CHRISTMAS IS STILL ABOUT GOOD TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY!

And the angel said to them; "Be not afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will come to all people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a savior, who is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:10-11).

. . . and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21).

Some historians believe that Robert Green Ingersoll would have been president of the United States if it were not for his strong agnostic and atheistic views.  He was a strong orator and could present his views much more persuasively than either Lincoln or Douglas.  Ingersoll was raised in a devout Christian home, his father was a congregational minister, but with strong liberal and abolitionist views that kept him in trouble with his parishioners.  Ingersoll's father was eventually run out of the ministry because of his views, and, as a result, Ingersoll was embittered against Christianity.  In many cases it is true that the best argument against Christianity is the behavior of those who call themselves Christians.

In a short essay on Christmas, Ingersoll wrote: "Christianity did not come with tidings of great joy, but with a message of eternal grief.  It came with the threat of everlasting torture on its lips.  It meant war on earth and perdition here after."  One of the chief reasons atheists have a problem with God is the existence of hell.  They view hell as inconsistent with the existence of a loving God.  For me, the existence of hell is a necessary result of a loving God.  The shooting yesterday in Connecticut proves the necessity of perdition!  The existence of hell is not an effort to scare people into going straight, rather hell's existence is evidence of God's love and justice for those who are His own.

The good tidings of great joy heralded by the angels really were good tidings!  First, those good tidings mean that God keeps His promises.  The Old Testament reveals many, many prophecies fulfilled in Jesus Christ.  Second, those good tidings mean that there really is pardon for sin and a legitimate hope for eternal life--this life is not all there is.  A perfect life awaits us.

One of the sadist characteristics of agnostic/atheists is that they hopelessly grasp at straws.  Robert Owen, a well-known early 19th century agnostic converted to spiritualism in the vain hope of communicating with the dead.  Robert Ingersoll wrote these words in a eulogy of his brother Ebon, "Life is a narrow vale between the cold and barren peaks of two eternities.  We strive in vain to look beyond the heights.  We cry aloud, and the only answer is the echo of our wailing cry.  From the voiceless lips of the unreplying dead there comes no word; but in the night of death hope sees a star and listening love can hear the rustle of a wing."

Good tidings of great joy represent not a vain hope, but a legitimate hope for life and eternity.  Merry Christmas!!!

Our Father's Love,
Tom

COMPUTING THE FUTURE

But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven or the Son, but the Father only (Matthew 24:36).

What if we knew when the earth would run out of oil and natural gas?  What if we knew the day the dollar is going to crash?*  What if we knew the day when a super storm, like hurricane "Sandy" would strike?**  What if an act of war, like 9-11, was known before it happened?***  Would we be prepared?

The CIA is funding and helping to advance  technology that can accomplish the impossible, a reasonably accurate prediction of the future. By "reasonably accurate" I mean within a 90 percent probability.  From the limited reading I have done on the subject, it appears that this predictive technology is "super-computing" technology that draws conclusions from the mountains of information that are fed into it. Meteorological, political, social and demographic, economic, scientific, religious information, the amounts of which are almost beyond comprehension, are considered.  What would it do to the stock and commodity markets if it was known 2 to 3 days ahead of time what they were going to do?  I am sitting here wondering if the lottery could be predicted and what it would do to the lottery if it could?

A personal opinion of mine, it is nothing more than that, is that God will bring this world to an end when it has reached its logical conclusion.  When all possibilities have been considered and still there is entropy; sin, injustice, death, destruction.  Science, secularism and false religion will be leading humanity in circles, then Jesus will come.  Joy to the world!  Not only has the Lord come, He is coming again!  This Christmas season remember that God has purpose for His creation.  Jesus has come to save us and is coming again to take us HOME.

Our Father's Blessings,
Tom

* The dollar is going to crash--the character of our politicians guarantees it.

**The residents of New York and New Jersey did have a reasonably accurate prediction at least 3 days ahead of time.  Even with that lead time, how does one prepare for such a storm?

***The Obama administration takes us for a bunch of fools.  They had 3 months lead time on the attack in Benghazi and did nothing!  The problem was not what Susan Rice said, but what the president was doing when this occurred.  One doesn't have to be the sharpest knife in the drawer to know that radical Islam was going to do something on 9-11.  The real question to be considered is, was this simply incompetence or something worse on the part of Obama?

