Do you chose to stay as a Capitalistic nation or would you rather become a socialistic country? This is our choice. A socialistic nation will have Mayor Bloomberg tell us how much we can drink and Michelle Obama will tell us what we can eat. President Obama will tell us we need more rules and regulations and a bigger government. Government will provide more entitlements until we run out of money.

One of the seven deadly sins is ENVY. We know that envy can cause unhappiness. If an envious person can’t have what another one has they don’t want that person to have it either. Does a wealthy person have things you know you can’t obtain make you hope the government will take those things from them?

Envy is a tremendous motivator. In fact, class warfare is hyping the emotions in people that will create envy. Have you believed that the wealthy need to give what they have so others can be better off? You may have heard of the college professor who told his class, the first day that everyone in the class was going to receive the same grade. All grades would be averaged and the average is what the class would receive. The first exam resulted in some A’s, B’s and F’s. They averaged out to be a C+ and that was the grade everyone received. The next test there were no A’s and more F’s. They received a C- for the class. By the time the semester was over no one studied for the final test. Everyone failed and the entire class received an F.

Students and parents were attacking the Dean’s office complaining. Parents were shown the final test and most of the questions answered were wrong. They asked the students: how many studied for the final? They said it didn’t make any difference what I did; my grade depended on what everyone else did. Welcome to socialism! Take away competitiveness and motivation and that is what you get. Can you see it eliminated pride in one’s work? I learned that hard work, “preparation” and persistence worked for me.

Most people who do not invest don’t like seeing investors become wealthy. When you attack the 1% for doing well financially it has a tendency to tear us apart as a nation. I am noticing we are no longer listening to each other. We as Christians must never become enemies because we cannot agree. We must always find a way to compromise unless it is immorally wrong.

Presently, I see too many Americans concentrating on the negatives. We have become the world’s largest debtor. The Federal Reserve is printing so much money that inflation has to happen in time. It is too bad that people can’t see the direction we are heading is a means of trying to satisfy instant gratification. We must never allow the idea that government can replace God and charity, and that is where we could be headed.

The only hope I have is that God, being in charge, He will intervene. Maybe the way we are headed is His plan for the End-Time. If that is the case our job is more compelling in spreading His Gospel to the world as we are commanded to do.

If you have studied the Bible you will know that Christ said you would need a helper because we cannot do many things on our own.  He tells us we have an advantage that the world does not have and that is the Holy Spirit.  If we have an advantage how do we apply it and how will the Holy Spirit make us any different at work, home, school or wherever?

Acts 1:4 – 8 tells us that once we receive the Holy Spirit we will receive power.  What is this power and how does the Spirit help us?

Talking to Christians over the years many do not recognize that it is the Holy Spirit that has made good things happened in their lives. Many believe they were just lucky or it was a coincident.  We consider every good thing that happens is a result of God’s goodness working through the Holy Spirit. The reason we believe this is because of what Scripture says.

Job 36:11 – “If they obey and serve him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment.”

Isaiah 1:19 – 20 – “If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.  For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

A believer can memorize the Bible and still not receive the promises God has made.  Christ stressed that we must be doers of the Word and the Will of God.  To obey and serve Him requires action.  You can accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and receive the Holy Spirit but that only guarantees eternal life.  To receive prosperity and years of contentment requires action and serving in His ministry.  I believe I can testify to that through my personal experience.

I was an only child and my father died when I was six.  My mother had little education and acquired a job as a cook in the school cafeteria.  We had a three room home with an outside toilet and only cold water.  I took baths in a tub with water heated from the wood stove.  After graduation I joined the Navy and spent four years mostly overseas.  After being discharged and getting a job in a box factory I started going to church.  I accepted Christ into my heart and my whole life changed.

The first door that opened up was a suggestion that I go to a Christian college on the GI Bill.  The government would pay nearly all costs.  My wife was two years ahead of me in school and I had completed my sophomore year when we were married.  That year I was offered an assistant foreman’s job with Bird’s Eye Frozen Foods during the summer.  My senior year I was offered a job as a high school coach in a Christian High School.  All my college expenses were paid.  My wife was asked to be the school’s secretary and also head of the freshmen girls dorm.  All of our food and housing was furnished.  We had three incomes and no expenses accept for our car, tithes and taxes.  I also became the night foreman over 250 employees during my senior year.  Two years later I went on the Montgomery Ward training program for future management.  Six years later I became a store manager.  During most of the time I taught a Sunday school class and was on different committees and church boards.  My wife was involved in church music programs and in some was the choir director.  She spent fourteen years as a wedding coordinator.  She was chairman of a chapter of Christian Women’s Club.  As a couple we were on a number of church committees.

Since 1987 I have had my own business with my family and God has blessed us more than we could ever have expected.   So what have I learned?

