Doing No Harm Won't Do It

by Pastor Ed Evans

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31

16:19 "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.
16:20 And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,
16:21 who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man's table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores.
16:22 The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried.
16:23 In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side.
16:24 He called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.'
16:25 But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony.
16:26 Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.'
16:27 He said, 'Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father's house--
16:28 for I have five brothers--that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.'
16:29 Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.'
16:30 He said, 'No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.'
16:31 He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'"

From who-knows-where comes the story of the epitaph carved into the ancient tombstone which read:

"Remember, Friend, as you pass by,
As you are now, so once was I.
As I am now, soon you shall be
Prepare for Death, and follow me."

To which some concerned soul had scrawled in addition:

"To follow you, I'm not content
Until I know which way you went!"

All across America, and even around the world, there are decent men and women living quiet lives, giving others a square deal, not making any waves. They don't cheat, they don't lie, and they don't take more than they think they deserve. For some that means a mansion that requires caretakers, for others a modest home and limited social obligations. They do not harm. Or do they?

Dr. Luke's subject in these verses of scripture inspired by Almighty God is the interaction, or lack of it, between two men, two creations of God, two members of the social strata of long ago.

The one has limited resources and cannot even care for his medical condition, apparently having no home except to sit at the gate and beg for his daily food to eat. As Luke tells the story, this man has no reward here on earth, but after his death, his is a grand reward in heaven.

Luke contrasts that, then, with the story of a man of quite some substance. He is of such lofty grandeur that if he ever noticed this fellow Lazarus, he probably dismissed him immediately from his mind. Dwelling on such social tragedies do not lead to victorious plans and accomplishments. Better to close your eyes and move on, and hope he does so as well, was perhaps his thought.

Luke offers us no evidence this rich man ever did Lazarus any harm, it's just that he never did Lazarus and good. Out of his abundance, he never once offered Lazarus so much as a wet finger dipped in water to cool the poor's man's fevered tongue. And yet this, indeed, is what the rich man asks of Father Abraham that Lazarus do for him.

Too late, far too late, the rich man learns of his foolishness, learns that his objectives were all off-target, learned that since he enjoyed himself and took his ease on earth, rather than sharing with others, he is offered no such reward in heaven.

The rich man wasn't such a bad guy. He just didn't help anyone when he could have, and it was counted against him.

As Luke's parable goes, the rich man knew enough to call out to Father Abraham for help after his death, so it can be fully assumed that he knew enough about Father Abraham, and the Living God, to know what was expected of him before his death. But he would have none of it. He would enjoy himself and take his ease, and such poor beggars as Lazarus were welcome to the hindmost, to nothing.

But we are much smarter than the indolent rich man. We have the writings of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, not to mention Paul, to shed light on the path, to show which way to go, to avoid the traps and snares with which this life is replete.

For we in this generation have learned both by study and by example that not only are we tripped up easily by our own propensity to sin, but the Father of Lies, the enemy of God, desires to take our soul. But by doing the things God tells us to do, and by avoiding the things He tells us to stay away from, we can not only be a blessing to others here on earth and glorify His name, but we can be prepared for the glorious life to be lived across the eternal ages, in His presence.

First we need to stay close to His word, read it, understand it, digest it, and find a way to put it into action. We can begin with 2nd Chronicles 20: 3-4 and 29 where we are admonished to seek Him, know the will of God, and know that He will fight for you.

Read Isaiah 58:6 and know that the God who loves you will shatter strongholds for you.

But knowing is not always doing. The rich man knew what he should have done, but he did not do it. The wisdom of God is contained in His inspired Word as made available to us through the faithfulness and the shed blood of saints. But the action is within you and I. We have the gift of choice; free will. Will we be seeking that finger dipped in cool water to slake our outrageous thirst? Or will we be found offering a cup of cold water to the deserving and undeserving alike? Whichever it is, God will see, and God will know.

Your mind, body and spirit are built of God for service. Don't waste it on self-serving. May God richly bless your efforts in His behalf.

Amen.

