Election Night 2012
Good evening, or as it is - good night. However, I find it hard to sleep just yet. Checking in on FB, lets me know that the candidate I voted for has a very slim-to-none chance of winning against a man who, during his term, allowed our nation's debt more than triple but failed to pay our soldiers, bowed his head in "reverance"/greeting to foreign leaders, and has YET (he's already been in this office 4 years) to prove he is an American Citizen. The birth certificate they provided contained numerous flaws in the information boxes. I could go on, but as it gets later in my night, I shall none-the-less become more opinionated. Hear me! My blog is not to be used for political bashing, wars, or anything greater than "banter". It's title should ellude to it's true nature, but as you see if you look at past posts, I suck at this.
Many of my "friends" on Facebook have been posting "No matter who is president, Jesus is King". And where I totally and fully believe this to be true and undisputeable, I have this ache in my heart that this country will NEVER be what God intended it to be. We are descendants of two people who walked and talked with God for who-knows-how-long before they disobeyed and were kicked out of Paradise. We, too, can fall susceptible to the temptations of this world and build a separation between us and God that only He can bridge to reconcile us to His flock. At this point, some of you may be rolling your eyes thinking, "This guy's another crazy God-nut. He thinks we should all be "sheep." I am NOT a God-nut, although they do sound delicious. I am trying to be a follower of Jesus Christ, not just a fanatic. And I AM a sheep! Not to this world, but in this world, I can always be tempted by the "greener grass". My Shepherd, however, says that I will hear His voice when He calls me (John 10:27); told Peter to feed His sheep (John 21:17); calls Himself the "Good Shepherd" because the good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep, and He knows His sheep and they know Him ( John 10:11, 14-16); and finally, He tells the Jews in the temple why they don't believe He is the Messiah, because His sheep will hear His voice because they KNOW it (John 10:26-27). I will shout that I am a sheep proudly! But I respond only to my King!
Now for those of you who want to respond with Romans 13:1 - "Everyone must submit to the governing authorities..." Won't you be a sheep if you follow this verse?
FINISH THE VERSE! "...for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist are instituted by God." God has put the president (no matter who/what is in office) in place. It all fits into His divine plan. Not to mention, Paul goes on in verse 2 - "So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God's command, and those who oppose it will bring judgement on themselves." Keep in mind: Paul wrote this to the Roman church who knew about tyranny under a Caesar, not a democracy that had been established for a few hundred years. Thank you, God for giving me the opportunities this country has provided me thus far!
And now for the stuff which started my desire to even write this post...
I watched part of a sermon by Charles Stanley on Sunday, 4 NOV 2012. I don't know if it was recorded just for the Sunday before THIS election or if they delved into their archives to ressurect it for the then-upcoming elections. But he was talking about consciences, and why we shouldn't "let our conscience be our guide." What I heard was great! It drew me in, but what has stood out during the course of this election night comes from the first chapter of Romans (vs 18-32):
"For God's wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth, since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them. From the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what He has made. As a result, people are without excuse. For though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became nonsense, and their sensless minds were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles.
Therefore God delivered them over in the cravings of their hearts to sexual impurity, so that their bodies were degraded among themselves. They exhanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served something created instead of the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen
This is why God delivered them over to degrading passions. For even their females exchanged natural sexual intercourse for what is unnatural. The males in the same way also left natural sexual intercourse with females and were inflamed in their lust for one another. Males committed shamless acts with males and received in their own persons the appropriate penalty for their perversion."
I want to interject that I am not sorry for the length of this post, but also, I feel the next verses are not ONLY talking to those discussed above but to the rest of us who do not have Christ as our daily shepherd!
"And because they did not think it worthwhile to have God in their knowledge, God delivered them over to a worthless mind to do what is morally wrong. They are filled with all unrighteousness, evil, gree, and wickedness. They are full of envy, murder, disputes, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, slanderer, God-haters, arrogant, proud, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, and unmerciful. Although they know full well God's jus sentence--that those who practice such things deserve to die--they not only do them, but even applaud others who practice them."
