Did you ever think a frog could teach a person about compromise? It’s true. Frogs are similar to people with how they accept small changes to their environment without feeling the need to do something about it. In fact, you may even cook a frog with its permission.
A person may take a frog and place it into a pan of room temperature water and the frog will be satisfied. If the temperature is increased gradually, the frog will stay in the water until the water boils and it is cooked. If a frog were thrown into boiling water it would protest violently. The trick is to make slight changes to the water temperature over time.
There are many ways this illustration parallels our lives. We live in a world of change and change is a necessary part of life. Change is not always bad but there are changes that will lead to a more blessed life, and changes that will lead to disaster. Blessing or disaster will depend on the choices we make and what we choose to resist.
Sometimes we do not realize the distance we have drifted off course until someone shows us where that path is going.
We know the world is moving down the path toward one-world government. This future government will have one leader, a president of the World, you might say. This future government will be in complete control so that no man may buy or sell anything without governmental approval. We know these things by what we read in the Bible.
The last part of Revelation 13:3 says, “And all the world marveled and followed the beast.”
The whole world will follow this one world ruler. In the same chapter, verses 7 and 8 says,
“It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”
The one world ruler will make war against the Christians. Christians will be counted as if they were terrorists and killed. The unsaved people will worship the one world ruler and wonder why the Christians do not.
Revelation 13:16-17 says, “He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.”
This event will seem normal. Anyone refusing the mark will be severely punished and eventually killed.
In this not too future world, there will be no private property. The government will own all property and will regulate its use. There will have to be a central bank controlled by the government. Transportation will also be government controlled as well as farms and factories. A government like this will not come cheap. There will be a heavy tax placed upon the people with the wealthier people paying a greater percent of the tax.
Does this world of the future seem vastly different from the time where we now live? Would it surprise you to know this world of the future was being planned from before 1848? In 1848 Karl Marx wrote “The Communist Manifesto” and it was translated into English and edited by Friedrich Engels in 1888. This Communist Manifesto had 10 steps to make any country truly communist.
These ten steps are:
1. Abolition of privately owned real estate and all rent of the land goes to public purposes.
(Our current system of property taxation requires the owner to pay the government rent (taxes) to "own" the property. Don’t pay your rent and you will be evicted from your own land.)
2. A heavy progressive or graduated income tax. (We are heavily taxed now.)
3. Abolition of all right of inheritance. (Currently, we double tax someone's inheritance, once when the giver makes it, (income tax) and once more when we receive it. (inheritance tax))
4. Confiscation of the property of all emigrants and rebels. (Emigrants currently do not have property confiscated, but anyone considered a rebel does. In some states you may have cash and property seized by the police, without a trial, and without a conviction, if there is a suspicion of a drug related crime.)
5. Centralization of credit in the hands of the state by means of a national bank with State capital and an exclusive monopoly. (The Federal Reserve Bank is currently privately owned but notice how this almost directly quotes the Bible.)
6. Centralization of communication and transportation in the hands of the State. (We are not there yet, but again notice how this is foretold by Scripture.)
7. Increase the number of factories owned by the State and make a government plan for the improvement of the soil and wastelands. (We do not have government owned factories but we have given our National Parks to the government of the United Nations to protect and oversee.)
8. Equal liability of all to labor. Establishment of industrial and agricultural armies. (Ever heard of OSHA or the EPA? These are the government enforcement arms inside the industrial and agricultural fields.)
9. Combine agriculture with industry. Gradual abolition of distinction between town and country, by a more equitable distribution of the population. (Ever heard of the suburbs? Suburbs spread the population more into the country.)
10. Free education for all children in public schools. (Currently public school education is not mandatory for every child, praise God. Private schools and home schools are still allowed to exist, but there seems to be more and more restrictions every year. There will be a time when only public government schools will have the permission (certification) to teach.)
Do you feel threatened by the way America is going and the coming one world government? Did you realize how close we are to it? These events should make you rejoice to know, the Lord will soon arrive.
When you are at work, and working hard at what you are paid to do, it is not a problem for the boss to come around and watch you. If you are slacking when the boss comes, you will be embarrassed. We are responsible to do what Christ has commanded in a way that brings Him honor and glory. We need to be always ready because we don't know when our Master will return.
Saturday, June 24, 2006
What is the Cost of a Casino?
Wow, God is not finished with America yet! We won major victories recently: Book of Daniel is off the air! The local man breaking into churches was captured and is in jail! Judge Alito was confirmed to the Supreme Court! The President Casino is still in bankruptcy and has been for over 3 years. The city of St. Louis has made parking prices increase around the casino from under $2.00 to nearly $25.00. The President Casino’s revenues are continuing to decline. If we don’t go – they can’t get our money.
