My grandson and I were discussing the difficulty of running five miles every day.  I mentioned that it isn’t the running; it is “why” are you running?  Every year many make New Year’s resolutions but fail to keep them.  I stated it is not setting goals that are the problem, it is setting goals and never defining “why” they were making the resolution.  For example every older male in our family died at an early age because of heart disease.  We would not be running to get in shape.  Our “why” is to give us a better chance of living longer.  That is a good motivator to get up early mornings to run.

When I was a store manager and had 450 employees I never went home at night without having made a “to-do list” for the next day.  Having played sports from grade school thru college you learn to be competitive.   It was very important that the next day at work I got to cross off everything, as they were completed, that had been listed the night before.  As I would make my daily priority list I tried to make sure I had a good “why” it had to be done.  Otherwise, I put it on another list to do when I had the time.  You also must realize that each day you had to have some flexibility.  Sometimes interruptions, a customer complaint or an unplanned meeting, etc. happened that made it necessary to make the list secondary.  Those items that were not completed were first on the list for the next day.

My grandson gives drum lessons.  I asked if he ever asks his students if they have a “why” they want to be a drummer?  If the answer is because it looks like it would be fun, chances are they would never take the needed time practicing to be exceptionally good.  If they said they would like to play in a band that toured the world, chances are they would be motivated to spend a lot of time practicing.  Setting goals without a good “why” could keep you from succeeding.

Having spent two years as a high school coach I learned that those who had set a goal and knew what they wanted, practiced more and prepared harder.  It surprised me how few had any goals and did no more than what we as coaches required.  It confirmed what I had always believed.  Almost anything we do depends more on our attitude than on our physical or mental capabilities.  Most never seemed to have a good “why” they were turning out.  If you had an athlete who wanted to play professionally you never needed to motivate them.  They were self-motivated and extremely involved in becoming better every day no matter what it took.   However, you would rarely have someone that believed they could play professionally.  Therefore, I learned the importance of believing you can do something, then making sure you are prepared and motivated to do so.

Sports kept me in high school as I had considered dropping out after my junior year.  That summer I had worked for Weyerhaeuser as an electrician’s assistant.  The pay was good and it looked like a life-time job.  I completed my final year as a “C” student.  I spent four years in the navy.  I then decided to go to college.  My “why” was I did not want to go back as an enlisted person.  If called back, in case of war, I wanted to go back as an officer.  There was a tremendous difference in how they lived and were treated.  My “why” motivated me to graduate cum laude, with honors.

Fear of failing cause many to not set high goals.  No matter “why” you want to be or do something you must believe it is possible.  Joshua 1:7 – 9 – “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.  Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.  Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

In the New Testament Christ is telling his followers the same thing.  Christ said to obey the principles and day and night live by them as He taught His disciples. Read and study daily your Bible and pray so that you can develop the mind of Christ.  Be strong and courageous and do not fear.  Never become discouraged because I have given you the Holy Spirit to go with you wherever you go.   You will then become prosperous and successful.  It seems so few Christians can accept this promise.

May I suggest that you set a goal, determine “why” it is important for you to make that goal and then ask the Holy Spirit if this goal is acceptable to the “will” of God.  If you get a confirmation that it is, then accept that you have God’s Spirit to guide and help you make it.   Philippians 4:13 – “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”  Why wouldn’t God want you to be successful in anything that you would like to do that is morally acceptable?  If we believed it was something the Holy Spirit was going to help us do, shouldn’t that be a motivator?

Luke 17:20 – 21 – “Once Jesus was asked when God’s kingdom would come.  He replied, “The coming of God’s kingdom is not something you can see just by watching for it carefully.  People will not say, ‘Here it is.’ Or, ‘There it is.’ God’s kingdom is within you.”

Is it time to ask yourself “why” did you become a Christian or “why” haven’t you?  Your “why” could determine how you live your life!  Once God’s Spirit is within you He changes a person’s hearts.  Is this your “Why”, to repent and have a changed heart?

My children used to tell me: “Dad, everyone is doing it.”  I would reply: “Does that make it moral or ethical?”  I try not to be political because I have friends who are ultra liberals and others extremely conservative. However, I am watching, as many Americans are doing things I never thought I would ever see.  Yet, everyone seems to being doing it and it is being accepted as the thing to do.  So let’s look at what many are doing that in the past most would never even think of making those decisions.  Before we do, I want to have you consider some Scripture.

