Pick up a newspaper or view the Internet and it is clear Christians  are being persecuted worldwide.  In one example a Christian pastor is being imprisoned in Iran for almost three years because he refused to deny Christ and faces a death sentence.  But there are possibly 100 million more facing similar conditions.  Christians are being imprisoned in Egypt for building churches.  Christian churches are being bombed in Nigeria.  Somalia has beheaded some.  The situation is very bad in most every Islamic nation as well as in China and North Korea.

Pope Benedict XVI has spoken out about the persecution but little emphasis has been put on options to correct the condition.  One option could be to demand western governments to become involved.  Clergy from all denominations should take action.  Why is there not a concerted and collective effort by millions of American Christians to become supporters even if it means protest marches in love?  We have rallies in Washington, D. C. for every other cause. Isn’t it about time 200 million Christian Americans bring attention to these worldwide persecutions?

Christian leaders in Muslim nations live day to day not knowing when their time is up.  When will it be time to demand that they have a right to worship just as other religions do?  Are we to turn our heads each time a church is bombed in Africa or Asia?

Revelation 13:7 – “It was given power to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And it was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation.” NIT

Revelation 13:9 – 10 – “Whoever has ears, let them hear. ‘If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity they will go.  If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword they will be killed.’  This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of God’s people.”

Are we not aware that the goal of the Antichrist is to eliminate every Christian from the face of the earth?  Shouldn’t something be done to slow the process? Or do we assume it is God’s plan for ending the world as prophesized?  Should we do nothing by ignoring the persecutions and assume the Antichrist is about to take over.  I think not!

The world is filled with rulers and people who are fierce, wicked, and cruel.  They delight in persecuting and killing Christians.  It will take those with courage and boldness to take action. Isn’t this what the United Nation is supposed to do, stop countries from violating one’s civil rights? The UN wants to prosecute President Bush for water boarding, a supposed civil rights violation. But what do they do for persecuted Christians—nothing.  Are we willing to wait until they come after every Christian or is now the time to stop these atrocities?  It takes those with courage and boldness to take action. Churches should inform and make members aware of what is happening.  There should be prayer groups crying out for these persecuted souls who need  God’s protection.  Would it be wrong to pray for those who are doing the persecuting so that their hearts might  be softened so that they will heed God speaking to them?

We are told thousands of Christians are leaving Egypt.  The next thing we may hear is that Christians are being fed to the lions.  It has happened before when crowds in the Roman arenas  cheered as Christians died terrible deaths.  Thousands of Christians were executed often in cruel and unusual ways, with animals regularly playing a role,  all for the entertainment of a depraved populace.

What about church leaders.  Do they have any responsibility to take action in protecting our own?    What would Jesus do during these serious times?  Would He play a passive role?

“First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for the Communists and I did not speak out because I was not a Communist.  Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me.”  By Pastor Niemoller

There are hundreds of ways to find good jobs and get hired.  They tell you how much money you can make and all of their fabulous benefits.  You may never know how much you will like a position until you actually begin to perform.  Most end up disliking what they do.  As a result, they do not succeed.

I started working in the fifth grade delivering newspapers.  After a year I began setting pins in a bowling alley.  This was prior to having to have a work permit.  If you applied and could do the job you were hired regardless of age.  I then spent three years in a shoe-shine parlor with four others working after school and summers.  I then became an elevator operator when they had to be run manually.  I did this for two different hotels. I then spent four years in the Navy. One summer I worked as an electrician’s helper, one logging, another was working on The Dalles Dam and one picking fruit. I know what it is to work without a goal.  I worked for money in order to buy what I wanted.  None of those jobs were dream jobs to me and I can’t say I did any enthusiastically.  These jobs did buy me cars, clothes, an education and basic needs.

I heard a sermon on Ephesians 6:5 – 9 and it changed how I worked.  “Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.  Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.  Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.  And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.”

Instead of the word slaves, inserted was the word employees.  It went like this: Employees obey and respect those who you work for whether they are watching or not.  Work as an employee of Christ wanting to please God in whatever you do.

This took my mind off of me and focused onto Christ.  I started seeing work as more than just a job.  Instead of focusing on myself, I saw what I was doing was helping others.  The Apostle Paul says we are not to do our best only when we are being watched but remember God is watching every second through the Holy Spirit that is within us.  We are not to waste time conducting personal business when we should be working.  We should not extend our break periods.  We should always arrive early for work and not leave until our time is up.

I recognized that working for God and others made work much more enjoyable.  Working for a large corporation in management overseeing hundreds of employees I found that helping others become successful was extremely rewarding.  It was like when I was a high school coach and seeing players become star athletes and knowing you helped was exciting.  It is great when you can assist a person in becoming better.

When you have a job you really like, you don’t worry about the time.  It seems you can hardly wait to get to work and most evenings you stay later than required.  That doesn’t mean you can’t have a balanced life and it doesn’t require being a workaholic.  It’s great when work becomes fun.