There is much that has been done and much to celebrate, but the work is not finished yet. Pinnacle Casinos still have plans to build 3 more casinos in the St. Louis metro area. Their River City casino complex will be built in our own back yard. These are the same guys that have been found repeatedly guilty of flying prostitutes in from other states to “entertain” rich gamblers. Watch for their golf tournaments because these events are used to cover many illegal and godless activities.
What does gambling cost us? In fiscal year 2002 Missouri residents gambled and lost $1,212,125,485 to the casinos. That’s 1 BILLION, 212 MILLION dollars. Imagine if that money was placed into the rescue missions, homeless shelters, free clinics, and schools. Just the tithe on that money would be over 121 MILLION dollars.
Calculating a 20% state tax on that money, the casinos paid $242,425,097 to the state. That is a lot of tax money just from gambling, but what was the social cost to the state?
According to a university study (details available upon request) the cost for each pathological gambler is $13,586. That does not sound like much until you look at the whole picture. The population in our state at that time was 3,997,000 people. The pathological gambler rate is 1.5% of the population. That means, that same year (2002), there were 59,586 pathological gamblers the state was servicing. Multiply 13,586 dollars for each of the 59,586 pathological gamblers, you find the state of Missouri used $814,548,630 to treat the effects of their gambling addiction.
Remember how much the casinos paid in taxes? ($242,425,097) Compare that to what it cost the state to service only the pathological gamblers ($814,548,630). That means the casinos cost the state of Missouri $572,123,533. Add that number to the actual money lost by Missouri citizens at the casinos ($1,212,125,485) and you get a better picture of the cost of the casinos ($1,784,249,018).
Is it worth it? 1 BILLION, 784 MILLION dollars missing from our economy? This number does not reflect the spiritual and moral cost we pay for allowing this sin to continue.
Please visit the bulletin board outside the church office and see which county council members voted for the casinos. These council members voted against the majority of the population, although the majority of the population voiced strong opposition to the casinos. Let’s not forget to “reward” these council members when it comes time to vote. Your vote does make a difference.
In First Timothy 6:8-11 the Bible says:
And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.
Our state motto is: “The welfare of the people shall be the supreme law.” Is it?
There is much that has been done and much to celebrate, but the work is not finished yet. Pinnacle Casinos still have plans to build 3 more casinos in the St. Louis metro area. Their River City casino complex will be built in our own back yard. These are the same guys that have been found repeatedly guilty of flying prostitutes in from other states to “entertain” rich gamblers. Watch for their golf tournaments because these events are used to cover many illegal and godless activities.
What does gambling cost us? In fiscal year 2002 Missouri residents gambled and lost $1,212,125,485 to the casinos. That’s 1 BILLION, 212 MILLION dollars. Imagine if that money was placed into the rescue missions, homeless shelters, free clinics, and schools. Just the tithe on that money would be over 121 MILLION dollars.
Calculating a 20% state tax on that money, the casinos paid $242,425,097 to the state. That is a lot of tax money just from gambling, but what was the social cost to the state?
According to a university study (details available upon request) the cost for each pathological gambler is $13,586. That does not sound like much until you look at the whole picture. The population in our state at that time was 3,997,000 people. The pathological gambler rate is 1.5% of the population. That means, that same year (2002), there were 59,586 pathological gamblers the state was servicing. Multiply 13,586 dollars for each of the 59,586 pathological gamblers, you find the state of Missouri used $814,548,630 to treat the effects of their gambling addiction.
Remember how much the casinos paid in taxes? ($242,425,097) Compare that to what it cost the state to service only the pathological gamblers ($814,548,630). That means the casinos cost the state of Missouri $572,123,533. Add that number to the actual money lost by Missouri citizens at the casinos ($1,212,125,485) and you get a better picture of the cost of the casinos ($1,784,249,018).
Is it worth it? 1 BILLION, 784 MILLION dollars missing from our economy? This number does not reflect the spiritual and moral cost we pay for allowing this sin to continue.
Please visit the bulletin board outside the church office and see which county council members voted for the casinos. These council members voted against the majority of the population, although the majority of the population voiced strong opposition to the casinos. Let’s not forget to “reward” these council members when it comes time to vote. Your vote does make a difference.
In First Timothy 6:8-11 the Bible says:
And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.
Our state motto is: “The welfare of the people shall be the supreme law.” Is it?
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
What about Gambling?
