“My wife has advanced cancer”… something I never thought I would write, nor something I ever thought we would have to face together. But nobody else sees such things coming either, do they? So Claudia (CJ to many) and I will face this crisis with faith in God, just as we have everything else in our life! As many of you know, I have been “blogging” for about 6 years now, so I will use this platform to share our faith journey through cancer with others. I do this not because it’s “all about us”, but because writing my thoughts will help us work this out, and I pray it may help some others who are going through the various struggles that we all face in this life. And, whatever the final result, we pray that God will be glorified in this journey, and that we will walk through it as faithful followers of Jesus!

OUR REACTON:  Like everyone else, our first reaction was shock, fear, much sobbing and tears, numbness, and just trying to get a grip on our life that was suddenly turned upside down! To be clear, yes, I’m a retired pastor, and CJ is a wonderful, faithful person who loves to lead worship and praise God all her life, but we are just like everyone else and get no “special favors” because of that. Christians will face all the heartaches and struggle in life, just like everyone else. As a husband and man, my first desire is to “fix this” and make it alright, but I am struck by the realization that I am helpless to do anything to stop this cancer! But as most believers understand, God has us “right where he wants us”, needing to be entirely dependent on Him for our hope and future. Another thought I expressed as a husband was “I wish I had this cancer and not you!” Truthfully, I would rather deal with the pain and treatments myself, than see my wife go through it! But I can’t!… BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS, JESUS HAS ALREADY DONE THAT FOR US! This week we again celebrate the excruciating death and resurrection of Jesus! Part of the amazing “good news” of the gospel is that Jesus took the punishment and pain for all our sins and sicknesses upon himself on that cross, and in the resurrection defeated death itself for us. In I Peter 2:24 it says “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness.”  And in Matthew 8:17, it says “This was to fulfill what was written through the prophet Isaiah: ‘He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases’ “.

OUR FIRST ACTIONS: After the initial shock had worn off, CJ turned to scripture to hear what God was going to say to us. She has been reading through the Old Testament and came to II Chronicles 20:15, which says “This is what the Lord says to you: Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s!” I encourage you to read all of chapter 20, but to summarize, King Jehoshaphat of Judah faced 3 invading armies, and knew he was powerless to win the battle! In verse 12, he says “O God, will you not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon YOU!” After God told him that the battle was not his to fight, he still instructed Jehoshaphat to prepare for battle. Interestingly, leading the soldiers was a choir of singers who were praising God and singing “Praise the Lord, for his mercy endures forever”. As they approached the battle, God caused confusion in the enemy armies and they ended up completely destroying each other, as the army of Judah just watched!

We are using this verse and story as our faith focus in this battle against cancer! We see the “vast army” as the many tumors diagnosed in the 1^st CT scan. We know that we are powerless to destroy them ourselves, but we believe God has ultimate power and will fight this battle for us. Now, that doesn’t mean we just sit back and do nothing!

ANTICIPATING THE AWESOMENESS OF GOD!

The army of Judah witnessed the awesome power of God to save them and fight for them. When we feel helpless and hopeless, God is still God, the all-powerful creator of the universe who cares deeply about each of us! But just as God gave King Jehoshaphat specific instructions, he does for us as well. In my John Maxwell Leadership version of the Bible, John outlines the major steps King Jehoshaphat took in the story that apply to us today as well:

1) They fought their fear. (vs.2,3) They didn’t let fear paralyze them, but stayed calm enough to think. Please pray for peace and wisdom for us as well!

2) They sought the Lord!(vs.3,6-13) The King prayed to seek wisdom & perspective from God. Pray for us to be patient and seek that as well!

3) He brought the synergy. (vs.3,4) He gathered the people and informed them. We are blessed with social media connections, and God has connected us with well over 100, perhaps 200, people praying for us and encouraging us with cards, emails, texts, etc.