When I started my own business it was doing something I had always enjoyed doing.  I spent hours preparing and trying to learn all I could in order to help others.  A few years ago I no longer needed to work financially.  I now work because I like what I am doing and I continue to help people.

Some people work because of the recognition their position gives them.  Some have a goal to become rich.  If you were to ask Jesus about work what do you think He would say?  Would He say: get the best paying job you can find; or get a job that you can Lord it over others?   Would He say quit school early and take a job that requires little skills?  Would He not ask us to seek a vision as to how we could improve the life of others and our own?  That could include producing new products, working in education or the medical field.  It could be building bridges.  I would think He would say it isn’t so much as what you do as to how you do it.  What is your attitude, who do you focus on, how prepared are you or do you do your very best?  Are you making work enjoyable?  Adam was given a hoe and a rake and God told him to get busy. Genesis 3:17 – “Since you listened to your wife and ate from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat, the ground is cursed because of you.   All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it.”  (I assumed scratching required the hoe and rake.)

God doesn’t expect all of us to become engineers.  Scripture does tell us how to enjoy what we are doing.

Proverbs 13:11 – “Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time.” NLT

Proverbs 23:4 – “Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich.  Be wise enough to know when to quit.” NLT

Having served my country during war time, I feel a patriotic duty to point out the direction our nation is headed.  We have a choice as to which direction we want our country to go as voters.  We have two candidates with two different ideologies.  President Obama stated:  “If you’ve got a business—you didn’t build that, someone else made it happen.”  When I started my business in 1987 it would have been great if I had someone to help me, particularly the government.  Now the latest Government regulations have been costly to our business and I am restricted at the amount of information I can provide my clients.  Most of us in business realize the government cannot create wealth.  Gov’t revenues come from American workers and from foreign loans.  Yes, governments can print money based on thin air!

The government did not build America, it was a belief in a God who created each of us with equal opportunities and gave us founders who believed we should be a republic having liberty and freedom to pursue our dreams.  That is exactly what our forefathers did.  Those that succeeded were those who prepared themselves and were willing to take risks that many were unwilling to do.  Many had Pilgrim’s determination that grew this country.

When I started my business my faith and assurance came from God and not from government.  If you have never started a business you may have no idea the requirements you must meet to open your doors.  It doesn’t stop there.  You are continuously reporting and paying taxes.

There are fiscal conservatives who believe all government spending is taxes.  With less government spending and less taxes needed.  The consumer stimulates the economic growth with fewer taxes and more money for buying power.  Progressives think government spending fuels the economy.  The more spending, the more economic growth, the more jobs and more need for taxes. The result can be a huge government of bureaucrats restricting our freedom.

Democrat representatives Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer believe that food stamps and unemployment checks stimulate the economy.  President Obama is working with Mexico to make sure we sign up more Mexican nationals for food stamps.  Nothing like this has ever happened in my lifetime.  This is not Biblical teaching.

II Thessalonians 3:10 – “Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.”

The Bible teaches, Genesis 3:19 – “By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eat until you return to the ground from which you were made.  For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return.”

The Bible is very clear that if we want to eat we need to work for it.  If we live by God’s ways He will meet our needs.  We are being told: don’t worry—the government will meet your needs and it is not necessary to work. All we need is your vote, otherwise you may be held accountable.  Our dependence must be on God and our willingness to work.  Don’t let the government try to take the place of God as they seem to be doing.

What we need is positive leadership.  The genius of entrepreneurship has always made this country run.  It does little good to trash business and put down those who have accumulated wealth.  We must have leaders who encourage and not discourage. Obama said he would increase taxes on the rich, even if it meant less revenue just because it was the fair thing to do.  We don’t need leadership as Sen. Patty Murray (D) has implied; we will take you into a recession if you don’t tax those millionaires.  Why would any administration have it in for small business owners, investors and successful wage earners?  For those of us who lived and worked under the Reagan administration and saw what Americans could produce when we were all pulling together can’t understand why they don’t do the same.  We are sitting on a gigantic opportunity to get this country back to robust growth. Look at North Dakota with an unemployment rate of 2.9% because of natural gas.  We have more natural gas that is the cheapest power in the world.  We could create millions of jobs and raise billions of extra dollars in taxes.  But we have people who do not believe that God put it there for us to consume.  We need leaders who will put more faith in God and get back to the Christian principles that made this country what it was.  When we let those who are anti-God put down Christian principles, we as a country started our rapid decline.  We need leaders who will humble themselves, get on their knees, repent, ask for forgiveness and God’s Holy Spirit to guide them.  Regardless of party affiliation, I doubt if there would be but a few leaders who would even consider doing so.  We need leaders to be like those in the 1770s.  It is apparent we don’t have that many who would put the country ahead of their political ambitions.

