MUSTANG

This weekend, after Church, I took my family to my local Ford Dealer to try to convince them that I need to buy the left over 2009, Dark Blue, 5-speed, Mustang GT on the lot. I have been eyeing the Mustang for a while now. Driving by, getting out, looking at the sticker price, checking out the interior, and running back to my car before the sales guy intercepts me. The Mustang is now on sale, you know making room for the 2010 model. The price is really good and I can actually afford it. I tried hard to convince my family, but they did not buy my logical reasons for needing a two door, 300 + horse power, gas guzzler.

2 Timothy 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Ever since I have been able to drive I wanted a Ford Mustang. I remember lusting after the 1990's Mustang 5.0 GT as a 16 year old. All throughout my life I have actually gone on several occasions, money in hand, to purchase a Mustang (used). I recall every Mustang I have test driven. All 5-speed. All V8. One of my most vivid memories is test driving a modified red 5.0 notch back. It would smoke the tires and get sideways in third gear. But, due to practical reasons, insurance rates, advise from wise elders (my dad), not to mention self-preservation, I would always walk away with some sort of a practical front wheel drive hatchback.

I am now reaching my forties and I still have not owned a Mustang. I really have no excuse not to buy one. I have a good job, I am a more mature driver, and I could actually afford the insurance rates. And with a little bit of sacrifice I could even afford to buy a new one. Yes, I admit there are several reasons not to do it. It’s only a two door and my girls will be uncomfortable in the back seat. It’s a gas guzzler. I would have a monthly car payment. It sucks in winter (snow). My wife would be upset at the expenditure. But there is one particularly good reason why I really should not buy it. I do not think it would please the Lord... not at this time anyway.

Let me explain. First of all, I do not believe there is anything wrong with buying a Mustang or other sports/muscle/luxury car as long as you can afford it (not go into debt), still cheerfully give to the Church, at least, 10% of your income, and be willing to just give it way, lose it, trade it without any attachment whatsoever. But as I sat at my local Ford Dealership lusting over the dark blue, 5-speed, GT, I had allowed it to become my idol. It had slowly started to replace God in my mind, and my life. You see, the Mustang was all I could think of. At home I would be on the internet for hours checking out Mustang sites, at work I would convince myself that I work hard and deserve the Mustang, at Church I would catch myself day dreaming of driving the Mustang on a curvy country road or a racetrack. Unbeknownst to me, the Mustang started to completely consume my thought life. I would be trying to read the bible and drift off into what wheels would look good on the Mustang. I would literally have to bring every thought of the Mustang into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

2 Cor. 10:5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

But, instead of focusing on Christ, I would just replace my lust for the Mustang with other stuff! OK, if I cannot have the Mustang, I’ll get a Harley, or a new bicycle, or I’ll modify my front wheel drive hatchback. At the end of the day, my problem was not the Mustang itself, but the fact that I was trying to fill some gap in my life/soul with a thing/toy. You see, back where we used to live, I was heavily involved in ministry. I had good fellowship with fellow Christian men. I didn’t have time to lust after things, because I had to prepare weekly bible studies for the High School Ministry, home bible studies, or always be ready to serve in some capacity at Church. In addition, I met with my brothers in Christ at least once or twice a week. We spent weekends together, we served in church events, we hung out together, we did retreats, we basically kept each other and our lives focused on our Lord. Not to mention that where we lived was an adventure every day. A fertile mission field. My mind was focused on the Lord and in serving him. But, the Lord called us to an affluent part of the United States, where I would be making more money, where material things (such as vehicles) are cheaper, and just about everybody professes to be a Christian. God is so faithful that he even warned me of the new temptations I would face in this new land. The day our family got on the airplane to come to our new home the Lord said to me (through his word):

Deut. 6:10 And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he swore unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou built not, 11 And houses full of all good [things], which thou filled not, and wells digged, which thou digged not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou planted not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full; 12 [Then] beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

I know that this passage was originally for Israel and is in the context of their entry into the promised land. But on the day of our departure it was my random devotional reading and the Lord spoke it to me. The day I read the passage it sounded more like this.

And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought (me and my family) into the land which he swore to you (God had previously confirmed that we were going to be moving to this new place), to give thee great and goodly cities (we moved to a mid-size city with a large State University in the middle of the bible belt), which thou built not (my family has no ties to this city, we have no friends, no connections, no church, nor any ministerial connections here), And houses full of all good [things], which thou filled not (we moved to a new house, full of new stuff, we did not build), and wells digged, which thou digged not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou planted not(I moved to a position someone else had established); when thou shalt have eaten and be full (we ended up living a more affluent lifestyle due to the lower cost of living and higher income); [Then] beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of (my old home), from the house of bondage (my previous home is a land full of blessings, but compared to our new location it is full of violence, murders, fear, hedonism, immorality, alcohol abuse, espousal abuse, and rampant drug use).

I remember thinking, that’s not going to happen, how could I forget thee, LORD. But you see the enemy is wise. I was prepared and waiting for a huge falling away, a full frontal assault to my faith. You know: a Bathsheba, a temptation in the desert, a rooster’s crow after a denial. No, the enemy is smarter than that, he just slowly attacked my mind with thoughts such as “you have no friends here”, “you won’t find a good Church here”, “there is no ministry for you here”, “God did not send you here”, “your job here is not as satisfying”, “you can’t serve in ministry here, Churches here demand a seminary degree”, “just settle down, be comfortable, let others do the work”, “enjoy life, it’s good and easy right now”, “get fat and lazy”.

Luke 12:19 And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, [and] be merry."