1. Isaiah 1:20 : S 1Sa 12:15
2. Isaiah 1:20 : S Job 15:22; Isa 3:25; 27:1; 65:12; 66:16; Jer 17:27
3. Isaiah 1:20 : Nu 23:19; Isa 21:17; 34:16; 40:5; 58:14; Jer 49:13; Mic 4:4; Zec 1:6; Rev 1:16

We serve a good God and it is His desire to bless His children. He does it through the Holy Spirit.  He wants us to be confident, but humble, and to be content, filled with joy.  He wants us to recognize all of the good things He is doing for us.

The Holy Spirit is invisible and works behind the scenes to be our helper.  Do you believe that God would give us His Spirit and His power and then not do anything to help us?  How often when something good happens do you stop and thank God and the Holy Spirit?  May we assure you, the more you recognize the goodness of the Holy Spirit and thank Him, the more you will see good things occur.

We try to share some of the supernatural events that have happened in our lives that we know was a result of the Holy Spirit.  It is our desire to convince you that the Holy Spirit is looking out for you and will direct you in the direction God wants you to go.

If you will allow the Holy Spirit to guide you, He will help you to make right decisions, improve your productivity and improve your relationships with others.  Let me share a previous writing: For those who are inclined to ask: “What good is the Holy Spirit to Christians if He doesn’t translate love, joy and peace in your life?”  I offer the following rather homespun explanation.  The Christian who depends upon the Holy Spirit is sensitive to His leading and is like the athlete who listens to an experienced coach.  The coach can’t guarantee an athlete’s induction into the Hall of Fame, nor can he guarantee a gold medal for the athlete, but he can train him and teach him everything he knows, giving him every advantage, allowing him to consistently do his best.  Being a Christian does not guarantee presidencies, chairmanships, wealth, achievement awards, fame or recognition, but it will lead the Christian into the direction that fulfills his God-given purpose.  What do you have to lose?  Instead of ignoring the Holy Spirit in your life allow Him to become your partner.

Scripture makes it very clear. God has given us the right to make any choice we want to make. However, we can defer control to another, possibly a spouse or evil influences, our selfish desires or the Holy Spirit provided to us by God. Our selfish nature, without control allows us to commit all kinds of sin. A person having the Holy Spirit and is submissive to His guidance will allow the Holy Spirit to produce the fruits of the Spirit in one’s life. Being submissive to the Holy Spirit and allowing Him to change our lives helps us to become more Christ-like. Not being submissive and ignoring God’s Spirit we see little or no difference from how we were prior to salvation. This can be a dangerous option if we want to grow spiritually.

Galatians 5:22 – 26 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.”

For those who have had difficulty wondering if they have been saved and received salvation the fruit of the Spirit is a good indicator. Without failure, the Holy Spirit will provide some fruit if not all nine. How much depends on our commitment to His directions. Love, joy and peace should provide evidence that you have received God’s Spirit into your life. The fruits are that further guarantee that Christ dwells in a believer’s life.

The Apostle Paul tells us we are to become like Christ Who is our example for living life. A godly person is to allow the fruits to become a part of their character and personality. It is the fruits of the Spirit that we want to give control in how we live.

It should be pointed out there is a difference between gifts of the Spirit and fruits of the Spirit. Every believer can have all the fruits but a person may only have one or more gifts. Gifts may be teaching, prophecy, administration, witnessing, etc.

Christ tells us the greatest fruit is love. Love is what frees us from the law and legalism. John 15:13 – “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Christ then set the example on the cross. This love only comes from having the Holy Spirit. It is a love that comes from God and it comes to us unconditionally with no strings attached.

No matter how much you may have sinned. God continues to love you. This is why you have been given His Spirit. If sin had no pleasure, what would be its appeal? God allows us to make bad choices knowing that the consequences could be devastating. Yet, He is willing to forgive. We must continually be on guard realizing that there are those negative influences that continually provide tempting pleasures that can lead to sin. If we can develop the self-control to listen and focus only on the Holy Spirit we will be filled with the fruits which will guide us in becoming more Christ-like in our behavior and our love.

Romans 8:38 & 39 – “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Normally, peace and joy cannot be instigated on our own. It comes from God through the Holy Spirit. We are obligated, as believers, to be obedient to Christ’s ways. We are to live in peace with God and we must live in peace with others. Our selfish nature makes this sometimes difficult to do. We are commanded to never hate another person. In many situations it is only allowing the Holy Spirit to work within us that we can live in peace with others. It is a fruit that can and must be obtained.

We know that our selfish nature is often impatient. We may be impatient to things or events but never to other people. Patience needs to be an expression of love. If someone is disrespectful do we allow our selfish nature to react or are we kind and patient having the gift of self-control?

Take an inventory. How many fruits of the Spirit do you have? How close are you to spiritual maturity?

No matter how many times I read the Old Testament, I read about fear and guilt.  Deuteronomy 19:21 – “Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.”  Living under the law was a motivation of absolute fear.  Break a commandment could mean death.  Every time I have read the New Testament I see a God who loves us and wants to meet all of our needs.  Under the Law we were controlled by fear and guilt.  Under grace we are motivated by love.  Fear and guilt can be overcome and removed.  Which do you chose: a repentant life, saved by Christ and loved by God or under the law?  Without God’s grace you are under Satan’ control.