Unless we make a total commitment to serve God we probably will not pursue the study of Scripture.  Without understanding Scripture we would not know the “mind of Christ” or how to “Walk in the Spirit”. We may be able to figure out what it means to “have the mind” of Christ, but how many know what it means to “walk in the Spirit”?   That is why it is so important to know who is urging us?  Thus, we will not know what comes to us is spiritual or what comes to us from the flesh.  It is a must that we know the difference. How else will we know when the Spirit is leading us or if it is an evil influence or coming from our feelings or imagination?  There is little chance we will know when to follow God’s guidance if we do not have spiritual knowledge and understanding.

Psalm 139:27 – “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties;”

Hebrews 4:12 – 13 – “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”

Scripture and the Holy Spirit provide us with the truth.  It also helps us define our motives and our purposes.  We should receive a conviction when we have made a wrong decision.  At that point it should become very clear what we should have done.  Sometimes the only way we know how to “walk in the Spirit” is through repeated experiences.

There should come a time in every Christian’s life when we have but one motive and one desire and that is to serve God.  It normally occurs once we have become willing to give up control and depend on God.  Most find it very difficult to give up control because of a lack of faith that God will do as promised.  When we plan, does our plan seem better than what God would plan or allow?  Have you tried asking God for help in planning?  Did He fail to answer immediately and you couldn’t wait; or just plain didn’t answer?  Was that your fault or God’s?

Psalm 43:3 – “Send out your light and your truth; let them guide me.  Let them lead me to your holy mountain, to the place where you live.”

Adam’s sin was choosing to do his thing separated from God.  As a result, God left him by withdrawing His Spirit.  Are we just as guilty?  Our repentance and acceptance of Christ, God gives us His Spirit that we will no longer be separated.  This is a new experience that we have never had before.  It may take time to relinquish and become dependent upon God and accept our partnership arrangement that He offers.  Can we then describe “walking in the Spirit” as walking hand-in-hand with God and depending on Him for advice, direction and purpose?

Galatians 5:25 – “Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.”

John 5:30 – “I can do nothing on my own. I judge as God tells me. Therefore, my judgment is just, because I carry out the will of the one who sent me, not my own will.”

This was Christ’s principle on earth.  The Son could do nothing on His own.  That total denial is our ultimate goal in serving God.  Everything Christ did was laying the ground work to fulfill His death on the cross and His resurrection.  After He was resurrected He told His disciples that they would receive “power from on high” or the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.  That power was the ability, the talents and the confidence to live as Christ taught we should live and we would “walk in the Spirit”.  With this power we can become obedient to God’s Will and ways.  Without the Holy Spirit our flesh or carnal nature was in control and could not meet God’s requirements.

Romans 7:15 – 17 – “I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.  But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good.  So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.”

Paul realized He could not live the Christian life without God’s help.  Too many become Christians and believe they do not have to study Scripture or pray, they can do it on their own.  They end up no more than just a professing Christian without the power from God, struggling each day and wondering why living a Christian life is so difficult. They wonder where is this joy, peace and love they talk about?  They must understand that the Bible says we must surrender our old nature and let the new nature control.  It’s the one that God gives us when we receive the Holy Spirit.  We must learn that God will not force Himself on to us.  For the power to work, He must control but only with our permission.  Are you ready to give it so you can “walk in the Spirit”?

If you are a Christian, God wants you to become successful.  He will provide adequate direction and purpose so you can be a success.  You may not want to take the time or the discipline necessary to become outstanding.  Most are unwilling to put forth the effort and are willing to accept being just average or less.  Let me give an illustration that might encourage you to let God change your life positively by setting goals that can improve your life to be greater than you could ever anticipate.

My first job after graduating was being a high school basketball coach.  I heard of a coach who had more wins than most coaches in high school.  Prior to the first practice he would meet with all interested in trying to make the basketball team.  He would tell them that they would be judged on the following: character, competitiveness, pride, attitude and work ethic.  He then would elaborately explain what each meant.  For example, character would be having adequate grades, honesty, relationship with others, no smoking or drinking of alcohol, law abiding and a positive example to others.  He would explain pride in what you do.  Arrogance was not acceptable.  Humility went with pride.  And on he would go.  There would be no doubt in anyone’s minds what was expected.

He stated that the first week of practice you would be judged on each of these characteristics.  The second day the person having done the best in work ethic and competiveness would be number one.  They would practice with the first fifteen at one end of the court and those rated 16 through 30 would practice at the other end on fundamentals and basic drills.  Each day, that first week, you were rated 1 through 30.  If you were number 30 you either gave up or worked harder.  At the end of two weeks of excruciating practices 12 made the varsity and the remaining ones went to the junior varsity.

The coach said his job was to do whatever it took to prepare them to being winners.  If they were unwilling to work hard to be winners they should not be on the team.  An individual had to ask themselves how badly do I want to be a winner.  Am I willing to submit to everything required to help the team win?

