The heart of the king

        They say there are two things you should never talk about...Politics and Religion. Who are "they" anyway?  Politicians are governed or ruled by our sovereign God and true religion is believing in the Lord Jesus Christ. Sure there are a lot of religions out there, but the only true religion is belief in Christ.  I was in the habit of listening to the local talk radio station. I thought it good to keep informed of what all was going on in the world.  Not so much any more. The folks who host most of the shows on conservative talk radio, though claiming to know God, show little knowledge of God. They get all worked up about our current administration and how awful things are and how if we don't act now our country will fall apart. They don't see the bigger picture. 

        First of all, how did our current President, Barack Obama, rise to that position? Was it because the majority of Americans wanted a change? Or was there another reason? 

"Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings..."   (Daniel 2:20-21) 

"For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another." (Psalm 75:6-7) 

"...that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will..." (Daniel 4:17) 

        Yes, Americans did vote to put Mr. Obama in the White House, but in reality, God used American voters to accomplish His purpose. The problem is few people really understand that...and is that really a problem?  God will accomplish His purpose no matter what man does or doesn't do. 

"And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth  according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, what doest thou?" (Daniel 4:35) 

         Like it or not, Mr. Obama is the man who God set up to be the President of the United States of America. Whether we like his policies or not, we are still to show him honor (1 Peter 2:17, Romans 13:1-7, Titus 3:1-2).   However, we live in a nation of filthy dreamers who defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities...just watch TV.  I'm sad to see the direction our nation is going. It is so far from where it started. We have enjoyed the blessings of God for many years, but have turned our back on Him, as a nation. Yet, people still cry, "God Bless America!"   

         I hate to tell you this, but...  "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and the nations that forget God." (Psalm 9:17) 

        The Bible says, "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord..." (Psalm 33:12). The problem is America is no longer a Christian nation (according to words of our President).  There is no fear of God before our eyes. We need to stop asking for God to bless America...we need to start asking God to forgive our sins and have mercy on us... 

"O, LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy." (Habakkuk 3:2) 

        Now there's a prayer for the United States of America today...In wrath remember mercy, or God have mercy on America. 

        Some blame our economic woes on the direction that our current administration is taking us. Tell me, Mr. Conservative Radio Talk Show Host, have you ever considered the word of God? 

"The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will." (Proverbs 21:1)         

        In the same way that the rivers are in the hand of the Lord and He turns them in the direction He pleases, so the heart of our President is in the hand of the Lord and He turns him in the direction He pleases. Why is our current administration turning its back on our allies, especially the nation of Israel? I can tell you why... 

        ...It is because God is sovereign and doeth according to His will. God can and does use the sinfulness of man to accomplish His divine will. 

         Explain to me why a king from Persia (Artaxerxes)  even cared about Israel, Jerusalem or anything in it?  And yet, he sent his cupbearer (Nehemiah) and a scribe (Ezra) who were Jewish back to Jerusalem to repair and rebuild the city. Read the books of Ezra and Nehemiah in the Bible. I like what Ezra wrote... 

"Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem:" (Ezra 7:27) 

        I fear for our nation. I am saddened by where I see it going. I am brokenhearted that our current administration is turning our nation against Israel. Our President has forgotten...or never really knew God's promise to Israel that He would bless those that blessed Israel and would curse those that cursed Israel (Genesis 27:29). Our nation is crumbling around us, but take heart! The same sovereign God who created all things is the same sovereign God who is working all things out after the counsel of His own will. 

"Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it." (Isaiah 46:9-11) 

        It is my responsibility to vote, and I do. I am responsible to keep informed and I am. Though I would love to see my United States of America repent and turn back to God and be a strong nation that follows hard after Him, I'm not going to hold my breath. I am not worried if our nation doesn't because I know Who ultimately is working everything out after the counsel of His will...God is. To complain about our administration is to complain about how God is carrying out His will which was decreed before Genesis 1:1 ...and none can stop Him or say unto Him, "What are you doing?!" 

My prayer for our country... "Thou, O LORD, remainest for ever; thy throne from generation to generation. Wherefore dost thou forget us for ever, and forsake us so long time? Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old." (Lamentations 5:19-21)       ..."nevertheless not my will, but thine be done ." 

To my children I say, "Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." (Isaiah 55:6-7) 

...and, "Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength." (Isaiah 26:4).

