Showing posts with label drama. Show all posts
Showing posts with label drama. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

A Christian Pastor’s Analysis of the U.S. Election Drama - Dr. James Dobson


A Christian Pastor’s Analysis of the U.S. Election Drama

By: Dr. James Dobson

Is Trump good for America? I mentioned Sunday that I would speak on this next week. Unfortunately, I found that I was shoehorning this topic into my planned message. To properly present what I want to speak on Sunday, I may have to leave the Donald out of it!  

But let me take a minute for those that wonder and give some of my thoughts.

When I first heard that Trump (DT) was entering the race last year, I told my wife that perhaps it was a good thing for the party and America. I knew that he was not a "saint," but I thought that he would be like a bull in a china shop. 

He is a disrupt-er and I believe America could use a fresh thinker especially in the political arena. I didn't think he would get the nomination, but that he would shake up politics as usual. I was correct on the shaking up!

Lance Wallnau likens him to a biblical Cyrus. Someone who is dynamically used of God even though not perceived by many as a God follower. God has used many people in history that I would probably not like or agree with. 

I’m not sure I would have liked all the disciples, or David, or Moses. Somehow, God did not seem compelled to consult with me on His choices!

I have always admired Winston Churchill. He is seen as one of the greatest national leaders in the 20th century. Last year, I had the privilege of going through the War Museum in London. Winston is a key feature. His life is controversial. He was not always celebrated as a great leader. He was a bombastic, cigar smoking, at times crude, even misogynistic leader. 

It is alleged that he told off color stories to his children before bedtime! A woman once told him he was disgustingly drunk. His response was "My dear, you are disgustingly ugly, but tomorrow I shall be sober and you will still be ugly!"

There are many websites that discuss the outlandish comments and activities of this great world leader. But, he had exactly what was needed to stop Hitler at the Channel, to rouse a nation to never give up and to partner with America to find final victory in Europe. You probably wouldn't want him as your pastor, maybe not even your father, but he was the right leader for that moment in England's history. 

Such a brazen man that would go up to the roof of his quarters in central London and smoke cigars as Hitler’s air force bombed all around him. I’m not sure I would have voted for him.... but he was the right man!

I think it would be awesome to have a righteous leader, one that understood the intricacies of the economy, health care, defense, immigration, with great sensitivity to religious institutions, a heart for the poor, a vision for the future.   If that leader was a praying person, formidable in the word of God and loved the local church, I would rejoice!   I do not think that is the choice we will have in November.

Instead....we will look for someone who is imperfect, yet will fit the times we are living in. Particularly, that ‘whoever’ we vote for, will be someone who might possibly have the opportunity to appoint up to three Supreme Court justices. That could radically shape our culture in America for the next 30 years. 

The America of our grandchildren could be very different....and that may not be good. We cannot stand on the sidelines. A non-vote is a passive vote for a direction we may very well regret.

So...is Donald Trump good for America? I honestly believe that he has been already. He has shaken the political system. Do his comments offend me? At times! Do I agree with all he says? Not at all! But could he be a “Cyrus” being raised up by God to preserve America? 

Nobody liked Gen. Patton, but he sure WAS an instrument of the United States for the right things.

This I know. I will vote for the best chance for America. I will pray for our leaders as I have already. In the end - God will continue to be my source and my hope. I do believe that God has had a hand in America's history. 

I hope and pray that He will also have a saving hand in America’s future.

I shudder when I think of  the caliber of HILLIARY’S APPOINTEES.

GOD help us.
------------------------------ -----------------------

There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn't true; the other is to refuse to  believe what is true.
                                                           
Soren Kierkegaard 1813-1855

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Pink Hair by Kathie Walters

Pink Hair by Kathie Walters

Identity Network

To have articles like this delivered 
to your email inbox from Identity Network, 




I had a "stunning" experience one time. God really used it to point out something to me. I had been away for a couple of days, visiting and praying with a close friend of mine who lives in Gainesville, My friends there had a great ministry raising up churches on the campuses of the U.S. and in many other nations. They had discipled and raised up thousands of young people, trained to take the Gospel to the nations. 


My teenage daughter, Faith, had stayed home with a girlfriend to take care of our house and pets. Like any other parent, I had given many instructions about the care of the house, yard, animals, and pool. Faith is very sensible and capable, so I didn't worry about anything. I had called a few times and everything was fine.  (Note Faith is a parent herself now). 


