarence Sasser distinguished himself while assigned to Headquarters Company, 3d Battalion, in the Ding Tuong Province, Republic of Vietnam, on January 10, 1968. Sasser was serving as a medical aidman with Company A, 3d Battalion, on a reconnaissance in force operation. His company was making an air assault when suddenly it was taken under heavy small arms, recoilless rifle, machinegun and rocket fire from well fortified enemy positions on three sides of the landing zone.

During the first few minutes, over 30 casualties were sustained. Without hesitation, Specialist 5th Class Sasser ran across an open rice paddy through a hail of fire to assist the wounded. After helping one man to safety, was painfully wounded in the left shoulder by fragments of an exploding rocket. Refusing medical attention, he ran through a barrage of rocket and automatic weapons fire to aid casualties of the initial attack and, after giving them urgently needed treatment, continued to search for other wounded.

Despite two additional wounds immobilizing his legs, he dragged himself through the mud toward another soldier 100 meters away. Although in agonizing pain and faint from loss of blood, Specialist 5th Class Sasser reached the man, treated him, and proceeded on to encourage another group of soldiers to crawl 200 meters to relative safety. There he attended their wounds for five hours until they were evacuated. Specialist 5th Class Sasser’s extraordinary heroism is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

I am thankful and humbled by the extraordinary bravery and commitment from Specialist 5^th Class Sasser and others like him. We must never forget brave soldiers that gave much and those that are actively serving for this great country and our freedom. This type of sacrifice causes me to think of the hope and victory that we have through Jesus Christ.

The Lord Jesus took on the whole army of darkness the day he faced the cross of Calvary. He carried the sins of the whole world on his back as he took fire from the Roman whips and the agonies of the cross. As he hung bleeding and battered that day, it appeared to his enemies that he wouldn’t survive; in fact he died after 6 hours and was in the tomb for three days…but wait, can you hear the faint sounds of earth and stone moving in the stillness of that remote garden outside of Jerusalem. It is Resurrection morning and Jesus has conquered the last enemy which is death, he stands alive, victorious over sin, and all those who stand in him have the same power of life he possesses. All the power and fullness of the Godhead that is in Christ is in his children. His life becomes our life, his strength is our strength. 

Child of God, REJOICE, SHOUT and CRY LOUD the praises of a Savior who causes us to always triumph. God’s infallible word says ALWAYS TRIUMPH! I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. There is not one enemy I cannot defeat, not one sin I cannot overcome when I stand in the power & strength of Christ Jesus. What is it that has you down, defeated and distressed? Are you in Christ? Are you saved? Then you will always triumph “Through Christ.”

 

“Starting the New Year Right”

Luke 15:6  And when he cometh home…”

Home is, one of the nicest words there is…that is if that home is a happy place filled with the love of Christ. What do you find when you come home? God has big plans for your home; he desires it to be a warm, happy and productive place where love abounds and good futures are born.  When I think of a New Year I think of the word opportunity. You and I have been given an opportunity to make a difference in our home, church & community and that all has to start somewhere. Let me give you a few suggestions for your family circle this year.

 1.      Have a family BIBLE time

This can consist of reading a passage of scripture then speak briefly about its meaning; this can also be reading through a particular book of the Bible together as a family. You can also pick a topic such as kindness and look up & read those particular passages together. At Victory, we make many resources available through our website, blogs and literature racks in the church foyer. Any of these resources can be used to enhance family circles.  

2.      Have a family PRAYER time

This is a time for each member of the family to make prayer requests and then take turns praying with family members. Record these request in your family prayer book to help you keep track of God’s blessings. Make it public when a prayer is answered and mark it off your list as a family; rejoice together as God answers your prayers. Make a big deal of Gods wonderful works. This will show God’s power to your family as well as get people in your family use to praying in front of others. Use your church prayer list and Missionary cards as a place to start your prayer time.

3.      Have a family FUN time

You should have a regular time that your family sets aside to play games together. Laughter is like a medicine the Bible teaches us and it is needed now more than ever. Play games like; Bible sword drills, Bible questions, board/card games….these will help enhance your family unit to a new level. Laughter locks families together better than money or possessions ever could.  