Many do not understand why God put the Jewish nation under strict laws and then sent Christ into the world to present a new covenant replacing the law with His grace.  Paul uses the following Scripture as an analogy to what it was like living under the law and then living under grace.

Galatians 4:1 – 7 – “What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate.  The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father.  So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world.  But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, Father.’ So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.”

Under the age of 12 a Jewish boy was under the direct and absolute control of his father.  The same was true of a Greek boy until the age of 18.  All Roman children were raised by slaves.  Each child had no rights until they became an adult.  Children could go nowhere without the supervision of their slave-master and overseer.  In fact, children were treated no differently than if they were slaves.

Israel children were under strict rules and regulations.  They needed permission to do practically anything.  As a rule, fathers determined the age of maturity and a child was not considered an adult until the father determined they were capable of making decisions on their own.  When a son reached maturity, they held a ceremony and gave him a position in the family.  They put a robe around him and placed a ring on his finger.

Paul is sharing that as fathers treated their children, God had instituted similar laws for Israel to follow until they too had reached a spiritual maturity.  The Jews were not given maturity or adulthood until Christ came to free them from the law.  Until then, they were not spiritually free and had to obey the law.  We might say they were slaves to the law.

Everything that was required of a Jew was done to ensure righteousness. Christ was born under the law and was raised under the moral and ceremonial laws.  Like everyone else He lived in a world where God permits evil so that we might see the contrast between God’s holiness and the sins of the world.

Christ came that we might be redeemed, freeing us from sin and the law plus giving full rights as children of God.  It was through Christ that made available God’s forgiveness and grace that our sins and the law, which had controlled us, would no longer enslave us.   Once we received God’s Spirit into our hearts, it assured us of our inheritance and a personal relationship with our Father through our faith in Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:14 – 17 –  “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.  The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’   The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”

It is the Holy Spirit that gives us a new identity as sons and daughters of God.  Under Roman culture, becoming a Christian meant they had been given full rights of their new family and they became a full heir to their father’s estate.  They were no longer, in their minds, considered a slave to anyone, even though they were enslaved to the Romans.

I John 3:2 – “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.”

John is telling us that believers will have a future but what it will be has not been revealed.  We know it will be something inconceivably wonderful and more glorious than anything we can imagine.  As Christians we have been born into God’s family and presently enjoy God’s kindness and blessings through Christ. In the future we shall be His glory.

When Christians are raptured and meet Christ in the air, we shall become like Christ. Here are some of the things Scripture tells us:  Our bodies and souls will be united and resurrected.  (I Corinthians 15)  These bodies will be made perfect, without sickness or disease.  (Philippians 3:21)  Our resurrected bodies will in some ways be different from our earthly bodies but others will recognize us.

We can only have clean and pure hearts, without sin, through the Holy Spirit that resides within us.  It is the hope that we have, that gives us confident expectations and anticipation of future blessings.  As we meet Christ we shall be made completely perfect.

It is amazing that people chose to live under the law’s judgment and fail to accept the grace that God offers to everyone.  Do you prefer to live under fear and guilt or a Covenant of grace that provides love and spiritual guidance at all times?  Satan, the great deceiver, has many followers who are unaware of the control he has over them!  Who will you serve?

According to the Pew Research in the state of Nevada 30% of the population attends church regularly.  Only 58% say they pray daily and just 63% absolutely, without a doubt, believe there is a God.

The Bible teaches God is in control of all things.  He will urge some of us to vote one way and discourage others not to vote a certain way.  But God is selecting the direction He wants America to go.

We all know God’s ways are not our ways.  As we study the Bible we know God is continually teaching us what in the future will be best for us.  It seems like those who really love Him and He intends to really bless them, they must endure tremendous hardships before He rewards them.

God had allowed America to become very prosperous prior to 9/11/01.  America became very materialistic and believed that their prosperity was of their own making.  In the Old Testament when the nation of Israel became abundantly wealthy they turned from God.  The result would be God withdrawing His goodness and disaster would follow.

Those who have never studied the Bible will disagree with my following assessment.  I believe President Obama was selected as our current president for one of three reasons:

I believe the decisions he and his administration have made have caused much of the pain that so many have suffered financially.  God decided that it was time for Americans to get back to worshipping God and depending on Him rather than on the government.  I have counseled a number of families who have had extreme financial difficulties and some having lost their jobs and were unable to find another.  God believed it was time for some tough love for many Americans.

It is possible that God allowed President Obama to become president in order to show how easy it will be for the Antichrist to take over and form a one-world government.  Look at what we never knew about the president’s background.  We chose him not knowing positively where he was born.  We are not sure whether he is a Christian or a Muslim.  We have no financial record  of how he got his education or how well he did.  He had little experience as a leader or knowing how to work with bringing the two parties together.   He was chosen on hope and change and what we were hoping he would do.

