Government Charity is a Ruse

Last week I sat with a good book and a large salad looking forward to some quiet time during my lunch hour. It was not to be. A group of men were seated at the table next to me having a vigorous discussion which interferred with my solitude. In a act of defeat, I closed my book and eavesdropped on their conversation while munching my salad.

Two of the group were discussing Obama's healthcare plan and the discourse revealed they had opposing views. One gentleman maintained that it was the moral obligation of the government to provide charitable outreach to those who could not afford the essentials in life - including health care. The other gentleman argued that charity should be a private affair - an unselfish act of the individual based on the ability and moral compass of each person.

What really raised my concern was the parting shot from the man who believed in government charity. "Even Jesus said that we must love our fellow man." This statement ended the discourse as the opposition had no apparent argument. The men finished their meal and left, but for me the argument continued.

I found that parting statement a ruse on the same order of the racist rhetoric of the past week. The chain of thought that has permeated the press is - if you disagree with our President and our President is black, then you are a racist. On that same tack - if you do not support government sponsored entitlement programs, you are not a Christian.

Now, let us look at what Jesus really said. "You shall 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 your neighbor as yourself." Luke 10:27

Now, my argument - these two requirements are indivisible - you love God first; then your neighbor. If Jesus charged these two commandments together, then one commandment must support the other.

So I ask you, does Washington love God with all their hearts, souls and strength? If not, then let us show the love of our neighbors through those who do.

Knowledge or Wisdom

Knowledge can be purchased, but wisdom must be lived.

Our Servants Are Becoming Masters

Dear Father

Centuries ago your servant, Joseph, saved Egypt from financial ruin through your visions and Spirit, and Egypt was grateful vowing to serve Joseph and his descendants. Joseph's descendants flourished and prospered, and because of this service, your blessings were heaped upon Egypt.

Centuries passed and those who remembered Joseph had passed as well. The Egyptians no longer remembered their salvation by your hand and instead turned envious eyes toward the richness of Joseph's descendants . Eventually, the Egyptians stole the riches of the Israelites, enslaved the people.

Father, America was blessed as Egypt was blessed so long ago because they followed your Spirit. Somehow, we have lost your Spirit, and now our servants are working to enslave us. Slowly, the blessings that you have bestowed on your people are being taxed away, and our servants are becoming our masters.

Father, you promised that no longer will the fruit of our hands be recompense for the enemy. You promised that those who gather it shall eat it and those who garner it shall drink it in the courts of your sanctuaries.

I pray that those servants who strive to become our masters will be forever removed from your courts and sanctuaries. I pray that you will raise up new servants who know you and your Spirit. I pray that these servants will restore the courts and sanctuaries according to your will and once again America will be "God blessed". In Jesus' Holy Name. Amen

You Carry The Witness With You

Many Christians lament their lack of witness to others. Others forcibly witness to the detriment of the unbeliever.

I say, stop. Stop worrying about your lack of witness and stop the forced witness of men. You carry God's Holy Spirit inside of you wherever you go, therefore, where you go; so too goes God's Spirit.

The prophets, leaders and apostles of the Old and New Testament were all given one command - "Go!" When Moses fretted about what he was to say or whether the people would believe him, God's answer was - "Go!" When the prophet explained to God that he could not speak to the people because of his impediment, God's answer was - "Go!" After Saul's conversion, Paul went wherever the Spirit led.

Whether you spend your day in an office, teaching a class room full of children, behind a counter helping customers, or fighting in a foreign land, you are a witness to that which is in you. Believe me when I say that the people around you know that you are different. Some will reach out to that difference and some will reject that difference, but no one will be oblivious to that difference.

Do not fret that you cannot bring Bibles to the people in foreign lands or that you are forbidden to speak about God at the workplace. God is bigger than them. God is bigger than you. He only needs us to show up.

Pray a simple prayer - "Please Father, let me be a witness to someone today." or "Please Father, save -----." Then go knowing that God is in charge of the spread of His Word. He was always in charge. How else could one seemingly insignificant Man spread the Word of God throughout the world in two centuries? Paul was saved without any human witness, and so have countless others.

Our charge is to Let God work through us. If we strive to work ourselves, then we have succumbed to the enemy's pit of salvation, religion and pride in our own works. Salvation was purchased by the works of our Savior; not by ours.