Daily Scripture Readings for September 27 - October 3, 2010
Monday -- 1st Samuel 2:27-36
Tuesday -- Hebrews 11:1-31
Wednesday -- Hebrews 11:32-12:2
Thursday -- 2nd Timothy 2:1-13
Friday -- Revelation 2:8-11

Saturday -- Matthew 25:1:30
Sunday -- Amos 5:6-7, 10-15; Psalm 101; 2nd Timothy 1:1-14; Luke 17:5-10

We Are America!, by Michael Konkel

We Are America!

It took someone who dabbled in witchcraft, an unlikely favorite daughter of Delaware, to remind us that while everyone is thinking and saying that we need to take back America, we are America! Christine O'Donnell told us that and it rang true for me. It rang loud and clear, true for me.

While my hometown newsrags, the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette and the Fort Wayne News Sentinel continues their heinous diatribe of all things liberal and progressive, day in and day out, it had me wondering if the truth was every going to be able to shine through to my fellow citizens here in Indiana. Last election, Indiana turned into a blue state. I was crushed....not because Indiana voted in the majority for a black man because I would love to have been part of the history that would bring the presidency to a person of color. If there had been a decent person of color running for president, I would have been part of that history. Trouble is in Indiana, particularly in the cities, people are getting fed a steady stream of liberal garbage, are content and set in their ways, and fail to venture beyond the main stream media to get an idea about what is really going on in the country and the world.

Even today, I have a number of acquaintances who biggest goal in life is to improve their golf handicap. Many believe that tolerance about everything, not making waves, is the way to 'love thy neighbor'. In my own family, I have a sister who had a son, my namesake and nephew, Michael, who died of HIV/Aids which he acquired as an active homosexual man. Just today, after we exchanged e-mails regarding that froot loop Bill Maher, who she thinks is funny, whom I know to be a gay man with a hateful personality, and I said so....she commented, Oh so you think Michael is in hell.

If Michael gave his heart and life to Jesus Christ, repented of his sins before he died then I believe he is with Jesus Christ today and I told her this. And maybe Michael did this...I don't know, we did not live near each other. But this is the way we are....maybe your sister is a lesbian or your girlfriend has had abortions, because we love those people, we do not regard the truth of God's word but rather take the side of these sinners. This we do to our detriment. There are scriptural/biblical truths. God is known as the Alpha and the Omega, the one who sees the beginning from the end and vice versa and He has absolutely no reason to change His mind nor His word which are provided by the 66 books of our bible. These books and their authors were inspired by God's Holy Spirit to write the words therein...these words will not change and God's word will never return void. Of everyone anywhere, God is the only entity who says what He means and means what He says, all the time.

Today I tell you that I agree with Christine O'Donnell that WE ARE AMERICA! Our danger is found in the words even our founders have provided for us to consider. John Adams tells us that "Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." Benjamin Franklin adds "Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters".

Daniel Webster speaks quite frankly on the subject when he tells us "....I am committed against every thing which in my judgment, may weaken, endanger, or destroy (the constitution)....and especially against all extension of Executive power; and I am committed against any attempt to rule the free people of this country by the power and the patronage of the government itself....".

We are at that crossroads America. In just 6 weeks from now we will vote and we must vote in numbers and we must vote with diligence and be vigilant to all the shenanigans of those who will certainly not play by the rules of our free society. If we are not diligent and vigilant then heaven help us as Samuel Adams puts it: "The sum of all is, if we would most truly enjoy the gift of heaven, let us become a virtuous people; then shall we both deserve and enjoy it. While, on the other hand, if we are universally vicious and debauched in our manners, though the form of our Constitution carries the face of the most exalted freedom, we shall in reality be the most abject slaves."

Abject slaves....this is what President Obama has in mind for us as he continues his drive to destroy our Constitution, our Republic, our way of life and our livlihoods. Do not be fooled by Obama finally stepping foot in some church this past weekend....his advisors have told him that political symbolism is necessary now more than ever. See instead, the fruit that he bears, and of course, you will know what kind of tree he truly is.