In just under six short months, the enemy had slowly isolated me and tried to distance me from God’s plan & will for bring us here in the first place. That liar, he is pretty darn good at what he does. While I thought I was serving the Lord, by unenthusiastically attending church, reading the word half asleep, raising half-hearted praise & prayers, he was really slowly tempting me with the luxuries of the world, the lust of the eyes. My fervor for the Lord was slowly being replaced by my youthful passions for Mustangs, or Motorcycles, or bicycles, etc... Thereby instead of focusing on the Lord, and seeking his will, I started to become lukewarm and double minded. Like many of the “Christians” around this area. My zeal for the Lord and his ministry was slowly being replaced by a zeal for my earthly passions/lusts. I started to spend more time looking at car magazines than reading the Word. I started to spend more time researching the internet for Mustang stuff rather than studying my growing pile of Christian books/literature. Instead of praying in quiet moments, I would just daydream of the dark blue Mustang. I would talk less to others about the Lord and more about Mustangs. I even had dreams involving the Mustang.

1 Cor. 10:25 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.

Worldly thinking would reason that I should just get the Mustang and I will stop obsessing over it. But we all know this is just futility. As soon as I get the Mustang, it will be worse. Like a junkie on heroin. Once you try the heroin, you want more, not less. Buying the Mustang would lead to endless expenditures in useless modifications, whole weekends ignoring my family as I thinker and detail the Mustang in the garage. Skipping ministry opportunities to go worship my dark blue idol behind the wheel. Had I given in to temptation and bought the Mustang my mind would have been even more focused and consumed by it. I could even see myself losing my temper and yelling at my loved ones for touching my recently waxed idol or dirtying its seats.

1 Cor. 10:12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God [is] faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear [it]. 14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

The last day I drove by the Ford Dealer with my family was a game changer. A wake up call. I asked the kids, expecting a big yes, would you like daddy to buy that Mustang? I received a resounding “NO”. What? You don’t want a Mustang? They responded by reminding me that I have a reliable, paid-off, car and don’t need a Mustang. My wife just said, why? Her inquiry was like a double edge sword penetrating deep into my heart & soul. I went home thinking, why? Why am I lusting for this car? Why the sudden “need” to have it? The why question became a what question. What need am I trying to fulfill by buying this car? I went to bed and tossed and turned, I had dreams involving the Mustang, and my mind raced all night. I was restless and woke in the middle of the night, realizing that I was trying to fill a God shaped hole with a car. I had slowly started to backpedal from God’s will for us in our new home, to try to fulfill my will, my wants, my lusts. The temptation was so slight that I did not see the path I was taking until I was at
the edge of the cliff. The Lord he gave me a warning and a way of escape. Thanks to him my eyes were opened before I took a bite of the apple, possibly changing or even damaging God’s will for my life & family.

Me and the Mustang may still someday have our day, but only after I mature and learn that the Mustang, nor anything in this world, can fulfill my life. Only following God and his will, can fulfill the innermost desire all of humankind has: to be in fellowship with God. Stop seeking after the things of this world, seek the Lord’s will for you life, and God will fulfill the desires of your heart. No Mustang can do that!

Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

STAND

As I sat on the dinning room table I saw the whole thing unfold. Three little girls, 5, 6 and 8, trying to catch a 12 year old (human years) Jack Russell Terrier. He evaded them as best he could for a while, but suddenly he found himself cornered. Behind him a wall, in front of him the three little girls, determined to catch him. No escape route, the fight is over. Right? What I saw next inspired me. The terrier, true to his nature, put his head down and rushed straight toward the girls. He bounced off a leg or two, pulled himself through their grips, and came out on the other side ready to fight another day.

I know, it was not as dramatic as I make it sound. But the determination of the Terrier to take a final stand and fight his way out of a sure onslaught of hugs and kisses made me think about our determination as Christians. When we are between a rock and a hard place, what do we do? Do we give up or do we put our head down and take a stand. I hope we have the character and determination like that of the Terrier.

The Bible encourages us to stand and fight. Nor give any ground to the enemy. And if placed in a bad situation, put our heads down (or up) and fight our way out. Of course we are talking in a spiritual sense.

2Co 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

In a battle, you do not give up the ground gained. Giving up hard earned ground would make all the effort, blood, sweat and tears for naught. Moreover, it would be a tactical mistake. Thereby, the ground gained is defended. Soldiers dig in and hold position. The only proper movement is forward. To retreat is the same as conceding defeat. This holds true in our spiritual walk.

Php 3:8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.

The best defense is a good offense. Look at boxers, when they are moving forward, jabbing, attacking, and have his opponent on the defensive, moving backwards, against the ropes, the offense is limited, if not completely eliminated. I think Paul (who runs not with uncertainty and fights not as one who beats the air) is calling Christians, the Church, to take stand, stand fast, dig in, move forward and grow, in their faith, knowledge, insight, discernment, and love.

Php 4:1 Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.

If we do not move take a stand, put our heads down and push forward in our faith & knowledge of the Lord, we will never grow or mature. Thereby we will remain babies, useless in spiritual warfare. Not only are spiritual babies useless in warfare, but they are a liability to mature spiritual soldiers. They unnecessarily slow down the advance of mature Christians, wanting to retreat, rather than to go through the growing pains of maturing.

1Co 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ.2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able;3 for you are still carnal.

As believers, we are under attack daily. Temptation, our secular culture, the media, lusts, greed, jealousy, anger, selfishness, Satan. The attack is so bad that our worse enemy is ourselves; our sinful nature & our flesh. It’s too hard, so the easy thing to do is to give in, give up, retreat, stay a baby and be bottle fed. You know… to compromise a little, be friendly with the world, water down the word, not offend anyone. Right? NO! If you are in Christ you are now a new creation, so put away the old self, which is corrupted by its deceitful desires, and put on the new self.

