Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | January 11, 2013

Is True Contentment A Possibility For Us Today? By David Bower

Much Has Been Written About Contentment

     A web search of the word contentment produced 12,700,000 results in .20 seconds which suggests to me this may be a topic to which much thought has been given. I decided to spend a few minutes examining the results and found many references to the Bible and many quotes from philosophers over the ages. There seemed to be a common thread in all of this that focused on being satisfied with what one has instead of the rather hollow promise of finding contentment with the acquisition of more possessions.

Among the quotes on contentment I found the following to be of interest:

“It isn’t what you have or who you are or where you are or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about it.”
― Dale Carnegie, How to Win Friends and Influence People

“Be content with what you have;
rejoice in the way things are.
When you realize there is nothing lacking,
the whole world belongs to you.”
― Lao Tzu

“He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have.”
― Socrates

“We are not rich by what we possess but by what we can do without.”
― Immanuel Kant

“Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.”
― Epictetus

I have long been impressed by a quote from Viktor Frankl, a Jewish, Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist,  on the “Last of the Human Freedoms.”

The Last Freedom
We who lived in concentration camps can remember
the men who walked through the huts comforting
others, giving away their last piece of bread.
They may have been few in number, but they offer
sufficient proof that everything can be taken from
a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms
— to choose one’s attitude in any given set of
circumstances, to choose one’s own way.
  ~ Viktor Frankl ~
(Man’s Search for Meaning)
     Choosing one’s attitude on life and circumstances became the secret of Frankl’s survival as he endured the sufferings imposed by the Nazi’s in a number of prison camps including Auschwitz. Whereas most of us will never have to suffer the way prisoners of Auschwitz suffered, the same principle of attitude still applies to each of us as we consider our life circumstances.
     This reminds me of a popular quote by Dr. Howard Hendricks, a longtime professor at Dallas Theological Seminary, who is reported to have always responded to those who commented they were doing thus and so “under the circumstances” by asking them “what are you doing under there?” The idea there is being under circumstances is a matter of choice and we can just as well choose to not be under any circumstances; it all depends on our attitude, our perspective in any life situation.
The Bible on Contentment
     Does the Bible have anything to say on contentment? You better believe it does! The first verses that come to mind are Philippians 4:11-13, “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”
     Here the Apostle Paul shares with us his perspective on life and contentment; what has interested me in his statement is that he too had to learn the secret of being content in any and every situation. We are not born with this ability; all one need do is to watch a baby (of any age) and see how quickly any feelings of discontent are loudly expressed. Sadly this is a secret all too rarely learned in today’s society.
     As Christians we have an advantage in that we have the teaching ministry of God, the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us as we experience life. It is when we are controlled by the Holy Spirit that we have the opportunity to experience the fruit of the Spirit which includes the key ingredients that help comprise contentment. By way of review those are found in Galatians 5:22-25, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”
     I will boldly step forward and say that one who enjoys the fruit of the Spirit as a way of life has found contentment. I point out that there is no reference, not even a hint to possessions or material plenty; contentment is a frame of mind not the possession of material things. Here I’m reminded of the quote by C. H. Spurgeon, the famous London preacher of the 19th century:
“You say, ‘If I had a little more, I should be very satisfied.’ You make a mistake. If you are not content with what you have, you would not be satisfied if it were doubled.”
― Charles H. Spurgeon
One might add to that tripled, or quadrupled with the same results.

     Although there are many verses on the subject I will limit myself to two more, Hebrews 13:5-6, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” All men look to something or someone in which to have faith. To the materialist their possessions, investments or their bank account are the focus of their faith. As we all know these are fleetingly insecure sources of security as they can vanish in a moment.

     The Christian has an alternative in whom he is urged to place his or her faith and that is in Almighty God, creator of heaven and earth. The Lord, our God is always there and is always the same, yesterday, today, and tomorrow. We can know and count on His love for us as we are promised in 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.”

     Living a life of faith is our very best opportunity to learn the secret of contentment and put it into practice in our lives; Proverbs 3:5-6 outlines the steps required, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Abby Cat Getting Sleepy in the Sun 5-18-12Contentment

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Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | January 4, 2013

Christianity and the Environment, by David Bower

What is the Christian’s Responsibility Toward the Environment?

While I have written a number of times on the Global Warming/Climate Change movement, I’ve not written on the specific subject of Christianity and the environment.  Specifically do we as Christians have a special responsibility to protect the environment? While there are a number of groups who are actively engaged in protecting the environment such as The Sierra Club, Greenpeace, The Cousteau Society, Better World Society, Earthwatch and many, many others, Christianity in general is conspicuously absent from those lists.