According to the Bible, there will be a day when the world is in financial chaos and we will look for a world leader to solve our problems.  He will come from the United Nations or the president of the European Union. (My interpretation of Scripture.) He will convince most that he can save the world.  He will have supernatural powers and the world will accept him based on his ability to deceive the population.  He will be accepted with little background information similar to what happened in the election of President Obama.  He will be one of the most charismatic leaders of all time.

The third reason could be that we our getting close to the end times and God knew that it was time for the U.S. to take a different direction and relinquish its superpower status.  President Obama is doing exacting what he was supposed to do.  The Antichrist cannot take over with a powerful America standing in his way.  (Show me where America is mentioned in Revelation as saving the world.)

If I am correct in my assessment then this is what we might expect.  If President Obama is re-elected we are getting closer to the end time.  If Mr. Romney is elected, God was giving America some tough love.  So here is what we might expect in the next few days.  Things will happen that will cause many to become super excited in helping one or the other get elected.  Some will be on fire and will get out the vote.  Or something will happen that will discourage many from voting a certain way.  But God will select the one He wants to lead America and for the purpose He has in mind.

Whoever is elected, it is our responsibility as a Christian to support that person as God’s chosen president.  We do not have to agree with who they are or what they do.  Our responsibility is to spread God’s Word to the world and hope we can fulfill our commission to help people plan for their eternal destiny.

Psalms 103:19 – “The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.

Romans 8:28 – “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Ezekiel 14:13 & 14 – “Son of man, if a country sins against me by being unfaithful and I stretch out my hand against it to cut off its food supply and send famine upon it and kill its people and their animals, even if these three men—Noah, Daniel and Job—were in it, they could save only themselves by their righteousness, declares the Sovereign Lord.”

Las Vegas is known as Sin City.  Having lived here since 1974 I have either seen or heard of about any despicable thing a person could do.  As a store manager we had five security people that reported every crime that occurred in our parking lot, in our store and what was happening in the city.  When you read Scripture it tells of cities that were absolutely sinful.  Two stand out: Corinth and Nineveh.  They sound like these cities were similar to Las Vegas and what we hear from our police department.

In the Old Testament God had destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah because of their immorality.  It appeared Nineveh could be on His list.  He told Jonah to go to Nineveh with a message that He would give him.

Jonah 1:1 – 2 – “The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai:  ‘Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me’”.

You probably know the story depicting Jonah refusing to obey God.  He boarded a ship to flee from God.  God caused a violent storm with mighty winds and the ship was about to capsize.  The crew decided to cast lots to see who was responsible for the calamity.  They casted lots and Jonah was determined to be the cause.  They threw him overboard and he was swallowed by a great fish that God had created.  So Jonah spent three days and three nights in the fish.

All we know is that Nineveh was a wicked city and God foreknew that if He sent a prophet the people would repent and change their ways if they heard God’s message. We are unaware of Jonah’s reason for not wanting to go.

As Jonah entered the city He told the people: “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned.”  The Ninevites believed God.  “They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.”  Jonah 3:10 – “When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.”

Being a resident of Las Vegas, I have often wondered what God thinks of our city.

I learned recently that Nevada is next to last in church attendance in America.  But that does not mean spirituality is dead in Nevada.  I have been a member of a church since 1981 when we had a week-end attendance of 450.  We grew and started other churches.  This past Easter that 450 saw over 40,000 attend services in our church and our satellites churches.

We believe God has given us a vision that he wants Christians everywhere to know that where sin may be the greatest, His power and His Spirit is even greater.  And if Christianity can blossom in Las Vegas, it can increase anywhere.

I have spent many years on our church board where we try to determine what God’s vision for the coming years may be for our church.  We believe God is calling us to spread His message globally.  It is almost unbelievable the doors that are opening and the opportunities that have been brought about.  As I write this I am in “awe” of all of the supernatural events and signs that I have seen over the years.

It’s not about numbers.  It is about individuals.  When you see some who have participated in the most immoral areas of Las Vegas accept Christ and become “free” and children of God, you have to believe that God continues to care.  You then see these individuals bring their friends and you see them converted and baptized.  There is no greater excitement.  We have had over 30,000 conversions over the past few years.  This miracle can be done elsewhere.

Every Christian church has been given the great commission to evangelize.  But not every church has made it their vision.  This is the only difference I see between my present church and the eleven others, in different cities, where I have been a member.  We preach the same essentials.  We place the most emphasis on those who do not know God rather than on those who have been Christians for years.  But if God called you to evangelize you would fit in extremely well.  If the only time you get spiritually fed is when you come to church, you may find a more traditional church to your choosing.  Both are needed and this is why we have a number of different denominations.  We are not all alike and we have not all been given the same calling!!!

It is no longer a secret that Las Vegas is one of the fastest growing Christian communities in America. If we are to see the dream that a nation-wide revival could start in Las Vegas, shouldn’t we as Christians pray that it’s time for a revival to take place in America?  As we see the Prophecy of Daniel and Revelation unfolding, I believe a spiritual revival may be the only thing that could prolong the end times. If Jonah were alive today would God be sending him to America with a threatening message?