Ro 6:6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.

Don’t look back, don’t retreat. Christ fought hard for your salvation. He did not give up, he did not retreat. He took a stand on Calvary. Thereby, you stand fast in your faith, don’t give the enemy any ground. Not an inch. You have been given freedom, why voluntarily enslave yourself again. The foundation you stand on (Christ, the Rock) was fought for and won at a hefty prize. The sacrificial blood of The King! Why would you retreat, give up, and give that holy ground back to the enemy, for what?

Col 1:21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight--23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

We have no excuse. Christ has provided us with the tools (Holy Spirit) and the means (the Word of God) to live the Christian life, to stand fast & keep moving forward. We just need to train, prepare, mature, trust, and hold the ground gained, not give it back to the enemy.

1Co 10:12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

If you do not think you can hold on because you are too weak. You are right! We are weak, we are worthless. But we have Christ in Us. Thereby, we have NO EXCUSE, not to stand our ground.

Php 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Therefore, like the above mentioned Terrier. When your back is against the wall, don’t give in, and don’t give up, put your head down and charge forward. Stand your ground in that foundational stone that is Christ, our LORD!

1Co 16:13 Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.

NOT OF THIS WORLD

1Corinthians 2:11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. 13 These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 16 For "who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?" But we have the mind of Christ.

We often ask; how do I know I am saved? I have heard many different responses to this age old question. But I think the answer lies in the above mentioned verses. You see, many people don’t feel a difference when they accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Maybe, they were “good people”. You know, church going, God fearing folk. They had no immediate transformation from say being a junkie (drug user) to a saint. They made their profession of faith and their lives pretty much remained the same. I recently was speaking to someone about our testimony as Christians. It should have three elements: 1) Who you were (how you behaved); 2) How & when you met Christ (when did you accept Christ as Lord and Savior); 3) How Christ has changed your life (If Jesus has not changed your life, what difference does Jesus make). This person was a “good” Church going person. No dirty habits, no blaring sinful behaviors, an honest to goodness good person. This person realized that being good was not enough and professed Christ as their Lord and Savior, i.e., accepted His redemptive sacrifice on the cross. But, other than the profession of faith, his life has pretty much remained the same. So where is the third element of his testimony he asked! From the outside his life before Christ and after Christ was pretty much the same. This is where 1Corinthians 2:11-16 comes into the picture.

Let’s recap for a moment. Once you accept Christ you become a new-creation.

2Co 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

You are indeed born again.

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." 4 Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" 5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

You stop being of “this world.”

Php 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
And,

1Co 5:9 I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world.

Thereby, we are pilgrims, ambassadors, foreigners, in this world. But we must still live in it! Be salt and light to it!

Therefore, as a new-creation, the one palpable change that I believe all should have when saved, regardless of how they were before and after Christ, is the one described in 1Corinthians 2:11-16. In other words, once saved and spirit filled your WORLDVIEW should also change. You should start thinking through God’s wisdom, the mind of Christ, through his WORLDVIEW, not man’s, not your old worldview. This subtle but life altering change should function as testimony, evidence of a truly saved, Holy Spirit filled soul.

1Co 1:20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

You see I have met many church going “Christians” whose Worldview is man’s worldview. For example: one man can solve the world’s problems; one political party can solve our problems; women should have a right to choose; don’t judge others, live and let live; don’t proselytize others, let them believe in what makes them feel good; all religions lead to God; who am I to judge their lifestyle; God wants you to be happy, get the divorce; etc… Should I go on? I think you get the picture, they claim to be followers of Christ, do and say the right things, but still think like the world thinks. You see, that is the one change all true believers should undergo once they are transformed by Christ. Their way of thinking, stops being worldly. All of a sudden they think with the mind of Christ and only God’s worldview, as revealed by the Holy Spirit and his Word of God, makes sense.

Ro 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

1Pe 1:13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance;15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct 16 because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."

Col 3:9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,

All of a sudden, there is a third element to your testimony. How did Christ change me? He changed my whole WORLDVIEW.

I can only use myself as an example. Before Christ I was liberal in many areas: abortion, homosexuality, alcohol, pre-marital sex, divorce, pornography, family, raising children, marriage, servant hood, entertainment, etc… But suddenly, after Christ something strange happened, my thinking & viewpoints changed. Unlike College, where professor’s tried as hard as they could for 4 years to “liberalize my thinking,” the Holy Spirit in an instant changed my whole viewpoint in life. All of a sudden I just knew that my old viewpoints of abortion, homosexuality, divorce, pornography, abuse of alcohol, pre-marital sex, family, etc… were all wrong. Nobody had to teach me. Nobody had to indoctrinate me. I did not even know God’s word good enough to know & understand why my old Worldview was wrong. But, once Christ entered my life, through the power of the Holy Spirit, his wisdom/mind entered my mind and my perspective on life, my WORLDVIEW instantly changed. I could now see the world’s wisdom for what it is: LIES, FOOLISHNESS.

As we discussed our testimonies with the previously mentioned believer, he realized the same. His life before and after Christ did not change a lot as he already was a pretty good guy. So how did he know that he was saved? His WORLDVIEW, how he thought about the things of this world, completely changed. So now he can say: 1) by the world’s standards I was a good person, but I though like the world; 2) I accepted Christ as Lord & Savior; 3) Now I may look like the same "good person", but I have the mind of Christ. He changed my whole Worldview. Now I think like him, not like the world!

Therefore, I challenge you! How has Christ changed you? Do you still think the same way about life, the world, as you did prior to Christ? If you do, check yourself!

