I was asked to give a devotional dealing with Christ’s healing and driving out demons from possessed people. It seemed that almost as many demon possessed people came to Jesus as came for healing. I have often wondered if there were so many possessed people during Biblical times wouldn’t there be just as many or even more today? I suggested to my small group that there may even be some politicians who could possibly be possessed. They thought I might be fantasying. You be the judge!

I came across an article from the Times, March 11. Chief exorcist Father Gabriele Amorth says, “The Devil is in the Vatican.” The following is what I read. “Father Gabriele Amorth, 85, who has been the Vatican’s chief exorcist for 25 years and says he has dealt with 70,000 cases of demonic possession and that satanic force, has infiltration the Vatican.”

Here is a person who knows the Devil thoroughly, having confronted these 70,000 cases and knows the Vatican intimately. When he speaks of the Devil and of the Vatican, he deserves to be taken seriously. On what basis did he come to these conclusions? He cited these reasons:

• The ever growing sex abuse scandals within the Roman Catholic Church.

• The power struggle within the Vatican.

• The cardinals in the Roman Catholic Church who do not believe in Jesus.

• Bishops who are linked to the Demons.

(The above is a paraphrase from the article.) I only use the article to point out that there are satanic forces everywhere and not to judge the Catholic Church. If what Father Amorth, who seems to be an authority, is describing what is going on at the Vatican I am sure it is going on everywhere.

We know that there are similar conditions occurring in Washington, D.C. There is a power struggle. There are some who do not believe in Jesus. I know we have had sex scandals but I am not sure about being linked to Demons. It is believed that Nero, Hitler, Stalin and other leaders were, to some degree, influenced by demons. Is it not possible to believe that the world is filled with possessed people in all walks of life? If one person, Father Amorth, can deal with 70,000 possessed people, how many would a thousand Catholic exorcists deal with?

I am reminded of a minister who had an affair. Many found out about it. He lost his job. His wife divorced him. His children refused to associate with him. Two years later he was at the grocery store and ran into the woman with whom he had the affair. He apologized to her and was sorry for the problems that the affair caused. The woman replied—you don’t need to apologize, I knew I could bring you down! My reaction was: There was no excuse for what the minister did but this was a very evil woman. The devil knows who can and who can’t be tempted. Many times Satan’s demons are putting temptations in front of us. Before we yield: Think, is this Satan’s lure? Is he trying to bring me down?

Ephesians 6:12 – “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Most of us do not realize the extent that Satan and his demons have infiltrated our world. The Bible says we can do something about it. That is prayer! I have asked Christians to pray that God would send a revival to change people’s hearts. Our nation is going through some perilous times. We need to become a much stronger Christian nation and get back to Christian principles. If you would be interested in praying for a revival, go to Facebook and search “100 prayer warriors” and sign up.

Friday March 19, the Wall Street Journal had an article on the origination of basketball. “It brought back a number of memories.” I grew up in an urban community of approximately 500. Our grade school was grade one through eight. We had three basketball teams. The A team, B team and the Peewee team. In the third grade I made the peewee team. We played teams in the city.

Our high school team in my senior year was third in the state of Washington. That year I was the inspiration award winner at our banquet held at the YMCA. A number of us were members and would go to the YMCA to play basketball and Ping-Pong. I went on to play in college. I then coached basketball for two year at a Christian high school. My last year coaching we were the state of Idaho Parochial champions.

According to the WSJ a young Christian, James Naismith had received a master’s degree from a Presbyterian Theological College and went to serve as a physical-education instructor for the YMCA. His assignment was not only to handle their P.E. program but to win young men to Christ. He was encouraged by the Y’s director to create an indoor game for students during the winter months. In 1881 basketball was born. Dr. Naismith held the players to a high moral standard promoting sportsmanship. His goal was to develop the whole person—mind, body and spirit.

Beginning in 1897, YMCAs were on college and university campuses and had tremendous participation nationwide. Close to 50,000 men were enrolled in YMCA college Bible studies by 1905. There were 1,000 at Yale alone. These students would go on local mission trips to minister to needy children in nearby urban neighborhoods. A February in 1911 a trip to New Hampshire 43 out of 70 boys became Christians. Their goal was to reach the world for Christ. Basketball served as an important evangelical tool for many during its first 50 years.

Dr. Naismith never profited from the sport or never received remuneration for speaking. The WSJ article ends: “The sport may have lost its relationship to Christianity, it will always have the tremendous legacy of a founder who, like his Lord, put others before himself, as he awaited his blessed hope, as the Scripture says: ‘The glorious appearance of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.’”