We are slowly losing our freedom as our politicians are preparing for a one-world government. We must become aware that we are being conditioned to accepting the loss of our personal rights.

An economics teacher once said: greed or ambition works in a capitalistic system. Envy and slothfulness promotes socialism. You rarely hear greed being hyped. However, envy is a great motivator, used often. Which economic system will give you the greatest freedom? Is it Socialism or a Capitalistic system? Do you think those who are envious of others and not wanting to work are going to provide to society the greatest freedom? They are willing to give up freedom for the offer of entitlements. The envious want the government (you) to give them what they want. They then will not have to be held accountable for their personal needs. They believe in financial redistribution and government support.

The capitalistic system isn’t perfect but it does promote entrepreneurship, the act of being an entrepreneur or one who undertakes innovations, finance and business acumen in an effort to transform innovations into economic goods. One group is willing to be committed and the others are unwilling to accept commitment or accept responsibility.

I never believed our country would be debating from where does our freedom come? Some don’t care where it comes from as long as they have it. If you are veteran, most believe it is important to know. Too many take freedom for granted. Some believe they deserve freedom and pay little attention to how we got it or what must we do to keep it. Others believe freedom comes naturally and they were born to be free.

Mark 3:24 – 25 – “If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.”

The debate that exists: does freedom come from our Creator or does it come from government and laws? The majority believe individual liberty and freedom come from God. My greatest concern is that we are becoming a nation, so divided, that it may be too late to get us back to being patriotic to a free-market economic system and a true believer in the good that America does for the world. I see radicals and activists with a cause wanting to change America into becoming a socialist state with the redistribution of income. This is just the beginning of a world government under the United Nations

What may cause us to lose our freedom? We are teaching our young people they do not need to be held accountable for earning a living. Have you noticed the Wall Street Occupiers lately? They don’t believe they need to be committed to anyone, even in marriage or to any career. They don’t need to be givers, it is best to be a “taker” and live on government handouts. Do they think this will keep them having freedom and liberties? Does one believe it is satisfying to live their life always dependant on someone else? Who can possibly take our freedom? Is it OSHA, EPA, NLRB, Obama Care, the fiscal cliff, the United Nations or our government’s regulations such as what your children can eat at a school cafeteria?

John 8:31 – 32 & 36 – “Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”… So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.”

Galatians 5:1 – “So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.”

Most Christians believe that all rights of life, freedom and the pursuit of happiness was given by God and found in Scripture. Our constitution was founded by Godly men intending to make sure that freedom would continually exist. I don’t understand why Christians believe socialism, with its many regulations and government control, is an improvement.

For most of us who have been veterans believe our freedom has been maintained because of a strong military force. It is conceivable that had we not been prepared the world could have been controlled by Germany, Japan, Russia or other nations who believe we can be defeated. Yet, there are many who believe that we need to reduce our military and appeasement with an enemy will protect us.

History could have told us a few years back that we were headed for a financial disaster when people were buying homes they could not afford and prices were escalating to unrealistic levels. It seems we had about ten years of unusual prosperity and then the bubble burst. We didn’t learn from the 1989 real estate bubble, the 1990s technology bubble, bubbles in Japan and an oil bubble when oil went up to $140 then to $30 a barrel. Will we have another bubble? We never learn from history. I believe gold and other commodities can go only so far and then they too will burst?

Freedom is not being able to do anything you want. It is doing the right thing acceptable to the society’s laws in which we live. It is our right to do things and accept the consequences for what we do. Freedom does not eliminate one’s need for being accountable, being committed or being responsible

There was a time when more than 30% of us were raised on a farm. If it was a dairy farm you rose and by 5:00 a.m. you were milking the cows. This was done again at 5:00 p.m., 365 days a year. When you left the farm you knew how to work hard, be loyal to your job or career and willing to accept responsibility. If things didn’t go well you didn’t blame it on someone else. You accepted the consequence of your mistake. Now less than 2% live on farms and our children have not been taught the discipline necessary to work hard and be committed to being an achiever. Farmers rarely expected to become “takers” and live off of entitlements. They only knew the importance of giving as taught by Christ. What have we allowed our government politicians to do to the next generation so that they could get re-elected

I believe the only hope for America at this point is to have a tremendous spiritual revival. Study the history of Israel. When they rejected God bad things happened. We Americans need an attitude change. God loves a “cheerful giver” so stop relying on big government.
Does the government really owe you? If they try to take care of you, they will soon “own” you? If the government becomes bankrupt and God ignores us, what occurs then? Where will your freedom come from? What kind of freedom do you expect under a one-world government controlled by the Antichrist? Watch for the signs prophesized in Revelations. We are getting closer to the end times.

If you want to know God’s will for you personally, you can.  However, very few are interested in finding out.  In 1963 Paul Anka wrote the song: “My Way” and Frank Sinatra sang it.  From 1963 to 1971 it was a top hit.  In 1977 Elvis Presley recorded it and again it was a top hit.  Most of us are interested in doing life: “My Way”.   How many even considered that there is another way and that is God’s way?