Luke 4:5 – 7 – “The devil led him (Christ) up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world.  And he said to him, ‘I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to.  If you worship me, it will all be yours.’” Do you not know people that we assume would take the devil up in a minute if even a small part was offered to them?  How many Americans is the devil deceiving now?  How many people are demon possessed as we read about the many who were possessed in Bible times?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the civilian labor force decreased by 342,000 workers from where it was 34 months ago when the recession was over.  This past April 2012, 225,000 workers applied for “disability benefits and about 90,000 were approved according to the Social Security Administration.  Over the last three years 1,380,000 ‘disabled’ workers, plus their families, have been added to Social Security. Once enrolled it is almost impossible for them to be taken off.

This past April the labor force was 365,000 less than what it was three years ago.  Normally, after a deep recession the work force increases by millions.  Had the labor force remained the same as it was in 2009 unemployment would be at approximately 11%.  It appears two things are happening: people are applying for disability benefits and workers on unemployment compensation are refusing to accept jobs that are offered to them. Many like being paid for not working.  According to local TV, in Las Vegas there are a number of job openings that haven’t been filled because of workers being on unemployment and would not accept a job.  If proven, it is classified as fraud.  Yet, they are willing to take that risk.

We have an administration that says that banks took advantage of home owners and those underwater need to be bailed out.  It was presidents Carter, Clinton and Bush plus groups like Acorn, NAACP and others threatening to boycott or disrupt financial institutions if they didn’t make loans to people who could not afford them.  It was believed that it was only fair for every American to have and to own their home.

The administration is now implying college students should not have to pay back their student loans.  A college education should be free.  Many others are told they can have food stamps, government housing and welfare checks.  The government is obligated to furnish everything you need and the rich will pay for it.

I have counseled Christians who had to take out bankruptcy, allow their home to be foreclosed or negotiate a reduction in credit card debt.   Do you tell them:  “It’s o.k., everyone is doing it.”  Yet, this is the message I keep hearing.  Have you ever heard an Occupy Wall Street individual interviewed?  They do not expect to work and expect President Obama to take care of everything, including healthcare, housing and income.  What are we doing to this nation?  What are our young children being taught and are learning?   Are we becoming another Greece, Italy, Spain or France?  What is happening to American principles that you must work and earn a living?

II Thessalonians 3:10 – 13 – “For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.   We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies.   Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat.   And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.  Take special note of anyone who does not obey our instruction in this letter. Do not associate with them, in order that they may feel ashamed.  Yet do not regard them as an enemy, but warn them as you would a fellow believer.”

Cross references:

1. 2 Thessalonians 3:10 : 1Th 3:4
2. 2 Thessalonians 3:10 : 1Th 4:11
3. 2 Thessalonians 3:11 : ver 6, 7; 1Ti 5:13
4. 2 Thessalonians 3:12 : 1Th 4:1
5. 2 Thessalonians 3:12 : 1Th 4:11; Eph 4:28
6. 2 Thessalonians 3:13 : Gal 6:9
7. 2 Thessalonians 3:14 : ver 6; S Ro 16:17
8. 2 Thessalonians 3:14 : S 1Co 4:14
9. 2 Thessalonians 3:15 : Gal 6:1; 1Th 5:14; Phm 16

There are numerous Scriptures emphasizing responsibility for our actions and our promises.  There is a tremendous difference between being unable to work and taking advantage of a system that gives out other people’s money.  At the pace we are going, there will come a time when there will not be enough workers left to support those unwilling to work.  We may be able to beat the government systems but how much will God allow us to get away with?  Or, doesn’t anyone really care?

Fear comes from ignoring the Word of God and the Holy Spirit.  We are people too busy living in a fast-paced world with too little time and attention on spiritual things.

Having experienced life without negative fear gives peace, calmness and a sense of success that makes each day an enjoyable experience and a feeling of accomplishment.  We were created with emotions to be able to love and to fear.  Faced with a roaring lion hopefully, your reaction would be fear.  But facing a serious problem does not need to be feared.

To overcome fear one must have confidence, feel worthy enough to be accepted by others and believe in our ability to be capable of overcoming whatever is challenging us.  Most individuals do not meet those criteria.  There are all kinds of reasons we lack confidence, feel unworthy or believe we are incapable of mastering most difficult situations. However, we as Christians are not alone.  Scripture tells us In Isaiah that God has chosen the descendants of Abraham, which Christians are, that He will do the following:

Isaiah 41:10 – “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.  Isaiah 41:13 – “For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”

Step one is to believe and trust that this is what God said and it also applies to every Christian.  Assuming you have accepted the above premise, what can we draw from it?  God is with us.  He places the Holy Spirit into our lives as a direct contact with God.  The Holy Spirit is the same as God is with us.  He says He is our God and will have a personal relationship with us.  He tells us that He is capable of giving us power to deal with every situation in life.  He does not imply that we will win every time.  Yet, we can deal with anything while being calm and with peace.  It is only when we focus on the problem that we become distraught, when we should be focusing on how God is going to help us solve this situation.  While dealing with whatever is confronting us, are we asking for that power that God promises to give us?  Isn’t the usual circumstance we face, I will deal with everything by myself?   This is the mistake many of us make.