CHOCOLATE CHURCH (a communion meditation)

So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross to the place called the place of a skull, which is called in Hebrew Golgotha.  There they crucified him . . . (John 19:17-18).

I do not specifically recall where I read this statistic, but if memory serves me correctly, Americans eat enough chocolate each year to average out to 12 pounds of chocolate per person.  That is a lot of chocolate!  Now I personally know a couple of people who do not like chocolate.  First, it is amazing that one could not like chocolate!  How could that be?  Second,  I think I make up for what those two people do not eat!  Why do I like chocolate?  First, it tastes good--and it is kind of good for you as well.  There are few things better a dark chocolate kiss with a cup of strong black coffee.  Not only does it taste delicious, all those anti-oxidants are helping your body stay healthy.  Second, chocolate makes one feel better.  If your mood is down, have a piece of chocolate.  Immediately life will seem a little brighter.  Not only that, Dove chocolates wrap their chocolates in wrappers with heart-warming sayings that enhance the experience.

The reason I bring all this up about chocolate is that we have come to expect our experience in church to be like eating chocolate, to taste good, to feel good, and be comfortable, listening to heart-warming sayings.  We have to understand that dealing with sin and sinners is not a neat, comfortable or even sanitary process.  Crucifixion was a horrible torture.  Tears, sweat, blood and prayers were shed for us.  Violence and injustice took a life given to us in love so that we could be pardoned and forgiven.  God did not insulate himself from the horrible pain of purchasing salvation!  If there are tears shed as one comes to know God and his Son Jesus Christ.  If there is loud weeping as one surrenders their life to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, so be it!  If there are tears of remorse as one confesses his sin before taking communion, so be it!  The Church is a hospital for sinners where the struggle of life and death are real, where the battle against satan is real.

Church is about life & death, blood and tears, change and loss, hope and love.  It is a battleground where victories are won.

Our Father's Love,
Tom

ASKING FOR HELP WITHOUT ASKING

And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, to be with you for ever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him or knows him . . . (John 14:16-17).

I was looking around in my library, trying to break writer's block, when I stumbled on this quotation from Dr. William Glasser's book, "Control Theory".  I thought it worth repeating.  Notice that Glasser uses "depressing" rather than depression.  We think that depression is a illness that happens to us, and in a few cases, it is.  However, Glasser's use of "depressing" is an attempt to communicate that, for the vast majority of cases, depression is something we do.

Depressing, painful as it is, is the most powerful way that human beings have found to ask for help without begging.  Many of us have become so skilled at the "art" of depressing that we are able to depress just enough to get help without asking--to choose to depress more would be to suffer needlessly.
  
Depressing, therefore, allows us to plead for help and at the same time maintain our self-esteem by denying that we need it.

Often, the help we need and the help we want are two different things.  Our heavenly Father has supplied us with a counselor who will walk with us and strengthen us to face the challenges of this life.  He wants you to ask. 

Our Father's Blessings,
Tom

EUCHARIST MEANS THANKSGIVING (A Communion Meditation)

For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night which he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks , he broke it, and said, "This is my body which is for you.  Do this in remembrance of me."  In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood.   Do this as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me"  (I Corinthians 11:23-25 emphasis mine).

Eucharist is not usually associated with the Lord's Supper, but it should be one of the most often used titles of the memorial by which we remember the greatest sacrifice made on our behalf. In the original language Eucharist means thanksgiving.  In this scripture the verb for of Eucharist is used revealing to us that Jesus had an attitude of gratitude throughout the most difficult of his times on this earth.  Jesus knew well that the time of his humiliation, torture and death was very near and yet he gave thanks as he instituted this memorial.  Since Jesus is our example, it is obvious that we too should be thankful even when we are facing the most difficult times of our lives.

What benefits Jesus' sacrifice and resurrection have given us ought to inspire us to praise and thanksgiving!  These benefits were poured out on both sides of the cross, both before and after, and therefore, these words from Psalms 103: 1-5 are appropriate:  Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.  Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Call the Lord's Supper, Eucharist, because not only does it mean thanksgiving, but because of what Jesus has done for us, there is so much for which to give thanks!

Our Father's Love,
Tom

A TRUTH ABOUT ECONOMICS

But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O men of little faith? (Matthew 6:30).

This is not an original thought of mine,* but I think it is worth repeating given the financial peril that our country faces.  In times of stress and corruption these sayings hold true:

Those close to the kitchen get the food.

Those close to the bank get the money.

