Often I am inspired listening to Charles Stanley and write blogs based on his sermons. This past week he talked about the importance of waiting on God. He used these verses. Isaiah 64:4 “For when you did awesome things that we did not expect, you came down, and the mountains trembled before you. [Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.” A God who acts on our behalf if we will wait for Him.]

The principle that we must not violate is the gift of patience. In my younger days I got caught up in the world’s instant gratification need. If we needed something the credit card was handy. It was never a matter of could we afford it; it was something that we had to have so let’s get it. There were many times we spent more than we earned. It was the thing to do, because everyone was doing it. Besides, I was working hard and spending a lot of time earning a living and we had earned the better things in life.

If we wanted something, we didn’t stop to pray and ask the Lord if this is something we should have we just bought it. It wasn’t that we were disobedient we just had not understood that God wanted to be involved in our lives. As I look back it seems that the devil had more persuasion on our lives that God. INSTANT GRATIFICATION! There are a number of things that Satan can use to keep us from living a godly and holy life. He also uses fear to persuade how we live our lives.

Once we realized through Bible study that God wanted to be personally involved in our lives did we change. If we let Him, God wants to encourage, heal, teach, protect us, empower us and answer our prayers. He always wants what is best for us. However, He gives us free moral agency to make our decisions and not to over-ride what we choose. Well, how long should we wait if our prayer is not answered before we take action? King David waited over ten years from the time he was selected to be the next king until he was crowned. He had the opportunity to kill King Saul twice but chose to allow the Lord to work it out. Joseph was told in a dream that others would bow before him. He waited years before the dream actually happened.

For a number of years I wanted to own my own business. It meant leaving a well paying career and begin with no income. What I learned from this experience is the importance of faith and trust that God would meet our needs. It wasn’t a matter of one day deciding, it took time and one day the door opened as clearly as it could. As a result, things have worked out better than expected. We must pray for God’s will and purpose, then wait for His timing and direction.

I realize the older we get and the more spiritually mature we become it is easier to wait on the Lord. But the more we allowed God to be involved in our lives, the more trust we developed and the greater our faith became. We no longer are tempted to do things our way and in our time. We will continue to be patient. If you want a more blessed life let God act on your behalf and wait for his direction and timing.

Having spent many years in management and having worked with thousands of people I believe using Christian principles can be a tremendous benefit in becoming a leader and being successful. To become an elder at Central Christian Church you are asked to read I Timothy 3:1 – 7 and comment on each requirement that Paul uses to describe how to select a leader for the church. May I suggest that if you are a leader or would like to become one in the church, in an organization or in any business, you may want to read what the apostle Paul writes to Timothy about leadership.

Many of us have learned to become leaders by seeing the mistakes of bosses or supervisors for whom we have worked. Some of us have worked for imperfect, overbearing or incompetent bosses and realize that they can drain our energy and all but destroy creativity. Creative, competent and independent-thinking people have a tendency to challenge questionable decisions and this is intolerable to certain bosses. Or have you worked for a boss whose decisions were capricious, arbitrary and seldom predictable? This is why I believe what Scripture teaches can be so helpful in developing a leadership attitude and abilities.

The apostle Paul says that a good leader needs to have high ethical standards and have a good reputation with others. He or she should be a person who is living a life that is blameless and fair to all. It is a person who is in no relationship or a monogamous one. A leader should live and do things in moderation, having limits, control excesses and not be seen as an extravagant individual. They should have enough self-control to resist temptations and would never become addicted to anything. They should make reasonable and sane judgments.

A leader must be respected by others. We must realize that our decisions and behavior determines our character and present a lasting impression on others. Respect is always earned and never comes from one’s position. A disrespected boss can only obtain a limited amount of productivity. In order to gain the most effort out of employees their management style is normally based on fear.

A good leader must be a gracious host and have a servant’s heart according to Paul. They would never ask someone to do something they would not be willing to do themselves or pitch in and help if the need is warranted.

A good leader must be able to teach and communicate in order for others to understand. It is important to have purpose and direction or a mission statement in order for everyone to be on the same page. Bosses sometimes really do not know what it is they want and lack the ability to give proper directions. This can lead to having a dysfunctional work force.

