It is no secret the Iranian military has a plan to destroy Israel and neutralize the U.S. as a world power.  September 24, 2009 I wrote that I had read in the Investment Business Daily that we are living in some very “scary” times. One Scud missile with a nuclear warhead could be fired from a ship off of our coast and blown up over America. Senator John Kyl, R. Arizona says if detonated at the right altitude, it would interact with the Earth’s atmosphere producing an electromagnetic pulse radiating to the surface at the speed of light. It would cause all technology to shut down. It would close all air and rail transportation. Farmers would not have fuel to produce and harvest products. Hospitals could not operate. Lack of producing electricity and gas would put us back at least 100 years. This would cause teenagers to panic; there would be no cell phones or telephones that would work. However, they may be pleased to know that schools would be closed for lack of electricity.

Hardly anyone, with the exception of our government, read that blog.  They were interested in who was writing about a bomb over America.  The more I read the more I am concerned that our government has ruled out a pre-emptive attack on Iran’s nuclear sites.  They think that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is bluffing when he states that he will extinguish the nation of Israel and neutralized America as a world power.

Put this information in the proper perspective. An Iranian mullah said their hope was to see a world without America and Zionism. Iran’s president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said at a “World without Zionism” conference in 2005, that goal was attainable and could be achieved. He also said they had a strategic “war preparation plan” for the destruction of Anglo-Saxon civilization.

On July 2,2009 I wrote a blog on “Are we living in the end times?” I related where Iran and Russia, bitter enemies for centuries, have become allies for the first time in history. It has made me concerned. If you study Ezekiel chapters 36 through 39 it sounds like a war against Israel could breakout anytime. Should that happen, Scripture reads, no one will come to Israel’s rescue. Could that be a result of Iran having exploded a nuclear bomb on America before their attempted invasion of Israel? Or, a U.S. president who refuses to assist Israel?

Ahmadinejad and radical Muslims believe that a war will hasten the return of the Shiite messiah, known as the Mahdi, who will destroy enemies of the Muslims. I recently read that it is possible their plan is to launch a high-altitude missile, with a nuclear warhead from a ship in the Gulf of Mexico.  Once the missile is launched the ship would be destroyed leaving no evidence.  All it would take is an explosion over the mid-west at a height of about 250 miles to destroy the power grids to both coasts and everything in between.

I have read further information that Iran has been launching missiles in the Caspian Sea to test warheads exploding at high altitudes.  Our military believes the only explanation is that the Iranians are trying to find out how to launch a missile and get it up to a certain altitude and then have it explode.  We have known for ten years that Iran was test-firing missiles from ships.

Our administration has recently reduced funding for anti-ballistic missiles that might defend missiles coming from ships or anywhere else.  The House passed an act that would provide funding for anti-ballistic missiles but it was voted down in Harry Reid’s senate.  Keep in mind, if Iran were successful in their attack on America it is possible we would never recover.  We have a president and his administration that have chosen to ignore the dangers.  We do not want to do anything to offend our Muslim adversaries.

The only consolation we have is knowing that God is in complete control and knows the plan.  We, as individuals and Christians, have been alerted to be ready, for Christ could return at any time and we have been told repeatedly, we must be spiritually prepared.  If we are prepared we should live fearlessly concerning the events that will unfold knowing God has a plan.  Whatever God allows I can accept!  But maybe prayer will delay the inevitable.

There are simple rules that if followed, can create a perfect marriage.  You may believe nothing can be perfect.  Our marriage has been very close and it has been over fifty years.  However, we don’t take credit for it; we just did what the Bible told us to do.  Guest what?  It works!  Ask our children.

About once a year I feel led to write about marriage as I read the divorce statistics. According to the World Almanac over fifty-percent of the babies born in the past fifteen years are raised by a single parent. The Bible tells us how important families and family values are to any society.  Nations that have strong families and family values are more unified and seem to be more productive and have less crime.  Children are more behaved, have more respect for their parents and for authorities.  I have always believed a free-market capitalistic form of government only works well when its people live moral lives and treat each other with respect.  You cannot enact and legislate fairness and honesty; it is a result of one’s moral character and belief system. That normally comes from a loving functional family life.