We are a nation of sinners and yet we all know that while we are in that condition that Christ laid down his life for each of us. People can turn from their sin and repent and a nation can do likewise. I particularly wish to call on my fellow Christians (captial "C" Christians), not those in name only, to take God at his word as found in II Chronicles 7:14..."If my people which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." Like I said, God's word does not return void.

Finally, regarding Christine O'Donnell, and I admittedly stole this from Glenn Beck when he asked is she a good witch or a bad witch fully aware that Chris Coons, her opponent is an avowed Marxist and there are only bad Marxists....no good ones. I intend to pray for her to find the light that is Jesus Christ and know that there is meaning in likeminded people doing the same thing. I would pray for her as quickly as I would pray for that generation alive today who seems to worship all things having to do with 'vampires' and other forms of Satanic worship as well.

WE THE PEOPLE, us Tea Party folks, are now supposed to be on the defensive from the Obama administration....I say, bring it on Prez....truth is on our side. I read the back of the book and I know how this is going to end....we win!

Sermon -- The Truth, or The Lie?, by Pastor Ed Evans

Posted at: Christian Church Online

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=31790874758&ref=ts

Scripture: 1st Timothy 2:1-7

2:1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone,
2:2 for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity.
2:3 This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
2:4 who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
2:5 For there is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human,
2:6 who gave himself a ransom for all--this was attested at the right time.
2:7 For this I was appointed a herald and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

We have before us part of Paul's letter to Timothy regarding how he should conduct himself in Ephesus. You don't need to read many of Paul's letters to Timothy to realize that as a father loves a son, Paul loved Timothy. It was important to Paul that Timothy know not only the truth from the lie, but that he know how to distinguish the truth from the lie.

Since these letters from Paul to Timothy and to the churches have come down to us through time, intact, it would appear obvious that God the Father has an interest in we, His sons and daughters in this age, amidst these confusing events happening around us, know and be aware of the same kinds of things Paul shared with Timothy.

Paul was a trained expert in things religious, having studied under the very best of that age. He knew power and he knew how to speak truth to power. Perhaps even more importantly, he knew how to discern truth and lift it out from among the growing lies of that age, even as the Father of Lies planted lies more believable than the truth.

Matthew Henry writes in his commentary on these passages, "Sin had made a quarrel between us and God; Jesus Christ is the Mediator who makes peace. He is a ransom that was to be known in due time. In the Old Testament times, His sufferings, and the glory that should follow, were spoken of as things to be revealed in the last times. Those who are saved must come to the knowledge of the truth, for that is God's appointed way to save sinners: if we do not know the truth, we cannot be ruled by it."

Now, some 2,000 years away from Paul's letter to Timothy, we find ourselves in a similar situation. "...if we do not know the truth, we cannot be ruled by it," Matthew Henry wrote. That truth stands, down through the ages just as it did when Paul wrote to Timothy, in verses 3 and 4, that God our Savior "desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." But as Matthew Henry reiterated, "if we do not know the truth, we cannot be ruled by it."

Our scripture today begins with the issue of prayer and everyone's need for prayer. We take for granted our access to the Father for our needs, to pray for the needs of others, to seek wisdom, insight, to ask for protection and leadership in our lives, to ask for healing, for intervention in our lives and the lives of others.

But what of those people outside our circle of family, friends and acquaintances?

Paul urges "supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions..." And Paul does this "so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity."

We may or may not like or approve of those who have power over us, those elected or appointed to positions over us, but we still owe them the respect of their office. If they misappropriate their appointed responsibilities, we need to remove them from office. But in the meantime, we should pay rapt attention to Paul's advice.

Why? Because prayer doesn't change things; prayer changes people, and people change things. It was for people Christ went to the cross, not for situations or events, but to reunite people with God the Father.