Paul would probably ask who would like working for a drunk. Many people who are alcoholics drink because of personal problems or to escape reality. Throughout Paul’s writing he is continually stressing moderation in all things and becoming addicted to nothing.

A good leader is able to control anger. A leader can be stern and use discipline without raising their voice or going into contortions. Anger can cause words to be used that can destroy employee’s morale. A person with a gentle spirit can be just as requiring as an ogre.

There are bosses who have quarrelsome attitudes. No matter what is said they need to state their opinion. In some situations they need to prove that their way is the only and best way. There are bosses who are unwilling to listen to anyone under their authority with different suggestions. They limit one’s ingenuity and effectiveness by not allowing an employee to take ownership in what they have been asked to do.

Scripture teaches us that money must be a by-product from services rendered. If money is our goal it can become our god. My business or one’s job must be part of their ministry for Christ. I hope most people understand what this means. We are not to put ourselves before others and should be doing our job in a way to help others. We are to live by the “Golden Rule” to do unto others as we would have them do unto us. I have found over the years that an employer cannot afford to lose good, qualified and capable employees. In normal times these people have unlimited opportunities. Good leadership surrounds themselves with superior employees and makes conditions conducive to keeping that help.

Paul goes on in verses 4 through 7 stating that a good leader must be able to manage their family well. If one cannot manage their family they probably will never become a great leader. To do an adequate job at both home and workplace requires compassion. Too many times parents can be too authoritative, domineering, cruel, overly stern or abnormally protective. Thus, they cause those they lead to become dependent upon the leader to provide their purpose and direction. Studies have indicated that many times how one manages at home is duplicated in the workplace.

Parents and good leaders must show firmness, mercy and compassion. They must be fair and have balance in their decision making. They must be responsible role models and earn the respect of their family or their employees. If those whom we lead do not respect our authority they will have a tendency to resist our leadership and in some cases families will rebel and employees may find other jobs.

Promotions to supervisory position can often make some become over-confident and self-absorbed with their new found power. Bosses who have allowed power to make themselves conceited can create demoralized employees. According to the apostle Paul it is best that a person have time in service and understand what needs to be done and how to do it. A Christian leader should not be placed into a leadership position until they are well-founded in their faith and truly understand Scripture. They must not allow pride to make them believe they are more important that they are. Many times we put people in leadership positions and then find they have missed paying their taxes, have been stealing or have had or are having sexual escapades that damage their reputation and that of the church or for whom they are working.

I attest to the fact that I have found these Christian principles will work for any leader in any setting. As we enter into a political season I would like to see two traits that each political leader would have. I would hope this coming November we would elect political leaders who would listen to their constituents and second, they would tell the truth. I believe one’s integrity and morality is a must. It ought to be a characteristic of every Christian. Some of the things I have seen from both parties have been deplorable.

I do a lot of reading and of course read the Bible. It is amazing what some people believe and are very convincing to others that they are right. Yet, the Bible disproves what many are telling us.

A scientist who is into space travel was describing how private enterprise would be selling space travel for $200,000 per person shortly. So start saving your money now. He then went on to describe what global warming will do to the earth and that we had better start looking for another planet on which to live. Our earth is about to give out and we need to get to another planet if mankind is to survive. This denies Biblical teaching that God will create a new heaven and a new earth and take us there.

We are being told that very shortly water will cover so much of the earth that we will not have enough land left to produce food for people to live. It is only a few years until we will run out of natural resources. How can such a well educated man teaching at a university be so wrong? How can people be so naïve that they believe what these people are telling us? I often wonder if these people are not in the wrong institutions and maybe a better place would be where they live under supervision—but not university teachers. Do we really need to build enough space shuttles to transfer people to another planet? Do we really know that Mars or another planet could be inhabited?

The Bible stresses that there will always be false teachers and even the elite believers will be persuaded. I Timothy 4:1 – “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.”

There are many who are promoting global warming making millions and millions of dollars. Individuals, manufacturers promoting green, scientists who receive millions of dollars in grants to prove global warming is a fact. Politicians receive campaign money for re-election if they enact laws that will limit carbon emission into the air. Show me one place in the Bible that God warns of man destroying the earth other than by war. Do we no longer believe that God is in control?