Apply the same principles to being a Christian.  You can be on God’s success team or you can play on the junior varsity.  Or maybe you would rather just be a fan and watch from the bleachers.  It is your choice.   If you want God to make you a success you must play by His rules.  Do you think you can be on His team if you keep on deliberately sinning as the world sins?  First, He may have you work on some fundamentals to get you prepared.  He may need to cause certain situations in your life to overcome your lack of confidence, that feeling of unworthiness or inadequacy, so He can build you up.  The events you are given may not be pleasant.  God will look at your reaction.  Do you remain positive, with a can-do attitude?  If not He may have to allow more unpleasant things to occur and see how you handle them.  Did you think making the team was going to be easy?  Read what the Apostle Paul had to go through to be on God’s team. 

Is it worth it, you may ask?  That is the question you must ask yourself.  Do you want God to make you a success or are you going to go through life just getting by?  Your chances improve by reading your Bible daily and praying continually.  Allow the Holy Spirit that is in you to give you guidance and check you before making wrong decisions.  Why do you think God gave you His Spirit if He did not want to help you become the best you can be?  In turning out for basketball would you have felt okay if you were rated number 30 every time?  Do you realize it is the devil who wants you to think you are just no better than number 30?  Being a child of God everyone can be number one on His team.  But you must keep playing by His rules no matter how holy and righteous you may become.  Many athletes, with tremendous ability, often think they are good enough that they don’t have to work very hard to get better and it hurts the team.

Having spent over 30 years in management and supervising thousands of people over time I looked for the same qualification in promoting those into management positions.  It was their character, their work ethic, discipline, reliability, attitude, confidence, pride in their work and their relationship with other people.  One of the greatest assets was their willingness to prepare.  Basketball required preparation.  Being on God’s team required studying the Bible, developing a relationship with Him through prayer.  At work, preparation required reading management books, going to seminars and continually doing things to help become a better leader.

God does not guarantee everyone can become an NBA player, especially if you are only 5 feet tall.  Your height did not prevent you from becoming a doctor.  However, you can make the choice.  If you really study your Bible and pray, God will help you become the best you can be.  Are you willing to make that commitment?  It starts with discipline and preparation.  Then allow the Holy Spirit to take over.  His God-given purpose is there to help you, if you will let Him.  It is Satan that wants to convince us that we are failures.  Reject him!

Genesis 1:28 – “Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”  God provided everything they could ever want or need in the Garden.

Deuteronomy 8:18a – “And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power* to get wealth,…”  *(ability, talents, confidence) –power defined  You are given the ability to obtain it.  It is not given as a gift.

Psalm 35:27b – ““Let the Lord be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.”  God is pleased at our success.  Make His team and let Him bless you.

If we are getting close to the end times, who would God select to be the next president? Possibly 85% of Americans do not believe God has anything to do with selecting a president.  I do!  Let’s take a hypothetical illustration and see what your choice would be.  If we were getting close to the end times and the Bible predicts there will be a one world government, who would of the two, God choose to destabilize financially and disarm America to loose our superpower status in the world?  Will the selection depend upon God’s time-plan for the world to end?

No one knows who God will select regardless of their dreams. Dreams are often influenced by evil powers to deceive.  We do not know positively that we are getting closer to the end times.  But Christ told us what to look for and most Christian theologians agree we are seeing those signs indicating the end could be near.  The direction we are now going indicates we could be running off a cliff financially.  We see no evidence that President Obama is going to change direction in foreign policy or economic philosophy.

Romans 13:1 – “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” (NIV) You would have to believe God continues to be in control of what happens in the universe; otherwise you should stop reading any further.

Consider, if we are getting closer to the end, which of the two candidates would fit into God’s plan to allow a change to permit a world government? Is there any question?  Matthew 24:3 – 8 – “Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives. His disciples came to him privately and said, ‘Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?’  Jesus told them, ‘Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many.  And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately.  Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world.  But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.” (NLT)

Let’s look at other warnings given in the Bible as to what will occur as we come closer to the end times.  Our first sign was the establishment of Israel in 1948 as a nation.  Another sign was the six day war of 1967. For 1,906 years Jerusalem was a divided city among nations.  The war with Egypt, Syria, Jordan and the PLO allowed Israel to retake Jerusalem that had been their nation’s capital.  It had been Israel’s capital and Temple City since 1004 BC when it was established by King David and was taken over by Rome in 70 AD and destroyed.  It remains a holy city to Judaism, Christianity and Islam today under Israeli control.

Assume you have an American president who believes that everyone in the world deserves independence and freedom in a socialistic society.   Would God select a president to build up America or one to change it from its original purpose?  We know there are many who believe the best solution to man’s problems is for everyone on earth to be equal financially.  For that to occur many believe it would take a one-world government and a one-world religion. There would be no rich nations or poor nations.  They would take wealth from the rich nations and give it to those that are poorer.  The world would then be more equal and we would eliminate anyone being poor.  There are some among us who believe this is possible but the Bible says there will always be those who are poor.  However, there will be a one-world government but for the wrong reasons.  Not for what you think but for the power and control it would provide to those who think they know better what everyone needs.  Indications are government wants to have complete control over what each individual does, even what they eat and how much they drink at a time.