As you study the Bible God taught the Israelites what food to eat, how to farm and how to raise their animals.  He gave laws to live by in order to live peacefully among their nation.   In the New Testament we are taught how a marriage is to survive and a couple should live together.  Following is a rather large amount of Scripture, but it tells us how the marriage should function.

Ephesians 5:21 – 33 – from the Message: “Out of respect for Christ, be courteously reverent to one another.  Wives, understand and support your husbands in ways that show your support for Christ. The husband provides leadership to his wife the way Christ does to his church, not by domineering but by cherishing. So just as the church submits to Christ as he exercises such leadership, wives should likewise submit to their husbands. Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church—a love marked by giving, not getting. Christ’s love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. And that is how husbands ought to love their wives. They’re really doing themselves a favor—since they’re already “one” in marriage.  No one abuses his own body, does he? No, he feeds and pampers it. That’s how Christ treats us, the church, since we are part of his body. And this is why a man leaves father and mother and cherishes his wife. No longer two, they become “one flesh.” This is a huge mystery, and I don’t pretend to understand it all. What is clearest to me is the way Christ treats the church. And this provides a good picture of how each husband is to treat his wife, loving himself in loving her, and how each wife is to honor her husband.”

All married people know that God created men to think one way and women another.  I believe if you study the Bible you will find that women need to feel loved and secure.  Men need to feel respected and have their wife’s support.  If a wife does not feel her husband loves her and gives her security, she will be unhappy.  If a husband does not sense he has his wife’s total respect and support he will be unhappy in the marriage.   Because males and females think and communicate differently a husband may think he is providing love and security, the wife may think differently.  If a wife believes she is giving her husband respect and supports his endeavors, he may not accept her actions.  We may say one thing but our actions and body language give different signals.  Thus, strife in the marriage is likely to result.

If an affair occurs, the husband would believe she would not have done that if she respected him.  The wife would say he would not have done that if he really loved me.  The Bible says thou shall not commit adultery.  It applies to many things couples can do to each other’s primary needs in creating an unhappy situation.

My wife and I have never gone shopping for my clothes or hers without the two of us approving and selecting what we would buy.  If she is ashamed of how you dress or you in what she wears it can affect our natures of respect and love.  Having pride in each other is extremely important.

I have never doubted her respect and support and I have done everything to show my love and make her feel secure.  Marriage is God’s idea.  Its purpose was to make paradise complete.  Always keep in mind a wife needs unconditional love to satisfy that inner need.  A man needs his wife’s admiration, for her to speak well of him and defer to him.  In our present society when the roles are reversed marriage can become a battleground because God didn’t mean it to work that way.

Some governments have a president and a vice-president.  The vice-president is to show his respect and support for the president.  A good president does what is best for the nation.  He shows his love for country and makes every effort to make it secure.  There are roles God set up for every marriage.  The husband has been designated the president and the wife the vice-president.  God ordained a hierarchal structure: the head of every man is Christ; the head of the woman is the man and God is the head of Christ.  A couple has a certain role to play in the marriage and we must not be out of character for the association to succeed.

Christ was willing to die for the church.  A wife most likely would defer to a husband she knew would die for her than a husband she felt might sacrifice her to his fears, lusts or ambition.  We are told to become more like Christ.  Are we married to be served or to serve the other?  Did the Son of God expect to be first in line or sit at the head of the table?  How important we think we are—matters?  The more humble couples can be the greater chance they will have of their marriage succeeding.

Everyone will have disagreements.  How do we handle them?  If you love someone enough you will negotiate with respect.  Anger has no place in an argument with a spouse.  Most anger is a response to a threat to our self-centeredness.  If we are totally surrendered and committed to Christ our humility must overcome our anger.

It was hard learning the importance of unconditional love.   During our pre-Christian lives, as individuals, we loved, expecting something in return.  We learned if God was first in our lives His ways taught us to respect each other and never intentionally do something that would harm or offend the other. The more you love and respect one and the other, the less tension there will be in a marriage.  Take away the basic need of love and respect and you will end up with a dysfunctional marriage and family.