Our younger people have little idea what it was like sixty years ago in America. We were definitely a Christian nation. J. C. Penny started the Golden Rule Stores in 1902. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Where I lived everyone knew what the Golden Rule meant and most followed it. In school we talked about God and the history of our country. We had to memorize poems, such as “The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere”. We studied the constitution, the Bill of Rights. We started each day with the Pledge of Allegiance in grade school.

It is too bad we couldn’t have progressed scientifically and technically and maintained our Christian heritage. I doubt few of us would like to go back to when we had no TVs; few homes had radios or telephones. Some families had no electricity or indoor plumbing. However, I can still remember the neighbors who you could always count on. Did we as a nation give up Christianity for progress and fairness?

It was October 1984 and it was a busy time at the store. We were getting ready for Christmas and were in the process of hiring additional employees. For a couple of weeks I had not been feeling well and finally gave in and went to the doctor. I was told that I had had a heart attack and was to go directly to the hospital. A number of tests and I was wheeled into the operating room and had a four-bypass surgery.

It was August 2005 and I had an appointment at the City of Henderson. I was feeling terrible. My attorney suggested I go to the emergency room. I was diagnosed with having had a massive heart attack. They said my heart was too weak for them to operate. My family was told they may not find a surgeon even willing to operate. I spent a week in ICU with IVs so they could administer fluids and medications intravenously. Finally they found a doctor to do a five-bypass on me. They told my family the chances were slim that I would make it.

I believe that God allows Christians to go through pain, suffering or problems to get us to respond. Scripture says that once we accept Christ as our Savior, God will make us more Christ-like. When a Christian goes through problems and suffering, as in my case, you immediately turn to God. Whatever it takes to drive us closer to a personal relationship with God is actually good for us. I wrote in “Miracle on the Hudson” that when a miracle takes place and a person realizes it, it can change the purpose and direction of their entire life. I have read of service men in a life and death situation promise God that if He will save them, they will live for Him the rest of their lives. Go through serious medical problems and see if you do not become more concerned about life after death and eternity.

We will all have needs, whether they are physical, mental, spiritual or financial. God promises to meet those needs. Yet, we worry and wonder why God, at times, is not meeting our needs. I have prayed with a number of people who seemed that all looked hopeless. They had lost faith and were struggling with why God was not answering their prayers. There is a reason for everything. If you ever find yourself in that situation read the following Scripture: Philippians 4:11b – 13 & 19 – “For I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength… And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”

When we really study the Bible and learn what God promises it should change how we look at suffering, whether it is mental or physical. I can testify that when you are wondering if you will continue to live you can be content knowing that death is only the beginning and not the end.

I found myself not only content but trusting that God would do what was best for me and meet my needs. There was not one minute I can remember worrying whether I would continue to live or not. The point I wish to get across is that knowing the Bible teaches that God’s Spirit is with us every second. I trust God completely and know that He loves me and wants what is best for me. Suffering does get our attention and it is great that we know that God is with us to take us through it.

Matthew 6:25 – 27 & 33 – “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life…But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

These past five years I have had excellent health! I lived 20 years after my first bypass with excellent health. Did God get my attention and has life changed since 1984 and the first operation? You bet! I praise Him that I am still able to work each week and glad that the stock market is doing better.

According to Fortune Magazine, in 1927 a writer wrote about robots and this was thought of as science fiction. In the past few years advancements in computing and demand for ways to lower human costs have led to the development of robots. Today we have over 7,000 unmanned planes over Iraq and Afghanistan. On the ground we have 12,000 unmanned vehicles used to find roadside bombs and defuse them. According to the article these robots are like the Model T Ford, to cars or the Wright Brothers’ flights, compared to today’s planes. Unmanned planes were used in Haiti to take thousands of pictures to determine damages and locate the need for food, medicine and other products.

Can you imagine wars being fought behind television screens launching unmanned planes and deploying unmanned tanks? What will this do to future jobs? Could the young people playing war games on computers be the army of the future?

I just read in the paper the number of students who failed to finish high school nationally and in particular Las Vegas. Robots, computerizing machines and equipment will limit the number of unskilled jobs available. The fact is we have cars that park themselves. Will there be a time when we can eliminate the job of valets? In the future it may be that a worker could need a college degree, or at least additional education to obtain a skilled job or find a career opportunity. How far will technology advance and as it does lessen the need for unskilled manpower?

I have suggested in the past that we must pray for our children that God gives them a purpose and direction in their lives. Most of our young people have no idea what direction they should pursue in life. Parents, grandparents and our children must continually pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance. I don’t know who accumulates statistics or how accurate it is but I have read where Christian youngsters have had an advantage when there were prayers going up for them to find their purpose in life.