Step two is to think of every fear you may have.  Do you know what caused it?  Do you know how to eliminate it from being a fear?  Have you accepted that you are a member of God’s family and that He wants to help you?  (You must feel accepted.)  Do you have the confidence that anything can be handled with God’s power?  (I accept God’s promise that He will give me strength and help me.)  Finally you must believe that no matter what happens God knew it was going to happen and He did not intervene to stop it.  Therefore, it must be a learning experience.  As a previous high school coach I have always believed we learned more from losing than we ever did from winning.  God knows winning every time does not always make us stronger.

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

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

Is much of our fear coming from work because we do not take God to work with us?  Is God with us only when we read our Bible, say our prayers or attend church?  Whether our fears come from work, family relationships or finances God’s promise applies to everything.

God says He takes a hold of our right hand so we will not fear.  Do you feel His grip?  Do you sense His help?  If not you may need to look at the three things pointed out.  Do we have confidence that God will help us?  Do we feel accepted by Him?  Do we believe He wants us to do well and be achievers every minute of each day?

Read the first chapter of the Book of Daniel.  Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego put their lives in jeopardy by putting God first and refusing to eat the royal food.  Daniel 1:17 – Scripture said to these four “God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning.  And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds”.  We are told, as Daniel and the others, we must put God first in everything and see what happens.  But do we?   It is most difficult to subdue our carnal nature of self-centeredness.

John 16:23 – 24 – “In that day (When Jesus has departed) you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.  Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” Cross references:

1. John 16:23 : ver 26; Jn 14:20
2. John 16:23 : S Mt 7:7
3. John 16:24 : S Mt 7:7
4. John 16:24 : S Jn 3:29

Hopefully, you now know how to live life without negative fear, with peace, calmness and success.  It takes faith by believing and trusting in what God says He will do and not only in one’s self.  And if you are not a Christian this does not apply.  Wouldn’t you think everyone would want this type of Godly help that will change and better their lives?  Eliminating fear and its stress is better for your health than eating an apple every day.

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 underwater.  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.  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?  If that was the case why did He provide so much coal and oil reserves?  Would He not have given us other means to provide power if man could destroy what He created?

Revelation 20:4b – 5 – “They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.  (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection.”

Many Christians believe there will be a 1000 years of peace in which Christ will rule this earth.  Satan and his followers will be confined to the abyss.  They believe that Christians will be raptured, or taken up to be with Christ prior to that time.  Before then, the world’s conditions will become so bad, because of wars and possible anarchy that if Christ did not return man could destroy all humanity—but not our earth.  Every non-believer since Adam and Eve will not be raised until after that 1000 years.  They will then be judged for all eternity.

Revelation 20:7 – 10 – “When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—and to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore.  They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them.  And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”

Does it sound like man-made CO2 emissions are going to destroy the earth and only a few will survive?  You have a choice: You may believe Bible prophecy that there will be no unusual global warming or believe some scientists who many do not trust the accuracy of the Bible making calculations that they have not, to this point, been able to prove.  However, the Bible does say that when we go to a new heaven and a new earth with Christ, more than a 1000 years from now, this planet will be destroyed by fire.

In the past two months I have had hits from 71 different nations receiving my bi-weekly blogs.  Some countries I have never heard of before.  I had no idea of the outreach my writings would go.  We have had over 6,000 years of recorded history and why did it take so long for computers and the Internet to be discovered?  We think of our latest technology inventions over the past fifty years as being so necessary that if they were taken away it would shut down the global economy.

In 1900s the majority of workers were on the farm.  It took six people to do an average task.  Today it takes one to do the same job because of the modernization of machinery.  In the 1960s it use to take 50 people for us to take a merchandise inventory done manually in an average national chain store.  Today, less than ten people can do the same job in about half the time with wands and hand-held computing.  Why has it taken so long to learn how to build equipment to improve productivity in every work area?  Are we more intelligent today than they were 1000s of years ago?  Or, could it be that God held back technology development because it would lead to the world’s moral destruction.  Could this have been the downfall of those living in Noah’s time whom the flood destroyed?  Were they too intelligent for their own good?  Maybe we are being set up for a one-world government as described in Revelations.

We have men in power in most every nation, including the United States, who are doing everything possible to prepare for a one-world government.  This could never have been a possibility without the development of the Internet.  There is no longer any need to go to a bank or write a check.  Within a short period of time there will be no need for money.  All buying and selling can be done over the Internet and at anywhere in the world because of it reaching world-wide.  The dollar will no longer be the world’s trading currency.  It is just a matter of time.