Apply Biblical principles to your marriage and see your marriage improve.

Gradually the United States has succeeded its influence in the Middle East and North Africa to Iran.  It appears radical Islamists are taking over every pro-Islamic nation America has had friendly relations with in the Middle East.  America’s recent policies to oust dictators in the past few months probably will never allow us to regain any positive relationship with many of these nations.  The diplomacy directed by President Obama and executed by Hillary Clinton is allowing the radical Islamists to initiate their goal to become the one-world government that is described in Revelation.

President Obama stated, as he ran for election, that he would be able to talk to these Muslim nations and win them over to become friendlier to America.  Just the opposite has happened.  Iraq’s Prime Minister told us to pack up our arms and move out.  A new poll shows 73% of Iraqis fear America’s leaving will allow Iran to move in and influence the present government.  After billions of dollars spent and over 4000 lives lost and no U. S. presence what do you expect Iran will do?

We walked away from Egypt after supporting Mubarak for years who kept peace with Israel.  We now await the Muslim Brotherhood who wants to destroy Israel.  How long will it be before they and others attack Israel?  What do you think our future influence will be on Egypt?  After providing billions of dollars over the years it seems our foreign aid was wasted.

Libya’s Gadhafi’s defeat, who seemed to remain at peace with its neighbors, allows radical Islamists to take over. They are instituting Islamic Sharia Law.  To give you an example of what these laws entail the following are examples:  Drinkers and gamblers are to be whipped.  Islam husbands may hit wives for any reason.  Injured plaintiffs may retaliate physically, such as an eye for an eye.  A male or female who steals will have a hand cut off.  Highway robbers should be crucified.  Homosexuals must be executed.  Unmarried fornicators are to be whipped and adulterers are to be stoned to death.   Critics of Muhammad, the Quran and Sharia Laws shall face death. What do you think the possibility of a democratic government ever taking over Libya in the future?  Where did the 20,000 surface to air missiles go?  Will they be used to assist in the coming one-world government?

President Obama said Afghanistan was the war we needed to fight.  It appears he is trying to get out as soon as possible.  He says he is interested in talking to the Taliban in order to reach a peaceful settlement.

Afghanistan just recently stated that if America attacks Pakistan they will support Pakistan and not the U.S.  We have been fighting to protect them for close to ten years and that’s the support we receive?  Pakistan is a nation sitting on nuclear weapons and is pro-Islam.  It has been reported they are helping other nations develop nuclear armament.

We watch as Syria murders hundreds for protesting.  Is there any question who will take over when Bashar al-Assad is ousted?  Do you see a democratic government taking over?

The Arab Spring started in Tunisia and they are holding elections shortly.  It Appears the Islamic party is leading in the polls.  They want to switch to an Islamic run government.

Turkey was once our ally and is a member of NATO.  They were a secular government and have changed to an Islamic type government.  It is no longer at peace with Israel and has developed a strong relationship with Iran.  Turkey backed the flotilla that tried to break the blockade Israel had on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.  They can no longer be counted as friendly to America.

Enough has been said about Iran.  They have declared war on the United States.  They planned an assassination on our soil and a plan to blow up two foreign embassies.   It doesn’t seem to be a big deal to our administration and some in congress.  God knows what is going on and He is in complete control.  He knows how it all ends and when.  Just be aware that we are entering the end-times and be ready and prepared.

II Thessalonians 2:9 – 12 – “The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.  For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.”

A number of times I have been asked why America does not appear in the Book of Revelation.  There doesn’t appear to be any nation coming to the Jews rescue as they are attacked.  Some believe the U.S. is headed for a time that we will not have the will or the ability to assist Israel in its defense because of our financial debts.  So what happens to Israel?

God will not need any nation in the end times to do what He plans to do.  I believe this is why America is not found in the Book of Revelation.  I do not think the end of time is just around the corner but I believe it is getting much closer as we watch America slowly give up its superpower status.  Then Islam begins spreading world-wide to instigate Sharia Law and form the one-world government.