"For years, our economy has depended almost exclusively on tourism and gaming [gambling], rather than by exporting goods and services. Three out of every four of our tax dollars are collected from sales and gaming taxes; taxes vulnerable to swings in the economy. … Implicit in this tax strategy was a belief that the revenues from gaming and tourism could keep pace with our growing and diverse population. Unfortunately, this strategy has failed. … My fellow Nevadans, the lesson from the last 20 years is clear; our revenue system is broken because it has relied on regressive and unstable taxes [from gambling]."
2003 State of the State Address, Gov. Kenny Guinn, Nevada
Gambling is an issue that attacks from a multiple front. It casts its destructive shadow on politics, local communities, schools, families, and even churches. Everyone pays when gambling comes in.
Here are a few conclusions contained in a report from the National Council on Problem Gambling, a government commission investigation into gambling:
“Nevada regularly reports the highest rate of suicide among all 50 states.”
“53.5 percent of identified pathological gamblers reported having been divorced, versus 18.2 percent of non-gamblers.”
“Individuals with gambling problems seem to constitute a higher percentage of the homeless population.”
“One domestic violence counselor from Harrison County, Mississippi, testified that a shelter there reported a 300 percent increase in the number of requests for domestic abuse intervention after the arrival of casinos.”
“Maryland Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr. has likewise reported a linkage between expanded gambling and increases in domestic violence in numerous locales.”
“Children of compulsive gamblers are often prone to suffer abuse, as well as neglect, as a result of parental problem or pathological gambling. The Commission heard testimony of numerous cases in which parents or a caretaker locked children in cars for an extended period of time while they gambled. In at least two cases, the children died.”
“Local government becomes “a dependent partner in the business of gambling.”
“What has made it complex is the fact that along with the real benefits of gambling, come equally undeniable and significant costs. This Commission heard testimony about the growing numbers of individuals suffering from problem and pathological gambling, which often results in bankruptcy, crime, suicide, divorce, or abuse.”
http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/ngisc/reports/7.pdf
National Gambling Impact Study Commission Report Gambling’s Impacts on People and Places
I remember an old song my mother enjoyed called, “How much is that doggie in the window?” To get the doggie, a price had to be paid. Gambling is one doggie that has too high of a price tag. Gambling is expensive in many ways. More wives and children will be beaten, more family members will commit suicide, more families will declare bankruptcy, and more children will be abandoned because of gambling.
Will gambling give some benefit to the community? Just like poisoned water will quench the thirst of a thirsty man, but it’s the arsenic in the water that will kill him. The cost of drinking the water is the pain suffered from the poison it contains. Such is the case with gambling. Cool, clear, poisonous water.
This brings us to the question: Is gambling sin? What does the Bible have to say about gambling? Is “casting lots” the same as gambling?
When you can not directly find a topic in the Bible you have to do a little research. First inspect itsroots, what is generating the event, and the fruit, what comes as a result of the event.
What are the roots of gambling? Biblical Love, Joy, and Peace? NO. What draws people to the gambling tables is covetousness and greed. Every person is drawn to the casinos with the hope of coming home with more money than they took. James says:
“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” James 1:14-15
Godliness can not be found in the root of gambling but what about the fruit of gambling? Compare the fruit of gambling to the fruit of the Spirit:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23
Is there more love, joy, and peace in a community after the casinos arrive? No.
Now compare the fruit from gambling to the works of the flesh:
“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21
Secondly, is gambling found in the Bible? Yes. The only time we see gambling happening in the Bible is when the Roman soldiers used casting lots to divide the clothes of Jesus under the cross. Not a very spiritual event. Casting lots was used by pagans to gamble.
Is casting lots the same as gambling? No. Casting lots can be used to gamble just like a penny can be flipped to gamble but that is not the purpose of the object. Casting lots was used in both Old and New Testaments to discern God’s choice. It was used by both godly and ungodly people. The priests used lots to decide issues or to select the scapegoat. The sailors used lots to discover Jonah was the reason for the problems. God never instructed His people to use lots for gambling. Lots were always used to discover the mind of God on various issues.
The last time casting lots was used, it replaced Judas with Matthias. This was wrong because God had already chosen Saul (Paul) as the Apostle called out of due season to be the 12th Apostle. Lots can be misunderstood and misinterpreted. If the disciples would have let one of the lots represent no one, they would have been more accurate with their decision from casting lots. Either way there is never a case where lots were cast by God’s people to make a wager.1 Corinthians 6:9-11 says,
“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”
When you are a new creature in Christ you change and become different from the world. You must exist in the world but you are not of the world. Greater is He who is in you than he that is in the world.