The farther one is from the kitchen, the less likely he is to get good food.  And the farther one is from the central bank, the less likely one is to get good money because it becomes worth less the farther it is distributed.

In these times, as children of the King, it is good to know that we will be taken care of in any case.

Our Father's Blessings,
Tom

*From a financial newsletter I read.  Perhaps these thoughts are not self-explanatory as there are some complexities involved, nevertheless, they are worth pondering. 

RELATIONSHIPS TAKE A LOT OF ORDINARY TIME

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven . . . a time for love, and a time to hate (Ecclesiastes 3:1&8).

Perhaps I should have included all eight verses of Ecclesiastes chapter three because they all have to do with the times of our lives on this earth--I was just too lazy to write them all out. 

For the last 40 years in popular psychology there has been this notion that quality time is all that is required to have a relationship.  But to have quality moments with a person, a lot of ordinary time is required.  The notion of "quality time" is a symptom of the narcissism of the age, we text message so that we do not have to waste time talking on the phone, we do speed dating so that we do not waste time with the wrong people, etc.  The idea that "hell is other people" is truly the philosophy of my generation and, as a result, the bitterness of the political divide and that divorce is rampant should not surprise us.

How do husbands and wives learn to trust each other?  How do children learn to trust their parents?  It takes time to know the true values of the other in real life.  It is in the everyday conversations, watching each other as we respond to different situations, that we learn each other's language and the values they hold most dear.  It takes a lot of ordinary moments in order to have quality time.

Our Father's Blessings,
Tom

HOW DID YOU HELP?

Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, was in a furious rage, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and all in the region who were two years and under . . . (Matthew 2:16).

The election did not turn out as many of us hoped and just as many who were disappointed are still searching for reasons why conservatives could not defeat a failed and ineffective administration.  I am not going to pretend to have the answers, but I do know that three million Republicans sat on their hands and did not vote at all.  I'm sure that there was at least another million conservative independents who did not show up at the polls either.  I'm sure they could all give an answer, but the question is, how did they help?

If the Republicans would have been elected our tax dollars would not support planned parenthood, the biggest abortion provider.  It may be that some babies would have been spared death if our tax money weren't providing for abortion on demand.  How did the non voters help them?  Three million plus votes in the right places would have gone a long way to tipping the election towards conservatism.

Our Father's Blessings,
Tom

GOVERNANCE IS A MESSY BUSINESS, BUT OUR RESPONSIBILITY

When one rules justly over men, ruling in the fear of God, he dawns on them like the morning light, like the sun shining forth on a cloudless morning, like rain that makes grass sprout from the earth (II Samuel 23:3-4).

These verses in the King James Version were some of the lyrics to the song by Randal Thompson called, "The Last Words of David," a song which the select Northwest Iowa Chorus, of which I was a member, sang in concert more than forty years ago.  It was that song that led me to select the above text in the Revised Standard Version as the basis for my comments.

The election is finally here.  I would like to say that the campaigning will finally be over, but these days campaigning goes on for the full term.  Is there a perfect candidate?  No, but I do believe some are better that others.  In any case, when it comes to voting for a candidate, one votes for the lesser of two evils.  As James 2:10 reminds us, For whoever keeps the whole law, but has failed in one point has become guilty of all of it.  All of us are guilty.  The lesser of two evils is still evil, but providing the best governance possible for American citizens is the responsibility that God has placed on the shoulders of every voting-age citizen.

Romans 13:1 tells us, Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.  For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.  In the case of the United States of America, the governing authority instituted by God is the Constitution.  The Constitution expects the participation of the citizens of the USA in its governance.  God has not directly placed Obama in the presidency of the United States, it was people, acting as citizens under the constitution, that placed him there.  The character of the president is a reflection of the character of the citizens of the United States.  God has His finger in the authorship and the adoption of the U.S. Constitution.*  Our selection of the officials of governance are a reflection of our national character.

Actually, it is difficult for a citizen not to participate in government.  Some may say, "Don't blame me. I didn't vote."  However, the apathetic non vote is a vote for the most incompetent candidate, enabling him/her to gain office and bring hardship to the nation.  Not voting can also be an act of passive aggression, but it is pretty hard to quantify what the passivity means so little value can be drawn from it.  If one wants to have a voice, voting, and persuading as many others as possible to vote in the same way, is one of the ways to make it heard.

In America, God expects you to vote.