Mt 7:21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'

The GYM

When I first saw the bible verse on the wall of the Mixed Martial Arts
(MMA) gym I though “great these guys are believers”. The gym wall has in large black letters “Blessed be the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war and my fingers for battle.” Psalm 144:1.

I was overjoyed by the fact that these guys had so much respect for the Word of God that they put it on their wall as a reminder of the One who gives us the strength to live. A reminder that what is impossible to man on his own strength is possible with God and his strength.

Mt 19:25 When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?" 26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

How disappointed was I when I realized that the verse was not on the wall to remind us that we need Christ in order to have eternal life, that he did it all for us, a free gift, not of works or to remind us that we should not rely on ourselves but should rely on our Lord.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Here I was thinking, life, salvation, submission to our Lord, King, Commander in Chief, while they were thinking “that sounds cool.” You see, just like the killer in the movie “Pulp Fiction” selectively misused the word of God to scare the people he was about to kill, our gym also misuses the word of God and places it out of context in order to inspire it’s fighters to prepare. (Disclaimer: I am not endorsing “Pulp Fiction”, I saw it a long time ago and in my humble opinion it is a movie that glorifies violence for the sake of entertainment).

The gym is great MMA gym, I have learned a lot about boxing, grappling, Muay Thai, Jiu Jitsu, etc…, but as a spiritual training center, well it is lacking to say the least. You see, I naively assumed that because God’s word is prominently painted on the wall, the guys in the gym were Christians and would behave as such. I mean, why else would you put the word of God in your gym? Well, after innumerable F-bombs, curse words, improper conversations, locker room talk, etc... I was brought back to the reality that because someone says he is a Christian, wears a cross on his chest, has a Jesus bob-head on his dash, a cross tattooed on his chest, wears a Jesus didn’t tap shirt, selectively choose which verses to follow and which to dismiss, and goes to Church when convenient, i.e., when there is nothing better to do on Sunday morning, does not mean that he is a believer or a true follower of Christ.

The reality is that people use God and the word of God as a lucky charm, nothing less and nothing more. In the same manner you see people wear beautiful gold or silver crosses around their neck while blatantly and purposely sinning. Shameless, at least take the cross of your chest so you don’t stumble others. For example, here I am talking to my neighbor. He is recently divorced, living with a yet to be divorced younger girl, and no they are obviously not married. Now, I have nothing against my neighbor, I try to love him regardless of his lifestyle, as Jesus has commanded. But as we talked sports, all I could do is focus on the expensive designer gold and silver cross necklace prominently & proudly hanging from his neck. On the outside of his shirt of course, so all could see.

It made me cringe to think that he wears a symbol of Christ dying for his sins while blatantly & purposely living a sinful lifestyle. Did I mention the yet to be divorced live in girlfriend wears a fish necklace, you know the fishermen of men type. Pun not intended. By the way, don’t get me wrong I am a sinner, I mess up. But there is a difference between messing up and blatantly & purposefully living in sin while displacing your meaningless symbols of Christianity.

No wonder non-believers, atheists, agnostics, and followers of other religions, think Christians are all just a bunch of hypocrites. No wonder people question the veracity of the Word of God. How can an atheist or agnostic believe there is a real God when the people that allegedly follow him (you know the ones who wear the Cross on the outside of their t-shirts) don’t seem to believe it themselves. I mean, if they truly believed God’s word they would follow it, obey it, right? Am I crazy to think this? I mean, if you believe in something you would endorse it, follow it, and promote it. If you believe in a product, you would use the product as directed, right? Sure, even people who believe in false concepts follow them blindly, just ask Al Gore!

So why do “Christians” use God as a lucky charm. I mean, if they don’t truly believe in Him to the point of obeying his word, then why bother to wear a cross, why bother to have God’s word written on a wall.

It seems, that Christianity in America has reached the same level as Judaism did with the Pharisees. The Pharisees believe they were saved because they were descendants of Abraham. Americans seem to believe they are saved because they were, cue Bruce Springfield, “Born in the USA”. The Pharisees believed that God would accept them because of their religious actions, i.e., sacrifices, outward appearances, selective application of God’s Word, dress code, etc... Americans believe God will accept them because “God is good”, God is love, they go to church when they can or better yet are members of a church, they listen to Christian radio, wear a cross, are generous in a disaster, self sacrifice every once in a while, selectively apply God’s Word, and have a fish sticker in their car. Oh did I forget to mention sometimes wearing a Christian themed T-shirt? (Ok, I admit it, I got a few of those. Three words “Truth-Soul-Armor" look it up!)

God clearly wants obedience. Not the appearance of obedience, but actual obedience, devotion, straight from the heart.

Ps 51:16 For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart-These, O God, You will not despise.

Anything else is plain unacceptable.

Mt 15:7 "Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: 8 'These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.9 And in vain they worship Me,…”

Let’s go back to what started my rant, the MMA gym. Ok, so having “Blessed be the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war and my fingers for battle.” in a gym where they train you to fight sounds cool (I admit it’s pretty cool), but that in and of itself does not make it right. You see misusing God’s Word minimizes its importance, its truth, it throws a blanket over the light.

The whole Psalm 144 reads:

[A Psalm of David.]
Blessed [be] the LORD my strength, which teaches my hands to war,[and] my fingers to fight:

My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and [he] in whom I trust; who subdued my people under me.

LORD, what [is] man, that thou takes knowledge of him! [or] the son of man, that thou makes account of him!

Man is like to vanity: his days [are] as a shadow that passes away.

Bow thy heavens, O LORD, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.

Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them.

Send thine hand from above; rid me, and deliver me out of great waters, from the hand of strange children;

Whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand [is] a right hand of falsehood.

I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery [and] an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.