The Israelites rejected having judges who received guidance from God.  They wanted to be like all other nations and have a king. They wanted laws, an army and a human leader.  They no longer wanted to rely on God and His appointed judges.  They thought a new system of government would improve their nation.  It was their disobedience to God that a king was allowed. Had the Israelites submitted to God’s leadership, they would have prospered beyond their greatest expectations as Scripture suggests.

Does this story sound anything like what we have seen happening in America the past few years?  Would you say that America has rejected God as our supreme leader?  Have we refused to let God lead us, our family and our government?   Are we Americans living more like the pagan world lives? Do we want to be more like European nations?  What difference, if any, do you see between the Israelites during Samuel’s time and a number of American politicians today?  Are we seeing less crime and an improvement in morality?  Are we seeing a spiritual revival in the world?

If we are to take the Bible literally that would also mean God has an obligation to curse anyone who curses Israel as quoted in Gen. 12:3 – “I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”  Is Scripture implying cursing and blessing individuals or would this apply to nations? When I am presented with facts, throughout history those nations who attacked Israel were retaliated against, it must include nations. Therefore, should we not be concerned when our government is not supportive of Israel? The U.S. failed to support Israel in the blockade of Palestine and President Obama wanted them to give up covenant land. Should we not expect God to fulfill His promise? In the past it is possible that God has used hurricanes and other natural disasters to tell us to be supportive of Israel as we have previously written with extensive facts. Thus, I suggest that if previous hurricanes were the curse, as many believe, then this year we might expect some tremendous damage and we have.  We have had record flooding, drought, failed crops, record tornadoes, heat waves and forest fires.  It is also possible that the oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico could have been the result of a curse. It all boils down to God must keep His promise that He made in Genesis 12:3.

Consider the Arab Spring, the rioting and armed conflict.  We hear of Iran, Russia, China and others building up greater armies and weaponry.  Are we not hearing rumors of war?  Scripture says in the end times all sorts of natural disasters will occur.  Christ says there will be signs and that if we read the sign we will know when the end is getting near.  Satan does not want us to realize we are getting closer to the end time.  I believe to deceive people he inspired the global warming or climate change belief. This will cover up what the signs are really telling us about the end drawing neigh.

So why do I believe President Obama could be the one that God selects?  The way we are headed will place us in a very poor condition to intervene in the world’s problem.  President Obama policies would probably be more likely to put us on a road to financial collapse.  This fits in with Scripture telling us we are headed for that one-world government and a one-world religion.  Could you ever see this occurring with a financially healthy, positive, superpower America?  I believe if President Obama is our next president we have only a number of years before God determines the Tribulation.  That fits with the signs of the time.  If he is not re-elected it could be possible that God plans to let the world go on longer.  This is why I believe God will select the next president depending on when He wants the end to come.

How do we handle what is ahead?  The closer we get to the finish line the more committed and obedient we must become to God’s will and ways.  We need to approach each day more positive than the day before.  We must be examples as Christians, that we are winners and not victims.  To get many to see what Christ has done in our lives we need to continually be upbeat.  I believe there can be a great spiritual renewal ahead.  God is going to give everyone one last chance before it is over regardless who becomes president and Christians must be ready to participate.  Christians have tremendous opportunities ahead of them.  Prepare immediately to take advantage of the ministry God will make available for each one of us.  Whoever God allows to become president we need to accept him.  No matter what, we must pray for our country and our leaders daily.  Trust God’s planning; it will work!  Did you make a choice? 

In 2009, a movie 2012 was produced showing how the world would end.  It was based on a prediction given 5,125 years ago by a Hopi prophecy and the end of the Mayan calendar since 3113 BC.  Supposedly, a solar flare will cause a polar shift on the magnetic poles.  There will be tsunamis around the world, massive earthquakes, all rivers will over flow, volcanoes will erupt and plunging asteroids will turn our cities into smoking ruins.  There will be an ultimate catastrophe and no place will be safe for humans and massive food shortages will occur if any should survive.  I recently watched CNBC showing the fear people world-wide were having and the millions of dollars being spent on mountain-top bunkers.  They were filled with food and water for long periods of time.  They also had weapons and enormous amounts of ammunition.

Remember Y2K when people were being told that all new technology equipment and software would be needed to replace what we had?  Therefore, on January 1, 2000 nothing technical would continue to work.  People were hoarding food and water expecting a disaster.  Nothing happened; January came and went without any problems.  However, there were thousands of people who became millionaires promoting the need to replace your equipment and supplying an adequate amount of food for storage.

Are you aware of the millions of dollars some have made from the man-made global warming or climate change belief?  Don’t allow false teachers or scam artists cause you to panic over the world ending.

If you are a Christian and believe in the authenticity of the Bible there is absolutely nothing to fear.

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.” There is no anti-Christ on the scene and there is no Jewish temple in Jerusalem.   (Do you believe the Judeo/Christian Bible?)  What do you have to fear?

II Thessalonians 2:7 – 8 – “For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.  And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.”