That in itself is rather interesting in light of man’s original charge as noted in Genesis 1:26, “Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” As I’ve mentioned before the right to rule implies the responsibility to care for and nurture that which is ruled.

Sadly Genesis 1:26 is not the end of the story regarding mankind and the earth; the story takes a downward turn in Genesis 3:17-19 where we read, “To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat of it,’ “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.” Because of sinful rebellion man was reduced from ruler to tenant farmer; now Satan was the ruler and man was the worker.

That is the situation we have today, this is Satan’s world and it and all of the heavens are under God’s curse. The heavens and earth as they are now will cease to exist at the end of the Millennial reign of the Lord Jesus Christ. They will be destroyed by what I believe to be a universal nuclear event that is triggered by the Lord releasing His hold on His creation.

What is the Christian Message and Ministry?

God’s message to man became much more specific after the revelation of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ at the First Advent. During Old Testament times the forward looking promise of a Redeemer was known to all who would inquire. The message of future deliverance by the work of a redeemer who was yet to come was beautifully voiced by Job in Job 19:25-27, “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes–I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!”

Although we have been greatly blessed by the revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ and can look back on His work of redemption, our hearts also yearn for His return, to see Him with our own eyes, and the joy of being with Him for all eternity!

The message of redemption through the finished work of Jesus Christ is the message of the church; the extent to which the church is distracted by other issues, regardless of how worthy, is an inappropriate diversion and should be avoided. The model for focus was the New Testament church; although there were numerous social ills in Roman society the message of the church was the finished work of Christ and the teachings directly associated with Christ and His ministry of redemption.

OK, But What About the Environment?

As a Christian man I see God’s hand everywhere I look; even under the curse the earth and its creatures can have a wondrous and touching beauty. Seeing God in His creation is part of His plan for revealing Himself and His holiness to His creation.  In Romans 1:20 Paul writes, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities–his eternal power and divine nature–have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”

I respect this creation as a revelation of God and feel a responsibility toward it and its creatures. I am not a member of any environmental organization by choice but this doesn’t mean that I do not care about the environment. Should the Lord tarry, I would like for my children and grandchildren to enjoy the same beauty that I have enjoyed.

I do not see the earth as my mother and while I respect it as God’s creation I know its days are numbered. The Bible is very clear regarding the future of this planet and it’s not a pretty picture. The end times are going to be very destructive and the Great Tribulation judgments will change the face of the earth. Once this period of judgment is past the Lord will reconstruct this earth into a place of beauty similar to what was found at the beginning in the Garden of Eden. All of this will last for 1,000 years after which all of the heavens and the earth will be destroyed by fire.

A Short Timer

In the US Navy a man who was close to completing his time in the Navy was referred to as a “Short Timer” and was a frequent butt of jokes mostly from those who weren’t and wished they were. This present heaven and earth is a short timer compared to mankind and will soon be gone. In 2 Peter 3:11-12 Peter writes, “Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.”

This principle applies to the environment as well; whereas we should appreciate and protect God’s creation as best we can we should not make it an idol in our lives that we worship. Mother nature or mother earth is but a very poor substitute for the eternal creator God who controls the wind and the waves and works all things after the counsel of His own will.

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Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | December 31, 2012

2012 in review

The Helper Monkeys Strike Again

 The following report was forwarded to me yesterday and I thought it had some interesting information, especially the number of countries represented by viewers of the blog and which countries they were; I would never have guessed that those particular countries would be near the top of the list.

There is a link below to view the complete report.

May our Lord richly bless you this coming year!

David

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

600 people reached the top of Mt. Everest in 2012. This blog got about 2,600 views in 2012. If every person who reached the top of Mt. Everest viewed this blog, it would have taken 4 years to get that many views.

Click here to see the complete report.

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Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | December 29, 2012

What Will You Do With 2013? By David Bower

It Appears We May Have Survived 2012

Although 2012 has a few more days to destroy the world it appears reasonable to conclude most of us will survive all the calamities that were being contemplated. I’m reminded yet again of Mark Twain’s comment on life which says something like this; “During the course of my life I have suffered many things, most of which never happened.” While it is true that a few opportunistic producers of movies and such may have made money, the rest of us lived our lives as if nothing would happen and what do you know, we may have been right.