2003 State of the State Address, Gov. Kenny Guinn, Nevada
Gambling is an issue that attacks from a multiple front. It casts its destructive shadow on politics, local communities, schools, families, and even churches. Everyone pays when gambling comes in.
Here are a few conclusions contained in a report from the National Council on Problem Gambling, a government commission investigation into gambling:
“Nevada regularly reports the highest rate of suicide among all 50 states.”
“53.5 percent of identified pathological gamblers reported having been divorced, versus 18.2 percent of non-gamblers.”
“Individuals with gambling problems seem to constitute a higher percentage of the homeless population.”
“One domestic violence counselor from Harrison County, Mississippi, testified that a shelter there reported a 300 percent increase in the number of requests for domestic abuse intervention after the arrival of casinos.”
“Maryland Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr. has likewise reported a linkage between expanded gambling and increases in domestic violence in numerous locales.”
“Children of compulsive gamblers are often prone to suffer abuse, as well as neglect, as a result of parental problem or pathological gambling. The Commission heard testimony of numerous cases in which parents or a caretaker locked children in cars for an extended period of time while they gambled. In at least two cases, the children died.”
“Local government becomes “a dependent partner in the business of gambling.”
“What has made it complex is the fact that along with the real benefits of gambling, come equally undeniable and significant costs. This Commission heard testimony about the growing numbers of individuals suffering from problem and pathological gambling, which often results in bankruptcy, crime, suicide, divorce, or abuse.”
http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/ngisc/reports/7.pdf
National Gambling Impact Study Commission Report Gambling’s Impacts on People and Places
I remember an old song my mother enjoyed called, “How much is that doggie in the window?” To get the doggie, a price had to be paid. Gambling is one doggie that has too high of a price tag. Gambling is expensive in many ways. More wives and children will be beaten, more family members will commit suicide, more families will declare bankruptcy, and more children will be abandoned because of gambling.
Will gambling give some benefit to the community? Just like poisoned water will quench the thirst of a thirsty man, but it’s the arsenic in the water that will kill him. The cost of drinking the water is the pain suffered from the poison it contains. Such is the case with gambling. Cool, clear, poisonous water.
This brings us to the question: Is gambling sin? What does the Bible have to say about gambling? Is “casting lots” the same as gambling?
When you can not directly find a topic in the Bible you have to do a little research. First inspect itsroots, what is generating the event, and the fruit, what comes as a result of the event.
What are the roots of gambling? Biblical Love, Joy, and Peace? NO. What draws people to the gambling tables is covetousness and greed. Every person is drawn to the casinos with the hope of coming home with more money than they took. James says:
“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” James 1:14-15
Godliness can not be found in the root of gambling but what about the fruit of gambling? Compare the fruit of gambling to the fruit of the Spirit:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23
Is there more love, joy, and peace in a community after the casinos arrive? No.
Now compare the fruit from gambling to the works of the flesh:
“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21
Secondly, is gambling found in the Bible? Yes. The only time we see gambling happening in the Bible is when the Roman soldiers used casting lots to divide the clothes of Jesus under the cross. Not a very spiritual event. Casting lots was used by pagans to gamble.
Is casting lots the same as gambling? No. Casting lots can be used to gamble just like a penny can be flipped to gamble but that is not the purpose of the object. Casting lots was used in both Old and New Testaments to discern God’s choice. It was used by both godly and ungodly people. The priests used lots to decide issues or to select the scapegoat. The sailors used lots to discover Jonah was the reason for the problems. God never instructed His people to use lots for gambling. Lots were always used to discover the mind of God on various issues.
The last time casting lots was used, it replaced Judas with Matthias. This was wrong because God had already chosen Saul (Paul) as the Apostle called out of due season to be the 12th Apostle. Lots can be misunderstood and misinterpreted. If the disciples would have let one of the lots represent no one, they would have been more accurate with their decision from casting lots. Either way there is never a case where lots were cast by God’s people to make a wager.1 Corinthians 6:9-11 says,
“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”
When you are a new creature in Christ you change and become different from the world. You must exist in the world but you are not of the world. Greater is He who is in you than he that is in the world.
What about opposition?
When I was in training to become a certified Project Manager we had to learn about the strength, influence, and process of negotiation. We also learned about the use and authority of an agent. Agents are representatives of someone or something with the authority necessary to do the job. Agents are also found in the spiritual realm. Angels are agents on God’s behalf.
People can be agents too. People can be agents to accomplish God’s work or to hinder it. People can be either agents of God’s Kingdom or of Satan’s forces by what they choose to do. In our Christmas musical we heard that Christmas is a story about choices. That is true, but our choices don’t just happen at Christmas.