The 17th century theologian Albert Barnes, best known among Biblical scholars for his "Barnes' Notes on the Bible," wrote of Paul's urging that we pray for those in power, "... while all people should be the subjects of prayer, those should be particularly remembered before the throne of grace who are in authority. The reason is, that so much depends on their character and plans; that the security of life, liberty, and property, depends so much on them. God has power to influence their hearts, and to incline them to what is just and equal; and hence we should pray that a divine influence may descend upon them. The salvation of a king is of itself of no more importance than that of a peasant or a slave; but the welfare of thousands may depend on him, and hence he should be made the special subject of prayer."
Incidentally, the scripture translation used here is from the International Standard Version, but in many translations, and commentaries, the word "dignity" is translated "honesty." As honesty, the reference is to our duties toward our fellow human beings -- of whatever station in life -- the decent relationships we owe to one another through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Matthew Henry, again, elaborates, "The disciples of Christ must be praying people; all, without distinction of nation, sect, rank, or party. Our duty as Christians, is summed up in two words; godliness, that is, the right worshipping of God; and honesty, that is, good conduct toward all men. These must go together: we are not truly honest, if we are not godly, and do not render to God His due; and we are not truly godly, if not honest."

The real problem in our current age, however, goes not to the issue of not praying enough, or not praying about the right people or issues, and certainly not to whom we respect or don't respect.

I submit to you the real problem is that we in this age are ignorant of scripture. In his second letter to Timothy (2nd Timothy 3:16-17), Paul writes, " All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." If all scripture is "God-breathed", given of inspiration by God, and God is truth, then we can rely on the truth of scripture. But how are we to know when something is a lie if we have ignored knowing the truth of the matter?

All throughout the Old Testament God is spoken of as being truth. In the New Testament, John 1:17 reminds us "For while the Law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. From John 4:24 we learn, "God is a Spirit and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth."

John 8:32 gives us this promise: "And you will know the Truth, and the Truth shall set you free." To which we can add John 14:6 for clarity, where Jesus says, "I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by Me."

Knowing truth has perhaps never been more important than in this age, for Satan, the Father of Lies, is working very hard at misguiding those ignorant of truth, at misleading those unaware of truth, of leading into open rebellion against God those who will not seek out truth.

Harken back to Matthew Henry's words: "Those who are saved must come to the knowledge of the truth, for that is God's appointed way to save sinners: if we do not know the truth, we cannot be ruled by it."

The lies that would rule us are already among us, and you are going to see them showcased as truth more and more blatantly in the days to come, on the TV, in the news, in ads and interviews and movies. Not only Islamic Imams, priests, of the false god Allah would have us believe that Allah and Jehovah God are one and the same, we are seeing more and more people who claim to be ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ giving credence to this false idea. If you know anything at all of the Book of Revelation, this idea has the very scent of hell about it.

Revelation, chapters 17 and 18 document the rise and fall of one world religion, one world government. Those who neither know nor understand truth will likely be caught up in the religiosity of it all, and forfeit eternal life through their ignorance.

Now, there are also those who read, hear, skip across scripture just enough to lead themselves astray. So there is some question about whether or not the Church, the Bride of Christ, will go through this period of Tribulation described in the Book of Revelation. The letters to the seven churches make it plain the church will not, but here's the rub. I suggest that all of the church today is not necessarily covered by that promise. In other words, all that claims to be Christian today is not of the true church. This is suggested in the Revelation letter to the church in Thyatira in Chapter 2, and in Chapters 17 and 18, beginning with the first six verses of Chapter 17.

It is my urgent hope that if there are any here who still believe it is not important to understand the truth of scripture, just this bit of enlightenment will disabuse you of that notion. God has given us the information He knows we need to get through this age safely. We ignore it at our peril.

Jesus has told us there will be many who will claim to be the Messiah, many who will claim to have truth, claim to lead us to God. If we do not know the truth, how do we separate the truth from the lie?

All throughout life we will find it is so much easier to be ruled by the lie than to struggle with the truth. The lie will seem so much easier to live with, look better, taste better, feel better, meet with so much less resistance than the truth, have so many more supporters, and cost less.

Please, pray frequently, fervently, and faithfully that you might know the truth.

For here is the truth of the matter. The lie is a sin. And sin will take us further away from God, keep us so much longer, and cost us more than we ever intended. But if we do not know the truth, how shall we know the lie?

Amen.

Morning Worship Services for September 19, 2010

Invocation

Almighty God, You who created me and called me to Yourself, pour out Your Holy Spirit on me today so that I may be a wise steward of these precious gifts. In the name and spirit of Christ. Amen.