Our Father's Blessings,
Tom

*The Constitution reflects the Christian values of its authors, the vast majority of them being Christian.  Thus, the Constitution rules in the fear of God and is the rule of law.  Those government officials who shred the Constitution, who make unConstitutional law, are not legitimate officials, they have violated their oath to protect and defend the Constitution.  It is our duty as American citizens to use every legal means to remove them from office.

MORE ON HOLY SPIRIT

And take . . . the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication (Ephesians 6:17-18).

In my "stack of stuff" I found the remnants of a post by S.M. Hutchens that is eloquent in its expression of the presence and working of Holy Spirit.  It coincides with my thinking, so I wanted to share the following paragraph with my faithful readers:

But I am more confident now that the Holy Spirit, while mysterious, infinitely subtle, and often counter-intuitive is for all that no fool.  The gabbling of enthusiasts is not his favored means of communication, nor is he a private gentleman.  If he has a message for one who speaks for him, it meets what he has already placed in many of his own, and agrees.  He is a friend of reason because he invented it, a friend of counsel, because he is eternally in counsel himself (some would even say, and not without reason, that he is Counsel), and a friend to the wisdom of age and experience, for he is the one who has given it, presumably for use toward his ends.  (The presence of these virtues in the church virtually eclipses, I believe, the need for much of what is commonly regarded as charismatic gift.  Since they are themselves part of the concrete and enduring telos of the Spirit's work, there is good reason to suspect that the overuse and overvaluation of charismata--which may indeed be from God--is also, in whatever age and in whatever church they appear, a sign of spiritual infantilism.)

Throughout church history, there have been many who felt, and thus were convinced, that the Spirit was speaking to them when the Spirit was saying nothing, they were victims of their own delusions.  Hutchens' words are sound teaching that agrees with the teaching of the Bible.

Our Father's Blessings,
Tom

ASSUMING THE HOLY SPIRIT IS AT WORK

This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.  What are you, O great mountain?  Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain; and he shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of "Grace, grace to it!" (Zechariah 4:6-7).

There is one assumption that Christians always must have, The Holy Spirit is always working, strengthening and helping His people to live their lives for the Lord and to accomplish the tasks and bear the burdens that are before them.  In the context of the above text, God had given governor Zerubbabel the job of rebuilding the temple in 535BCE.  The rebuilding was completed in 516BCE.  The job took twenty years of back-breaking effort, fighting enemies from within and without.  I'm sure there were times when Zerubbabel thought, "God, I didn't think it would be this hard--you made it sound so easy--the mountain was going to flatten itself before me."  Zerubbabel had limited resources, little money, limited labor and expertise, and battles to fight, yet, the temple was finished because God was working with Zerubbabel and his people. Zerubbabel could look back and say with out a doubt, "With out God's help we couldn't have built it!"

Because of God's provision of the indwelling Holy Spirit in the life of every Christian, we can always assume the Holy Spirit is working in every situation of our life.  It does not mean that life will go smoothly or that we can be slackers in preparation and in every-day hard work, but it does mean He is working with us to help us deal with the situations we face.  Just like we assume that our heart is going to make the next beat, or we will be able to take the next breath, so we can assume that Holy Spirit is ministering in our lives.  And, when our lives are over, we will be able to look back and say, "It wasn't by human effort, but by His Spirit!"

Our Father's Love,
Tom

JUST DO IT AGAIN

Who ever knows what is right to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin (James 4:17).

A couple of posts ago, I wrote, Just Do It, borrowing a marketing slogan from Nike.  Borrowing the same slogan, I want to share a few words about procrastination.  Often the benefits of responsible behavior and hard work are not immediate, they may come days, weeks, months or even years later.  The benefit of procrastination is immediate, one is freed from the burden of doing a job "right this minute."  The problem with the immediate gratification of procrastination is the delayed penalty; the added stress, the extra work and the unreliable reputation one gains as a result.

In view of all that, why would one sabotage himself like this?  It would seem that the penalty so out weighs the reward that it isn't worth it.  Procrastination is a way of dealing with stress, but the problem is that, in the long run, procrastination adds to one's stress.  The best way of dealing with procrastination is to just get started doing your job, turn off the distractions and plunge in.  Do one job at a time.  It feels good to be responsible.  Deal with stress in a responsible way through a relationship with Jesus Christ, exercise, proper diet, a hobby and social relationships.

Now, on to my next job.

Our Father's Blessings,
Tom

IT HELPS TO KNOW HOW IT ENDS

. . . I heard a voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling of God is with men.  He will dwell with them and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them;  he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away" (Revelation 21:3-4).