On my e-mail site it gives a list of different sites available.  I can click on one and get YouTube.  I went to that site and it offered a number of sites that were very suggestive.  Anyone at any age, living in any country, could easily watch what was available.  We are corrupting the morality of people of all ages everywhere.  Whatever one wants to watch it seems to be available.  With the cruelty shown in games, on TV, in movies and in books it is causing a world’s society to become numb to violence. It is almost seen as acceptable if you can get away with crime.  But are we not entering the end of time as the Bible says we would and that we would be able to tell by the signs?  Can you not see the signs?

The sixth chapter of Revelation predicts there will come a time when the world will be faced with starvation, famine, sickness and economic disaster.  There will be sickness that antibiotics and drugs will not prevent.  Bacteria can infect people with hundreds of diseases and there are chemical agents that could destroy the entire population. There was a time in history that typhus killed over 200 million people over a short period.

It is anticipated that there will be evil rulers with no conscience, who use their power to destroy those considered their enemies.  I believe God is allowing an example as we witnessed this past year and currently in Syria rulers who could do anything one could imagine to stay in power.  If you want to see what an evil leader can do watch today’s TV news.

There will come a time when we will witness global disasters.  Volcanoes will erupt and the earth will shake.  Isaiah wrote in 24:19 – “The earth is broken up, the earth is split asunder, the earth is violently shaken.” (NIT) On December 28, 2004 the U. S. geological Survey reported that the island of Sumatra shifted to the southwest 120 feet as a result of a 9.0 earthquake.  Yahoo news reported the December 28 earthquake made the earth wobble on its axis and permanently altered the regional map.   That earthquake was equal to 23,000 atomic bombs the size dropped on Hiroshima, Japan.   December 16, 1811 islands in the Mississippi actually sank.  Theologians predict that the earthquake Revelation describes is far greater than the 9.0.  Some wonder if these gigantic earthquakes predicted could shake the earth back on its axis to where it was before the flood when people lived almost 1000 years.

Then comes panic!  People lose all hope and can find no place to hide.  Lawlessness will be evident in every country on earth.  Those who thought they were safe could find no place to hide.  It will be amazing that after all of these events there will be a number of people who still will not fear God.  Like the Egyptians in Moses times they will have hearts as hard as shoe leather and not penetrable by the Holy Spirit. How much of this was partly caused by what they have been watching on the Internet, TV and movies?

It is believed, when we hope the church is raptured, a radical ideology or theology will change the world when all restraints are removed and fanatical teachers spread their beliefs.  A worldwide anti-God movement will exist.  This will include the continual teachings of evolution, situation ethics (no absolute rules), moral freedom and self-sufficiency (man is not accountable to anyone), sexual permissiveness (everything is acceptable), and death education (there is no life after death).   How much of this will be emphasized as a result of the Internet?  For everything positive that the Internet provides there is a ton of potential for evil.  But how else was Satan to deceive the world without having the availability of the Internet, TVs and movies to spout his deception and evilness?  How long would the world have lasted if all of these inventions occurred 1800 years ago?  Are they truly the blessing that most of us believe they were meant to be?  What are your thoughts?  Do you agree or disagree?

A person professing to be a Christian who has not changed their attitude and behavior after accepting Christ is not a Christian.  To become a Christian the Bible states one must repent of their sins and begin a new spiritual direction.  Becoming a Christian requires change.  That progress may be rapid or gradual.  But without change you will continue to live as the world lives and that is not scripturally acceptable.  The process of working out one’s salvation must begin immediately, once a person has asked for forgiveness and accepted Christ as their Savior.

II Philippians 2:12 – 13 – “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,  for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”

We must emphasize we are not to work for our salvation as it comes from God’s grace and is a gift not something that we can earn.  Believing one can work for their salvation has caused many to live a chaotic life.  That becomes a form of legalism which so many believers try to promote.  We must never believe that making a mistake or having sinned will prevent us from entering heaven.  Salvation will not make us perfect and the Bible teaches that our sins, past and future have been forgiven.  However, working out one’s salvation does require commitment and determination to persistently live to please God.

We are to guard against what the world teaches and not be influenced by its temporary pleasures that we know are wrong.  The love of power, money, fame or sexual lusts can cause a Christian continual frustration.  We must not deliberately sin.  We will have enough problems with “missing the mark” or “sin by omission”.

We are told to work out our salvation with fear and trembling.  We must work with reverence and doing so seriously.  Becoming a Christian may be easy but living a Christian life is not so easy.

I Peter 5:8 – 11 – “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.  And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.  To him be the power forever and ever. Amen!”

Lions attack the young, sick, those struggling and animals who are not alert or who are alone.  The time to be most aware of Satan is when we feel persecuted or suffering.