Read Psalm 3

Sermon for Sunday, September 19, 2010: "The Truth, or the Lie?"
Scripture: 1st Timothy 2:1-7

Prayers for the church of Christ, for others, for yourself.

Hymn: "Draw Thou My Soul, O Christ"

Lucy Larcom, 1872
Copyright: Public Domain

Scripture: John 12:32

Draw Thou my soul, O Christ, closer to Thine;
Breathe into every wish Thy will divine;
Raised my low self above, won by Thy deathless love,
Ever, O Christ, through mine let Thy life shine.

Lead forth my soul, O Christ, one with Thine own,
Joyful to follow Thee through paths unknown;
In Thee my strength renew; give me Thy work to do;
Through me Thy truth be shown, Thy love made known.

Not for myself alone may my prayer be;
Lift Thou Thy world, O Christ, closer to Thee;
Cleanse it from guilt and wrong; teach it salvation’s song
Till earth, as Heaven, fulfills God’s holy will.

Benediction

Go forth now as God's servant. Remember God's presence often and draw strength from the knowledge that the One who calls and sends also sustains. Amen.
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Daily Scripture Readings for September 19-26, 2010
Monday -- 1st Kings 17
Tuesday -- Luke 12:1-21
Wednesday -- Luke 12:22-32
Thursday -- 1st Timothy 6:1-19
Friday -- 2nd Corinthians 10:1-18

Saturday -- Philippians 4:10-19
Sunday -- Joel 2:23-30, Psalm 107:1, 33-43; 1st Timothy 6:6-19; Luke 16:19-31

University of Kentucky: No Holocaust

This week the University of Kentucky removed The Holocaust from its school curriculum because it "offended" the Muslim population, which claims it never occurred. This is a frightening portent of the fear that is gripping the world and how easily each country is giving into it. It is now more than 60 years since the Second World War in Europe ended.

This is being sent as a memorial chain, in memory of the six million Jews, 20 million Russians, 10 million Christians and 1,900 Catholic priests who were murdered, massacred, raped, burned, starved and humiliated with the German and Russian peoples looking the other way!

Now more than ever, with Iran among others claiming the Holocaust to be "a myth," it is imperative to make sure the world never forgets.

This is intended to reach 40 million people worldwide! Join us and be a link in the memorial chain and help us distribute it around the world. Please send this email to 10 people you know and ask them to continue the memorial chain.

Please don't just delete it. It will only take you a minute to pass this along.

The UK invoking PC as the reason for placating complaints from this politically active Islamic group can annul the truth, silencing history, muzzling the cries of the innocents down through the centuries. Count on it, one day they will say the same thing about Sept. 11, 2001.

I know it's a lot to ask for in these tough times, but I'd like to see either a lot of letters from parents of students about the altered curriculum, or a lot of students voting with their feet in the cause of freedom and liberty, for ultimately, that is what it is about. UK is only doing it because they can, and feel no sense of responsibility to their students.

God Can Be A Bear, by Pastor Ed Evans

Sermon for Sept. 12, 2010 posted Christian Church Online

Scripture: Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28

4:11 At that time it will be said to this people and to Jerusalem: A hot wind comes from Me out of the bare heights in the desert toward My poor people, not to winnow or cleanse --
4:12 a wind too strong for that. Now it is I who speak in judgment against them.
4:22 "For My people are foolish, they do not know Me; they are stupid children, they have no understanding. They are skilled in doing evil, but do not know how to do good."
4:23 I looked on the earth, and lo, it was waste and void; and to the heavens, and they had no light.
4:24 I looked on the mountains, and lo, they were quaking, and all the hills moved to and fro.
4:25 I looked, and lo, there was no one at all, and all the birds of the air had fled.
4:26 I looked, and lo, the fruitful land was a desert, and all its cities were laid in ruins before the Lord, before His fierce anger.
4:27 For thus says the Lord: The whole land shall be a desolation; yet I will not make a full end.
4:28 Because of this the earth shall mourn, and the heavens above grow black; for I have spoken, I have purposed; I have not relented nor will I turn back.