4. Have family QUALITY time

Turn off all distractions and sit together as a family and talk. You can go around and ask family members to say one nice thing about each other. Talk openly about successes and failures; discuss plans for future activities and family recreation times. Make sure to have a quality time with each member of your family individually. One on one time is a valuable tool in raising a faithful and God honoring family. TV is not quality time!

Someone once said, “The family that prays together stays together” I believe that a family that is welded together by Biblical and Spiritual bonds will be stronger and more prepared to face the disruptions of life. God is able to make the lasting difference in your family that you are looking for. Put God first and watch him move in ways that will enhance your family spirit and empower you to stay strong through difficult times for years to come. Families spend much time and money seeking to find a solution to their family issues; in the end, often the world’s medications, psychologists & counselors fail to bring the real and lasting solutions they need. THROUGH CHRIST and his word you will find the family you seek.

 

Tychicus, A Man that Pleased God

Ephesians 6:21-22  But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things:  22  Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts.

Paul writes his letter to the believers at Ephesus to encourage them to stay strong in their new faith and to press forward for the cause of Christ. This church was surrounded by worldly influences, immorality, materialism, Idolatry and many more evil corruptions. Through the Holy Spirits leading, Paul pours his heart out to these believers and now he needs someone very faithful to make sure this letter gets to the Ephesian church.

This is where we learn of a man named Tychicus. He is a very dear brother in Christ to the Apostle Paul and trusted by many of the New Testament believers. His reputation is flawless and his zeal for Christ and his church is unquestionable. Looking at his character qualities we can see the kind of spiritual leader God is looking for in his church. May we develop the spiritual qualities that Christ has developed here in his servant Tychicus.   

1. Tychicus was Lovable: vs. 21 “a beloved brother”

Not everyone is loveable. Some people are like skunks, they have attitudes and personalities that stink every time you get close to them. Some people are like porcupines, if you get close they stick you. There are people who gossip, slander, complain and many are just plain unkind; they are not loveable people that you would desire to be close to. On the other hand, Tychicus had a loveable disposition. Kindness, hospitality, good manners, respect, helpfulness, thoughtfulness, charity, integrity and such like are all character traits that are loveable. Tychicus was just the kind of guy everyone loved, are you loveable?

2. Tychicus was Faithful: vs. 21 “faithful minister”

Many people are known for breaking their word, not keeping their commitments and not finishing what they start; Tychicus however was known as a faithful brother. God’s people should be known as faithful. Keeping your word and performing your vows is one of the most notable of Christ’s characteristics. When Jesus was facing the agonies of the Cross he could have called the armies of heaven to rescue him, but instead was faithful to finish God’s redemption plan for mankind. Amen! I am glad he did! We should be faithful to our God; reading the Bible, going to church, praying, sharing our faith, giving our tithes & offerings and teaching others the way of the Cross.  Our family needs us to be faithful; giving them quality time, sharing Gods word with them, taking time for each family member, date your spouse like before you were married and leading your family to Gods house each week. We should be faithful to our fellow man; keeping our word, performing your vows, working hard for our employer, paying taxes, contributing your talents to help others, and always ready to show a Christ-like attitude.  These are just a few of the many areas that demand our faithfulness.

3. Tychicus was “Sendable”: vs.22 “I have sent unto you”

Before you correct my grammar I know sendable is not a word but it conveys my point and you will better remember this point. Tychicus was willing and obedient to go where he was needed…he was sendable. Are you willing to go wherever God needs you? Will you obediently serve him even if it’s out of your comfort zone? A spiritual leader understands that he or she belongs to Christ and that HIS mission comes first.  Sometimes we are called upon to go out of our comfort zone to forgive someone, to help someone or to perform a task for the first time. If you will be sendable then to God you will be profitable.

4. Tychicus was a Comforter: vs.22 “that he might comfort your hearts”

There are some people you can’t wait to get away from and there are those you wish you could keep with you forever. A person that encourages you is someone you most eagerly call close to you. There is enough negative, heartbreaking talk in the world, May God send some Tychicus’s to comfort those that struggle.  Jesus said he didn’t come so people could minister to him; he came so he could minister to others. A good spiritual leader desires to comfort and encourage others more than he desires others to tend to him. I have found that if you are faithful to be an encourager, others will encourage you. Find someone to call, send a card with some encouraging Bible verses in it, send an uplifting text message or email to any one God lays on your heart. Encouragement seems to find its way back to those who send it.  