I believe “the one” is the Holy Spirit.  It says: “but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.”  “Till he is taken out of the way.”  I believe “He” is the Holy Spirit who is withdrawn from earth at the time of the rapture.  Many believe Christians will be raptured or taken up to meet Christ in the air and the Holy Spirit will be withdrawn prior to the Antichrist being revealed. However, many disagree and some believe it is the government that is holding back Satan.

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.”

How can this man become so powerful and attain such notoriety and loyalty from the masses?  He is a tool of Satan and will be given all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders in order to deceive all who will not accept what God, through Scripture, has said.

It will be his power and his miracles that will deceive and cause unbelievers to perish who refused to love the truth or gospel message and be saved.  Those who chose to follow the Antichrist, the Bible says God will send a powerful delusion so that they will believe his lies and thus be condemned for not accepting Christ as their Savior.  God uses Satan as part of His judgment for those rebelling.

We learned in Exodus 4:21 Pharaoh’s rejection of God, through Moses, caused his heart to be hardened.  Proverbs 29:1 explains that rejecting God’s gift makes our neck stiff and our heart hard.  As God hardened the heart of the Pharaoh He will also do the same to all who rebel against Him.  Their hearts will no longer respond to the truth.  After Pharaoh allowed the Jews to leave, he later sent his army to bring them back.  Regardless of the plagues and miracles he could not accept the truth.”  The world seems to be filled with those who will not accept the truth.  As more and more have hearts that become as hard as shoe leather, the world becomes more evil.  God will only accept so much and then the end will come.

Matthew 24:4 – 8 – “Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many.  And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately.  Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world.  But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.”

I hope you understand, it is not probable under any Scriptural reference that the world could end on December 21, 2012.  Don’t go out making huge purchases on your credit cards expecting you would not have to pay later as some did prior to Jan. 1, 2000.  That would be an indication of unbelief and that wouldn’t please God or the credit card companies!  We don’t need more Christians going into bankruptcy.

It is alarming what we are doing to the next generation.  I was born to parents having gone through the great depression of the 1930s.  They never had all of the conveniences that we enjoy today.  Most did not have radios, telephones, TVs or dependable cars.  A few still used horses as a means of transportation.  Living during that time people had become dependent upon God and most seemed to realize the importance of being loyal and honest.  Generally people were dependable, hard working and were willing to help each other when a need occurred.

What I see today is nothing like it was years ago.  Society’s principles and values have changed.  It was a rarity to hear about gang activity.  What young people do today was not even thought about years ago.  For a teenage to have a child out of wedlock was a disgrace.  Today 50% of all children born in America come from unmarried women.  Years ago, if a teen became pregnant the baby’s father was expected to marry her.  If he didn’t, the dad showed up at his door with a shotgun and they had a shotgun wedding.  Sometimes it was the boy’s father that carried the shotgun pointed at his son.

There was a time in history when people became so animalistic, cruel and immoral that God decided to start over again and we had the flood during Noah’s time.  Read history that occurred over 2000 years ago and the way people lived and treated each other was inhumane.  There was little law and practically no order in many parts of the world.  I realize that negative news attracts TV viewers and newspaper readers more than positive news.  However, I can’t pick up the paper or listen to local news and not hear about robberies, murders, rapes or muggings.  Are we gradually going back to an immoral society?

I did some research and learned that much of our problems come from homes without fathers.  The following is what I learned:

• 63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes (US Dept. Of Health/Census) – 5 times the average.

• 90% of all homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes – 32 times the average.

• 85% of all children who show behavior disorders come from fatherless homes – 20 times the average.  (Center for Disease Control)

• 80% of rapists with anger problems come from fatherless homes –14 times the average.  (Justice & Behavior, Vol. 14, p. 403-26)

• 71% of all high school dropouts come from fatherless homes – 9 times the average.  (National Principals Association Report)

Father Factor in Education – Fatherless children are twice as likely to drop out of school.

• Children with Fathers who are involved are 40% less likely to repeat a grade in school.

• Children with Fathers who are involved are 70% less likely to drop out of school.

• Children with Fathers who are involved are more likely to get A’s in school.

• Children with Fathers who are involved are more likely to enjoy school and engage in extracurricular activities.

• 75% of all adolescent patients in chemical abuse centers come from fatherless homes – 10 times the average.

Father Factor in Drug and Alcohol Abuse – Researchers at Columbia University found that children living in a two-parent household with a poor relationship with their father are 68% more likely to smoke, drink, or use drugs compared to all teens in two-parent households. Teens in single mother households are at a 30% higher risk than those in two-parent households.

• 70% of youths in state-operated institutions come from fatherless homes – 9 times the average.  (U.S. Dept. of Justice, Sept. 1988)

• 85% of all youths in prison come from fatherless homes – 20 times the average.  (Fulton Co. Georgia, Texas Dept. of Correction)

Father Factor in Incarceration – Even after controlling for income, youths in father-absent households still had significantly higher odds of incarceration than those in mother-father families. Youths who never had a father in the household experienced the highest odds. A 2002 Department of Justice survey of 7,000 inmates revealed that 39% of jail inmates lived in mother-only households. Approximately forty-six percent of jail inmates in 2002 had a previously incarcerated family member. One-fifth experienced a father in prison or jail.