But I am always skeptical when people are making a lot of money from convincing people disaster is just ahead. We saw it prior to Y2K and next will be before December 21, 2012. We have seen what congress has been able to do by promoting the fear of a worldwide depression. If we didn’t bail out the banks and spend billions to stimulate the economy the world as we know it would end.

Fear is a tremendous motivator and it is being used like I have never seen used previously. Don’t fall into Satan’s trap! But if you want to become a multi-millionaire find a way to scare people and then provide a product or a way for them to escape or feel safe. You may start by writing a book or producing a movie as others have done. I am sure other evil ideas will ensue your thinking as you have seen some do.

I know the following Scripture may not apply to what has just been written. I Timothy 6:9 – 11 – “People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.” I am so pleased that the Holy Spirit has given to me the gift of “contentment” and I do not have to chase after dollars or material things. However, over the years we learned to spend much less than I earned. (As my college professor used to say, “A word to the wise should be sufficient.”)

The volcano in southern Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull glacier sends more ash into the air – wreaking havoc on travelers across the globe. Is there any way we can put a cap and trade tax on any country that allows a volcano to erupt? This eruption is causing ice caps and glaciers to melt and it may cause the oceans to rise and wipe out coastal cities.

Do you think when God created the earth He allowed for volcanoes to erupt and carbon emissions to escape into the atmosphere that would cause global warming? I keep looking in Scripture where it tells us that humans must be concerned that we don’t destroy the earth that God created. If God is omniscient and knows all I wonder if He has a plan to keep man from destroying the earth? I wonder how familiar with the Bible are those telling us we need to raise gasoline taxes by 15 cents to keep us driving less and tax utilities so we must pay 30% more each month. The older we get the more cynical some of us become! Forgive me this one time! Back to normal Monday.

My intention was never to blog about political issues. But I have felt inspired to write about what I have been reading concerning President Obama’s last meeting with Israel’s Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. Following is a newspaper article.

Quote (“For a head of government to visit the White House and not pose for photographers is rare. For a key ally to be left to his own devices while the President withdraws to have dinner in private was, until this week, unheard of. Yet that is how Binyamin Netanyahu was treated by President Obama on Tuesday night, according to Israeli reports on a trip viewed in Jerusalem as a humiliation.”

“After failing to extract a written promise of concessions on settlements, Mr. Obama walked out of his meeting with Mr. Netanyahu but invited him to stay at the White House, consult with advisers and “let me know if there is anything new”, a US congressman, who spoke to the Prime Minister, said.”

“It was awful,” the congressman said. One Israeli newspaper called the meeting “a hazing in stages”, poisoned by such mistrust that the Israeli delegation eventually left rather than risk being eavesdropped on a White House telephone line. Another said that the Prime Minister had received “the treatment reserved for the President of Equatorial Guinea”.) End of quote!

Scripture tells us how we are to treat Israel. Genesis 12:2 & 3 – God tells Abraham the following: “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” As a Christian nation we have stood with Israel. However, Satan has turned most nations against Israel.

It hasn’t only been President Obama who has tried to establish a Palestine nation but others have continually asked Israel to give up some of their land to cement the deal. Genesis 15:18 – 21 – “On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram and said, ‘To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates, the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites.’”

Some day God will allow Israel to have all of this land. Is there any doubt that will happen if God said He would? What allows us to suggest that they give up more land? Then we read further in Genesis 17:6 – 8 – “I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. The whole land of Canaan, where you are now an alien, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.” As I read this, God is saying the covenant is everlasting (never ending), even with your descendants for the generations to come. What don’t I understand?

On July 2nd 2009 I wrote a blog called, “Are we living in the end times?” Let me refresh your memory.

I read 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 no one will come to Israel’s rescue, (Does that surprise you?) and Scripture says that God will destroy the armies from the north. Everyone will know that it was a “God Thing”.

If you follow current events you may be aware that Moscow has aggressively pursued political, economic and military ties to Iran in defiance of U.S. and European protests. Russia has authorized the sale of nuclear technology to Iran. They are training nuclear scientists and are providing them with the latest in armament.