Everyday we are faced with hundreds of choices. These choices will either align us with God’s goals and plans or Satan’s. We can know God’s plans and His heart by reading and studying the Bible. The Bible teaches us about the decisions we should make when faced with a choice.
In addition to daily choices, there are larger issues we will either influence toward love and righteousness, or we will choose to leave it alone. The Bible is clear – to not make a choice is to choose. It is true with salvation. To not choose Heaven is to choose Hell. To delay doing the right thing is to choose the wrong thing.
When Nehemiah was moved by God to rebuild the walls and gates of Jerusalem, he had to make several choices. To delay would have been sin. Nehemiah had to approach the king of the same country that came and destroyed Jerusalem, and carried its people into slavery and exile. Nehemiah was terrified to speak, but he knew what he had to do. The tension of the situation made Nehemiah depressed and the king noticed his sad disposition. The king asked why Nehemiah was so depressed – it had never happened before. (That’s a good model for us to follow.)
Nehemiah told the king about the state of Jerusalem and what he wanted to do. Notice how it happened:
And I said to the king, Let the king live forever. Why should not my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' tombs, lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire? And the king said to me, For what do you ask? So I prayed to the God of Heaven, and I said to the king, If it please the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, I pray that you would send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' tombs, so that I may build it. Nehemiah 2:3-5
Nehemiah prayed and spoke to the king. These days we call this, “multi-tasking”. Nehemiah placed his faith in God, then he took courage, and did what was necessary.
God wanted Jerusalem rebuilt. Nehemiah was working to setup the logistics and plans to get the job done. The king was willing to support the project with funding, materials, and time off with pay, for Nehemiah to get the job done. Wow! Seems like nothing can go wrong, until Nehemiah arrives in Judah. Look what happens next:
And I came to the governors of the province Beyond the River and gave them the king's letters. And the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me. And Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard. And it grieved them very much that there had come a man to seek the good of the sons of Israel. Nehemiah 2:9-10
It grieved Sanballat and Tobiah that Jerusalem was going to be rebuilt. Because of their attitudes and actions Sanballat and Tobiah were acting as the agents of Satan. There is not enough room here to explain everything that happened in the book of Nehemiah, but notice, for every person acting as an agent of righteousness there are Sanballats and Tobiahs waiting to hinder the work. They don’t want to use their resources to help someone else. They will gossip and back stab to get their way. They will look like us, but they are not truly one of us.
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Matthew 7:15
In the years to come we will be given many opportunities to be agents of righteousness. We will have opportunities with those in our own neighborhood, people across the nation, and around the world. When the time comes to make a decision about what to do, use the phrase – “What Would Jesus Do?” Would Jesus help the people of Pass Christian, MS? Would Jesus stand against gambling? Would Jesus show compassion to the homeless and hungry? We will be someone’s agent, who’s agent are you?
People can be agents too. People can be agents to accomplish God’s work or to hinder it. People can be either agents of God’s Kingdom or of Satan’s forces by what they choose to do. In our Christmas musical we heard that Christmas is a story about choices. That is true, but our choices don’t just happen at Christmas.
Everyday we are faced with hundreds of choices. These choices will either align us with God’s goals and plans or Satan’s. We can know God’s plans and His heart by reading and studying the Bible. The Bible teaches us about the decisions we should make when faced with a choice.
In addition to daily choices, there are larger issues we will either influence toward love and righteousness, or we will choose to leave it alone. The Bible is clear – to not make a choice is to choose. It is true with salvation. To not choose Heaven is to choose Hell. To delay doing the right thing is to choose the wrong thing.
When Nehemiah was moved by God to rebuild the walls and gates of Jerusalem, he had to make several choices. To delay would have been sin. Nehemiah had to approach the king of the same country that came and destroyed Jerusalem, and carried its people into slavery and exile. Nehemiah was terrified to speak, but he knew what he had to do. The tension of the situation made Nehemiah depressed and the king noticed his sad disposition. The king asked why Nehemiah was so depressed – it had never happened before. (That’s a good model for us to follow.)
Nehemiah told the king about the state of Jerusalem and what he wanted to do. Notice how it happened:
And I said to the king, Let the king live forever. Why should not my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' tombs, lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire? And the king said to me, For what do you ask? So I prayed to the God of Heaven, and I said to the king, If it please the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, I pray that you would send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' tombs, so that I may build it. Nehemiah 2:3-5
Nehemiah prayed and spoke to the king. These days we call this, “multi-tasking”. Nehemiah placed his faith in God, then he took courage, and did what was necessary.