[It is he] that giveth salvation unto kings: who delivereth David his servant from the hurtful sword.

Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand [is] a right hand of falsehood:

That our sons [may be] as plants grown up in their youth; [that] our daughters [may be] as corner stones, polished [after] the similitude of a palace:

[That] our garners [may be] full, affording all manner of store: [that] our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets:

[That] our oxen [may be] strong to labour; [that there be] no breaking in, nor going out; that [there be] no complaining in our streets.

Happy [is that] people, that is in such a case: [yea], happy [is that] people, whose God [is] the LORD.

When the occasional fighter wannabe (by the way I classify myself as a wannabe) reads the first verse of Psalm 144 on the gym wall he probably thinks: “yeah, God (that would be the version of God that he conveniently invented; you know the one that lets you do whatever you want but still will let you into heaven because deep inside you really are a good person and after all God is love so he won’t judge you too harshly) will bless my hands, he will help me train and win fights, awesome.”

Yet Psalm 144 is not about us, but about GOD. How he is our goodness, our fortress, our high tower, our deliverer; our shield. The Psalm is about how even though we are nothing, worthless sinners, this Almighty Creator, this Holy God cares about us. About how he has given us a salvation we do not deserve, protects us, and provides for our needs when he should just let us die. The Psalm summarizes that joy comes from knowing the Lord and putting your trust in him. If the wannabe fighter actually understood what the Psalm is really about, he would not say “God is giving me the strength to fight and win”, instead he would go on his knees and bow before the one who gave him, life, health, salvation, and thank him for the ability to walk, let alone fight.

God is not a lucky charm, God’s word is not to be used as a pre-fight pep talk. David wrote Psalm 144 as a King who had fought wars for God. A warrior who acknowledged that God had given him the victories, not his training, nor his abilities. David’s actions were not for game or sport, but part of God’s plan. David’s actions were not all glorious as they carried burdens and consequences, i.e., he could not build the Temple because of all the blood he spilled. Yet we take David’s words of worship & devotion and like a meaningless cross on the chest of a faithless “Christian”, we turn it into a slogan for a gym.

Shameless.

300 v. 300

Disclaimer: To understand this post, please refer to the TV Show “Deadliest Warrior”. If you never seen the show ask someone who has. Please now enjoy the script of the never aired episode: 300 versus 300.

WHO IS THE DEADLIEST WARRIOR:
King Leonidas’Spartans or Judge Gideon’s Hebrews.

Who would win in a battle between the 300 Spartans of King Leonidas or the 300 Hebrew Warriors of Judge Gideon. Lets see who is the Deadliest Warrior!

THE STATS:

SPARTAN WARRIOR

TIME: Bronze Age - 800-500 BC
LOCATION: Sparta Ancient Greece

SPARTAN TRAINING: A WARRIOR CULTURE

An Ancient Greek city-state whose main concern was war. Male citizens had one goal and duty in life, to fight and to die for Sparta. Women were basically used to breed more men, Spartan men who would become Spartan soldiers. Sparta had little literature, arts, architecture, exploration, or commerce. Their society and culture was focused on developing warriors. Sickly babies were left to die, while healthy boys started their physical and military training at age 7. The boys became a possession of the state. Their brutal training program developed physical strength, military prowess, discipline and obedience. The boys were starved and forced to steal to survive. If caught they would be severely punished, not for stealing but for getting caught. Even if married, soldiers lived together in barracks until age 30. Spartans believed in the military power of the unit, the group, not the individual.

SPARTAN WEAPONS:

Javelin, Spear, Xiphos (Short Sword), Shield

SPECIAL WEAPONS/ATTACKS:

The Phalanx. A rectangular mass formation of a tight line of soldiers sometimes eight deep. Designed to push forward until the enemy line was broken and maintain a solid front after opposing sides collided.

FAMOUS BATTLE:

At the Battle of Thermopylae, 300 Spartans stood up against half a million Persians and, prepared to die, took on their enemies with a legendary ferocity that earned them the title of one of history's greatest warriors. Over a three-day battle, the Spartans killed nearly half of the Persian army.

LEADER: KING LEONIDAS

Leonidas was a 5th century B.C. Spartan military king who bravely led a small force of Greeks -- mostly Spartan (the famous 300), but also Thespians and Thebans -- against the much larger Persian army of Xerxes, at the pass of Thermopylae in 480 B.C. during the Persian Wars. According to Herodotus, Leonidas had been warned by the Delphic oracle that either Sparta would be destroyed or their king would lose his life. Leonidas chose the second alternative.

SPARTAN SUMMARY:

Spartans were the ultimate soldier; they trained since they were children and were trained in nothing but war. They were known throughout the ancient western world for their battle-hardened image and for winning battles against much larger armies, such as the case in the Battle of Thermopylae, the inspiration for the hit film 300. The training regimen of Spartans are the model for the United States Marines.

HEBREW WARRIOR

TIME: 1380 – 1050 B.C.

LOCATION: Israel, the time of the Judges.
Judges 21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

HEBREW TRAINING: NONE, LEARN AS YOU GO!

Judges 3:1 And these are the nations which the LORD left, to prove Israel by them, as many as had not known all the wars of Canaan; 2 only that the generations of the sons of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least those who before knew nothing of it.

When told “[W]hoever is fearful and afraid, let him turn and depart at once from Mount Gilead.” Twenty-two thousand soldiers out of thirty-two thousand (32,000) left.

The out of the remaining ten thousand (10,000) only three hundred (300) were found to be fit for battle.

HEBREW WEAPONS:

Trumpets, empty pitchers, and torches.