Father's Day...a whole new experience

        When I was growing up, Father's Day meant one thing...searching for the perfect tie for Dad. Oh yeah, there was making him a home made card and telling him how much I loved him. Now I'm grown up and have children of my own. Father's Day is a whole new experience. The honor and respect I have for my father has only grown. I didn't really know what all he did for us or how much we meant to him. Sure, he told us he loved us and showed it, but I didn't really understand that love until I had children of my own. Now I know. I know about the prayers he prayed for my soul. I know about the countless sacrifices he made for our family. I know the love he had and still has for us. 
      
      Now that I'm a dad, Father's Day has a dual meaning for me. First, I honor my father and consider all he did for our family. He prayed for us. He taught us from the word of God. He provided a living for us. He worked a full time job and put himself through seminary while still finding time to spend with us. He put three boys through college. He taught us how to love our wives by the example he set loving Mom. I think about these things on Father's Day.  Second, I am reminded that as a father myself, I have great responsibilities to raise my children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, just as my dad raised us. As a father, I have been given a most precious gift and an awesome responsibility. 

"Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. 
Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them..."
Psalm 127:3-5 

        If I don't take time and remember the example set by my own father, I will surely forget those things necessary to raise my own children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. 

"Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou

 forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they

 depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them 

thy sons, and thy sons' sons;"
Deuteronomy 4:9

        Though this is written to Israel, there is a principle that applies to all believers...especially believers who are fathers. We are to teach our children of the Lord. 

"The LORD our God is one LORD: 
And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul,

 and with all thy might. And these words,  which I command thee this day, 

shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children,

 and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when 

thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 

And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall 

be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them 

upon the posts of they house, and on thy gates."
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 

        As a Christian father, I am commanded to keep the words of God in my heart and  teach them to my children. By His grace, I fully intend to do just that so my children will know them and teach them to their children. 

  "We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. 

 For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: 

That the generation to come might know them, even the children which 

should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: 

That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works

 of God, but keep his commandments:" 

Psalm 78:4-7 

     Father's day is a whole new experience for me now. It is a double blessing in that I have the privilege of honoring my father as well as being reminded of my responsibility to teach my children of the Lord. 


     Thank you, Dad, for your faithfulness to our Lord in teaching us of Him and being the best example you could be. May I be found faithful in teaching my children the same.

Come and hear

        In Mark 5 there is an account recorded of a man who was possessed by a legion of demons. The Lord Jesus Christ had compassion on that man and cast the many demons out of him. As Christ was leaving, the man asked the Lord if he could go with him... 

 "Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath compassion on thee." 
 Mark 5:19

        The Lord didn't allow him to go along, but told him to go to his friends and tell them of all the Lord had done for him and how He had compassion on him.  The Lord hasn't called all of us into the ministry. By that I mean, He did not call all believers to be pastors, or teachers, or hymn writers, or singers...the list could go on and on. Though all believers are not called to a pastoral ministry, we all have been sent by Him to preach the good news of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Jesus didn't tell this man to go and study the word of God and come up with a 3 point sermon and preach it following certain oratory guidelines. He simply said, "Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath compassion on thee."  All we need to do is tell those whom the Lord puts us in contact with about all He has done for our souls. 

  "Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul. "  Psalm 66:16

        Twenty-eight years ago this month, the Lord Jesus Christ saved my soul. I grew up in a Christian home. As a family, we faithfully attended church...kind of necessary seeing as how Dad was the pastor. Even before the Lord called my father to be a pastor, we were faithful to the house of the Lord. Around the age of 9, I remember my parents one evening, sitting down alone with me and sharing the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.  I remember agreeing with what they shared, after all, I had heard the gospel for as long as I could remember. I remember that night, alone in the quietness of my room, saying the "sinner's prayer," but nothing changed.  Several months passed and there was no difference in my life. I celebrated my 10th birthday and yet, my soul was still dead in trespasses and sins.  A month later, on June 26, 1983, something did happen. As my father was preaching, something came over me. I can't explain it. I just knew for the first time that I needed Christ and I wanted Christ. I could feel myself being drawn to Him as if He had tied a rope around my waist and was pulling me to Himself... 