God wanted Jerusalem rebuilt. Nehemiah was working to setup the logistics and plans to get the job done. The king was willing to support the project with funding, materials, and time off with pay, for Nehemiah to get the job done. Wow! Seems like nothing can go wrong, until Nehemiah arrives in Judah. Look what happens next:
And I came to the governors of the province Beyond the River and gave them the king's letters. And the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me. And Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard. And it grieved them very much that there had come a man to seek the good of the sons of Israel. Nehemiah 2:9-10
It grieved Sanballat and Tobiah that Jerusalem was going to be rebuilt. Because of their attitudes and actions Sanballat and Tobiah were acting as the agents of Satan. There is not enough room here to explain everything that happened in the book of Nehemiah, but notice, for every person acting as an agent of righteousness there are Sanballats and Tobiahs waiting to hinder the work. They don’t want to use their resources to help someone else. They will gossip and back stab to get their way. They will look like us, but they are not truly one of us.
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Matthew 7:15
In the years to come we will be given many opportunities to be agents of righteousness. We will have opportunities with those in our own neighborhood, people across the nation, and around the world. When the time comes to make a decision about what to do, use the phrase – “What Would Jesus Do?” Would Jesus help the people of Pass Christian, MS? Would Jesus stand against gambling? Would Jesus show compassion to the homeless and hungry? We will be someone’s agent, who’s agent are you?
Sunday, June 04, 2006
What about Tithing?
“Come on, I dare you!”
I imagine you have either said that or have heard it some time in your life. It is a challenge to do something someone else is giving you as a test of courage. Sometimes these challenges are to do good things and sometimes it isn’t. “I dare you to jump off the roof,” is usually not a good dare. “I dare you to read your Bible daily,” is a wonderful dare.
Did you know God gives dares? That’s right, God dares us to do something. God says it this way, “Prove Me.” It is just like God saying, “Test Me,” or “Check Me out and see if I am lying to you or not, I dare you!” There is only one area of our total lives where God dares us to prove Him and that is with our money.
"Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts."
Malachi 3:10-12
Tithing is as much a part of Christian living as is praying or studying the Bible. In fact tithing is the only area where God says to try Him. God promises if we tithe we will receive much more than we give.
When we tithe God will:
1) open the windows of heaven to us and pour out a blessing so large there is not room to receive it all;
2)God will also rebuke the devourer – things will not decay or be used up as fast and our labor will have a greater and sweeter yield; and
3)we will be called blessed by others as a testimony of what God has given us for our obedience. How can you go wrong with promises like that?
What is a tithe?
Giving to God can be classified as either a tithe or an offering. The first tithes recorded in the Bible were given by Abraham to the Jewish Priest King Melchizedek.
As you may remember Abraham and Lot came into a disagreement and Lot chose to live in the well watered valley of Sodom and Abraham chose to live in the desert valley to the east. Lot camped close enough to Sodom he could see the town every morning when he came out of his tent.
There was a band of warriors from the north that came down and raided Sodom. Lot lived close enough he was raided too. Lot and his family were taken captive by the warriors along with the people, the king, and the things stolen from Sodom. Abraham heard about the raids and took a large group of his servants to fight the warriors and free his nephew. Abraham and his men caught up to the warriors and God gave Abraham the victory. Abraham found a nearby Priest – King to offer thanks to God for the victory.
Abraham gave Melchizedek one animal out of every animal that had been recovered. He also gave him one pound of gold and silver for every ten pounds recovered. Additionally Abraham gave a price to God for every person rescued. Abraham had additional possessions at home, but he tithed off the increase of the victory given to him by God.
Tithing is not the only way to give. After we give 10% of our increase we are then able to give offerings. Offerings are additional gifts we give in addition to the tithe. Offerings don’t start until the tithe has been given. Once the tithe is paid the offering can begin. Tithes are required, offerings are love gifts. Tithes come to your local church to support the mission it has in the community. Offerings go to special projects and events as God burdens your heart to help. Once given both the tithe and the offering are no longer yours. You are not to receive a benefit from the place where you put your tithes and offerings.
It may be easier to understand it in light of the Old Testament system of offering animals. A family would raise crops or animals to make a living. They would then take the very best they had and bring it to the temple to be offered to the Lord. When the animal or grain was brought to the temple, the priest would take a portion of the meat and grain to eat himself. The rest of the gift, except for the unclean parts, would be burned in the fire to God. When the family gave the lamb there was no benefit to the family, except for the joy of giving. The family had to release the animal completely to the priest. They could not direct who, what, when, where or how the gift was to be used. The whole animal may be burned or it may go to feed the priests. Once the gift was given, the family had no power over it.