 You can count on 2013 having its full share of calamities waiting in the wings. The solar disturbances that threaten our electrical and electronic systems are now projected for the middle of 2013. An article from NASA tells us, “Increased numbers of flares are quite common at the moment, since the sun’s normal 11-year activity cycle is ramping up toward solar maximum, which is expected in 2013.” This will be the solar maximum of “Solar Cycle 24” which began in 2008 and, as usual, is subject to two widely varying interpretations; one says it will not be consequential and one says it will; time will tell.

If that were not enough there are a number of political and economic perils that threaten life changing events like the infamous “Fiscal Cliff” that we’re all expected to fall over on January 1st if our government doesn’t do a better job of getting its act together. I don’t know who is making money on that one but you can take it to the bank someone is. In addition to that problem we also have the ongoing threat of warfare in the Middle East; it seems as if the sabers never stop rattling in that part of the world.

On balance then it looks as if 2013 will have a number of similarities to 2012 and while it is true that something serious could happen it may well wind up in December of 2013 we’ll be looking back on a year similar to 2012; only the Lord knows for sure.

How Should We Approach 2013?

As Christians we really don’t have to wonder about that, do we? The Bible is filled with directions for God’s children on how they should view the future whether it’s a day or a year. I delight in the thought that my times are in God’s hands; I can’t think of a better place for them to be, can you? Whatever tomorrow or any tomorrow after that may bring I know I can count on God’s faithfulness to me in all things. Romans 8:28 continues to work and apply every moment of every day. “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.”

This is no more than the tip of a gigantic iceberg of promises to the child of God; the one I like best is Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” What a beautiful thought to know and live out that truth in one’s life; it hasn’t been about David since he was a child; it’s about the Savior that loves him and gave Himself for him and in whom he rejoices!

I am curious, from time to time, about what Jesus has planned for His life in the body He shares with me; I know that is His choice not mine, I just need to resist trying to be a backseat driver. When the time comes He will reveal His plans to me and all I need do is to trust in Him with all my heart and not try to understand what is happening and why it is happening the way it is; this is the life of faith and the only way to please Him.

I hasten to add this is not a unique experience for me but is the plan God has for everyone of us who love Him as Savior. I encourage you to live a life of faith in 2013 for without faith it is impossible to please Him. I encourage you to not be fearful as you can count on God’s faithfulness to you in all things and also important, I encourage you to rejoice in Him always.

In 2013 May You Lose Yourself in Christ!

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Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | December 18, 2012

Will December 21st Be The End of the World? by David Bower

Are We Close to the End of the World?

The short answer is no, we are not even close to the end of the world. Are we close to the end of the world as we have known it? Maybe yes, maybe no, it all depends on God’s timetable which is absolute and certain. What I’m sure of is the Mayan calendar has nothing to do with God’s timetable and we have a minimum of 1007 years before the end of the world. There will be an end to the heavens and earth as they are now and this will happen at the end of the Millennial reign of the Lord Jesus Christ but that is yet future to the tune of at least 1,007 or more years.

In 2 Peter 3:10 we read, “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.” The heavens and the earth as they are now will be replaced with a new heaven and earth which will be free of the curse which has plagued the present heaven and earth. All of that is yet future but it is certain.

What can we expect next according to God’s eternal plan? The next unfulfilled prophecy is the Rapture of the Church (the removal to heaven of all Christians living and dead); there is nothing more that needs to be done before the Rapture can take place.

The Rapture of the Church

God does not mix the ages of the church and Israel; Israel was set aside for a predetermined period of time known as the Church Age or the Age of Grace on March 30, 33AD on the occasion of the Triumphal Entry. This is the age in which we find ourselves today; this present age started on May 25, 33AD on Pentecost and will come to an end by the Rapture event at some point in the future known only to God. The Rapture will not be the catalyst for the restart of the Age of Israel as the trigger for that will be the signing of the covenant agreement between Israel and the Antichrist.

The time lapse between the Rapture and the signing of the covenant agreement is unknown. The graph below is my best estimate on the timing of the remaining unfulfilled prophetic events described in the Bible.