Only charlatans and false teachers predict the world will end on a specific day.  I would place Harold Camping in that category.  His forecast that the world ends did nothing to strengthen people’s belief in Christianity. It is a disservice to Christianity to have false teachers predicting a specific date that the world ends.  He has not done a very good job of interpreting Scripture that states that even Christ or anyone but God knew that day.  Only an egotist or a self-righteous individual would believe that God would share with them what He wound not share with Jesus.

Prior to the end there will be a great, seven-year Tribulation that the world must go through.  Though most Christians believe the rapture comes before the Tribulation that is an assumption. Study chapters 21 of Luke and chapter 24 of Matthew where Christ gave the signs that had to occur before all of this happens.  We will never know the exact day but Christ said we could determine the season.

We know that there will be a number of signs to prepare us for the final days.  Since AD 70 the Israelites have been scattered all over the world.  The first sign of the end-times before Christ’s return to rule for a 1000 years, was for Israel to return to their homeland and establish a nation on land coveted to them by God.  That happened in May 1948 and fulfills the Bible’s prophecy leading up to the beginning of the end times.

We are told there will be wars and uprisings as nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom but we are told not to be afraid.  The end will not come right away.  There will be great earthquakes of a magnitude of 7.0 and greater.  There have been more in the last few years than have previously been recorded.  Then there will be famines and pestilences in various places and fearful events and great signs will come from heaven.  There comes a time when Christians will be seized and persecuted and many placed in prison.  We are told not to worry how we are to defend ourselves as Christ will provide us with what to do and what to say.

You shall be betrayed by family and friends and some believers will be put to death.  We are to stand firm and we will win eternal life.  When armies surround Israel you will know the end-times are getting close.  There will be great distress in the land and anger will be against God’s people.

There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars.  On earth nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea.  People will faint from terror and apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for heavenly bodies will be shaken.

During this time a man who is very charming and charismatic will sell his soul to Satan and become the anti-Christ.  He will be a person with superhuman intelligence and will present a plan to save the world.  There will be a world-wide economic collapse. They will beg the anti-Christ to save them and give them hope.  He shall rule for seven years.  The first three and a half will be years of peace.  Those last three and a half years will be so bad that if Christ were not to come all humanity would be destroyed.

II Thessalonians 2:3 – 4 – “Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.  He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.”  He will require everyone to take a mark in order to buy or sell.  Without the mark they cannot survive.

I Thessalonians 5:1 – 3 – “Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.  While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.”

Scripture is very clear the Day of the Lord will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed.   In the early church some believed Christ’s second coming had already happened.  In chapter two Paul tells the church not to be unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy from false teachers.  I have read where some predicted the second coming in the 1940s, 1988 and 1994.  Who are you going to believe—the Apostle Paul or today’s false teachers?  When anyone tells you the world is going to end on a certain date refer them to II Thessalonians 2:3 – 5.  Ask them if the man of lawlessness has been revealed and has the rebellion occurred?  If so, who is he?  What temple is he in proclaiming himself to be God?  When that happens I believe CNN and Fox News will let us know!

II Timothy 3:1 – 5 – “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.”  In fact, these people may even be protestors throughout the world, unhappy with themselves and everything else, who want governments to take care of their every need.  Scripture says we are to have nothing to do with them.

Before all of the turbulence begins we believe the church will be raptured.  Most theologians believe the rapture, described as when Christ’s believers will be caught up into the air to meet the Messiah.   Their mortal bodies will be changed to immortal bodies. They will live to be with God throughout eternity.  (The explanation for those missing could be they were abducted by aliens. The antichrist may use it as a scare tactic and a need to prepare for an alien attack to get those remaining to be more supportive.)

After the rapture there will be huge numbers left on earth.  There will be those who understood and believed Christ to be the Messiah but refused to accept Him as their Savior.  When they understand that believers were raptured they will accept Christ and become Christians.  They will be persecuted harshly and most killed.

It is best to understand the signs.  As we see signs appear, we must be spiritually ready, as the end-times are drawing closer.