Many of my "friends" on Facebook have been posting "No matter who is president, Jesus is King". And where I totally and fully believe this to be true and undisputeable, I have this ache in my heart that this country will NEVER be what God intended it to be. We are descendants of two people who walked and talked with God for who-knows-how-long before they disobeyed and were kicked out of Paradise. We, too, can fall susceptible to the temptations of this world and build a separation between us and God that only He can bridge to reconcile us to His flock. At this point, some of you may be rolling your eyes thinking, "This guy's another crazy God-nut. He thinks we should all be "sheep." I am NOT a God-nut, although they do sound delicious. I am trying to be a follower of Jesus Christ, not just a fanatic. And I AM a sheep! Not to this world, but in this world, I can always be tempted by the "greener grass". My Shepherd, however, says that I will hear His voice when He calls me (John 10:27); told Peter to feed His sheep (John 21:17); calls Himself the "Good Shepherd" because the good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep, and He knows His sheep and they know Him ( John 10:11, 14-16); and finally, He tells the Jews in the temple why they don't believe He is the Messiah, because His sheep will hear His voice because they KNOW it (John 10:26-27). I will shout that I am a sheep proudly! But I respond only to my King!
Now for those of you who want to respond with Romans 13:1 - "Everyone must submit to the governing authorities..." Won't you be a sheep if you follow this verse?
FINISH THE VERSE! "...for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist are instituted by God." God has put the president (no matter who/what is in office) in place. It all fits into His divine plan. Not to mention, Paul goes on in verse 2 - "So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God's command, and those who oppose it will bring judgement on themselves." Keep in mind: Paul wrote this to the Roman church who knew about tyranny under a Caesar, not a democracy that had been established for a few hundred years. Thank you, God for giving me the opportunities this country has provided me thus far!
And now for the stuff which started my desire to even write this post...
I watched part of a sermon by Charles Stanley on Sunday, 4 NOV 2012. I don't know if it was recorded just for the Sunday before THIS election or if they delved into their archives to ressurect it for the then-upcoming elections. But he was talking about consciences, and why we shouldn't "let our conscience be our guide." What I heard was great! It drew me in, but what has stood out during the course of this election night comes from the first chapter of Romans (vs 18-32):
"For God's wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth, since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them. From the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what He has made. As a result, people are without excuse. For though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became nonsense, and their sensless minds were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles.
Therefore God delivered them over in the cravings of their hearts to sexual impurity, so that their bodies were degraded among themselves. They exhanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served something created instead of the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen
This is why God delivered them over to degrading passions. For even their females exchanged natural sexual intercourse for what is unnatural. The males in the same way also left natural sexual intercourse with females and were inflamed in their lust for one another. Males committed shamless acts with males and received in their own persons the appropriate penalty for their perversion."
I want to interject that I am not sorry for the length of this post, but also, I feel the next verses are not ONLY talking to those discussed above but to the rest of us who do not have Christ as our daily shepherd!
"And because they did not think it worthwhile to have God in their knowledge, God delivered them over to a worthless mind to do what is morally wrong. They are filled with all unrighteousness, evil, gree, and wickedness. They are full of envy, murder, disputes, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, slanderer, God-haters, arrogant, proud, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, and unmerciful. Although they know full well God's jus sentence--that those who practice such things deserve to die--they not only do them, but even applaud others who practice them."
The Apologetics Study Bible, 2007
Holman Christian Standard
with emphasis placed by Josh Bechtel
To FINALLY conclude, this country is headed to Hell in a hand basket because all of us are deserving of such a death! However, God's gift of grace through the death of His Son, Jesus Christ, allows us to be reconciled to His flock. Now, being "called" to Him brings the responsibility of living our lives differently so that the rest of this dying world, who apparently are thinking with "worthless minds" that they are in the right, can see the love of Christ in/through us! So, I challenge you not to just type on any social medium: "Praying!", "You're in our prayers", or anything which you will say you will do for somebody and "forget" as soon as you close your browser window. But DO IT!!! The cries of the people for someone to pray for them is a cry of their heart! Get yourself back right with God and others around you may do the same! Be a "doer of the Word"!
The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.
My love be with all of you in Christ Jesus,
whomever reads this!
posted by Laughing Giant | 1:00 AM
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