If you are interested you can know what GOD’s WILL for your life is.  First you must realize that Satan and our carnal nature will throw all kinds of hindrances in our way.  Our relationship with Christ will be hindered by a poor self-image, a defeatist attitude, feeling rejected, afraid of failing, fear of failure, the need to procrastinate, a lack of self-control, a negative attitude, always suspicious or being indecisive and unable to make correct moral decisions.  If you are suffering from some of these hindrances you may feel God has no purpose or plan for you at all.  The Bible tells us differently.  God knew and loved every one of us and had a plan laid out before we were ever conceived.

Jeremiah 1:5 – “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”   My study Bible says that “God knew us long before we were born or even conceived.  He thought about you and planned for you.  When you feel discouraged or inadequate, remember that God has always thought of you as valuable and that He has a purpose in mind for you.”

The Bible is very clear that God has a plan for us and he created us with the abilities to fulfill whatever the plan might be. Satan has an agenda to keep us from performing what God had intended for us just like he did for Adam and Eve.  It is Satan who plants the seeds of insecurity, low self-esteem, unworthiness and even the fear to stop us from completing what God intended. He may use parents, siblings, teachers or employers to put us down.  It seems he finds ways to discourage and defeat us, but only if we allow it.  Most people live lives with God-given gifts that they have never developed or used.  What would the world be like if we all sought God’s intended purpose and we used our talents to go with it?

We start with the Ten Commandments.  Then we follow the guidance given by Christ.  We determine what our temperaments are in order to find a career.  If we like fixing things probably we should become a plumber, an electrician or an engineer.  If we are shy probably God did not intend that we get into sales.  If we like leading or overseeing others we know that management might be a good option.  If we are a perfectionist we are more suited to solving problems.  If we are extremely outgoing there are many opportunities.  God gave us different temperaments so we wouldn’t all be alike but each have many positives.

We must remember that God gave us His Spirit to assist and guide us in making choices.  Let me give an illustration as to how the Holy Spirit may help.  You are a young lady with a degree in theology.  You are heading a youth group in a large Evangelical church.  Tim Tebow comes to your church to speak.  He finds you attractive and asks for a date.  He seems to be serious in his relationship with you.  You have the same beliefs, similar goals and find him easy to get along with.  However, there is one negative.  You hate football.  That could be your clue that he was not meant for you.  Otherwise, I believe God would have made you a real fan.  How many young ladies would turn him down, regardless?  Yet, many when choosing a spouse reject anything that may be the least bit negative.  Believing this might be the best chance they could get.  Would a guy turn down the most popular girl in school?  Are we looking for what others will think if I get the one all the guys would die for?  Think of the boost to our ego?  Do any of us, in that situation, ask God Who He would choose for us?  Every day we are faced with similar decisions and we end up singing: “My Way”.

One thing I learned was the importance of preparation that the Apostle Paul continually stressed.  It was the key to success.  I learned the seriousness of trusting in God’s promises.  I became aware that the Holy Spirit was given to us that we might have confidence and comfort in what we were doing, a guiding hand to do it well and a purpose in life.  God had opened doors through which we could chose to enter. Yes, there were times that doors slammed shut and probably kept me from going in the wrong direction.

There were two times I was given an opportunity to become wealthy.  I felt led to turn them down.  Had I have chosen either it would have changed my entire life.  As I look back, I would not be doing what I have for the past twenty years if I had an abundance of wealth.  I believe the Holy Spirit knew what was best for me and my family.  God has blessed me in so many ways that I probably would never have had if I chose material things over a spiritual direction and purpose. I have a business, with my family, helping people and with a great satisfaction that I am doing God’s WILL.  Our decisions should not always be what is best for me, but what is God’s plan?

Over the years I never completely knew, for sure, that what I was doing was God’s plan. However, I wanted it to be.  As I look back I feel I have done what God wanted me to do.   It results in a feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction. I believe part of making decisions is our motive in making them.  I feel the Holy Spirit has prepared me for eternity and that is more important than all of the wealth I could have had.   By the way, He didn’t leave me penniless while on earth.     I found God’s WAY is the best and not “My Way”!

Revelation’s prophesy unfolds and we begin to establish a one-world government as foretold.  Is it possible that we are nearing the financial collapse that will cause the need for a certain person to take over and bail us out?  We understand large banks are too big to fail. However, nations can and possibly will go bankrupt.  The person stepping in to deceive the world and save it from collapsing is the Antichrist, Satan’s puppet.

Psychics and mediums are not always right but many times they are.  Kings in Biblical times often consulted mediums and spiritualists. Wives of some presidents have consulted psychics.  In the Book of Daniel, King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream.  If his many mediums could not interpret the dream he would have them all killed.  However, Daniel was able to tell him what his dream was and what it meant.

As a 16 year old, my parents played cards with a neighbor couple two or three times a week.  She could tell the future and most of the time see was right.  She told me that I would do a lot of traveling over water and visit foreign countries.  At 18 I joined the Navy and what she said came true.  She told me I would marry a musician and I would have two boys and two girls. I was told I would never make a living with my hands.  Also I would do a lot of writing.  I could tell you story after story what she predicted that actually happened.  This is probably why I have studied Bible prophecy so much.