Since May 14, 1948 when Israel was established, Middle-Eastern nations have tried to destroy them. The Bible says that before the Russian and Iran led war, Israel will live in a time of calm and will accumulate great wealth. Isaiah 45:3 says: “I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.” (Referring to this time in history) Foreign energy companies are finding enormous reserves of gas and an adequate amount of oil in Israel’s possession.

Scripture tells us that (Magog) Russia and (Persia) Iran and others will be led to invade Israel. Ezekiel 38:4 – “I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaws and bring you out with your whole army—your horses, your horsemen fully armed, and a great horde with large and small shields, all of them brandishing their swords.” Ezekiel goes on in 38:9 – “You and all your troops and the many nations with you will go up, advancing like a storm; you will be like a cloud covering the land.”

Russia has hugely increased their defense budget, including new aircraft, rockets and the size of their army. The Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad believes it is his duty to prepare the way for the Islamic messiah by destroying the Jews and Christians. Thus, he has vowed to annihilate the U.S. and Israel and is preparing his military and nuclear weapons to accomplish that. As we continue in Ezekiel 39:2 & 4 – “I will turn you around and drag you along. I will bring you from the far north and send you against the mountains of Israel. On the mountains of Israel you will fall, you and all your troops and the nations with you. I will give you as food to all kinds of carrion birds and to the wild animals.” How close are we getting to the time when Ezekiel’s vision will come to pass?

It is possible that Israel could launch a massive, pre-emptive nuclear strike against Moscow, Tehran, Damascus and other enemy cities. However, Russia could launch a nuclear attack that would leave no one standing.

Ezekiel 38:18 – 22 – “This is what will happen in that day: When Gog attacks the land of Israel, my hot anger will be aroused, declares the Sovereign LORD. In my zeal and fiery wrath I declare that at that time there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel. The fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the beasts of the field, every creature that moves along the ground, and all the people on the face of the earth will tremble at my presence. The mountains will be overturned, the cliffs will crumble and every wall will fall to the ground. I will summon a sword against Gog on all my mountains, declares the Sovereign LORD. Every man’s sword will be against his brother. I will execute judgment upon him with plague and bloodshed; I will pour down torrents of rain, hailstones and burning sulfur on him and on his troops and on the many nations with him.”

Ezekiel raises many questions: Will Russia supernaturally be destroyed? The Bible says the devastation will be like something we have never seen before. It is believed that we will see a resurgence of religions worldwide. We assume this will give the world one last chance for salvation before the War of Armageddon.

Afterwards, we believe the Jews will begin their building of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. They will take back land God promised them. Isaiah 2:2 – “In the last days the mountain of the LORD’s temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. “ We believe Scripture teaches that until the Jews and the Jewish people turn to Christ in huge numbers and get excited about His Second Coming Jesus said he would delay His return.

Should America be thumbing their noses at Israel? I think not! But you be the judge.

What if I were to tell you that December 21, 2012 was the end of the world as we know it? I then went on to explain what signs tell me that the end is coming. First, let me give some background. The Mayan and Hopi’s predictions are that the world will end on that day. A number are taking this prediction very serious. Thousands of people in the Netherlands are preparing for that day by accumulating emergency supplies. It has been circulating on the Internet, in books and recently a motion picture. Rumor has it that the government is actually preparing secret underground bunkers. The government, presently have secret bunkers placed in strategic places. On 9/11/2001 Vice-President Dick Cheney was rushed to one of these bunkers. We have 140 military bases underground with over 200,000 people employed. Some underground bunkers are as deep as two miles. These bunker are large enough and with enough supplies to handle a number of key Americans.

What we think about the end and eternity will determine how we live our lives today. Are we preparing for Jesus’ return or are we living as if there will never be an end? Prophets in the Old Testament told us about Christ’s first coming and it turned out exactly as predicted. Are the predictions in the New Testament something we can believe in?

II Peter 3:10 – 12 – “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.”

Revelation 6:12 – 14 – “There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.”

What are the signs of the time telling us? 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.”

Read each of the above signs. Is there one thing that is not taking place today? The last sentence reads: “Having a form of godliness but denying its power”. Paul warns us not to be deceived by people who claim to be Christians but do not have the Holy Spirit. If you watch them closely their behavior will give them away.

Do I think the end is coming in December 2012? No! There are still too many things to come. Read my next blog on April 12th for further information.