SPECIAL WEAPONS/ATTACKS:

JEHOVAH, a.k.a. “Yahweh”, “The LORD”

Judges 7:19 So Gideon and the hundred men who were with him came to the outpost of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just as they had posted the watch; and they blew the trumpets and broke the pitchers that were in their hands.20 Then the three companies blew the trumpets and broke the pitchers-they held the torches in their left hands and the trumpets in their right hands for blowing-and they cried, "The sword of the LORD and of Gideon!"21 And every man stood in his place all around the camp; and the whole army ran and cried out and fled.22 When the three hundred blew the trumpets, the LORD set every man's sword against his companion throughout the whole camp; and the army fled ….

FAMOUS BATTLE:

Defeat of the Midianites at the valley near the hill of Moreh. Gideon and his 300 men defeat a much larger Midianite army (“as numerous as locusts”) with no weapons. See above.

LEADER: GIDEON, a.k.a., Jerub-baal (“let baal contend with him”).

The least son of Joash the Abiezrite of the weakest clan in the tribe of Manasseh. Called by the Lord a “mighty man of valor!" while he was threshing wheat in a winepress, in order to hide it from the Midianites. Destroyed the altar of Baal at night, so as not to be seen because he was afraid. See Judges 6:27. Tested God several times and needed to be encouraged by God due to fear, lack of confidence.

Called a hero of faith in Hebrews 11:32.

Heb 11:32 And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets:33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

HEBREW SUMMARY:

Untrained laymen, who have not fought in battle, led by an untrained fearful leader, who put all his faith and trust in the Lord.

THE BATTLE:

Close Range:
Spartan Warrior - Short Sword
Hebrew Warrior – Empty Pitcher
Advantage = Spartan

Mid-Range:
Spartan Warrior – Spear
Hebrew Warrior – Torch
Advantage = Spartan

Long Range:
Spartan Warrior – Javelin
Hebrew Warrior – Trumpet
Advantage = Spartan

Special Weapons:
Spartan Warrior – Shield/ The Phalanx
Hebrew Warrior – JEHOVAH-SABAOTH , “The LORD OF HOSTS”.
Advantage = Hebrew Warrior

WINNER: HEBREW WARRIOR

Spartan Wins in 1000 battles = 0
Hebrew Warrior Wins in 1000 battles = 1000

Despite the impressive combat training, physical abilities, military tactics, and superior weapons of the Spartan, the superiority of the ONE who created the Spartan cannot be overcome.

1 Co 1:25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are,29 that no flesh should glory in His presence.

CONCLUSION:

This simulated battle has been really fought many times before and is still being fought today. Man trying to take God away from his throne. Satan tried it and failed, miserably. How can man, a creation, be so bold (prideful) to think that he can rule over his creator. King David said it best when confronting Goliath:

1Samuel 17:45 Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 "This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.47 "Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD'S, and He will give you into our hands."

When we go into battle every day, may we first bow our knees and confess his name for he is JEHOVAH-NISSI, “THE LORD IS MY BANNER”. The Warriors of Warriors, King of Kings, Lord of Lords.

The new god.

Yesterday I received the new issue of Outside Magazine. This is a
magazine geared towards hiking, biking, skiing, camping, survival, health & fitness, and other “outside” adventures. The magazine usually contains well written articles regarding the lives of adventurers, athletes, and at times the conservation efforts of “save the earth” organizations.

I usually start reading the magazine by looking at the letters section. For some reason I enjoy reading the comments of other readers on articles I have read. In the latest magazine someone wrote complaining because an animal conservation association in a third world country chose to protect the life of a child, rather than the life of a pregnant snow leopard on the endangered animal list. To my disbelief, the person was actually trying to make the argument that the life of the endangered animal was more valuable than the life of the child. I read and re-read the letter hoping to find sarcasm, or whether the person was attempting to be humorous(a really bad attempt, if so). But sadly the letter was serious.

The letter goes like this:

“I was appalled that the Nature Conservancy’s chief scientist, Peter Kareiva, would choose a child over the last pregnant snow leopard. This is what’s wrong with conservation. If one human life is worth more that every animal’s, there is no reason to protect any land or species. We drive animals out of their habitat and then blame them for attacking humans. There are checks and balances that animals understand – we should learn from them instead of thinking humans have all the answers.” Dagny McKinley, Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

To make matters worse, a second letter was printed that confirmed the sad viewpoint of the first. Unlike the first letter, the second letter did not attempt to argue that a child’s life is worth less than an animal, but it did demonstrate disappointment and anger that an animal conservation organization would take into consideration of the well-being of humans in its decision making.

All I could exclaim as I read this is “the world is going to hell in a hand-basket and it must be half way there”. We live in an age where many people are truly worshiping “nature”, “mother earth”, the “environment”, “ozone depletion”, “global warming”, and the “climate change” movement. They (and among they I include Al Gore, the Spiritual Guru of the movement) are actually now calling the movement “spiritual” or a “moral issue”.

Al Gore tells Newsweek magazine in a pre-publication interview, that he has been adapting his fact-based message - now put out by hundreds of volunteers - to appeal to those who believe there is a moral or religious duty to protect the planet. "I've done a Christian [-based] training program; I have a Muslim training program and a Jewish training program coming up, also a Hindu program coming up. I trained 200 Christian ministers and lay leaders here in Nashville in a version of the slide show that is filled with scriptural references. It's probably my favorite version, but I don't use it very often because it can come off as proselytizing," Gore tells Newsweek.

Funny liberals, when the facts of “Climate Change” start to fall apart as unproven or just plain falsified, all of a sudden saving the planet stops being a scientific need and becomes a “moral & spiritual issue”. These funny liberals, they do not want prayer in our schools or the Ten Commandments in our Courts. They won’t even say Christmas in December, but “religion & spirituality” sure is convenient when it supports their agenda. (Sidenote: Obama did the same thing with his push for health care reform.) By the way, did you know that Al Gore has become a multi-millionaire out of this Climate Change racket.