In my recent book, “God and the Bottom Line”, I wrote: Have you ever allowed fear to keep you from taking advantage of opportunities that could have been very beneficial?  I wanted Christians to realize the advantages they have with the Holy Spirit giving them purpose and direction in life.  Having worked with thousands of employees over the years I believe fear and the unwillingness to take risks at work or in life stymie many individuals from reaching their full potential.  Following is a condensed portion of the chapter I wrote on overcoming fear.

I believe in self-fulfilling prophecy.  We can become what we want to be—a success or a failure, depending on how we think of ourselves.  When we think positively, we can become highly motivated and more productive.  If we think negative thoughts about ourselves, we become less enthusiastic and block our full potential.

In the work environment, what people think of us and the impression we give can affect others around us.  When we are positive, most people want to be around us and choose us to be a part of the team.  If we are negative or fearful, others may find it difficult to work with us and our negative attitude can decrease not only our productivity but also our coworkers’ productivity.

Each of us must deal with various kinds of fears and we manage them in different ways.  Some people grab fear by the horns, taking it on as a challenge to learn new skills, hone talents and build confidence.  Others run at the first quiver of fear.

Fear!  Isn’t it a lack of trust in God?  Physical and spiritual walls must be broken through if we are to be free to stretch our endurance, abilities and potential.  Athletes learn that they can catch their second wind only when they are willing to go through the pain of breaking through a wall of resistance.  Once they push through that physical wall, their task becomes easier and their energy and endurance increase exponentially.

Just as athletes experience a physical wall of resistance, Christians encounter a spiritual one.  It’s called fear.  Most often this barrier is more difficult to break through because the Devil and his spirits of darkness often put the “wall of fear” before us.

Workplace fear is not the same as physical fear.  Fear in the workplace hampers people and quite often they are unaware of it.  I have worked with some of the most physically imposing people I have ever met.  They have no physical fear and enjoy hobbies like skydiving, hang gliding and rock climbing.  They thrive on facing the danger inherent in these activities.  Yet strangely enough, in the workplace they are paralyzed by fear—fear to take the initiative and accomplish a needed task that’s beyond their job descriptions, fear to accept promotions, fear to stretch out of their comfort zones.

Workplace fear can be defined as fear of failing and/or fear of the unknown.  I have known a number of men and women who settled into jobs they hated; not only were they bored, but also they endured verbal abuse and humiliation.  Even so, the thought of quitting terrified them.  On the one hand, they stayed put because they were afraid of the unknown—new job, new coworkers and new bosses.  But on the other hand, they refused to take a more challenging position because they were afraid of failing.  When put on the spot, most people, whether Christians or not, can see the absurdity and even the humor of workplace fear.  It is, after all, illogical to be afraid of failing because typically nothing of great importance is at stake.  One who tries something and fails is not injured physically, sent to jail, or subjected to mayhem.  He doesn’t lose his house, her dog doesn’t die and the kids don’t run away from home.  It is easy to see the wisdom of Franklin D. Roosevelt words:  “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.”

But knowing this doesn’t automatically change anything.  Generally, people suffering from workplace fear simply cannot, or will not, be talked out of it.  It seems to be a matter of head knowledge having little or no effect on heart knowledge.  And this brings us, once again, to the subject: Which nature is in control?  Is it our worldly nature or our spiritual nature?

When the Holy Spirit fills our hearts and guides our lives, we have no room or need for workplace fear or any other kind of fear.  “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.”  ( Rom, 8:15)

I have known a number of people who experienced “failure” but in time came to realize that God let them fail to lead them in a new direction.  A number of lessons can be learned from failure.  For one thing, it strengthens us spiritually.  For another, failure not only teaches us to be dependent upon the Holy Spirit, but also it opens up unlimited possibilities.  Every circumstance in life, including failure, can become an eventual blessing.  The Apostle Paul wrote: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  (Rom 8:28)

For those who are inclined to ask: “What good is an advantage that the Holy Spirit gives to Christians if it doesn’t translate into success?”  I offer the following rather homespun explanation.  The Christian who depends upon the Holy Spirit is sensitive to His leading and is like the athlete who listens to an experienced coach.  The coach can’t guarantee an athlete’s induction into the Hall of Fame, nor can he guarantee a gold medal for the athlete, but he can train him and teach him everything he knows, giving him every advantage, allowing him to consistently do his best.  The Christian advantage does not guarantee presidencies, chairmanships, wealth, achievement awards, fame or recognition, but it will lead the Christian into the direction that fulfills his God-given purpose.

