But the day of the Lord will come like a thief; and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned up. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of persons ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God . . . (2 Peter 3:10-11).
For the past several years I have had an unblemished driving record, meaning there have been no speeding tickets or traffic violations on any sort, and no accidents. So, I am still amazed that, last week, I was stopped twice for speeding. On Tuesday, I had taken my mother to the doctor, I was driving her car which I do not drive very much, and we were on our way home when a highway patrolman stopped me for going 14 miles per hour over the speed limit. I explained to him that I had taken my 92 year old mother to the doctor and that I was driving her car, of which I was unfamiliar. It must have touched his heart because he only gave me a warning; I was not fined.
Thursday, I had to take my minivan to the mechanic's shop for repair. I was running a little late so I was driving a "wee bit" fast. Another highway patrolman stopped me for going 9 miles per hour over the speed limit. I knew he was going to stop me before he turned on his flashing lights, so I just pulled over on the shoulder of the road. He thanked me for pulling over immediately and for being buckled in. Then he asked for my drivers license, registration and proof of insurance. I do not drive this vehicle very much either, so, I couldn't remember if all of my documentation was there. After rummaging around, I not very organized, I found my registration and my insurance card that had recently expired--I had forgotten to put the new one in. I was apologetic to the officer about the speed and the insurance. It must have touched his heart too because he only gave me a warning for the speed and the insurance.
I told my stories to an employee of the mechanic's shop to explain why I was late. I have known this man for many years and have not known him to be a spiritual man, so his response surprised me. He didn't say, "I was lucky," he said, "Tom, I do not know if you are a praying man, but if you are, you ought to thank the Good Lord." My reply to him was, "I am, and I will." I have.
My point in telling this story is that I did not get what I deserved. According to the laws of the state of Iowa, I deserved several hundred dollars in fines. I didn't get them because of the graciousness of the officers. The Bible says that Divine judgement is coming; it is certain! The warning has been given. It is only through faith in the Lordship and Saviorship of Jesus Christ that we will not get what we deserve.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Friday, August 17, 2012
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY UNFAITHFULNESS
He who commits adultery has no sense; he who does it destroys himself. Wounds and dishonor will he get, and his disgrace will not be wiped away (Proverbs 6:32-33).
Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: "Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all" (Proverbs 31:28-29).
I recently received the news that a young wife, whom I know, walked away from her husband and children. It set me to thinking about how many times this has happened in my ministry experience. Though conventional wisdom gives men get the credit for being the most unfaithful to their wives and children, my ministry and counseling experience does not validate it. I can honestly say that for every man who has abdicated his responsibilities as a husband and a father for another woman, there has been a woman who abdicated her responsibilities as a wife and a mother for another man--if not more so.
A mother's love requires character, strength and dignity. Mother's-Day sermons have long extolled the natural love of a mother for her children, but the truth is that mothers can abandon their children as easily as men; women are just as depraved as men. Being a good wife and mother begins with faith in God, trusting Him, that His way is good, and trusting Him for the strength and courage that her marriage and family demands. Reading all of Proverbs 31:10-31 is a good place to begin.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
*The rate of infidelity in the work place is very high, about 47% according to some sources. The natural boundaries between men and women these days are few, so it is a matter of faith, character and prayer that keeps one faithful in the work place.
Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: "Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all" (Proverbs 31:28-29).
I recently received the news that a young wife, whom I know, walked away from her husband and children. It set me to thinking about how many times this has happened in my ministry experience. Though conventional wisdom gives men get the credit for being the most unfaithful to their wives and children, my ministry and counseling experience does not validate it. I can honestly say that for every man who has abdicated his responsibilities as a husband and a father for another woman, there has been a woman who abdicated her responsibilities as a wife and a mother for another man--if not more so.
A mother's love requires character, strength and dignity. Mother's-Day sermons have long extolled the natural love of a mother for her children, but the truth is that mothers can abandon their children as easily as men; women are just as depraved as men. Being a good wife and mother begins with faith in God, trusting Him, that His way is good, and trusting Him for the strength and courage that her marriage and family demands. Reading all of Proverbs 31:10-31 is a good place to begin.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
*The rate of infidelity in the work place is very high, about 47% according to some sources. The natural boundaries between men and women these days are few, so it is a matter of faith, character and prayer that keeps one faithful in the work place.
Friday, August 10, 2012
THE SLIDE TO PERDITION
You shall not give any of your children to devote them by fire to molech, and so profane the name of your God: I am the Lord (Leviticus 18:21).
One of the gods specifically named by God that was not to be worshipped was molech; though it is a proper name, I refuse to capitalize it. It was believed by the pagans of ancient times that, if a family's first-born was sacrificed to molech, the nation and the family would have peace and prosperity. The image of molech was a hollow metal man in which a fire was built. When the "god" was red-hot the baby would be placed on its firery arms and be burned to death, surrounded by dancing worshippers.
I'm not an Old Testament prophet, but sometimes I certainly would like to be. God, through the prophets, pronounced judgment, justice, death, and captivity on His people because of their infidelity to Him when they worshipped molech and the other gods. Are we any better, aborting our most innocent in the name of personal peace and prosperity?
Not only are we killing the defenseless, but there is general corruption that is spread through every level of society. The very rich are able to take advantage of every loop-hole and insider-trading opportunity, stealing from every tax-payer and share-holder. The middle class values of self reliance and personal responsibility are rejected for the entitlement mentality and declining labor-force participation. Our welfare system has incentivized people not to marry, for children to be born out of wedlock and has created a class of people whose purpose in life is to get the most from the public trough for the least. Cases of public employee pension padding are rampant. This kind of society cannot be sustained economically and will inevitably collapse.
The laws of God cannot be violated with impunity, over the long term, without reaping the natural consequences of our behavior. We have worshipped the gods of pleasure, personal peace and prosperity and will reap poverty, sorrow, and perhaps, slavery. I know these are not encouraging words, but I do believe the momentum of our slide to Perdition cannot be stopped apart from an act of God.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
One of the gods specifically named by God that was not to be worshipped was molech; though it is a proper name, I refuse to capitalize it. It was believed by the pagans of ancient times that, if a family's first-born was sacrificed to molech, the nation and the family would have peace and prosperity. The image of molech was a hollow metal man in which a fire was built. When the "god" was red-hot the baby would be placed on its firery arms and be burned to death, surrounded by dancing worshippers.
I'm not an Old Testament prophet, but sometimes I certainly would like to be. God, through the prophets, pronounced judgment, justice, death, and captivity on His people because of their infidelity to Him when they worshipped molech and the other gods. Are we any better, aborting our most innocent in the name of personal peace and prosperity?
Not only are we killing the defenseless, but there is general corruption that is spread through every level of society. The very rich are able to take advantage of every loop-hole and insider-trading opportunity, stealing from every tax-payer and share-holder. The middle class values of self reliance and personal responsibility are rejected for the entitlement mentality and declining labor-force participation. Our welfare system has incentivized people not to marry, for children to be born out of wedlock and has created a class of people whose purpose in life is to get the most from the public trough for the least. Cases of public employee pension padding are rampant. This kind of society cannot be sustained economically and will inevitably collapse.
The laws of God cannot be violated with impunity, over the long term, without reaping the natural consequences of our behavior. We have worshipped the gods of pleasure, personal peace and prosperity and will reap poverty, sorrow, and perhaps, slavery. I know these are not encouraging words, but I do believe the momentum of our slide to Perdition cannot be stopped apart from an act of God.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
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