The Iowa Hawkeyes had a bye week on their football schedule last week, so when I saw they were replaying the 2009 game with Michigan State on the Big Ten Network, I had to watch.  The Hawks were ahead by 3 with just a couple minutes to go.  Then, suddenly Michigan State started moving the ball and they scored a touch down and an extra point to put them 4 ahead of Iowa and leaving less time on the clock than I thought was possible for the Hawkeyes to score a touch down for the win.  But I saw the game in 2009 and I knew that Iowa won it, so I was relaxed as I watched the final seconds unfold.  On the very last play with 2 seconds to go, Iowa quarterback, Ricky Stanzi passed to Marvin Mcnutt in the end zone for the touchdown.  Iowa won!!! When one knows the outcome, it sure cuts down on the stress!

In Christ, we know the outcome of our lives, we win!!!  That does not mean we will not go through some very difficult times, but it does remove a lot of anger, fear, anxiety and grief!  Our hope is not wishful thinking, it is based on the best fact of history, Jesus Christ has risen.  We know how it ends, so relax, it's going to be alright!

Our Father's Love,
Tom

P.S. Iowa faces Michigan State again today--I do not know how this one will turn out, so I am a little anxious.  Pray that the Lord smiles on the Hawkeyes today.

CHRISTIANITY IS A LIFE-TIME EDUCATION

Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path (Psalms 119:105).

The lovely and gracious Helen and I were having supper with friends when the topic of what we are reading came up.  I was asked what I was reading and I sputtered and stuttered a little before I answered and my answer was not very good either.  It seems as if I am always reading.  Between the 4 farm journals and the 2 professional counseling and pastoral journals and the newspapers, I really do very little reading just for fun--my recreational reading is about the Iowa Hawkeyes and Fords.

While I think I read a lot, my reading priorities can use some tweaking.  One of my reading priorities that will never change is Bible reading.  I read from the Bible every day.  I do not cover a lot of ground in one day because I like to meditate over what I have read.  I read from the Bible in an organized fashion--it is not haphazard.  Currently, I am in Luke's gospel.  One thing every serious Bible reader will tell you is that, even though they have read the Bible many times, they are always learning from it.  An advanced degree in Bible does not mean that one knows all about the Bible and theology; it only means his education has only begun.  Christianity is truly a life-time education.  Let the Bible be first in your reading priorities.

Our Father's Blessings,
Tom

IF LIFE MATTERS

If life matters to you, vote Romney/Ryan.  If you live in the 4th congressional district in Iowa, and life matters to you, vote Steve King.

Any office holder who is willing to take an unborn life is also willing to take everything you have.  Make no mistake about it, the credibility of a candidate is determined by the Life issue.

Our Father's Blessings,
Tom

JUST DO IT

Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.  Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and salute no one on the road ( Luke 10:3-4).

I have been reading through Luke's gospel.  When I read these verses I thought of my dad.  The commission the Lord gave to the Seventy was basically my dad's philosophy of life.  Most of the time we do not even make an attempt because we do not have enough money, talent or ability.  We do not want to make a fool of ourselves by attempting to do the impossible.  My dad's philosophy was, "if you want to do a thing, then do it."

In the larger text of Luke 10:1-7, the Lord lists the essentials that it takes to do any job to which one is called; I believe these essentials are still needed today.

1. Faith.  The Lord called his disciples to do an impossible task.  What made the task impossible was they were instructed to take nothing with them.  They had to trust the Lord to make provision for them each moment of every day.  Christian's are not materialists, they do not see money as the solution to every problem.  Even though money is the practical necessity of everyday life on this earth, the disciples were instructed to look to the Lord to make provision for them and it is no less true today.

2. A partner, one whom can absolutely be trusted no matter what; the Lord sent them out two by two.   Being sent out as "lambs in the midst of wolves" is a stressful life.  Knowing that someone with skin on "has your back," understands the mission and is committed to the mission, relieves the stress and brings encouragement.

3.  Prayer, asking God to bless our personal labors to accomplish the mission and asking God for more laborers to join in the mission and see it through.  Everyone should be involved in a mission that will fail if God does not help, whether it is a spiritual enterprise or a business enterprise, it does not matter.