There are more statistics but that should give you reason to understand why our society is becoming more immoral.  We no longer can teach children in our schools that there is a God because they want to teach evolution.  Our children are not learning respect, responsibility and being accountable for their actions. This has not happened by chance.  We have people in power who have deliberately planned this to occur.  Don’t ever forget there are millions of evil spirits that are continually influences the decisions of millions and millions.  And they seem to be winning over God’s people and their message of the gospel.  When our country fails, we can all know the reason we have let it.

Scripture says there will be signs when the end of the earth, as we know it, will come to an end.  At that time there will be a Day of Judgment.  God will separate the believers of Christ from those who are unbelievers.  One will go to paradise and the other to a place of torment.  If unbelievers realized that the end times were coming would they become believers?  Does Satan want unbelievers to believe in God and that there is a heaven?  Wouldn’t he try and deceive everyone to misinterpret the end-time signs?

In the past eighteen months record breaking floods occurred in the Mississippi forcing engineers to blow up parts of the river and flood farmlands.  Record breaking floods have happened in New Jersey and Arkansas.  Worldwide record flooding has been recorded.  April 2011 there were 600 recorded tornadoes setting a record.  Some of the largest and deadliest earthquakes have also been recorded.  Biggest earthquake in Japan’s history occurred plus a tsunami damaging many cities and a nuclear power plant.  Record breaking forest fires in Colorado and New Mexico.  Thousands of acres of farmland are unproductive because of floods and record draughts.  Less food will be produced around the world as a result.  There are wars and rumors of wars throughout the Middle East.

Matthew 24:3 – 8 – “Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives. His disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?”  Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many.  And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately.  Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world.  But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.” (NLT)

“Most global-warming deniers are also conservative religious fundamentalists who believe in creationism. These are the people who ignore expertise of virtually every scientist on Earth about evolution, and they apparently have no trouble extending their ignorance to the environmental sciences.”  I came across an article that tells why many Christians don’t believe in man-made global warming.  They are absolutely right when they say: if you believe in evolution your chances of believing in global warming goes up exponentially.

II Corinthians 4:4 – “Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.” (NLT)

We, as conservative religious fundamentalists who believe in creationism, believe in a God, who not only has the power to create the universe, He can stop whatever man does to the earth.  If God were concerned that man would destroy the earth by burning coal or oil, He would have told us in Scripture to not over use coal or oil.  Yet, He has given us enough of these fuels to last for hundreds of years.  Many of us doubt that we will need this much fuel prior to the second coming of Christ.  Many of us believe that God will create a new heaven and a new earth as He promises in Scripture.  We believe we would never run out.

Therefore, the many who are blinded by Satan believe there is no God and man can destroy the earth by what he uses for fuel.  God promises that if we will do His Will we will prosper.  Does Satan want believers to be prosperous?  Since He is anti God he will do whatever to disrupt the lives of people.  If he can get everyone to believe in evolution and man-made global warming it is possible to create financial chaos world-wide.  Once the world becomes financially broke he has a chance for his one-world government and one-world religion.  This religion will be against the God of the Judeo/Christian Bible.  Any who have been prosperous will have their money taken away to give to those who have not taken advantage of life’s possibilities, whether it is by choice or government rule and control.

Now for some facts: About 20 years ago there were a number of books published predicting environmental calamity caused by carbon dioxide emissions occurring and within a matter of a very few years the glaciers would melt and New York and Los Angeles would be partly under water.  During this time the temperatures have remained constant.

A leading scientist who had initiated and predicted a global warming disaster admits that he was probably wrong.  He now believes that it probably will not occur in the immediate future, if ever.  He had claimed that prior to the end of the century billions would die and only those living in the Arctic would survive.  He expected by now the heating of the earth would start to become unbearable.  But he noted there has been little change in the past 12 years and no evidence that CO2 emissions will heat the planet.  At least no one has been able to prove it.

What he believed just 20 years ago has not happened.  Therefore, they had to change the fear of global warming to climate change.  However, He stated that there are just too many things that are responsible for climate change or global warming and are not necessarily man-made.  My research did not allow me to determine how many evangelical Christian scientists believe in man-made climate change.  My interest is how many who have studied Revelations believe any of this is going to happen?  Could Christ come back to rule for 1000 years if the earth was too hot to survive?  Do we have a God Who when creating the earth believed that what He made, man could destroy?  Would He not have given us other means and told us, in order to provide power, if man could destroy what He created?  There is just too much evidence for those of us who believe in the Bible and have studied it believe, if there is any warming or cooling, it is because of the sun and not what man has done.  Granted most everyone wants clean water and clean air.  But there are many ways to obtain them not like our administration believes.

It’s like President Obama said: “So, if somebody wants to build a coal plant, they can, it’s just that it will bankrupt them because they are going to be charged a huge sum for all the greenhouse gas that will get emitted”.  Any wonder why our economy is struggling.