When I became a Christian I read Deuteronomy 18:10 – 11 – “Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.”

Leviticus 20:27 – “A man or woman who is a medium or spiritist among you must be put to death. You are to stone them; their blood will be on their own heads.”

I read that Saul disobeyed God and sought direction from a Medium.  He lost his kingdom.  Ever since I realize we are not to consult those who predict the futures.  When they say that President Obama will be re-elected, what are the odds that they will be right?  Whatever, we are told in Scripture not to count on it or make decisions based on what they say.

If it is God’s plan for the end times, we will need a president that will continue spending until we can no longer meet our nation’s financial needs.  We would no longer survive as a superpower.  As a result, no country will fear us.  There could be all kinds of wars and rumors of war.  Had it not been for America, Germany could have controlled, maybe Japan or Russia and even China.  Is it possible that we will allow Iran to develop a nuclear bomb and influence the Islamic countries to take control of the world?  They could!  Look what is happening in the Middle-East.

You may wonder why I would even consider the importance of an election.  The Bible tells me God is in control.  Study the Books of Daniel and Revelation.  See if you don’t agree.  We are told how to recognize the signs that will tell us when the end is getting near.  A one-world government is coming and a one-world religion.  I believe this election is in God’s hands and He is not on vacation. I am probably one of a very few that believe this.  So let’s see if the Psychics get it right this time and who will be elected.

Christians and those who call themselves Christian will see a time when Biblical signs will be so evident that they will have to realize the end is nearing.  I believe we shall see a huge revival, God giving everyone a last chance opportunity to accept Christ as their Savior.  If you have been taught Christianity, you will not let that time pass without getting serious and making a commitment.  God loves us too much to not give us a final chance to become one of His children.  Don’t allow your heart to become so hard that you neglect seeing the signs and miss eternity with Him.  Learn what the signs are and become aware when they appear.

Follow Bible prophecy and the history of Israel and it will prove there is a God and it will authenticate the accuracy of the Bible. The Bible will provide a description of the character of God.  We then can learn what He expects from man and what man can expect from God.  We can be guaranteed, through prophecy, that what He promises will be fulfilled.  We can understand His love, mercy and grace.  The result should be a life with a trust in God that provides faith, love, joy and peace in one’s soul.

In 586 the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar totally destroyed the nation, Jerusalem and the temple.  After 70 years they returned to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple.  Some 650 years later in 70 AD the Romans totally destroyed Israel, Jerusalem and the temple.  They were no longer a nation for 1,878 years.  The Old Testament prophets predicted that the nation would again take place in the future, thus proving that God kept His word.    Israel was driven out and twice destroyed.  The Hebrew language was almost extinct.  Today, the Israelis speak Hebrew their original language.  One promise of many promises that is still to be fulfilled is the rebuilding of the Temple on the Temple Mount.  What obstacles must occur to remove and replace the Muslim’s “Rock of the Dome” located on the Temple Mount since 689 AD? Devastation of its enemies as prophesied in Scripture.   It will be another proof of the Bible’s accuracy when it happens.

Beginning in 1880 Jews very slowing started coming back to Israel.  Jews coming from Russia trickled in at first.  Then came World War I and in 1917 many more Jews returned.  After World War II and the Nazi Holocaust hundreds of thousands of Jews fled to Israel.  Then came May 1948 and Israeli people were attacked by surrounding nations.  The war ended with Israel’s independence.  For the next 23 years there was continual fighting.  Next came the six day war of 1967 and Jerusalem was united with Israel.  There has been continual skirmishes ever since.  The problem has been over Jerusalem and the Temple Mount.  At one time, 1/6 of Jerusalem included the Temple.  The Bible states that the War of Armageddon will be in part over the possession of Jerusalem.   God is in the process of fulfilling His promise as He has always done.

If God breaks any one of His covenant promises to Abraham and the prophets, His enemies would use that to state the Bible is meaningless and God cannot be trusted.  What if Israel was attacked, defeated and completely destroyed?    How much credence would you place in the Bible?  God has used the Jewish nation and history to prove that He is Who He says He is.  Eliminate God’s relationship with Israel, from Abraham until today, and you might as well throw out the Bible.  If God allowed Israel to be destroyed, our faith and trust in God and the Bible is shattered.

Satan has always tried to destroy Israel throughout history.  Throughout the Bible, rulers and nations have tried to eradicate the nation.  Our reasoning is, if you destroy Israel, you will destroy any link to God.  Many believe that at certain times, God has relinquished His protection and allowed Satan’s attacks to discipline His people because of their rejection of God’s authority.  We see when they were deep in sin, it’s like God said if you want to live like the devil then go ahead.  When they had enough and things seemed hopeless, they would repent, begin worshiping God and He would be their God again.  This was because of His promise to Abraham and it shows He always keeps His promises.