Often when we speak of tithes and offerings many people only apply it to money. Money is to be tithed and offered to God as gifts but we are to tithe other things as well. We should tithe our time. We are to give God one day out of every seven. We should tithe our talent.
We need to donate our God given abilities to minister to people, this would include our singing, reading, listening, encouragement, and discernment. We can even make offerings of praise, thanksgiving, and testimony.
"By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name." Hebrews 13:15
God is not just in us giving but in us giving properly. A gift given with the improper attitude does not have the same reward as gifts given the right way.
"But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthians 9:6-7
We are also to have a right heart attitude toward our brothers and sisters in the Lord. Jesus said:
"Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift." Matthew 5:23-24
God loves us and wants to bless us. Many times we get in the way of God’s blessing with our lack of faith and our disobedience. Test God and see what He will do for you in this new year. This year make your resolve to be a cheerful giver of tithes and offerings.
I imagine you have either said that or have heard it some time in your life. It is a challenge to do something someone else is giving you as a test of courage. Sometimes these challenges are to do good things and sometimes it isn’t. “I dare you to jump off the roof,” is usually not a good dare. “I dare you to read your Bible daily,” is a wonderful dare.
Did you know God gives dares? That’s right, God dares us to do something. God says it this way, “Prove Me.” It is just like God saying, “Test Me,” or “Check Me out and see if I am lying to you or not, I dare you!” There is only one area of our total lives where God dares us to prove Him and that is with our money.
"Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts."
Malachi 3:10-12
Tithing is as much a part of Christian living as is praying or studying the Bible. In fact tithing is the only area where God says to try Him. God promises if we tithe we will receive much more than we give.
When we tithe God will:
1) open the windows of heaven to us and pour out a blessing so large there is not room to receive it all;
2)God will also rebuke the devourer – things will not decay or be used up as fast and our labor will have a greater and sweeter yield; and
3)we will be called blessed by others as a testimony of what God has given us for our obedience. How can you go wrong with promises like that?
What is a tithe?
Giving to God can be classified as either a tithe or an offering. The first tithes recorded in the Bible were given by Abraham to the Jewish Priest King Melchizedek.
As you may remember Abraham and Lot came into a disagreement and Lot chose to live in the well watered valley of Sodom and Abraham chose to live in the desert valley to the east. Lot camped close enough to Sodom he could see the town every morning when he came out of his tent.
There was a band of warriors from the north that came down and raided Sodom. Lot lived close enough he was raided too. Lot and his family were taken captive by the warriors along with the people, the king, and the things stolen from Sodom. Abraham heard about the raids and took a large group of his servants to fight the warriors and free his nephew. Abraham and his men caught up to the warriors and God gave Abraham the victory. Abraham found a nearby Priest – King to offer thanks to God for the victory.
Abraham gave Melchizedek one animal out of every animal that had been recovered. He also gave him one pound of gold and silver for every ten pounds recovered. Additionally Abraham gave a price to God for every person rescued. Abraham had additional possessions at home, but he tithed off the increase of the victory given to him by God.
Tithing is not the only way to give. After we give 10% of our increase we are then able to give offerings. Offerings are additional gifts we give in addition to the tithe. Offerings don’t start until the tithe has been given. Once the tithe is paid the offering can begin. Tithes are required, offerings are love gifts. Tithes come to your local church to support the mission it has in the community. Offerings go to special projects and events as God burdens your heart to help. Once given both the tithe and the offering are no longer yours. You are not to receive a benefit from the place where you put your tithes and offerings.
It may be easier to understand it in light of the Old Testament system of offering animals. A family would raise crops or animals to make a living. They would then take the very best they had and bring it to the temple to be offered to the Lord. When the animal or grain was brought to the temple, the priest would take a portion of the meat and grain to eat himself. The rest of the gift, except for the unclean parts, would be burned in the fire to God. When the family gave the lamb there was no benefit to the family, except for the joy of giving. The family had to release the animal completely to the priest. They could not direct who, what, when, where or how the gift was to be used. The whole animal may be burned or it may go to feed the priests. Once the gift was given, the family had no power over it.
Often when we speak of tithes and offerings many people only apply it to money. Money is to be tithed and offered to God as gifts but we are to tithe other things as well. We should tithe our time. We are to give God one day out of every seven. We should tithe our talent.
We need to donate our God given abilities to minister to people, this would include our singing, reading, listening, encouragement, and discernment. We can even make offerings of praise, thanksgiving, and testimony.