Workplace fear may be overcome by listening to the Holy Spirit with spiritual ears, keeping everything in perspective and doing our best to remain coolheaded in the midst of madness.  It takes time.  It takes determination.  It takes practice, but it works.

The entire Israeli army was afraid to fight Goliath, the Philistine.  But a teenage, David took his sling shot and overcame the giant.  I Samuel 17:34 – 37 – “But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it.  Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God.  The LORD who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”   Saul said to David, “Go, and the LORD be with you.”   Do you see the advantage of being a Christian?  If the Holy Spirit is leading, you must be willing to trust Him.  Otherwise, you may lose your advantage and fear can block your potential that God has given you.

Peggy Noonan wrote an article in the Wall Street Journal.  She said there was a time we had Steve Jobs, Bob Hope and Jonnie Cash.  Now we have no Hope, no Jobs and no Cash.  If you have been watching those camping and marching on Wall Street and wondered what they are called: It’s the Flee Party.  They want to “flee” the capitalistic, free-market economic system.  Because they have no cash, no job and no hope they want to replace it with a type of socialism.  The problem is that most investors and that is a lot of people with pension plans believe in our present system and see no need to change it; otherwise, they probably would not be an investor and would depend on the government supporting them. It has become very apparent that we have a country that is extremely divided. We have the Tea Party and the Flee Party. Many of us are beginning to believe a whole lot is not going to change until something really big happens.  What that big event must be probably depends upon our belief system.

Both sides of congress see their beliefs as the only ones that are acceptable.  As a result we have congress’ unwillingness to compromise. We have businesses, consumers and investors see an administration and congress lacking leadership and direction.  If you are a progressive socialist and hate America’s economic system are you willing to give in?  If you are a fiscal conservative or capitalist who believes the present system has proved to work, would you be willing to change?

The majority of Americans believe that the reason congress will not compromise is because they are only interested in getting re-elected.  That may be true with some.  I believe most are fighting for a principle that they believe is the best economic system for America’s future.    If the democrats are using over-regulation to cause the capitalist system to fail what should the Republicans do?   If you are a Democrat then anything goes to replace what is not acceptable.  If you are on the other side you want to repeal most recent regulations they have placed into law.  Everyone is pleading for compromise.  Which party you want to compromise will depend upon whether you believe in a form of socialism or capitalism.

Many progressive socialists believe in big government controlling the lives of Americans resulting in a better life for everyone.  Many fiscal conservatives believe in a competitive system and that the Bible teaches that those unwilling to work should not eat, except for those incapable of working because of age or physical challenges.

II Thessalonians 3:10 – “For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: ‘The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.’”

There may be only a few areas where compromise is possible.  It is like trying to convert a Muslim to Christianity or a Christian to become a Muslim.  Where or how much would either be willing to compromise?

Americans have a choice to make, but it doesn’t appear there is much chance for compromise.  You are either a progressive socialist and believe in the redistribution of wealth or a free market capitalist who believes that a pro-basketball player is worth $24 million a year.  Bashing congress for a lack of compromise will not change much.

Being a Christian there will be many more opportunities asking for compromise.  But compromising is what has allowed America to lower our moral standards.  We compromised and allowed God and the Bible to be taken out of schools.  We have allowed same-sex marriages and deemphasized family values.  We have allowed our national government to take over more and more control and reduce the freedom of every American.  We have compromised our borders.  And some of our universities have taught to ignore God and authority and accept evolution.  How much more should we be willing to compromise?

The “BIG” event I was talking about that needed to change things may be the following: II Chronicles 7:14 – “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” Then there will be more jobs, cash and hope.