4) He caught the vision (vs.14-17) He listened to the voice of God until he knew what to do. Help us listen to God’s voice, because his plans are much greater than ours!

5) He bought God’s idea (vs.18, 19)  He bowed his head and took the steps forward that God gave him. Pray for us to humble ourselves and honor God in this.

6) He taught the plan (vs.20-23)  He gave his key players instructions on what to do. Pray that God will direct our doctors, the chemo treatments, CJ and I as we take each step, and all of you as our team of “prayer warriors” to focus faithfully on God’s plan for us, so that he will be glorified!

7) He got the victory (vs.24,25) He trusted and obeyed, and God won the battle. As Christians, we know Jesus has already won the battle when we put our trust in Him! Whatever the ultimate outcome of this battle with cancer, we who trust in Jesus know that we will live forever with Him in his coming Kingdom, and will someday have new bodies that will never get disease or die!

Now, having said all that noble stuff, I’m still a weak person like many of you, and I’m selfishly praying as a simple child of God for my Heavenly Father (Abba, or “daddy” as Jesus said) to heal my wife and let me share many more years with her as we enjoy our family, friends, this beautiful world He created, and most of all be able to share the message of Jesus’ coming Kingdom with all we can! No matter how this ultimately  ends, I believe with all my heart that God is good, all the time; that nothing can separate us from the love of God; and that ultimately, as we trust fully in Jesus, everything thing is going to be just fine and our eternal future is assured!

 My next blog in a week or so (hopefully) will be on faith and healing. We will focus on Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”  Thanks for your continued prayers and support! God bless each of you!

Are you tired of the constant searching for the worst in other people, especially in politics, media, and entertainment? From the President on down, anybody can have their past investigated, going through your high school yearbook, social media, old friends, and anything they can find to embarrass you and accuse you of one of the popular “isms” that are the prominent sins of choice in today’s culture. I read of one Yale opinion writer who vowed to go around with her camera following “white boys”, hoping to record them doing or saying something socially unacceptable that can be  used against them in the future, in case they ever run for political office! (Boy, am I glad I went to high school and college in a time long before social media and cell phones. Some of us might be in big trouble!)

Do you find joy and satisfaction when someone from the “other side”, politically or socially, gets caught in a scandal or some sinful behavior that embarrasses them?  Do you feel gleeful when one of “those hypocrites” gets caught?  If so, then you and I who claim to be followers of Jesus may need to take a serious look at our hearts and attitudes! Remember the time when Jesus taught his followers how to pray and part of that was the line “Forgive us our trespasses (sins) as we forgive those who trespass (sin) against us”?  Oops… that kind of throws a monkey wrench in our culture, doesn’t it? Maybe some of we Christians need a remedial course on the basics of Christianity, remembering who we are, who God is, and what he has done for us Jesus! Let me share a few major points that we, and certainly our culture, seems to have forgotten:

1) FROM GOD’S STANDPOINT, ALL OF US HAVE SINNED AND FALL WOEFULLY SHORT OF GOD’S STANDARDS FOR WHAT HE ORIGIANLLY CREATED US!

²³  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,  –Romans 3:23 (NIV)
Simply put, this means ALL of us are guilty of sin, and the result is that ANY sin will separate us from God for eternity! And the worse news is, there is nothing you can do about it to save yourself or earn God’s approval or forgiveness! It’s easy to point out other’s sins and shortfalls, but we struggle to see it in ourselves. Jesus taught us that the contamination of sin is not just in our actions, but in our very hearts and thoughts:

²⁷  “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ ²⁸  But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. – Matthew 5:27-28 (NIV)
If you think social media or reporters are dangerous, remember that God knows EVERYTHING you do or say:

¹²  For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. ¹³  Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.  – Hebrews 4:12-13 (NIV)

2) IN SPITE OF OUR SIN, GOD STILL LOVES US SO MUCH HE SENT HIS SON JESUS TO DIE FOR OUR SINFULNESS AND OFFER US FORGIVENESS AND POWER TO OVERCOME SIN AND HAVE A NEW BEGINNING AT LIFE!