Don’t allow fears to distract you from pleasing God in your attitude and behavior.  There are no shortcuts to working out one’s salvation.  We must just be careful in what we believe and in how we live.  We must continue to be cautious and focus our attention and devotion onto Christ.  God does not expect us to work out our salvation on our own.  If you try you could become frustrated and discouraged as I have seen a number of Christians try to do.  If your temperament is being a perfectionist you could become depressed very easily.  Satan will bombard you with doubts and temptations regularly.  We cannot allow him to question our salvation and our faith.

I believe a part of working out one’s salvation is receiving the Holy Spirit.  Most believe the Holy Spirit comes automatically once a person accepts Christ as their Savior.  I do not.  We may receive salvation in our head but not into our heart.  Acts 8:14 – 17 – “When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria.  When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.”

Matthew 13:3 – 8 – “Then he told them many things in parables, saying: ‘A farmer went out to sow his seed.  As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.  Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.  But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.  Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.  Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.’” The parable is about people accepting Christ as their Savior.   Did they all receive the Holy Spirit or just the ‘seeds’ who were planted in good soil?

I have seen too many Christians struggling because they did not receive the ‘power’ to overcome their sinful natures that the Holy Spirit provides.  Many are continually discouraged and wary.  They live in constant worry and fear that they will not have enough money to meet their debts, or concerned about their job, their families, health, politics, etc.  Their lives are in a continual state of stress.  The Bible tells us that once we receive the Holy Spirit we will have God’s help in everything we do.  Why don’t they have the peace and joy that God promises?  This is why I believe working out our salvation includes making sure that we receive the Holy Spirit to assist us through every phase of life and every problem we will ever encounter.  God knew we could not please Him on our own.  Therefore, He will give us the Holy Spirit to guide us in the working out of our salvation.  We are required to read the Bible and put into practice what we are taught and inspired to do, by Scripture and the Holy Spirit that lives within us.  Do not let Satan or his emissaries cheat you out of your faith and let you fail to receive the Holy Spirit.

What if after death you find that you missed heaven?  Here are some Scriptures you may never hear in church.  Matthew 7:13 – 14 – “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.  But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.” NLT

You may believe that the gate is wide and all you have to do is accept Christ as Lord, accept Him as your Savior and that is all that is required.  Therefore, many Christians struggle with must I work my way to heaven or isn’t God’s grace sufficient.  Once my sins are forgiven are there further requirements?

Salvation is not necessarily a feeling.  It is God’s promise that if we accept Christ, we commit and surrender to Him; He will allow the Holy Spirit to enter into our lives.  Once we receive the Holy Spirit we may experience an immediate or a gradual change to become more like Christ in our disposition, kindness, gentleness and love.  Everyone may not recognize having acquired the Holy Spirit the same way.  My personal experience was that I wanted to change so that I could please God.  Tremendous changes took place in my life almost immediately.  Changes I had tried to do on my own and did not have the will power to do so.

Matthew 7:21 – 23 – “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.  On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’  But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’”

The requirement to enter heaven is that we must actually do the will of God in order to be accepted.  The question would be: Does every professing Christian live by and do God’s will?  It sounds like prophesying, casting out demons and performing miracles will not necessarily assure a Christian that they will automatically become a member of God’s family.

Matthew 10:38 – 39 – “If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine.  If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.”  Christ is telling us that we must identify with Him.  We must be willing to suffer and face death, if necessary, as a testimony that Christ is Who He says He is. We are to be His witnesses.  If we live by the ways of the world we could lose our relationship with God.  Are we allowing leisure, popularity, financial security, power, fame and the world’s lusts control us?  If we cling to the life of the world we could lose our eternal life with God.

Matthew 12:32 – “Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, either in this world or in the world to come.”  Every person must know the unpardonable sin.  How we treat the Holy Spirit that is within a Christian is extremely important.  Yet, many either do not recognize He is with us or we intentionally ignore Him.  This may be a deliberate hardness of the heart.  It is the belief that anyone committing the unpardonable sin will never ask for forgiveness.  Ignoring the guidance of the Holy Spirit will most likely reject the requirement of repenting or reversing direction of one’s life from being worldly to being spiritual.

Matthew 12:36 – 37 – “And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak.  The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.”  Jesus reminds us that what we say tells what is in our heart.  This reveals what our heart is focused on.  We must allow the Holy Spirit to change our thinking by giving us a new attitude and a different motivation.

Matthew 15:8 – 9 – “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.  Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.”  God requires that we do more than just act religious.  More is required than just reading and studying the Bible.  We must live according to God’s will and this is to develop the mind of Christ and deny our self-centeredness, become humble as a servant and follow the teachings of Christ.