"The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee." Jeremiah 31:3

        ...with loving kindness He drew me. At the time, there was so much I didn't understand. In the 28 years since, the Lord has opened my understanding to see what He did that day. Come and hear...and I will declare what He hath done for my soul.         First of all, He opened my eyes to see my sin.  He showed me that I was totally affected by sin. There was not one area of my life that had not been tainted by sin. Sure, I wasn't as wicked as I could have been, but I still was infected with sin. There was nothing good in me. Everything I did, though it appeared good, was sinful because my motive for doing it was wrong. My motive was wrong because my heart was wrong. My heart was full of sin. My heart was deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. 
        He showed me that payment for my sin was death. God is a Holy God who finds no pleasure in wickedness; neither will evil live with Him. The just reward for my sin was eternal separation from God, suffering His wrath. That is what I deserved, and yet, He had mercy on me and opened my eyes to see this truth. Not everyone understands that they are sinners and that their sin is against God. They don't understand that God's justice demands  payment  to be made for their sins. 
        He opened my eyes to see that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to this earth, became a man, lived a sinless life and gave His life freely so that my sins would be paid for.  I don't know why He paid the price for my sins, other than the simple truth it pleased Him. He became my sin...He took my sin upon Himself and He suffered the full wrath of God for me. He died for my sins almost 2000 years before He drew me to Himself. God saw the travail or pain of Christ's soul and was satisfied. That was the only thing that would satisfy a Holy God. When I understood that, I cried out to him much like the publican found in Luke 18. "God be merciful to me a sinner." 
        I understood my sin. I saw myself as I was in the presence of a Holy God. I agreed with what the Bible said... I was a sinner. I deserved His eternal wrath.  I cried for mercy. I confessed my sins to Him and He was faithful and just to cleanse me from all my sin. Jesus Christ saved me from the wrath of God that day. I fully trusted in what He did for me. I believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and I was saved.  Not only did He save me, but He sealed my salvation with His own Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit of the living God came and made His home within me that day. I could go on and on declaring to you what all the Lord has done for my soul. In the Bible, a good description of what God did for my soul can be read about in Ephesians 2:1-10. The wonderful thing is He doesn't just leave us there. He continually teaches us and helps us to grow in our knowledge of Him.  He which began a good work in us will continue that good work, or mature us until the day when He comes again. 
        I thank the Lord for the gift of salvation He gave to me. Because of His gift, I now have peace with God and experience the peace of God. To Him be glory, both now and forever!

Seest thou a man diligent in his business?

        One thing that was instilled in me by my father was to be diligent in everything I did.  I'm sure while I was growing up, he often wondered if I ever paid attention. Well, Dad, I did. The book of Proverbs has much to say concerning the contrast between being diligent and being slothful or lazy. Diligence is defined by Noah Webster as: Steady application in business of any kind; constant effort to accomplish what is undertaken; exertion of body or mind without unnecessary delay or sloth; due attention; industry; assiduity.

        Hmmm...steady application, constant effort, exertion without unnecessary delay. So that's what diligence is?!

          It is interesting that Proverbs 22:28 says, "Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set."  Being diligent is a landmark and one that was set by our forefathers. Solomon, King of Israel, encouraged his children to be diligent. My father encouraged me to be diligent. He taught me to work hard, finish the task at hand and play only when all the work was done. I remember in High School and College, most of my peers would be outside playing around while I was inside studying. Later, they would be stressed out, cramming at the last minute to complete an assignment or study for a test, while I was outside playing around, having already finished. 

        Just as my father taught me to be diligent, I strive to teach my children the same thing. My dad didn't just speak of diligence, he lived it out in his life and still does. He is one of the most diligent men I know. Diligence is one of many landmarks that mark the boundary of Christianity. Many a believer has crossed the boundary over into the field of the slothful. May I never remove that landmark. May I be faithful to teach my children to be diligent as my father taught me.         I came across an article and thought it was interesting. The CEO of 3M is no doubt a man of diligence. He has to be. No one could rise to the top of a major global corporation like 3M without being diligent. As I read the article I was reminded of Proverbs 22:29. 

"Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before

 kings; he shall not stand before mean men."