Years ago before children had the toys that are available today, there were soap box derbies.  Dads and sons would build racing carts and enter them in the soap box races.  They may be made out of orange crates on short 2×4’s with axles and wheels.  They had a steering mechanism and brakes.  That was the total racer.

Most of the contestants were eager youngsters who leaned forward or hunkered down in their carts hoping to decrease wind resistance thereby increasing speed.  One youngster was visibly frightened at the prospect of going too fast down a long hill and compensated by riding the brake to keep his speed under control.  He finished last.

In my younger days some of our relatives would go to the Pacific Ocean for a weekend and would dig clams and have clam chowder.  To this day it is my favorite soup.  I remember wading out into waist deep water, standing mesmerized as a huge wave approached, broke and knocked me flat in a swirl of sand, saltwater and tangled arms and legs.  My next try resulted in a repeat of my first humiliation.

I use these two illustrations to describe the Christian’s frame of mind when the first few steps of faith are taken.  A fully committed Christian is like a youngster who takes his foot off the brake and goes full tilt down the steepest of hills.  The committed Christian is also like a person who wades into the surf, dives headlong into the first wave and swims into the vast Pacific Ocean.

The problem that exists is once the initial wave of enthusiasm passes, and it will, there is an inclination to settle into a kind of treadmill mentality.  Once the excitement has passed, life returns to dealing with the day to day pressures that surround us.  So before any more steps are taken we need to learn how to maintain momentum and stay charged.

A person who is truly committed must believe that God is in complete control.  No matter what situation you may find yourself accept that the Holy Spirit is with you.  One thing that Scripture and the Holy Spirit taught me was how God expected me to live as a Christian.  There were certain things I must do and many I was not to do.

Early as a Christian I learned that my body was a temple that housed the Holy Spirit.  There were rules as to how I was to treat my body by what I put into it, what I thought and how I should take care of it.  Scripture shared certain principles that help me in decision making.  I was not to lie, steal, bare a false witness, covet, commit adultery, worship other gods, etc.  I learned how to deal with the sins of lust, gluttony, greed, laziness, wrath, envy or pride.

Maybe the one thing that helped me live as a Christian was my complete desire to please God.  Knowing God allowed or controlled all things in my life no matter what happened, He was aware of and had given me His Spirit to handle every situation.  There was no need to go through life afraid and riding the brakes.  I learned to trust Him and His promises.  He took away much of life’s fears.

Every one of us has a worldly nature and a spiritual nature.  The two natures are in conflict with each other because the worldly nature is self-serving and the spiritual nature is God-serving.  Therefore, the condition of our spiritual heart determines the kinds of decisions we make.  Business decisions, job decisions, family decisions and personal decisions are all affected by our true nature or heart.

Countless Scriptures make the point that spiritual health is a direct outgrowth of our spiritual natures winning the conflict taking place within us.  Galatians 5:17 – “For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.”

Is our worldly nature saying “Keep your foot on the brake; you may risk losing everything”?  Or are we willing as committed Christians to hunker down, with our foot off the brake saying: I am willing to let it all hang out that I might fulfill God’s purpose in my life and that might require taking a risk! It may even require swimming with the sharks.

It isn’t usual that we hear an inner voice and if we tell people, they might think we are weird.  I have heard a number of people say they have heard Jesus talk and direct them. I don’t question that because I believe them and think it is scripturally possible.

I take Forges Magazine and went to their website.  I read an article by Eric Jackson “Tell the Top Ten Lessons Steve Jobs Taught Us”.  Included in the article were parts of a speech Steve Jobs gave in 2005 at Stanford University’s commencement.   Eric Jackson wrote “Eight years ago, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and told he only had a few weeks to live.  As Samuel Johnson said, there’s nothing like your impending death to focus the mind.”

Following is from Steve Jobs speech at Stanford: “No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don’t want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life’s change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true.”

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”

From a leadership and management background I was impressed at the ten points Steve Jobs taught.  As a Christian the sentence that said:  “Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice.”  I don’t know whether it was used as a metaphor or an actual voice. I assume it was a metaphor.  If people talk about a voice and not their conscience then whose voice are they hearing?  To many Christians, an inner voice can be audible and to a non-Christian the inner voice could be your conscience or an audible voice but from an evil spirit.