Matthew 18:3 – 4 – “Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.  So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.”  Many Christian are similar to the Apostles.  They want positions in Christ’s kingdom.  Our earthly natures can exempt us from eternal destinies.  We can become so concerned about becoming someone that we lose perspective of our future in eternity.  We must see ourselves as team members and be willing to do whatever the team needs.  Christ stressed the importance of humility and having sincere hearts.  Matthew 20:26b-28 – “Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave.  For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Matthew 24:9 – 14 – “Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers.  And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people.  Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold.  But the one who endures to the end will be saved.  And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come.”  All over the world Christians are facing persecution and death.  There are false teachers preaching health and prosperity only.  Their messages are what people want to hear.  They tell you such as: God wants you to be rich.  If you have enough faith you will never get sick.   There is really no sin or hell.   God tells us He wants us to have an abundant life but that means loving Him with all of our heart and others as ourselves and He will meet our needs.  If we do not focus on Christ and times get severe, we could be one of those who could fall away.  If that were to happen, our Christianity was probably in our heads and never in our hearts where it must be.

Hebrews 13:5b – 6 – “For God has said, ‘I will never fail you.    I will never abandon you.’   So we can say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear.   What can mere people do to me?’”  Christians who are materialistic do not trust God to take care of them.  Insecurity can lead to money, which can become the root of one’s spiritual problems.  A Christian with a heart experience will find contentment in all things.

Doug Lee and I wrote a book, “God and the Bottom Line”.  We believe people can become whatever they desire to be.  Doug uses his experiences as a pro playing basketball for the NBA New Jersey Nets, the Sacramento Kings and a CEO.  My experience comes from being in management with Birds Eye Frozen Foods and Montgomery Ward.  Here is what our experience has taught us:

Everyone is motivated by the need to satisfy four basic spiritual needs: Everyone, conscious of it or not, longs to be loved by God and to love God in return; everyone needs to be unconditionally accepted by God, the way a parent accepts a child; everyone yearns to have an identity to be special in God’s eyes; and everyone needs a spiritual purpose in life, and serving God is the only purpose worthy of our best efforts.

Because these needs are instinctive, people are only aware of a void in their lives that longs to be fulfilled. Those who are influenced by their worldly natures try to satisfy spiritual needs with physical acts. Hence, a person who instinctively longs for God’s love attempts to satisfy the longing with physical love. The same person longs for acceptance, identity, and purpose and seeks to fulfill these needs the same way.

As a longtime manager and consultant, I’ve had the opportunity of working with many different people, each unique in personality, talents, temperaments, and career circumstances. It is safe to say that no two people are exactly alike. However, in time, one begins to see the overall sameness that lies beneath the surface, at the heart, or core, of individual needs. When people’s individual needs are reduced to the lowest common denominator, business and career circumstances have a way of becoming incidental, even superfluous.

Some of those I have worked with could be described as “frenzied” in their efforts to satisfy their spiritual needs. Some sought to fill the need to be loved by engaging in multiple love affairs. Several tried to satisfy the need for acceptance and personal identity by joining every group imaginable, including sign-toting, do-good organizations; political action groups; hobby or special interest groups; and/or immersing themselves in their careers or any number of “causes.”

Then again, not everyone searches for spiritual answers like this. I’ve worked with others who seemed to simply give up and withdraw. Their unfulfilled needs to be loved and accepted left them detached and embittered. They had no clear identity or purpose in life save getting by from day to day. In effect, they sulked like unhappy children.

The spiritual needs that motivate some to engage in a misdirected and undiscerning search and others to withdraw can never be satisfied by physical acts, no matter how well-intentioned they might be. Instinctive spiritual needs can be satisfied only by spiritual means, and the recovery process can take some time. Nevertheless, recovery and fulfillment begins with the single, life-changing decision to serve Christ and yield daily to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

We emphasized the importance of praying that God would give to each of us a purpose in life.  So many Christians apparently are unaware that God has a plan for them.  They seem to lack a passion for what it is they are doing.  Or, they have a passion but have not developed enough trust in God to follow the Holy Spirit’s direction.  Negative fear is the Devil’s greatest weapon.  How often have you wanted to do something but were afraid to try?

A person may have motivation but it takes discipline to achieve goals.  Was there ever a time that you decided what in life who you want to be or what you wanted to do?  Have you accomplished it?  Doug decided that he wanted to excel in basketball.  He realized that two things would help him reach his goal.  It would take self-discipline and preparation.  He was determined to prepare by shooting as many as 500 baskets a day.  If that required shoveling snow off the pavement he would do so.  If you want to be an accomplished pianist you must be motivated to practice continually.  My objective was to develop leadership skills and become a part of management.  Besides my college major, I read probably fifty books on management and leadership and attended that many seminars. This was in addition to reading the Bible daily and constantly studying for my Bible class that I taught. How willing have you been in preparing for your advancement? What may you expect if the only thing you do is show up for work or school?