There is a story about two friends, Billy and Tommy, out hiking in the deep woods. Suddenly the two men come upon a bear. The surprised bear suddenly rears on its hind legs and the bear is bigger than either of them. It growls menacingly and swipes one great claw at them.

Billy looks at Tommy and says, "You're wearing hiking boots. Too bad, dude. I'm wearing running shoes."

Tommy looks at Billy and says, "Forget it, you're not going to outrun that bear."

Billy shakes his head, says, "I don't have to outrun the bear, dude. I just have to outrun you."

I'm wondering this morning if you have paid attention to the news lately and begun to put two and two together. Horrible flooding in countries all over the globe, devastating hurricanes, ravaging fires, the recent poisoning of the Gulf of Mexico with raw petroleum, increased murders and crime along our southern borders, and the very latest, a gas explosion in California that killed six and wiped out an entire neighborhood in the resulting inferno. And all this while we are mourning the death of 2,996 souls on Sept. 11th, 2001. Why is all this happening even as the nation is sliding deeper into a financial depression, families are losing their jobs and homes, and the nation is under attack from radical Islamists who see us as "the Great Satan"?

Well, let's see. This is the country settled initially by those seeking freedom to worship as they chose, not as the government required; the Christian Bible was one of the first texts recommended for all schools; in Washington, D.C., the Capitol Rotunda was for many years used as a site for worship services by four different Christian churches, and worship there was first initiated by President Thomas Jefferson. We also have a U.S. Constitution which guarantees us certain "God-given" rights.

And yet, Christian prayer is forbidden in our public schools today, the Bible is not allowed in most schools, the public celebration of Christian holidays is not allowed on most public property and in many schools, lawsuits regularly stop Christian invocations at public meetings, luncheons, even sporting events. We have a President who has not attended a Christian church worship service during his two years in office, he has on two occasions refused to support National Prayer Day events as did the two previous Presidents, and instead has held at least two public Islamic prayer events at the White House, as well as celebrating the major Islamic holiday of Ramadan at the White House, which this year coincided with Sept. 11th, America's 911 day of mourning.

Contrary to past history, you will have a hard time finding a Gideon Bible in your hotel room these days. More hotel chains are refusing the free offer of Bibles placed in their hotel rooms for the visitor's use.

Even in polite society today, you hear God's name used often, but rarely as a blessing, most often as part of some swearing oath. Respect for the name of God, and for His son Jesus Christ, is disappearing. Sometimes you just want to speak up and remind some people that God's last name is not Damn.

However, while many in this nation have turned their back on America's first love, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob has not changed. His love for His creation has not changed, His promises are firm, and His requirements are rock solid.

Some have said it appears this nation is under judgment by the God of the universe. But God does not have to work up plagues and natural disasters and enemies against America. All He need do is remove His protecting arm. All God need do is listen to those who want nothing to do with Him, want His inspired written word out of schools and other public places, want His celebrations and remembrances ignored.

After all, we are currently being inundated with false gods and idols in this country. And I'm not even talking about the false gods of Islam, Buddhism, or Hinduism. Although some today would like to ignore it, the founders of this nation set us forward on a Christian foundation, evidence of which historians and researchers have found in abundance. And yet many, many people today pervert the right of freedom of religion to mean freedom "from" religion. They would ignore God even as God does not ignore them, their choices, or their eternal future.

The inspired word of God wisely tells us in both Matthew 6:21 and Luke 12:34 that where your treasure is, there will your heart be, also. If "worship" is defined as the act of being devoted to something, you must admit we are surrounded by idols, by "little gods" that we worship, to which we are devoted. There is everything from sports idols to music idols to cars, houses, wide-screen TVs, clothes, tools, you name it. Where do you spend your money? Why does the waitress get 20% while the work of God gets only 10%?

Where do you spend all your money, your treasure? That's where your heart is.

So it is no surprise that when events happen that offend us, where we feel redress is needed, turning to God is often not our first answer.