Since he quit mainstream politics, Mr. Gore’s personal fortune has risen from £1.2 million to an estimated £60 million. He has made significant investments in environmentally friendly projects like carbon trading markets, solar power, biofuels, electric vehicles, sustainable fish farming and waterless lavatories. He has also invested in non-climate change related investments, including putting money into Google and Apple. “As much as Gore’s made now, it is going to be a piker league compared to what he is going to make in five years if all these new carbon trading mandates go through.” Telegraph.co.uk

So now according to Guru Gore (let’s call him “GG”), saving a tree, the climate, or an endangered animal is a moral & spiritual issue of the highest order. Funny liberals, saving a tree or animal is a “moral & spiritual obligation”, but saving the lives of children, born and unborn is not. See letter from Mr. McKinley above. Reminds me of the song by Casting Crown’s titled “While You Were Sleeping”: “As we're sung to sleep by philosophies that save the trees and kill the children.” Child sacrifice, ahem, I mean abortion, has gotten so blatant in the USA that during a Planned Parenthood sponsored pro-abortion rally it was stated that “Abortion is a God given right.”

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- During the rally yesterday sponsored by the Planned Parenthood abortion business and other leading pro-abortion groups, Rev. Carlton Veazy told the small gathering of hardcore activists that abortion is a "God-given right." Veazy is the head of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice.

Excuse me while I gag at this comment and vomit at the fact that there is a “Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice”. What god are they talking about???? What god does Rev. Carlton Veazy, Guru Gore, and the “religious & spiritual” liberals serve? (By “religious & spiritual” liberal, I mean the type of liberal who claim to be a Christian or pro-life until they are handed a nice payoff and all of a sudden their deep seated religious & moral convictions get thrown out the window). One thing I can tell for sure is that they do not serve the one true God. The God of the Bible, the God of Israel, Jacob, Abraham, Yahweh. Surely, they do not serve Jesus Christ, our Lord. They cannot even say his name. Use this test: Have you ever heard one of the “religious & spiritual” liberals say the name of Jesus other than as a historical figure, or to promote their agenda, or to get votes.

1Jo 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God,3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.

It is unimaginable that the God described in Psalm 139, would truly believe that abortion is a right or that the life of an animal is worth more than a child.

Psalm 139:14-17. I will praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are your works, and that my soul know very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them. How precious also are your thoughts for me, O God! How great is the sum of them.

This new "spirituality" of nature worship is being pushed on our youth. Have you seen the movie “Avatar”? I have not, but I have read and been told that it is nothing more than a “climate change” propaganda film . A movie which shamelessly glorifies nature as a goddess to be worshiped. While demonizing those who use nature for mankind’s benefit. While I agree that we should not be out there bombing the rainforests, God did create animals, plants, and nature to serve man, not the other way around.

Ge 1:27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth." 29 ¶ And God said, "See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. 30 "Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food"; and it was so.

This zealot like protection of nature and animals over humans needs is a form of nature worship. Animals were created to serve man, not the other way around. Have you heard the story of the cat and the dog? The dog says to his owner, you feed me, you provide shelter, you give me love, you must be god. The cat says you feed me, you provide shelter, you give me love, I must be god. Sadly, many humans have the cat’s perspective and worship nature as a god. God himself killed an animal in order to clothe Adam and Eve demonstrating that human life and their needs are above animals & nature.

Ge 3:21 Also for Adam and his wife the LORD God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.

We have been down this road before. The worship of nature and creation itself is nothing new. There just seems to be resurgence, in many ways thanks to the great high priest of Climate Change: Guru Gore. When Israel entered the promised land they encountered the worship of Baal & Moloch. Which in reality was the worship of nature. The worship of the creation instead of the Creator. Baal was a reference to many false gods such as: the god of rain, fertility, thunder, agriculture, moon, sun. Basically Baal worship is identical to nature-worship. The worship of Baal included ritual prostitution, burning of incense, violent & ecstatic exercises (cutting/self-mutilation) and child sacrifice. The worship of Baal included all that our society worships today. We live in a world were hedonism, pleasure and self-worship is promoted (juts turn your TV on or open a magazine), nature has become a “spiritual & moral” cause (see Climate Change, Copenhagen), and children are just a hindrance to our higher goals (abortion, stem cell research). Secular society has thereby incorporated this new “spirituality”, i.e., the worship of nature (through causes such as save the trees, climate change, etc…) and the sacrifice of children for humanistic, secular reasons (through abortion, stem cell research) into our “spiritual & moral values”.

Just like the Israelites incorporated the worship of Baal into the worship of the one true God. America is literally blending the worship of Baal (nature, humanism) into the worship of the one true God. That is why God called the Israelites adulterers. God is a jealous God; he does not accept the worship of any other gods or idols. Moreover, God hates human sacrifice.

Le 18:21 'And you shall not let any of your descendants pass through the fire to Molech, nor shall you profane the name of your God: I am the LORD.

Jer 19:3 Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: "Behold, I will bring such a catastrophe on this place, that whoever hears of it, his ears will tingle "Because they have forsaken Me and made this an alien place, because they have burned incense in it to other gods whom neither they, their fathers, nor the kings of Judah have known, and have filled this place with the blood of the innocents 5 "(they have also built the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings to Baal, which I did not command or speak, nor did it come into My mind),6 "therefore behold, the days are coming," says the LORD, "that this place shall no more be called Tophet or the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter.