¹⁶  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  – John 3:16-17 (NIV)
 Yes, in the final judgement, all of us have to give an account for our sinfulness; but rather than condemnation right now, God offers us the gift of forgiveness now, and His power to change and become new people from the inside out! This free, unmerited gift is called God’s Grace, and is free to all who accept Jesus’ sacrifice for them and put their faith and trust in Him. Even though God has every right to condemn us for our rebellion and sinful thoughts and actions (like people are gleefully doing to each other today), he chose instead to forgive and offer to redeem and restore us to what he designed us to be in the beginning of creation!

Jesus preached primarily about the coming Kingdom of God (Heaven) where there will be no more sin in any form! For those who accept his offer, we will live forever, with Him, in a sinless world where there is no death, sickness, hunger, or evil thoughts of any kind! It may be a world very much like the earth we live in now, and we will have new bodies that will never get sick or weak! Isn’t that the kind of world you would prefer to live in?

3)THEREFORE, GOD CALLS HIS PEOPLE TO JOIN HIM IN A LIFESTYLYE OF FORGIVENESS AND REDEMPTION TOWARD OTHERS, RATHER THAN THE EASY CONDEMNATION, NIT-PICKING, AND DESIRING TO DESTROY OTHERS THAT IS SO PREVALENT IN OUR CULTURE TODAY!

GOD DOESN’T WANT TO THROW ANYONE’S LIFE AWAY! EVERYBODY CAN REPENT, BE REDEEMED, AND HAVE A BRAND NEW START AT A NEW LIFE FOR ETERNITY!

The  Bible makes it clear that most people will not choose a path of redemption and forgiveness, and will go on spewing vitriol and hatred, even celebrating sinfulness in others, somehow thinking they are justifying their own thoughts by condemning others who they perceive as worse than them!

²⁸  Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. ²⁹  They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, ³⁰  slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; ³¹  they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. ³²  Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.  – Romans 1:28-32 (NIV)

True Christianity has always been radically counter-cultural to society, and today God is calling us to be just the opposite of what we see in our destructive world today! No matter how much we may disagree or even despise others, God views every human being as made in the image of God and of infinite value to him. He wants everyone to accept his grace, his offer of forgiveness and redemption, and so should we! The New Testament continually calls us to “put to death” our old sinful patterns and begin the new lifestyle of God’s coming Kingdom:

⁵  Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. ⁶  Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. ⁷  You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. ⁸  But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. ⁹  Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices ¹⁰  and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.  –Colossians 3:5-10 (NIV)
³⁰  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹  Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. ³²  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. – Ephesians 4:30-32 (NIV)

Remember, when you became a Christian, God’s Holy Spirit dwelt permanently in you, and offers to do a character transformation within you:

²²  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³  gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴  Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.  – Galatians 5:22-24 (NIV)

Are you willing to be a person of forgiveness, mercy, and hope, even for the most vile in our world?

Are you willing to stand up for the joy and promise of God’s future Kingdom, even though you may be ridiculed and mocked?

There are many “radical” groups today, wanting to change society to create their idea of a perfect utopia.

Are you willing to be radical for God, promoting forgiveness, redemption, and eventual restoration of God’s amazing perfect, sinless, eternal Kingdom?

I invite you to invest your time, heart, and energy on what really matters and what will make an eternal and redemptive difference, the Kingdom of God!

I’m sure most people would say “I pursue love over power”, but in the reality of everyday life, I would challenge you to take a good look at your attitudes! The truth is, we live in a highly power hungry culture geared toward “winning for my side” by destroying or demeaning the other side. We are encouraged to label and divide each other by politics, religion, race, gender, and on and on. This has always been the world’s way of seeking power and control by ignoring God and putting yourself and your group above anyone else.  But God’s way is just the opposite:  we are to love God first, with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and then love others as we love ourselves. (Matthew 22:37-40) Sadly, many think this is a weak and ridiculous approach to life and may scoff at it. But it is God’s formula for changing you, others, and the world for the better!