We read in Genesis 12:3 – “I will bless those who bless you and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”     If we are to take the Bible literally that would mean God has an obligation, in order to keep His promise, to curse anyone who curses Israel.  Is Scripture implying cursing and blessing individuals or would this apply to nations only?  We can present facts that 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 their  blockage of ships to the Gaza strip.  Also our administration’s requirement to give up their covenant land.   Should we not expect God to fulfill His promise to curse?

It seems like anytime our presidents require Israel to give up their covenant land to the Palestinians, we have had severe weather conditions; such as, hurricanes, tornadoes and floods.  Ezekiel 13:13 – “Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: In my wrath I will unleash a violent wind, and in my anger hailstones and torrents of rainwill fall with destructive fury.”  President Reagan was a strong supporter of Israel.  During his presidency it seems we had times when we were blessed. Let me start with President George H. W. Bush.  On October 30, 1991 speaking at the Madrid Peace Process, he was the first president and he made it very clear that Israel was required to surrender parts of the covenant land for peace.  On October 30 a ferocious storm smashed into New England.  It was called “The Perfect Storm”.  You may have read the book or saw the movie.  It created ocean waves of over 100 feet among the highest ever recorded.  President George H. W. owns a home on the East Coast at Kennebunkport, Maine that was heavily damaged.  Eyewitnesses said that waves as high as thirty feet rose from the ocean and smashed into the President’s seaside home.  What timing!  An extremely rare and powerful storm went one thousand miles in the wrong direction on the day he was speaking.  Similar unusual conditions have occurred under each of our presidents since then as each have required Israel to give up their land.

I am concerned with the way the Obama administration has been treating Israel.  On March 23, 2010 President Obama gave a very cool reception at the White House to Prime Minister Netanyahu.  Recently, he has refused to meet with him.  On April 20,2010 an explosion occurred aboard a drilling rig 40 miles off the coast of Louisiana killing eleven people and millions of barrels of oil continued to spurt out of the ocean floor. If disasters are occurring as a result of our relationship with Israel, I wondered if President Obama made peace with Israel if things would improve?

Most nations of the world do not recognize God’s covenant with Israel.  Some believe the Jews did have a covenant but it is no longer valid.  Isn’t God continuing to use the birth of Israel in 1948 to show that His Word is true?  The Islamic religion does not believe the covenant was made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  They believe it was made with Abraham and Ishmael.  Whereas, the Christian Bible believes it was not with Ishmael but Isaac.  (Genesis 17:19 – 21) – Therefore, they believe that what Allah promised was to Ishmael and the land is their covenant.  However, the most Palestinians are descendants of Esau, Isaac’s brother.

Muslins controlled Palestine much of the time from 638 A.D. yet could not prevent the restoration of Israel.  Yet, our government believes that they can obtain a peaceful co-existence between the two.  The rebirth of Israel shows the authority of the Bible as the Word of God and proof that the Koran and Mohammed were incorrect in some assumptions.   It is not possible for the Muslins to ever accept Israel as a nation.  It would be an admission that what they believed was wrong and what Israel believed was correct.  Yet, our different administrations don’t seem to get it.

The 36th Chapter of Ezekiel makes it very clear to Chrisitnas that the property belongs to Israel.  However, there are a number of Christian theologians who believe the covenant God had with Abraham was broken in Ad 70.  They believe Christianity replaced Israel as God’s chosen people.   This would mean Israel is no longer relevant and Bible prophecy in the end times is meaningless.

It was Zechariah who prophesied the restoration of Israel, but said that when the people returned it would be in unbelief toward God and the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ.  God also said He would judge any nation that tried to destroy Israel.   ” And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a “spirit of grace” and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.”  If the restoration of Israel is not of God you would have to ignore prophecy and all that has happened as told by historians.

If you want to know how much grace God has, just look at what He has done in spite of the attitude of the Jewish people.  God knew, before the creation of the earth that if He chose Israel as a special people, what they would do.  They would be evil, disobedient and sinful.  In many cases they were arrogant and highly self-centered as many others humans.  Yet, He has never given up on them.  It is because of His promises He had to keep and His mercy and grace.

How often have we met brilliant people who have been absolutely unable to comprehend or understand the meaning of grace?  According to one survey, 40% of Christians throughout the U.S. believe they will get to heaven through good works.  Why is it so hard to understand that we are saved by grace through faith?  Many believe living a good, moral life and helping others is all that is required to get to heaven.  They do not realize that inwardly they have a corrupt heart.  Or, there are those who understand God’s grace but do not apply it to how they live.  Grace is defined as God’s unearned favor.  Mercy is God keeping us from having to experience what we deserve.  Grace is God forgiving us of our sins for which we do not deserve as He has done forever with Israel.  Justice can be receiving what we deserve.

If you truly understand Scripture you can prove there is a God through the History of Israel.  You can see His mercy and grace given to them as a nation.  You will realize that He keeps His promises.  He, through Israel, helps us to understand what God’s grace truly means to each of us.  Is there any sin He cannot forgive?  Ask the Jewish people?