Faith's Hair 


Returning home, I was not prepared for the shock that was awaiting me.  As I turned the car into our driveway, the dogs came running to meet me as they usually did. I got out of the car and petted them, taking a second look at Faith's Chow, Koa. He was usually a pretty, beige color, but his coat had turned to a shade of pink, at least down his back and tail. I wondered if he had fallen into a strawberry patch! 


I entered the house, looking forward to seeing Faith, who being a home-schooler, was sure to be in the house. I went inside and began to ascend the stairs. At the top of the stairs was Faith. She greeted me, smiling demurely. I returned her smile, but my smile faded very quickly. Suddenly, I saw it! A bright pink, wide streak down one side of her pretty blond hair! Not a pale hint of color, but a peppermint pink! 


"Faith, what has happened to you?" I cried. I thought there must have been some terrible mishap. She was joined by Haley, my then secretary's daughter. Haley was grinning from ear to ear. Her dark hair was now deep green on one side and blue on the other! I freaked out! Faith laughed at my reaction - big mistake. 

I ranted and raved a while and she agreed to wash the pink out (dog too). A short while later, as I looked at her, I thought it didn't really look so bad. I let her keep it for a few days. I began to think about all this later and about my visit with Rose. 


While I had been with my friends in Gainesville, another friend had called to tell her about a book he had recently read. It was offering the reader reasons as to why we are not in full scale revival. Leaders who had made mistakes and had gotten off track here and there by over-emphasizing various truths were named as being a major part of the cause for our lack. 

My friends had been mentioned in this book, along with other people that I knew well. I understand that the writer was concerned about the Body of Christ, but still I couldn't stop weeping whenever I thought about the "policeman" trying to get us all straight. 


I couldn't stop thinking about Faith's hair, and my reaction to it. Her hair had gotten my attention and so my mind had to deal with what I saw.  It took my attention away from all the things she had done over that weekend. It had been a hard job to look after the pool, because our area had been badly affected by floods and it was full of muddy water. 


God's Grace and Patience 


Our house is a big house to clean, but it was neat and tidy. We have three phone lines with people calling all of the time. She had taken care of everyone. Our dog had been hit by a car a few days previously and needed a lot of attention. He was fine. 


Not only had my things been well taken care of, but a family in her church had lost everything they owned in the flood. What was left of their house was under two inches of mud, and she had been over to help them clean. She had brought home three large bags of washing to do for them. She took care of the office. I had missed it all because of the pink hair. We can be so blind. Thank God for His endless grace and patience. 


I then thought of the various books that had been written about the mistakes my friends and many other ministries had made at one time or another. They were obvious. Like the pink hair, most people could have seen them right away. But I thought, "What about all the thousands of young people who were saved and filled with the Spirit through their ministry on the campuses of America and many other nations? What about the thousands of kids who were dedicated to the call of God on their lives?" 

Thousands of young people received a very real sense of destiny in their lives because of the ministry and revelation of my friends who had given their lives for the Gospel. I wondered how it was that none of this was mentioned in these books. Maybe my daughter's hair is over-simplifying it, but it's the same principle to me. 


Jesus, the Great Shepherd 


When my friend, Rose told me about a very generous gift that had been given them for their China outreach, I felt so blessed myself. I wanted to write to the often maligned faith teacher that had given it and tell him, "You blessed me because you blessed my friends." When I heard about the negative things that were said in the book, I had a great desire to write to the author and say, "You hurt me because you hurt my friends." 

I don't know of a ministry that has been around for any length of time that hasn't goofed at some point, said some dumb things from time to time, or headed off in a wrong direction occasionally. But, Jesus is the Great Shepherd; He will shepherd His sheep. He knows what He is doing. 


It is the Holy Spirit who moves on God's people to convict and change.  There is one thing more miserable than people trying to change themselves, and that is when we try to change each other. I can point out what is wrong with you, but I don't have the power to change it.  When the Holy Spirit convicts, He does have the power to change it. Big difference! 


Next time you are tempted to see only the obvious mistake in someone, say to yourself, "Pink hair."   Maybe it will remind you that there are many wonderful things you have forgotten regarding that person or ministry. Jesus hasn't forgotten. He loves them so very much! 

We would put our hands over our mouths like Job, when God asked us, "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?" (Job.38:4), or, "Were you there when I brought forth My Son from the grave? Were you there when I brought forth the first fruits of THE CHURCH?" 


Kathie Walters





From Kathie's book The Spirit of False Judgment available from Identity Network.
The Spirit of False Judgment
Book
By Kathie Walters
Price: $6.99
Click HERE to order.