I previously wrote two blogs: Are some people evil? The other was: “Amy Winehouse was one of many rock stars to die at age 27”.  The question came from a story that was read to us when I was in grade school.  It was “The Devil and Daniel Webster”.  The story concerned a farmer who sold his soul to the devil for a better more prosperous life.  I have never stopped wondering; when someone hears an inner voice, whose is it?  No way am I implying that either of the above heard actual voices but it leaves a troubling question.  Anyone hearing an inner voice must be careful from whom and where it comes from.

What Steve Jobs did for the world was the work of a genius.  No one can question his ingenuity.  I have always wondered what made Einstein, Ford, Edison, Lincoln and so many others so different from the other 99.9% of the population.  There were many spiritual Christian giants that affected the world. We think they were hearing an inner voice that came from the Holy Spirit.  How many people actually hear an audible inner voice?  We know some do!

What we do know about these individuals is that they had a gift, talent, ambition and determination.  They had a vision and a passion that consumed them almost 24/7.  How many others may have had similar gifts, talents but lacked ambition, a vision or the passion?  One thing genius’ all had was confidence and all were tenacious to the point of never giving up on what they believed.

Steve said: “Even people who want to go to heaven don’t want to die to get there.”  I hope heaven was his goal and that inner voice he was talking about was the Holy Spirit, if he was referring to an actual voice and not meaning his conscience. It is not hard to believe that God controls the development of all technology and Steve was chosen to be that person.  This is not an assumption.

Some day we may learn the answer when God tells me what potential I had and wasted it.  You may have the potential of some of these famous individuals.  Seek your vision and develop a passion.  Be tenacious and never give up on your dream, regardless what others may say.  When you pray, ask for God to give you a purpose and His direction.  Then expect it!

The older a person gets the more aware they become of what happens after death.  It used to be the only thing we knew was what the Bible taught us.  In 1975 Dr. Raymond Moody wrote “Life after Life.”  He recorded experiences from 150 people he had interviewed who were clinically dead and then recovered.  The book gave me a new outlook on what death was like.

He describes what generally occurred.  Their spirit would hover over their body and they could see and hear those surrounding their person.  Some, out-of-body and in spirit, might leave the room or even travel to specific places and hear people talking and repeat what they had heard after reviving.  This refutes the skeptics who believe it is a phenomenon that takes place in the brain and believe they were never really dead.

My aunt, when she passed on, came to the bed of her granddaughter.  She told her she was going to be with the Lord.  She was told to be a good girl and then she was gone.  Her granddaughter told what happened before anyone knew she had died.

Dr. Moody explains that many who died went through a dark tunnel and came into a very brilliant light at the end.  Others just felt they were rising above the clouds and viewed earth as an astronaut would.  Christians who saw the bright light believed it was Christ Who had said: “I am the light of the world.”  John 8:12 – “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’”

Some spoke of family and friends who had previously died were there to meet them.  Others believe that they met with a religious figure such as Christ who showed them a review of everything they had done to other people.  They were asked: what have you done with your life that you can show me?  It was not asked in a condemning way.  They were then asked if they wished to stay or to return.  Of course those who returned requested to do so.

Those who have returned come back with a different perspective on life.  While gone they witnessed a love that was indescribable. They no longer fear death and they have learned to love like never before.  There is no question in their minds if there is life after death.

If we are going to be asked what we have done with our life, what do you want to relate?  Would you like to say you were very self-centered and there were a lot of people you hated?  Would you want to say you had accepted Christ as your Savior but you didn’t really repent? Suppose you lived as the world lives and not a holy life as the Bible teaches?   Or maybe you planned to but you died before you got around to it.  How easy is it to trade 80 some years for eternity?  Keep in mind, this is God’s laboratory and we are here to be tested and to prepare for our future.  Will we pass the test or fail?

Revelation 20:12 – “And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.”

I Thessalonians 4:1 – 8 – “As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.  For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.  It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.  Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.”