"By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name." Hebrews 13:15
God is not just in us giving but in us giving properly. A gift given with the improper attitude does not have the same reward as gifts given the right way.
"But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthians 9:6-7
We are also to have a right heart attitude toward our brothers and sisters in the Lord. Jesus said:
"Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift." Matthew 5:23-24
God loves us and wants to bless us. Many times we get in the way of God’s blessing with our lack of faith and our disobedience. Test God and see what He will do for you in this new year. This year make your resolve to be a cheerful giver of tithes and offerings.
Which way are you looking?
This article was originally written in December of 2005
Christmas time is here again. I trust you had a great Thanksgiving and are looking forward to a fantastic Christmas. I am sure there will be several wanted items under the tree and great time of sharing with the family. This Christmas marks the 12th Christmas since my Mom went home with the Lord and the 11th Christmas since my Dad passed away. My parents were not just parents but friends as well and I miss them very much. I can see a picture, hear a sound, or smell an aroma and memories of them will come rushing in, uninvited. It seems at those times that the hands of time turn backwards and I expect to hear their voice again.
I have had to change my perspective over the years from looking back to looking forward. When I look back I remember good times, but that just makes me miss them more. When I miss them I become depressed and feel lonely. It does not make sense for a guy with a loving wife and eight great children to feel lonely but if I dwell on what I don’t have, but it can happen.
If I permit that feeling to grow, it can influence every part of my being. My physical, mental, and spiritual health suffers from the dark cloud I have permitted to stay. Not only does it impact my present condition but it clouds the horizon of my future. It becomes hard to see what the next step should be and harder to find the energy to do it.
Looking back is dangerous. It cost Lot’s wife her life when she looked back at the things she was leaving behind. Although her sons and her daughters-in-law were being destroyed in Sodom, God said to keep looking forward. She paid for her disobedience with her life.
In Genesis 19:17 it says:
"So it came to pass, when they had brought them outside, that he said, "Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed."
""But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt."
Genesis 19:26
God tells us today the same thing in Luke:
“And another also said, "Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house." But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."”
Luke 9:61-62
And in Philippians 3:13–14, Paul says it this way:
“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Everyday, I have a choice to live in the past or press ahead. Looking back I miss people but looking forward I become excited at seeing them and our Saviour. Looking ahead keeps focused on what is important. What do you need to do today, what can you do today, to earn rewards in heaven? Which way are you looking?
Beyond thinking about which way you are looking, what are you doing? What can you do today that will put a smile on Jesus’ face? What can you do to encourage someone else to look up and look to the Lord of Comfort and Hope. What can you do?
Christmas time is here again. I trust you had a great Thanksgiving and are looking forward to a fantastic Christmas. I am sure there will be several wanted items under the tree and great time of sharing with the family. This Christmas marks the 12th Christmas since my Mom went home with the Lord and the 11th Christmas since my Dad passed away. My parents were not just parents but friends as well and I miss them very much. I can see a picture, hear a sound, or smell an aroma and memories of them will come rushing in, uninvited. It seems at those times that the hands of time turn backwards and I expect to hear their voice again.
I have had to change my perspective over the years from looking back to looking forward. When I look back I remember good times, but that just makes me miss them more. When I miss them I become depressed and feel lonely. It does not make sense for a guy with a loving wife and eight great children to feel lonely but if I dwell on what I don’t have, but it can happen.
If I permit that feeling to grow, it can influence every part of my being. My physical, mental, and spiritual health suffers from the dark cloud I have permitted to stay. Not only does it impact my present condition but it clouds the horizon of my future. It becomes hard to see what the next step should be and harder to find the energy to do it.
Looking back is dangerous. It cost Lot’s wife her life when she looked back at the things she was leaving behind. Although her sons and her daughters-in-law were being destroyed in Sodom, God said to keep looking forward. She paid for her disobedience with her life.
In Genesis 19:17 it says:
"So it came to pass, when they had brought them outside, that he said, "Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed."
""But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt."
Genesis 19:26
God tells us today the same thing in Luke:
“And another also said, "Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house." But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."”
Luke 9:61-62
And in Philippians 3:13–14, Paul says it this way:
“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Everyday, I have a choice to live in the past or press ahead. Looking back I miss people but looking forward I become excited at seeing them and our Saviour. Looking ahead keeps focused on what is important. What do you need to do today, what can you do today, to earn rewards in heaven? Which way are you looking?
Beyond thinking about which way you are looking, what are you doing? What can you do today that will put a smile on Jesus’ face? What can you do to encourage someone else to look up and look to the Lord of Comfort and Hope. What can you do?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