These are qualities that every Christian should posses. These qualities are not naturally in us, but they are the work of the Holy Spirit of God in our lives. When we read God’s word and pray, He directs us into these qualities. As you give God full liberty in your life, you’ll find a refreshing and rewarding peace as He cultivates his likeness in you and makes you into his perfect image.

 

Just Enjoy Your CHRISTmas Gift

Isaiah 9:6-7  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.  7  Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

“…unto us a son is given:” what a wonderful gift God has given to the world. A most valuable and precious gift, this gift of his dear son. God has spared no expense and cut no corners in giving his best to save the world from their sins; it is a shame people don’t appreciate this gift as they should. In these verses, God is telling us just how important and precious his son is. Look at the five descriptive terms the Holy Spirit uses to paint a colorful picture of the person of Jesus Christ; “Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”  

• “Wonderful” describes Christ’s character and nature. This word means a miracle or something marvelous that promotes excitement and admiration. Christ is truly a gift like no other.
• “Counselor” speaks of is ability to organize and bring order to the chaos that often defines our lives. Christ, through the Word of God is able to counsel us into making good decisions for a bright & happy future.
• “The mighty God” the word mighty here is used to describe a warrior or strong man of war. God is the greatest General to ever lead an Army; he does not know defeat and he always protects his soldiers with his might. Christ Jesus is the Captain of our Soul who protects us for all eternity, from all enemies. He is strong enough to defeat your greatest fear.
• “The everlasting Father” a father is portrayed as a protector, provider and leader. Sadly, in this world many have experienced the loss of a father through death or some have had fathers that were never there for them. Jesus Christ is that faithful father you seek, one that will be there for you FOREVER! He will never die or leave you to yourself.
• “The Prince of Peace” The world always speaks of peace and all the ways to get it, but I have yet to see a soul reach true inner peace apart from Jesus Christ. There may be a temporary happiness due to an exciting situation, but that never seems to last long and so goes their joy. Christ on the other hand offers real and lasting peace. His peace is not reliant upon earthly conditions but rather his peace is a gift of his own person. Christ is peace! A sign once read: “Know Jesus, know peace; No Jesus, no peace!” O how true this is.

When children open their Christmas gifts they play with them for awhile with great excitement. They laugh and roll on the floor at their parent’s feet enjoying their new toys, until slowly the new wears off and they begin to want something else. The father looks down at the greedy child and says “Just enjoy your Christmas gift; there are children who have no gifts to enjoy” Over 2,000 years ago God gave the world his son Jesus as the first Christmas gift. Christ has changed people’s lives and many have enjoyed a relationship with him. But like many things, people grow tired and bored in their relationship with Christ, newer things catch our eye and soon Christ has lost our attention. Misery and more discontentment follows and we become like that little child who has lost interest in his gift. May I say to us today “Just enjoy your CHRISTmas gift” spend time with Christ, read his word, talk to him in prayer….just enjoy his company as you once did. Don’t think on what you do not have, think only on the great blessings you do have. Enjoy your CHRISTmas gift this holiday season.

 

 

The Problem is Sin not Guns

On Tuesday, April 20^th 1999 two students, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold entered Columbine High School in Jefferson County Colorado and shot 25 people, killing 12 students and 1 teacher. Just one month later on May 27^th, a Congressional Sub-committee meeting was held to discuss matters of gun control and gun laws. Among the many national gun organizations and police organizations that were present that day was Darrell Scott, the father of Rachel Scott which was one of the victims that day. I think what he said to the Congressional Committee is worth repeating and worth our concentration.  

“Since the dawn of creation there has been both good & evil in the hearts of men and women. We all contain the seeds of kindness or the seeds of violence. The death of my wonderful daughter, Rachel Joy Scott, and the deaths of that heroic teacher, and the other eleven children who died must not be in vain. Their blood cries out for answers. 