The lesson here is to not allow an apparent lack of something keep you from trying.  We have a great God who will sustain you as you labor to accomplish the mission to which you were called.  When the lovely and gracious, Helen, and I, returned to the family farm to raise our children here, we had nothing.  We did make a commitment to do any honorable work, even if it was lowly, to make that happen.  Back in the "80's" farming was not good and was certainly not easy.  My tax preparer recommended that I quit farming--I was working for almost nothing.  But with the Lord providing, and the help of a faithful wife, we did it.  Life is good--and it is getting gooder.

My advice?  If God has called you to the mission and you have these three essentials, just do it!

Our Father's Blessings,
Tom

GETTING HEAVEN INTO YOU

And Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38).

Salvation is an intriguing subject.  As a child and young person, I had the assumption that it was all about getting to Heaven.  I've grown out of that, though getting to Heaven is the destination of salvation and I am looking forward to the time of arrival there.

 To liberals, salvation is the social gospel, making Heaven on earth through political means.  Certainly, one's relationship with Christ will change how he will view and how he will treat other people, but charity cannot be imposed through political power.  Charity in a society has to come from the heart or freedom is lost and tyranny rules.  Forced charity brings death, not life; read the history of communism in the 20th century.

I believe that salvation is primarily about getting Heaven into you, and less about you getting to Heaven.  Certainly, Heaven on earth is not a possibility except within the company of Christians.  Getting Heaven into you is the mission of Holy Spirit as he works in a life surrendered to the Lord Jesus Christ.  Sometimes it seems as if His work is agonizingly slow.  Sometimes we wonder why it seems as if there is so little change and so little production, but rest assured, getting Heaven into you is happening if you are surrendered to Jesus! 

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Our Father's Love,
Tom

SHAME: A COVER UP

So when the woman saw the fruit was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also give some to her husband, and he ate.  Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves aprons.  And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden (Genesis 3:6-8).

Shame is a complex subject. In fact, some scholars will not even agree with my definition, which is based in Webster's dictionary definition.  Shame is a painful emotion characterized by feeling guilty, incompetent, blameworthy, indecent or worthless.  Adam and Eve felt guilty.

The manifestations of shame in a person's life are another reason that shame is a complex subject.  But, the basic manifestation of shame is covering up.  In German and in Latin, the root of the entomology of shame means, to hide or to cover.  That is an exact description of what Adam and Eve did in the attempt to deal with their shame.  Humanity has not changed much since creation; we still do bazaar things to deal with our feelings of shame.  We declare sin not to be sin, and still feel worthless.  We cover ourselves with designer clothing, all kinds of makeup, jewelery and tattoos all to show we are not worthless and to assuage our feelings of guilt.  Our narcissism and arrogance are other defense mechanisms used to mask our feelings of guilt.

I want to suggest some designer clothing that really does cover up shame: . . . for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.  For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ (Galatians 3:26-27).  Being sons of the King, we are clothed with the finest designer clothing there is because we are clothed with Jesus Christ.  Our worth and our pardon are established in the clothing of Jesus Christ because only he can cover our shame.

Our Father's Love,
Tom

CLASS WARFARE IS MARXIST JARGON

You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant, or his maidservant, or his ox, or his ass, or anything that is your neighbor's (Exodus 20:17).

One of the reasons that communism is so anti Christian is because it is founded on values that contradict the instruction of God.  Communists are materialists, meaning that man does live by bread alone; God says otherwise.  Each person is to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and, as a result, his need, for love, food, clothing, shelter and something worthwhile to do, will be met.

Marxism promotes class warfare, God promotes a classless society, meaning that all are to be treated equally under the law.  The Bible says that showing favoritism to anyone is a sin.  Bribes are evil and sinful because equal treatment under the law is denied.  Communists make the claim of having a classless society, but it is government and party officials who live like kings while the rest of the population lives in relative poverty compared to free peoples.

America has been the most classless society in world history.  This has been true because our country has been founded on a Biblical world view.  As we have traded a Christian consensus for a secular one, marxist concepts and vocabulary have crept into the national discussion.  I object to the term "class" when it is used to describe an apparent strata of society.  The middle class is not a permanent class, nor should we want it to be.  We are free people who, because of our choices and our circumstances will flourish or fail economically.  I object to the term, "masses."  To me it implies that the free people of the United States are now the government's herd of cattle, incapable of supporting themselves without the government "feed wagon" filling the public "trough." 

Marxist vocabulary destroys human dignity and quenches the human spirit.  Let us refuse to use it.

Our Father's Love,
Tom

I DIDN'T GET WHAT I DESERVED

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