Yet, the United States, a nation originally founded on Judeo-Christian values, has adopted foreign gods and promotes their worship through nature, trees, endangered species, global warming, atheism, Darwinism, naturalism, secularism, humanism, hedonism, & diversity. It is so blatant that many of the people involved in these causes like to call themselves “spiritual”, i.e. Guru Gore. Even people who consider themselves “Christians” have started to sacrifice on the altar of Baal. For example, Guru Gore calls himself a Christian, Obama calls himself a Christian, Hillary Clinton calls herself a Christian, yet they all are rabid Climate Change, pro-choice, all religions lead to god advocates. Like the nation of Israel in the old testament, they claim to worship Yahweh, but in reality the worship Baal (nature, creation, secularism, mankind) and offer sacrifice to him through child sacrifices (the promotion of abortion).

Sadly being a “spiritual person” will not get you anywhere. The Bible warns us of this false spirituality at end of times.

2Ti 3:1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

Do the people described above sound familiar? From “such people turn away”, yep that includes Guru Gore. I agree that God’s creation should be respected and not be abused, but it should not to be worshiped. There is a difference, and climate change proponents go beyond having respect for creation. They glorify and worship it, and if their worship hurts some human beings (hunger due to rising costs of living, limiting third world country advancement, abortion as birth control & child birth limits to lower world population,etc…), well that is ok. Theses casualties just constitute the sacrifice necessary to appease their deity. God gave us nature to be used for our benefit and it should never be placed above or even be equal to its Creator. The worship of Baal is not to be blended with the worship of the one true God. Israel got judged for that, so will we. For the creator is to be worshiped, not the creation.

Ro 1:22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man--and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things (nature worship).24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature (abortion/homosexuality).27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers,30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

Prepared

"There is nothing so likely to produce peace as to be well prepared to meet an enemy." George Washington

As I read this quote from one of our founding fathers and the First President of the United States I could not stop thinking how right he is. If a country is not prepared and has a weak military they are bound to be taken advantage by a superior force. This concept is not just limited to the military. It is also applicable in economics, business, sports, and daily life. For example, if a country (USA) is in deep economical trouble it puts itself in a position to be taken advantage of by a nation with economical power (China). If a business is not prepared for a change in future trends and is not at the forefront of technological advances (Chrysler/GM), the competition will steal its business (Toyota). If a football team does not prepare for a game, the opposing team will win. This concept even applies in high school. If a bully at school sees weakness on a kid, whether it be small size or fear, he will pounce on him like a Lion on an injured Zebra.

The opposite is also true. If your country has enough nukes to annihilate the world, an enemy will think long and hard before making a foolish move (Cold War). If your company has made the right decisions and was prepared for change or potential trouble (Ford), it will not need to take “loans” from the Government. Even a bully will back off a kid who is prepared to confront him and take a stand.

Just as this concept is applicable to our earthly life, it is also applicable to our spiritual life. As a matter of fact, I would not be surprised if President Washington learned this concept from his reading of the Word of God, the Bible.

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. 1 Peter 3:15

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. 1Co 9:24-27

God has provided the tools for us to be prepared to meet the enemy: (1) Jesus victory over satan - 1 John 4:4 (2) the Holy Spirit – Acts 1:8 (3) Armor of God – Eph 6:11-18. Just in case you do not know who is the enemy, let me refresh your recollection: 1) Yourself (the Flesh); 2) the world system (remember satan is the prince of this world); 3) satan (wants to destroy you).

Now that we have the weapons, we need to learn to use them and become proficient with them so that we can always be prepared to meet the enemy. What good does it do to have a Rifle if you do not know how to fire it. It does you no good. Same with our spiritual weapons. For example, I find it disturbing when a believer never wants to be left alone or unaccountable to a brother, because he believes he will sin or give in to temptation/sin. Yes, it is good to be accountable to our brothers in Christ, but we have to be able to survive on our own, because we do not have reinforcements available all the time. Moreover, what does that say about their relationship with Christ. Do they have one? I ask. Because when alone they seem to forget about their Lord and suddenly develop an inability to obey and submit to Him. Why? I’ll tell you why. Because they have the weapons, but do not know how to use them. Thereby they rely on a mature believer who is trained and prepared to use their weapons to protect him against the enemy.

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Heb 5:12-14

The goal is for all believers to be prepared, but some choose the easy way out. I understand why, it is hard work to be prepared. I saw a TV special on how a top Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter prepared for a fight. He did Muay Thai in the morning, Boxing mid morning, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in the afternoon and physical conditioning in the evening. 6 days a week, all day. In his day of rest, he would do a crazy cardio workout at the hottest time of the day. Why all the hard work? Because he wanted to be prepared for what ever his opponent could throw at him. The more prepared he is the more of a chance he has to win the fight.

There is a military proverb that states that while we rest or sleep the enemy is training hard to kill us. This is so true, our opponent will strike when and where we are weak. In what area have you failed to be prepare? That is why we are to be always training, preparing, at the ready. Like the above mentioned MMA fighter. Training all the time, out-training our opponent & always being prepared to meet him. For a believer we are talking about: prayer without ceasing (constant communication with God) – 1 Th 5:17; daily Bible reading & daily application of the Word of God to our lives – Psalm 119:11; sharing the good news – Matthew 28:19-20; fellowship with other believers (Iron Sharpens Iron) - Proverb 27:17; congregating at Church for a time dedicated for worship at least once or twice a week – Hebrews 10:25; being discipled and discipling others; and putting on and utilizing the Armor of God – Eph 6:10-18

Remember that “We do not rise to the occasion, we fall to the
level of our training (preparation).”

“The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.”
-H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

“Failing to prepare is preparing to fail”
John Wooden, UCLA Coach

God Bless. Fight the Good Fight.