I do not want to get into what our children are being taught but if we are going to give them a future at least as good as we have had things must change. If we are to see America in the future as our forefathers intended with our constitution, we must pray that a spiritual revival spreads across our country and especially in Washington, D.C. A democracy or republic can only survive if its people live a moral and ethical life and live by the Golden Rule—“Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Romans 13:9) Please pray for a spiritual revival to sweep our nation. Pray for our school district!

I recently read an article concerning flight 1549 that landed on the Hudson River in January 2009. All 150 passengers and crew survived. Many referred to it as the “Miracle on the Hudson.” It was an incredible story. What caught my eye was that many disaster survivors felt driven to change the way they had been living and start a new life with a new purpose. It was important that their lives became more fulfilling with more meaning. I came across another article and according to the National Earthquake Information Center in the past 25 years, 2008 was the year that had the most earthquakes recorded with 31,777. After disasters there seems to have been a number of miraculous events. A person who feels God spared their life has a tendency to have a different perspective of life’s future.

My thought—isn’t this what is supposed to happen when a person accepts Jesus Christ and receives salvation? How difficult it is for most to free themselves from the ways of the world. I understand the difficulty to make a complete change in how one lives and behaves. First, a Christian must realize we had a sin problem that could have cost our life forever. We must accept that we have been controlled by the world, sin and self-centeredness. Many of us have lived for instant self-gratification. Instead of a desire to have everything the world has to give, we now must live for what God has to offer. We must live a holy life with a goal, possibly requiring delayed satisfaction, of a life in Heaven throughout eternity

I wrote in a past blog that if we were to go through what some of those living through the past two earth quakes are encountering, our lives afterward probably would become simpler and our needs would be fewer. Once we become use to a certain standard of living and then possibly find ourselves having to tremendously cut back, it is difficult to adjust. Becoming a Christian requires that we must repent and restructure our lives. One example, we are commanded by God to tithe. Most find their financial situation such that it is all they can do is to pay their bills. Or, they just refuse to tithe and look everywhere in Scripture to justify their belief that tithing is not necessary. (Where your treasure is there is your heart)

Too many do not realize that they were headed for the Day of Judgment and were saved from a disastrous eternity. Accepting Christ and the Holy Spirit into our lives should help us to react similarly to those who were a part of the “Miracle on the Hudson”. A complete change should take place. Yet, this is not always what we see.

Many years ago there were more sermons on what happens when a person goes to Hell. The story Jesus told of Lazarus and the rich man got my attention. The rich man suffered and cried for Abraham to have Lazarus dip his hand in water and tough his tongue. But there was a gulf that separated them and it couldn’t be done. When I was able to compare the difference between Heaven and Hell it didn’t take much consideration as to where I wanted to spend eternity.

Then 1 John 3:10 told me what to do. “This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.” And then 1John 3:24 – “Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.” From then on I did everything to obey His commands. I then realized that the Holy Spirit had become a part of my life and ever since has checked me at times and continually has given me guidance.

I would like one weekend to survey every 21 year or older who are in attendance at church. I would like to ask one question: If you were to pass away right now would there be any doubt in your mind that you will go to heaven? The answer is – yes or no. I don’t want to know who you are. I just want to know what percent have a true relationship with God.

A lot of people believe but many struggle with faith. Faith is putting into action what we believe. Even the apostles lacked faith prior to the resurrection and the receiving of the Holy Spirit. To those who would have answered yes to the survey I would like to share what I believe God promises each one.

You should expect God to let you see and hear things that others may never see or hear.
-You will be able to trust God when others may be unable to do so.
-You will be able to have faith that others may never have.
-You will be able to accomplish things that others will be unable to do. Faith removes the fear of reasonable risk!

God will allow you to have your needs met and others may never meet theirs. Those who live as the world lives will never have enough and will always want more.

We have tremendous advantages as Christians when we do the will of our Lord. Scripture that I use occasionally is 1 John 2:15 – 17 – “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.” NLT

What does it take to do the will of God and what are some advantages? We are to have a pure and a sinless heart with holy and righteous motives. That comes as a result of surrendering our old nature, self-centeredness and following Christ’s ways. We must reject the world’s ways.

1 John 5:4 – “For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.” What does John mean by defeating this evil world? He means not submitting to the desires of the world and thus doing God’s will. It may mean being ethical in all things. Or, it may mean staying out of debt. We should be a giver rather than a taker. It could be a person who is an encourager and builds others up rather than discouraging and tearing others down. It may mean that I might want all the things the world offers but am content with meeting my basic needs and sharing with others. Are we willing to reject the world’s lifestyle and how most people think?