In Luke 9:51-56, Jesus preaches in a Samaritan (enemy to the Jews) town, and the Samaritans don’t welcome him nor listen to him. His disciples gleefully ask “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven & consume them?” I’m sure many politicians, news pundits, and many of us would like to pray that over our “enemies” today! But note Jesus’ response: “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them”.  In other words, he was telling them their hearts and thoughts were mean-spirited, evil, and the opposite of what he came for, which was to redeem and restore humanity and the world to what it was intended to be!

So, Christian brothers & sisters, how often do we find ourselves thinking and responding just like those disciples?

Last Sunday, CJ and I visited a church in Vero Beach which wasn’t real large, but has a wonderful ministry to those who suffered from addiction, homelessness, and other needs that afflict the hurting. They were warm, welcoming, and several times gathered in a circle around people to pray for them and their struggles. They impressed me as authentic, real, and humble Christians. I have to believe Jesus is smiling on that church and their love for others. After church, we went out to Ruby Tuesdays for lunch, and behind us was sitting a table of Christians from a presumably larger church. I’m sure they were probably pretty nice people also, but one man started to loudly complain about the new Michigan Muslim congresswoman who is now famous for a profanity-laced tirade against the President, and called for his impeachment. He loudly proclaimed “This has been happening since 9-11! No one wants to speak out, but I will. These people need to go back to where they came from!”

Now let’s be honest, how many of us have had similar thoughts about some group of people we didn’t like or understand or agree with? How often do the news reports fill you with anger toward “the other side”? How often do you get sucked into the social media slime pool of vitriol, hatred, accusation, and the win-lose scenario for everything in our culture?

CAN I MAKE TWO SUGGESTIONS FOR ALL OF US CHRISTIANS WHO ACTUALLY TAKE THE TIME TO READ THIS BLOG?

1) REMEMBER WHY JESUS CAME HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE!

We evangelical Christians love to quote and hold up signs for John 3:16- “For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life”.  But we tend to leave it there and neglect the next verse, John 3:17- “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”

We live in a very condemning culture! We are called to be radically different, to be people who are patient, forgiving, generous, loving in a way that confronts sin but doesn’t just condemn the person doing the sin. Rather, we do whatever we can to help people overcome the destructive habits and effects of sin in their lives, seeking to redeem their lives– body, soul, mind and strength– by the power of Jesus and for the glory of Jesus!

Remember the encouragement of Paul in Philippians 2:1-8…
¹  If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ²  then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. ³  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. ⁴  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. ⁵  Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: ⁶  Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, ⁷  but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. ⁸  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death– even death on a cross!

2) REMEMBER YOU DON’ HAVE TO WIN; JESUS ALREADY HAS!

We live in a divisive, win-lose culture where a tremendous amount of energy and money is spent one side winning and having all the power and influence, while the other side must lose. Jesus offers us a win-win plan of redemption is which he desires to save not only our souls and our very being, but this world itself. And he calls his people to follow him into offering hope, forgiveness, and total redemption through faith in Him, now and forever!

Jesus doesn’t want to take sides; he wants to take over!

Notice there are two options of power before us:

– The love of power is the way of the world without God, and leads to division, hatred, control, and a constant cycle of fear and repression, and ultimately death and separation from God for eternity.

– The power of love is the way of God! He calls us to love him first and foremost, and pursue his Kingdom as the first priority! Then he wants to love others sacrificially as he loved us, putting others’ interests before our own. This is the true power of God, more powerful than any government, army, or weapon. And this is the way God changes us, and will change and redeem the world for eternity!

Which power source do you choose for 2019?