Christ said these signs are only the beginning.  We may have many years before the end occurs.  But as the end-time signs occur, Satan will try to make us think it is all the result of what people are doing.  Does he want more people to accept Christ as their Savior?  Therefore, if he can fool Adam and Eve he might just be able to fool you too.  He is described as the god of this world and the great deceiver.  And remember, before the end times come there will be a one-world government and a one-world religion.  There then will be seven years of Tribulation like the world has never seen previously.  It sounds like the end times are a few years away.  Satan’s deceiving will only increase.  Don’t accept the devil’s religion.

You may be aware of the two negative influences that continually test you.  You have a very self-centered, carnal nature tempting you and the devil is continuously trying to bring you down.  The demonic spirit’s purpose is to stop you from doing God’s Will.  It started in the Garden of Eden and the devil has never stopped pursing those who were God fearing or those having accepted Christ as their Savior.

We know that unbelievers are already under Satan’s control so there is no need to tempt them.  They are going to do whatever their desires lead them to do.  But a believer tries to do only those things they know are acceptable to God.  To please God we cannot let the two negatives, our self-centered nature and demonic influence, overcome our thinking and win.

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.”  Our struggles are from the power of spiritual forces of evil.  Satan is our enemy and is constantly tempting us.  Satan is in opposition to God and wants to bring down our relationship with Him.  He does not want us to be a part of God’s family.  Christians realize they cannot stand up to him in their own power.  The Book of Daniel in chapter 10 tells us of the many fallen angels and evil spirits and how powerful they are.  Satan has millions of emissaries that gather information and inflict problems on the human race.  Their purpose is to also enslave people into all forms of idolatry, involvement in cults, deceptive philosophies, evolution and climate change.

Stop and think how immoral society has become.  The powers of darkness flame our lusts, our human passions and our self-centered natures suggesting that we yield to sin.  As we get closer to the end time, which we do not know when, it seems we are getting back to the pagan religions prior to Christ coming two thousand years ago.  At that time pagans had temples and temple prostitutes and sex was a part of their worship service.

Our self-centered and sinful nature is placing thoughts into our minds just as rapidly as the evil powers.  Out of our hearts come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, fornication, thefts, false witness and blasphemies.  Just seeing the world’s pleasures being offered can be enticing. Don’t let Satan corrupt your heart and mind by displaying ugly passion instead of love for Christ.  Then add instant gratification, a great temptation, and the need to have what everyone else has and have it now. And what must we do to get it: credit cards and installment payments that continually cause us to spend much more than we earn.  Thus, when we yield and give in, we can suffer anxiety, stress and possibly depression because we are unable to make our payments.

Romans 6:6 – 8 “For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.  Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.”

We are told that we must die out to this self-centered nature that affects the evil that we may do.  We know it is impossible to get rid of this nature but it can be controlled.  However, it can only come under the control of the Holy Spirit if we give Him permission to do so.  For that to happen we must be willing to live by God’s commandments and His Will for our lives.  That requires a repentant heart.  We can have all of the head knowledge provided in Scripture but if our relationship with Christ is not in our hearts and only in our head, we will not be repentant.  We are told we will not be judged by our works but by our faith and our heart.  We now have two negatives influencing our mind and One positive that we received by accepting Christ into our heart.  The One positive, given control, is much more powerful than the two negative spirits.  We will never yield to temptation provided we allow the Holy Spirit to run interference for us.  But that will depend upon our relationship to the Holy Spirit.  Do we talk to the Holy Spirit regularly?  Do we ask the Holy Spirit to help us make decisions and choices in life?  Does the Holy Spirit know that we never want to yield to temptation?  Scripture says that the Holy Spirit will protect our thinking from demonic influence and suggestions.

Hebrews 4:12 – “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.”  (NLT)

We all have areas of weakness in our lives.  We must be honest with ourselves and determine what these weaknesses might be.  We then must deal with each and get rid of it before we will ever have joy and peace in our lives.    Here are some temptations that cause us to sin: unforgiveness, greed, pride, lies, lust, unbelief, anger, love of money and others.  Make a list and accept responsibility that it is a problem in your life.  Then believe that you can eliminate each temptation that leads to sin. Be aware that you will be attacked and influenced in these areas that are a problem. Then believe in the promise of Philippians 4:13 – “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” And I will!

I Peter 5:8 – “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

Spiritual warfare is serious and the enemy is real.  Evil influences seek to harm us and our family.  They want to destroy our witness and hinder the work of God.  If you think you can handle the two negative influences without God’s help you are in trouble; that is if your desire is to not yield to temptation.  The Apostle Paul, with all of his knowledge, found that he could not win without the Holy Spirit’s help.  So if we let our self-centered nature get out of control and ignore the Holy Spirit, we are on our own and we know what the result will be: Convicted of sinning and pronounced guilty—and Satan wins!   Don’t you want to be the winner?

I Corinthians 10:13 – “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.”  Too many Christians are not looking for the way out.