The Contenders For The Faith

Nehemiah 2:17, 18
Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach. Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.

The last few months have been quite a roller coaster. My Father was a police officer in Phoenix Az and was killed on his way home one morning three days after my first birthday. Needless to say, I never knew him. Growing up without a father is a trying experience. There are many things a young boy must figure out on his own. And many things no little boy should have to deal with by him self. Nonetheless, I managed and with the help of my mother, I have grown up. My Mom takes the credit for my turning out pretty good, but I know better.

I claim to be a preacher. I try to spend time each day reading the Word of God and learning about His grace, how I should live my life, and lately, what things I should be thankful for. It may be cliche at this time of year, but the Bible reminds of dozens of times to be faithful and not forget about God. If we can't remember a simple think like God, how many other things are we taking for granted? Shouldn't God be the biggest driving force in our lives, regardless of what we are doing?

I was reading FoxNews and I came across a story, I'll try to sum it up here...

The Iraqi soccer team just won the big championship, so the army tries to helicopter in soccer balls to a bunch of kids to support what the Iraqi team has done and give the kids some good fun. It's a really great idea. They printed the Iraqi flag on all the balls no differently than we print team names on ball caps. But the Iraqi flag has the name 'Allah' on it and has some Qu'ran scripture on it, so they were extremely upset that we wanted these children to kick the balls that had 'Allah' on them...

I read a new article today discussing the effects of global warming at the north pole. I have often discredited global warming as something that is not necessarilly stoppable, something that will likely never happen, or will happen so radically different from what the educated science departments of today describe, that we won't even realize it's global warming...

Yes, you've heard it first right here. It is official. I'm running for president! I have wishwashy opinions on everything, I don't really stand for anything, and if you invite me over for dinner a couple times, I'll even change my vote for you! With this campaign strategy, I'm sure to win! Yesterdays election proves it!

One of the issues that the Lord has been convicting my heart about lately is wickedness in the world around me. I believe in ecclesiastical separation, and I try to follow biblical guidelines where ever possible. But my wife and I were arguing about a particular point the other night, I came across a line that I may have crossed, but I don't know where to draw that line.

There is no doubt who our Saviour is. There is no doubt what God did for us, and absolutely No doubt what the Lord Jesus Christ did for us. Everybody knows that Jesus Christ spent his whole life living perfectly and about 30 years of age, he began teaching. I believe it was roughly two and a half to three and a half years Jesus spent teaching everyone who would listen. After that period, His time came when he allowed himself to be taken before the secular government to be named a blasphemer and slain. Everybody knows Jesus Christ became a lamb and was slain upon the cross at Calvary.

Last night Keith Hoover preached a message. I have no doubt that it was intended directly for me, as the verses he used in his message I had just read the night before and had been thinking about a similar topic all day.