And will you pray with me for the heart and attitude of Jesus as we choose to be redemptive agents in this lost and needy world in 2019? �

“If we could read the secret history of our enemies, we should find in each man’s life sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostility”. –Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Our nation, right now, is more divided over political issues than ever before. Whether or not Judge Kavanaugh should be confirmed to the Supreme Court has divided us more than ever into 2 competing tribes, the Democrats or Republicans. The resulting rage and anger can lead us to perilous consequences, and I challenge all Christians to back away from strictly partisan views and think about what God has taught us and how he wants us to react and live.

Our small group is studying a book by Mark Batterson called “Primal: A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity”. One of his chapters caught my imagination with the title “The Tribe of the Transplanted”. It actually was a phrase associated with human heart transplant recipients. Batterson says “Studies suggest that the heart secrets its own brain-like hormones and has cellular memory. Heart transplant recipients don’t just receive a new organ, they receive cellular memories”. Charles Siebert observed that such recipients are often changed people, and have new sensory responses, cravings, and habits. Thus, the “Tribe of the Transplanted”.

What an amazing term to describe who Christians are! When we trust in Jesus , God gives us a new heart, the heart of Jesus. I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 11:19 (NIV) With this spiritually transplanted heart, we can now begin to see people and events the way Jesus sees them. Although we will still fail from time to time, God softens our hardened hearts, and enables them to break for the things that break the heart of Jesus! No longer are we Democrats or Republicans only; we now belong to a far superior tribe, the people of God’s eternal Kingdom, the “Tribe of the Transplanted”!

SO, HOW ARE WE IN THIS NEW TRIBE TO REACT AND LIVE IN OUR BROKEN, DIVIDED CULTURE OF HEARDENED HEARTS?

1) WATCH YOUR WORDS!
James says the tongue is “an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the image of God. Out of the same mouth produce blessing and cursing. My brothers, this should not be”.-James 3: 8-9
Jesus said, But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man ‘unclean.’ For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. Matthew 15:18-19 (NIV)
Remember, God loves ALL people, of both political “tribes”. Jesus died for ALL our sins, and his desire is to bring redemption to all who will accept his offer of free grace and a new heart. Our political system today is set up so one side wins, the other loses. God doesn’t want anyone to “lose”; his desire is that everyone has a chance at redemption & new a new heart and life in Jesus! People’s lives, reputations, families, and friendships are being destroyed, and hearts are being hardened and calloused on each side. All this is being fueled by harsh, inflammatory words on both sides! Jesus warned us:
22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ (empty-headed) is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. – Matthew 5:22 (NIV)
If this is true, then a lot of politicians, pundits, and commentators are in serious danger of judgement! But before we condemn them, how is our language? Is it seasoned with grace, forgiveness, and compassion, or we are too easily caught up in the rage of our culture?

2) BE CAREFUL HOW YOU JUDGE!
Jesus warned us: 1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.- Matthew 7:1-5 (NIV)
Let’s face it; we may never fully know the truth in this or any other situation in life. Even with new hearts, desiring to see the world like Jesus, we are still influenced by our own biases and sinfulness. Jesus is NOT saying we shouldn’t judge people or situations, but to do it humbly, fearfully, and always remembering our own failings. Remember Peter having a well-intentioned but false agenda, and being called “Satan” by Jesus? (Matthew 16:21-23)
THE GOOD NEW IS: Jesus knows our hearts, thoughts, and motives completely, and no one can escape his ultimate judgement. Ultimately, no one will “get away with” anything before God, and true justice will be served in God’s time. Many on both sides will be angry and feel justice was not done here, but we need to remember that true justice and vengeance belongs to God, not us.