You may set other goals such as becoming debt free.  Indebtedness probably resulted from a lack of self-discipline.  You may be motivated but have you set a plan or budget and had the discipline and determination to work your plan?  Then what are your chances of meeting that goal?

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

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

We have found that living a holy life requires a lot of self-discipline.  However, living as God instructs makes life much more bearable, easier to achieve goals and is more satisfying.  Never forget the need for setting goals, making a plan to meet that goal, then preparing, having the self-discipline and determination to never quit until it is reached.

Wouldn’t you like to know that the Bible says there will never be an end to the United States?  Or, does it?  Many theologians interpret Scripture differently but you make the decision.  Is the Bible describing America or another kingdom?

Daniel 2:24 – 49 – Daniel is asked to tell King Nebuchadnezzar what his dream meant.  In the king’s dream stood a large statue that was awesome in appearance.  Daniel can describe the statue and define what each part means as follows:

1. The head was pure gold and Daniel said it stands for the Babylonian Empire and King Nebuchadnezzar.  They were the world’s power.
2. The silver chest of the statue represents the Persian Empire which shall conquer the Babylonians and did in 539 B.C.
3. The statues belly and thighs made of bronze would be the Greek Empire and that happened in 334 B.C.
4. The iron legs shall be the Roman Empire and they were in 63 B.C.
5. The feet of clay and iron stood for the breakup of the Roman Empire into strong nations (iron) and weak nations (clay).
6. The United Kingdom represented the strong nations and they controlled a major territory around the world in Africa, Asia, Australia, North America and beyond.  From there we find it broken up into individual nations, strong and weak ones.

Daniel 2:44 – “And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.”

Which kingdom will stand forever and will never be destroyed?  Are we talking about God’s kingdom or is it the United States as many believe?

You choose: Is it God’s Kingdom or the United States that is in Daniel’s dream.  Assume you have an American president who believes that everyone in the world deserves independence and freedom.   Would they build up America or tear America down?  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.  They then would take wealth from the strong nations and give it to those that are weaker.  The world would then be equal.  There are some among us who believe this is not possible and 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 know better what everyone needs to be healthy and happy.

You may understand why this verse can be interpreted so many different ways.  If you believe this Scripture is illustrating the United States you may want to build her up rather than tear her down.  If you believe in a one-world government you may want to get people fighting among themselves through the Marxist method of divide and conquer.  Use any crisis that develops to take control.  Promote the fear of man-made climate change and you can destroy big oil and their money & power over the world.  Big oil/gas could stop the progression to a one-world government.  Promote promiscuity and immorality, so the church cannot interfere and cause the family unit to fail.  If you don’t see Satan at work toward the one world government and religion it is only because you are not reading your Bible.

If there is a one-world government and an Antichrist as the Bible says, then America will come to an end.  Therefore, I believe we are talking about the kingdom that Jesus will rule for a thousand years and then take us with Him to a new earth and a new heaven.

The Antichrist, who will rule, will come from the European Union which now consists of 27 nations.  He shall be a Jew.  For example, George Soros is a Jew, by birth, but not the Antichrist.  President of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is a Jew, by birth, but not the Antichrist. They also are not of the European Union but examples of Jews who are anti-Semitic. The Antichrist could be one of many.  Therefore, I cannot accept anywhere in the Bible that it refers to America.

It has always amazed me throughout history and today how many people Satan has been able to deceive.  I hope I am wrong and Daniel is prophesying that it is America and we are the world’s answer to peace, individual freedom and longevity.   Are we on the right path for that to happen?  If you believe socialism is the answer, entitlements and big government similar to what we see in Europe is what we want; then we will play a part in that one-world government.  But remember, there will be one dictator who will remove all personal rights and freedoms. You then must have a mark in order to buy or sell. Everyone will be treated equally if you accept his rules and accept the religion that He will require. How did you choose? For myself, I prefer what we have had for the past 230 plus years but, some day there will be an end to the U.S.  How soon will that be?  Your choice could make a difference!

Did you have a perfect childhood?  Have things happened that have caused you tremendous shame and guilt?  Have you felt unworthy, unloved, rejected, feel mistreated, abused, abandoned, not good enough, stupid, ugly and alone and are looking for a life of contentment? Have you craved attention and have been willing to do most anything to become accepted?  Have you tried alcohol, drugs, being promiscuous to satisfy your imperfections and life only became worse?   What do you think your chances are of being a happy and a lovable person?  Do you feel your life is too damaged to be repaired and overcome all of the negatives? Have you given up hope and believe this will be your life forever?  What are the chances your life will change if you dwell on the past?  If you want a new life, you must start all over.  Is that possible?  Tell me: “How do I erase all of my past bad memories”?  The sad thing is you probably can’t.  However, there is someone who can help.  The reason He can is because He knows more about you than you know about yourself.  Christ is the one person who can give you complete hope in the future.  You have been developing yourself for living life in this world.  Think about preparing for eternity and what that would take.