 Proverbs 22:29 

                                  ---------------------------------------------------

3M CEO George Buckley Receives Knighthood

Buckley honored for services to industry

George Buckley, chairman of the board, president and CEO, was named a Knight Bachelor in the Queen’s Birthday Honors List. The announcement was made in a press release issued by the British Consulate-General, Chicago. In response, British Consul General Robert Chatterton Dickson said, “As chairman of the board, president and CEO of 3M, Dr. Buckley, now Sir George, has been a leader in the American and Midwestern business community for decades. Throughout his career he has maintained close ties to the UK and a commitment to educating future generations, as exemplified by his involvement with the University of Huddersfield. Sir George represents excellence in business and learning. I congratulate him on receiving the high honor of a knighthood.” Upon learning of the honor, Sir George said, “I am so humbled to hear that I would be honored in this way and never imagined such a thing could ever happen to me. I am immensely grateful to all the wonderful teachers, colleagues and friends who helped me so much in my life and made it what it ultimately became.”                                      ------------------------------------------------------                I may never stand before the Queen of England and receive Knighthood. I may never stand before the President of the United States and receive a Congressional Medal of Honor. One day, however, I will stand before the Lord Jesus Christ, the King of Glory and when I do, I long to hear the words, "Well done thou good and faithful servant." "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." Proverbs 4:23

One of those days

          Today at work a coworker went into the office next to mine. He was asked how his day was going. His reply, "I could tell when I came in this morning it was going to be one of those days."  "One of those days..."  What comes to mind when you hear that phrase? For me, I used to think "one of those days" meant one filled with misery...a day when all the world was against me. If something could go wrong it would. "Momma said there would be days like this...she just didn't say they would be so close together."  These phrases almost always bring with them a feeling of hopelessness. 
          Then on "one of those days," it was pointed out to me some truths that I had overlooked in the Word of God. Truths like, "This is the day that the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it"(Psalm 118:24). "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose"(Romans 8:28). The Lord patiently and kindly taught me that He is in control of the type of day I have. He is the One who makes every day and whatever happens in it is designed for His glory and for my good. No matter what type of day it is, whether it is hard or easy it is working together for my good. The Lord loves His own and is not out to make us miserable. He wants what is best for us. Because of that, I can rejoice and be glad in whatever kind of day I am having. Selah.  

Hear the instruction of thy father...

     This blog is dedicated to my wife Sarah and our four precious children Mikayla, Joseph, Jadon and soon to be born, Emmie. The Lord has so graciously and kindly blessed me in placing them under my stewardship. I want this blog to be something that in time they can read and gain a little wisdom...not the wisdom of man, but wisdom that is from above. The greatest thing a father can do for his children or a husband can do for wife is to share with them what the Lord has taught him through the Word of God. Just as the needle in a compass always points North, may I always point my family in the direction of Christ.        Solomon, king of Israel was the wisest man to live apart from Christ. He was the son of King David (a man after God's own heart) and wrote the book of Proverbs to his children. So, I will be posting in this blog as a way to pass on the godly heritage to my children that was passed on to me by my father and mother. 
     My sons and my daughters... "hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother" (Proverbs 1:8).  My desire as your father is to raise you in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. May the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ have mercy on your souls, quicken your spirits, draw you unto Himself, convict you of your sin, give you the gifts of repentance and faith, and save you when you cry out to Him to be merciful to you the sinner. That is my prayer for each one you as your father. 
     My children, "if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea if thou criest after knowledge , and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God" (Proverbs 2:1-5).        
     Children, true wisdom can only be found in the Lord. "For the Lord giveth wisdom; out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding" (Proverbs 2:6). If you ever find yourselves in a situation where you don't know what to do...seek the wisdom of God. Ask Him... "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him" (James 1:5). 
     The knowledge and understanding of the Lord can be found in the Holy Bible...the Word of God. As you grow up and learn to read, make the Bible the book you read the most. I love you. I promise you that I will do my best to teach you about the Lord. Each one of you are the greatest gifts God has given to me. May I be found to be a faithful steward of God's heritage. I love you and will love you forever. 
     My dear wife...Eleven years ago, the Lord gave to me that for which I had long prayed...YOU! You are the love of my life and the greatest blessing I have been given, second only to my salvation by His grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. In you, I have found a good thing and have obtained the favor of the Lord. As I pause to watch you, I am amazed by your beauty and God's divine influence upon your heart and the reflection of it in your life. I thank our Lord for every day I have been blessed to be your husband. I entered into a covenant with you eleven years ago...I promised you then and I still hold to that promise that I will endeavor to love you "even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it; that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word" (Ephesians 5:25-26). Thank you for the best eleven years of my life! I love you!