Nearly everyone in America, and most around the world now, know of the plans to build a mosque near the 911 Ground Zero site, of the Christian Pastor's plans to burn a stack of Islamic Qur'an books, of plans to build new mosques in neighborhoods close to us, and the presence of existing mosques -- 1,462 and growing -- already spread across America.

Coupled with the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, and battles against the Islamic Taliban and al Qaeda in Iraq and Afghanistan, deadly Islamic-led terrorist attacks around the world, the issues of mosques, the Qur'an and Muslims themselves have become hot topics in America, triggering calls for action on many levels. Many call for political, legal, and even violent action. Many of those levels are also disturbing. They are disturbing if for no other reason than that they claim the cause of Christ as their right to call for violence.

To return to both the opening scripture and my opening story, when we don't pay attention, when we don't act out of knowledge and devotion, when we ignore the God who says He is truth and love, God can be a bear.

We in this nation are facing a bear of a time, and like the young man in the story, too many of us are ready to throw others under the bus to save ourselves. If we understood God better we would know what He means in Hosea 6:6 when, in a different context He says, "For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings." That is clarified for us in Matthew 9:13, " But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners;" and in Matthew 12:7, "If you had known what these words mean, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the innocent."

After almost a lifetime of study, I will be among the first to say that it is difficult for our finite mind to understand the infinite God, to know exactly who He is and to know exactly what He requires of us at any given moment. For life changes, changes moment to moment, what didn't matter a moment ago is foremost suddenly. What worked yesterday is useless today. Only God does not change. Only His precepts, His Word, His promises, do not change.

But if we, ignoring Biblical admonitions such as "study to show yourself approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth," from 2nd Timothy 2:15, if we go off half-cocked, launching out on what we think God would want, what meets our rendition of revenge, retribution or human justice, we should not expect to be greeted with His approval.

He is God. It is about Him, not about what we think it should be about.

Listen to the prophet Jeremiah's words from God to His people in verse 4:22, "For My people are foolish, they do not know Me; they are stupid children, they have no understanding. They are skilled in doing evil, but do not know how to do good."

Jeremiah was talking to the Israelites, but he might have been appearing on the 6 o'clock news last night, talking to us. How we use the resources He has given us, how we behave, how we serve our self first and ignore our neighbor, is foolish. And we don't know Him, not like we should. Even with the presence of the promised Holy Spirit, most of us are about one-inch deep in knowledge of the Almighty God and, because of that, we lack understanding. We would rather give money so someone else can get their hands dirty doing good, than extend ourselves and interrupt our own lives.

So, again, it is no surprise that when events happen that offend us, or that threaten us, turning to God is often not our first answer. We already know all the answers, we just don't want any new questions.

But let me suggest to you, God already knows not only all the answers, but all the questions.

Since I began with a bear story, let me conclude with one.

Another hiker, all by himself, rounds a blind corner in the trail and comes face to face with the largest, most dangerous bear he has ever seen. Too late to run, he drops to his knees and begins to pray to God for mercy. From the heavens comes the voice of God, "What is this? All your life you are an atheist, telling the world I don't exist? And now you want me to destroy this creature to save your life?"

"Oh, please, God," the man begged, "I will believe in You, honest. But if you can't destroy this bear to save my life, at least make the bear a believer, too."

"Done," said God.

The man sighed with relief, then looked up to see the bear on his knees, his paws together in prayer, saying, "Father, we thank Thee for this food we are about to receive."

So I suggest we get to know the Almighty God better, understand who He is and by so doing, better understand both who we are and what He wants from us. To give a twist to the classical ending, if God is the bear, the chances of you getting the bear? Zip. The chances of the bear getting you, solid.

Amen.

Daily Scripture Readings for September 12-18, 2010
Monday -- Ecclesiastes 9:13-18
Tuesday -- 1st Kings 3:3-28
Wednesday -- James 3:13-18
Thursday -- Ephesians 3:1-20
Friday -- 2nd Corinthians 6:1-10

Saturday -- 1st Corinthians 4:1-13
Sunday -- Hosea 11:1-11 Psalm 107:11-9; 1st Timothy 2:1-7; Luke 16:1-13