According to Scripture those who do God’s will are special. If we are special then we can accept God’s promises as they are meant for us. Remember the parable of the talents? God took the money from the bad and lazy servant and gave it to the good and faithful steward. There are many promises that give a number of advantages to Christians who do the will of God. Keep in mind those doing His will, will always have advantages. Live looking for what special things God has in mind for each one of us. And continue to count the many blessings with which God will shower us.

It is possible that earthquakes are becoming more plentiful. Is it a sign that we are getting to the end times?

Matthew 13:7 – 8 – “When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.”

Christ tells us to be prepared for there is a Day of Judgment coming. No one knows when that day will be but if we interpret our Bible correctly it isn’t too close and yet not too far away. The early church believed it would be within a few generations that the end would come. Many in our generation believed that it could come at any time. Verse 10 – “The gospel must first be preached to all nations.” Before the end times we know everyone will have a chance to have heard the message of the gospel.

Chapter eleven of Revelation indicates that during the Tribulation there will be tremendous earthquakes, famines and wars. It is my belief that the two recent earthquakes are no more than the earth going through what it has gone through since sin occurred in the Garden of Eden when the earth became cursed.

I have been through three earthquakes of six and seven on the Richter Scale. Chile’s earthquake had to put a number of people into a panic. An 8.8 is much more severe and way more powerful than Haiti’s. Initial reports indicate there was less damage and fewer losses of lives in Chile because of government building requirements and a different living standard.

On average there is an earthquake between 8.0 and 8.9 that occurs at least once a year. Earthquakes between 6.0 and 6.9 occur about 120 times in a year somewhere around the world. About 100 years ago there was a 9.5 earthquake in Ecuador. I remember Alaska having a 9.2 in 1964. I knew the store manager of the Montgomery Ward store in Anchorage. It suffered severe damage and totaled out a large part of their inventory.

My belief based on history, Southern California is due at anytime. In fact, it may have gone longer than normal. In 1972 I was asked to manage the Anaheim Ward’s store in Los Angeles. There were a number of reasons I turned it down. However, one of those reasons was my experience going through some large earthquakes in Washington state and Japan. Then in 1987 I was at a Ward’s meeting and was on the eighth floor of a hotel by the Ontario airport when the Whittier 6.0 earthquake hit. There is nothing you can do except pray and I did.

Everywhere in this world people are facing disasters. Many believe some of our problems, such as global warming, are caused by man. Indirectly the earth was cursed because of sin. However, no where can I find in the Bible that man will cause the earth’s temperature to rise. The snow storms on the east coast are not caused by man. As I have written previously, I do not believe it is God punishing those people. The earth goes through cycles. Go back and study history. Everything that is now happening has happened many times previously. This is another reason we should be praying for everyone. We have been blessed to live in an area that is fairly free from disasters. With all of the sin that goes on in Las Vegas you would think that if God were punishing sinners we would be in a heap of trouble.

Too often we fret, worry or become frustrated over minor problems. When we realize what these people are going through, having been involved in these two earthquakes, it seems many of our problems are fairly insignificant. If we were to go through disasters such as these and survive I would imagine our lives may become simpler and our needs would be fewer. At least we would put more trust in God.

Haiti is one of the most corrupt nations in the world. The World Bank puts it at 151 out of 183 countries. Haiti is said to be one of the hardest places in the world to establish a legal business. If you follow all of their procedures, pay the fees and bribes it would cost three times what an average citizen makes annually. The protection of investors and property is not a guarantee because of a lax enforcement and a dysfunctional legal system. What would it take to make Haiti a competitive nation and people’s standard of living considerably improved?

For a republic to work as the U.S. is, it requires a nation with morals. Look at Mexico! If they were established on Christian principles, had our constitution, our legal system and our form of Government would they have similar results? They don’t and millions have fled in order to feed their families. In fact, we have put up fences and patrol our borders to keep them out. Could they at this time establish our form of government? No! They are not a Christian nation or a generally moral nation as most countries aren’t.

What has always made the United States different? The foundation of our country was created on Christian principles—to love God and love our neighbor. Sure, many no longer live by Christian principles but it is our constitution, our form of government and the average American’s acceptance, realizing the necessity to conform in order to live in the greatest nation in the world. Though corruption exists there are enough honest, hardworking men and women with the integrity to be productive within the system.

What would happen if the average American were to no longer be guided by Christian beliefs? We would lose our freedom and rely on the government to meet our needs. We would become very much like many of the European nations. Does it sound familiar?

How do we keep America as it has always been? Do we let our government control our economy and enact socialist laws and programs? Or, do we change the hearts of individuals to maintain our freedom and our ingenuity? There is a big difference in philosophies being presented to us. When do Christians really get earnest in praying for our country and our leadership? When do we start praying that America needs a spiritual revival? We must never let the U.S. not be a Christian nation. The consequences could be disastrous.