SO WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO? JUST GIVE UP BECAUSE EVEN OUR JUDGEMENT IS CLOUDED BY SIN AND BIAS?
DOES GOD GIVE US SOME BIBLICAL TOOLS AND PRINCIPLES TO HELP US MAKE HEALTHY JUDGEMENTS IN LIFE? ASOLUTELY!! THEY ARE:

3) EVIDENCE AND EYEWITNESSES MATTER!
The cornerstone of our faith is the physical resurrection of Jesus. If that didn’t happen, Paul says we are pitiful fools to believe any of it then. The Roman, Greek, and Jewish cultures of that time would have thought a physical resurrection of a dead body to be repulsive or impossible. But, the gospel writers said Jesus appeared to over 500 eyewitnesses, who could be contacted to verify their experience right then! Without them, Christianity would have been deemed a made-up dream that would have died in a few years.
Both the Old & New Testaments encourage us to have “2 or 3 witnesses” in dealing with any conflict situation (Deuteronomy 19:15-19, Matthew 18:15-18) It is especially important in the Matthew passage to remember conflict resolution was done to restore the person to fellowship in the church, not to demean or hurt them! Our goal should never be to tear down or destroy another to “win”; or goal is to bring healing, forgiveness, redemption, and a new heart through Jesus.

4) JUDGE OTHERS BY THE FRUIT, OR CONSISTENT ACTIONS IN THEIR TOTAL LIFE!
Jesus said:
15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. – Matthew 7:15-20 (NIV)

Jesus is saying that our day in, day out words and actions are a true reflection of what is in our heart. Although we all slip up once in a while, who you really are in character comes out in your words, actions, and your influence on others. Those who live with you, work and socialize with you know you best, and know your flaws and your redeeming qualities. Jesus is saying if you really want to judge someone, look at the reflection of their life in their friends and what they have done consistently. We all know people who consistently lie, hurt others, and are self-centered, and we know people who say and do encouraging and positive things that help others. This is a major Biblical factor in dealing with accusations that seem be out of sync with what we know of a person’s normal character and actions.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS, WHAT TRIBE TO YOU REALLY WANT TO IDENTIFY WITH?
Do we really think the Democrats or the Republicans are God’s ultimate answer to saving the world and bringing God’s Kingdom to fruition? Seriously, with this slimy cesspool we’ve witnessed recently?
I’ve heard people say that God ordained Donald Trump to be President (or for others, Barack Obama before him), so that they could somehow initiate God’s plan. Certainly God always wishes human leaders to benefit their people. But come on, brothers & sisters, do we really picture God pacing back and forth, wringing his hands over who the next President or Supreme Court justice is, or which side “wins” the mid-term election?

NO!! God has already sent Jesus to die for us, and through the gift of his resurrection gives us the opportunity to be forgiven, get a new heart reflecting Jesus, and become brothers and sisters in his eternal Kingdom! And no, his plan is not ultimately to use politics or even the wealth and influence of America.
His plan was to establish a new tribe of people, with newly implanted hearts of flesh, that would live and act more and more like Jesus. He called that tribe the Church! And he gave us a mission to share this good news with others, and live sacrificially, loving as Jesus loved us. That’s the plan: simple, powerful, profound, and life-altering!

I would suggest we all be proactive for the Kingdom by :
– Vote and pray for honest, caring politicians, and encourage all parties to get back to positive ideas to really help people. We all live in this place together, and as messy as government is, it can still make life a little better for all.
– Pray for your enemies and those that persecute you! It may or may not change them, but it will soften your heart and give you compassion towards them rather than anger.
– Support and be active in missions and groups that aid the poor and suffering and bring God’s redemption and justice, showing what God’s Kingdom is really like.
– Pray for hurting people you know, and look for ways to share the healing power of Jesus with them.
– Whenever you can, share the good news of Jesus’ offer of forgiveness, grace, and new life!
– As imperfect as we still are, let us ask Jesus to help us see the world as he sees it, and speak and live as people who have been given a new heart, filled with grace, love, and mercy. As Paul would remind us,
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me–put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. – Philippians 4:8-9 (NIV)