First you must believe that Christ is really the Son of God.  Eleven of Christ’s closest followers were willing to die violent deaths because of their belief that He was Who He stated.  The Bible records the death of the Apostle James found in Acts 12.2.  He was put to death by the sword.  We believe Peter was crucified upside down on an “X” shaped cross according to Jesus’ prophecy in John 21:18 & 19.  History tells us Matthew suffered martyrdom and was killed by a sword in Ethiopia.  Nathanael was beaten to death by whipping.  The apostle Thomas was stabbed to death.  James, not the brother of Jesus but John’s brother, was thrown from the upper part of the temple because he refused to deny his belief that Christ was who He said He was.  Andrew was crucified.  Philip was martyred in Turkey. Bartholomew was skinned alive. Jude was martyred.  The apostle Paul was beheaded by Nero.  When we take what we believe are facts that those closest to Jesus were willing to die a martyr’s death it leads us to believe there was no doubt in their mind that Jesus was Who He said He was. Would these apostles be willing to die for a lie?  Would you?  Following is more evidence:

After Christ’s death and resurrection, He gave them convincing proof that He was alive.  “He appeared to them over a period of 40 days and spoke about the kingdom of God.”  While eating with them, He told them to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the Holy Spirit and He would baptize them with power.  “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you.”   “Before their very eyes, He was taken up, and a cloud hid Him from their sight.”  As they were looking up, two men dressed in white stood beside them and told them Jesus would return the same way they have seen Him go into heaven.  A short time later, 8,000 mostly Jews, were converted to Christianity.  Today, there are close to two billion Christians who believe Christ is who He says He is.  How much evidence does one need?

You must be willing to trust, by faith, there is someone that has the ability to forgive every sin that you have ever committed and can eradicate all guilt.  But, you must also believe there are evil spirits and evil people who want you to think that you can change nothing and you will always be hopelessly lost.  From the beginning of time in the Garden of Eden, everyone has been given a choice as to their final destiny.  The majority of the world rejects the one who can truly bring you hope and happiness.  He will tell you that the only way you can find happiness is by putting yourself above everyone else and not submitting or being accountable to anyone but you.  How have you done so far on your own?  Do you want someone to help you get a better life?  How about the One who created you?  Do you think He can straighten your life out?  It doesn’t make any difference whether we are a Christian or a non-believer.  If we cannot feel forgiven and have a complete “born again” experience we can be saddled with an unhappy and unfulfilled life forever.  Yet, life was not meant to be lived that way.

What is that “born again” experience?  It is called surrendering one’s self-centeredness and starting a new life free from everything in the past that has been negative.  There is only one way to obtain that new start.  It is to develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  To some that may sound too radical and too simplistic.  How can I be sure it will work?  The first step may be the hardest—it requires faith to believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and He came to earth to die in our place for the sins we have committed.  If we have the faith to accept Him as God’s Son, believe that He can forgive us and we are willing to repent (change how we have been living and live as Christs teaches—Luke 13:5 – “No, and I tell you again that unless you repent, you will perish, too.”), we can start life all over with a clean slate having had all of our sins and guilt erased.  God knows you cannot change your life on your own and become a new person without help.  He promises that once we accept Christ, God will put His Spirit into our lives to help us progressively become a new person with a tremendous future having advantages in front of us.

From my own experience the Holy Spirit is within to help us, gradually change our thinking and how to see life from a different perspective.  If we will allow, the Holy Spirit will help us change all the things we were doing trying to buy or find true happiness.

Now, to make it all work we need to be held accountable.  Mark 12:30 & 31 – “’And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’  The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”

The more you love God and others the more accountable you will be in living your life.  We want to please those we love the greatest.  Pleasing them requires living a life that we know they would want us to live.  Loving God and others gets our minds off of ourselves, sometimes our biggest down fall.  So if we live for God and others, rather than ourselves we will be able to live as our Creator wanted us to live.  When we live like that there comes a joy, happiness and a fulfillment that we did not have living for ourselves.  Everything that we did, wanting to find that acceptance, happiness and love is replaced by knowing that we are pleasing God and others in how we live.

This does not mean you will no longer have any problems.  But there will always be that Spirit within you to give you reassurance, council and assist in working through any situation you may encounter.  Knowing you are not alone, there is always someone who loves you, can bring you that new life and you can start all over again.  It is never too late to start as Satan wants us to believe.