“The first recorded act of violence was when Cain slew his brother Abel out in the field. The villain was not the club he used.. Neither was it the NCA, the National Club Association. The true killer was Cain, and the reason for the murder could only be found in Cain’s heart. 

“In the days that followed the Columbine tragedy, I was amazed at how quickly fingers began to be pointed at groups such as the NRA. I am not a member of the NRA. I am not a hunter. I do not even own a gun. I am not here to represent or defend the NRA – because I don’t believe that they are responsible for my daughter’s death. Therefore I do not believe that they need to be defended. If I believed they had anything to do with Rachel’s murder I would be their strongest opponent 

I am here today to declare that Columbine was not just a tragedy — it was a spiritual event that should be forcing us to look at where the real blame lies! Much of the blame lies here in this room. Much of the blame lies behind the pointing fingers of the accusers themselves. I wrote a poem just four nights ago that expresses my feelings best. 

Your laws ignore our deepest needs,

Your words are empty air. 
You’ve stripped away our heritage, 
You’ve outlawed simple prayer. 
Now gunshots fill our classrooms, 
And precious children die. 
You seek for answers everywhere, 
And ask the question “Why?” 
You regulate restrictive laws, 
Through legislative creed. 
And yet you fail to understand, 
That God is what we need! 

“Men and women are three-part beings. We all consist of body, mind, and spirit. When we refuse to acknowledge a third part of our make-up, we create a void that allows evil, prejudice, and hatred to rush in and wreak havoc. Spiritual presences were present within our educational systems for most of our nation’s history. Many of our major colleges began as theological seminaries. This is a historical fact. What has happened to us as a nation? We have refused to honor God, and in so doing, we open the doors to hatred and violence. And when something as terrible as Columbine’s tragedy occurs — politicians immediately look for a scapegoat such as the NRA. They immediately seek to pass more restrictive laws that contribute to erode away our personal and private liberties. We do not need more restrictive laws. Eric and Dylan would not have been stopped by metal detectors. No amount of gun laws can stop someone who spends months planning this type of massacre. The real villain lies within our own hearts. 

“As my son Craig lay under that table in the school library and saw his two friends murdered before his very eyes, he did not hesitate to pray in school. I defy any law or politician to deny him that right! I challenge every young person in America and around the world, to realize that on April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School prayer was brought back to our schools. Do not let the many prayers offered by those students be in vain. Dare to move into the new millennium with a sacred disregard for legislation that violates your God-given right to communicate with Him. To those of you who would point your finger at the NRA — I give to you a sincere challenge.. Dare to examine your own heart before casting the first stone! 
My daughter’s death will not be in vain! The young people of this country will not allow that to happen!”                                                                                                              - Darrell Scott

The American people and leaders would do well to listen to the words of this father. We have for too long overlooked the real problem facing our nation…Sin. The remedy is not more laws or more education or more psychologists with their anti-depression medication. The physical problems we see in our national crime rate and moral declines are only the symptoms of a much deeper spiritual problem. We need God to move freely in our land and hearts again. We need the truth of scripture to be upheld in our political, judicial and educational arenas once again. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” If Christ changes the sinner than his sinful behavior will be changed to good behavior and our land will be at peace.

True peace and happiness will only come through Jesus Christ; if anyone doubts this, have them look at our nation. It has been 48 years since prayer and Bible reading have been taken from the public school; it has been almost 10 years since the first 10 Commandments monument was moved from a American Courthouse and it has been 38 years since the Roe vs. Wade court decision to legalize the murder of our unborn children and call it abortion.  America has tried to function without God and is failing! Our nation was founded and has been successful because of its strong roots in the Bible and Christianity; now our nation has forgotten God and we are in a fast free fall to self-destruction. Don’t tell me American is better without God, America wouldn’t be here without Him and will soon be destroyed if we don’t call out to Him. All the money in the world along with all the politicians with all the psychologists and educators has not been able to bring a solution to all the crime and problems of fallen humanity.  Christ is the only lasting hope for mankind; so love Him, remind others about Him and study our nation’s Christian heritage and pass it on. Share Christ this CHRISTmas Season.