Time Line for Unfullfilled PropheciesClick image on website to enlarge

The time gap between the Rapture and the Tribulation (the 7 year period of divine judgment), which is triggered by the signing of the covenant between Israel and the Antichrist, is more likely to be years than days, weeks, or months. While it is possible the Battle of Psalm 83 could take place before the Rapture, I’m more inclined to think the Rapture will be the catalyst for that battle, time will tell. The United States will be so weakened by the Rapture that this will be seen as the opportunity to attack both the United States, the Great Satan, and Israel, the Little Satan, with impunity. Whereas God has promised to protect Israel, the United States has no such commitment from God and may be seriously hurt by the Islamic terrorist attack.
 From a Christian perspective I can make two relevant statements concerning the United States and December 21st; for some reason or combination of reasons the United States, during the Biblical end times, is no longer the world superpower it has been, and with regard to December 21st and the Mayan calendar the sun will come up on an essentially unaltered planet on the morning of December 22nd.
A Christ Centered, Christ Honoring Christmas to Each of You!

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Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | December 14, 2012

The Climate Change Controversy, by David Bower

Sorting Fact from FictionNot too long ago we were being bombarded by threats of the dangers of global warming and when that lost face the terminology was changed to climate change. It is difficult to argue with that because climate is always changing but then the question of cause surfaces with man’s carbon emissions being accused of triggering adverse climate change that will destroy the world and flood all coastal cities.

There are several “scientifically” held positions today that are at odds with each other when it comes to the subject of severity and cause. At one extreme are those who predict a doomsday scenario and at the other end of the spectrum those who say little or nothing extraordinary will happen. The recent “Doha 2012 Climate Change Conference” was another exercise in futility as representatives from 194 nations assembled to discuss climate change and the proper response governments should take.

One of the major issues that emerged from this conference was the possibility of compensation of poorer nations by richer nations for their losses which have resulted from climate change.  This, of course, brings us to the core objective of the whole business which is wealth transfer by governments in accordance with goals that have absolutely nothing to do with weather and everything to do with money and control.

A Long History of Climate Change

Even the most cursory examination of the history of the world will suggest climate change has been with us from the beginning of recorded history. If you put historic climate change or some variation of those words into a search engine an almost endless supply of articles will appear and supply you with countless hours of reading material. What I would like to do in this article is to present a brief summary on the Biblical record of climate change as recorded in the pages of Scripture.

As my readers may recall, I’m a young earther; that is I believe the Bible’s account to be correct and accurate when it says the universe is somewhere in the vicinity of 6,000 to 8,000 years old plus or minus. I believe the first six chapters of Genesis are an accurate account of what actually happened at that time. The results of the Biblical account would be an earth that was originally tropical in nature from pole to pole as a result of the water vapor canopy that surrounded the earth.

Earth’s climate underwent a drastic change when God destroyed the water vapor canopy at the time of the Genesis flood; what resulted is the earth we have today with its seasons and weather patterns. In an earlier blog I discussed the remarkable evidence of the Beresovka Mammoth Elephant which was found in Siberia. The contents of the flash frozen elephant’s stomach were so well preserved that the flowers, ferns and grasses it was eating just hours before its death could still be identified.

The thing to keep in mind about the contents of its stomach was those flowers, ferns and grasses had never grown in Siberia’s frozen wasteland in recorded history; they were totally alien to the climate in that part of the world.

Note shovel handle in center bottom of picture for size.

Note the shovel handle in the center bottom of the picture as a reference for size.

Feast and Famine

Although the Biblical record concerns itself with a restricted part of the earth it is still easy to find references to climate change. One of the more famous examples is the seven years of plenty followed by the seven years of famine described in the Genesis’ account of Joseph in Egypt.

Other cases of drought and famine are recorded in the Book of Ruth, the Book of 2 Samuel, as well as the Books of 1 and 2 Kings, Nehemiah and Haggai. These events cover a span of several thousand years and would suggest climate change is a part of life in the postdiluvian world.

The ultimate expression of global warming just happens to be found in the Bible where in 2 Peter 3:10 we read, “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.”

I’ve attached a graph which shows the temperature changes over a period of about 1,000 years. If one were to extend the timeline it certainly appears we are due another period of warming, wouldn’t you say?

Climate Change 900 AD to 1900 AD

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Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | December 7, 2012

December 7, 1941

“A Date Which Will Live in Infamy”

As the years pass there are fewer and fewer of us who can remember where they were and what they were doing when the bombing of Pearl Harbor was announced on the radio; I still remember that Sunday afternoon. I was an eight year old boy riding in the backseat on a Sunday afternoon drive to look for campsites for the Boy Scout Troop my stepfather led. I’m sure that none of us could imagine the impact that attack would have on our country and our lives.

Although, by God’s blessing, we were not as profoundly affected as many other countries around the world it would certainly change life as we knew it. Some of the older boys that had been members of the troop would join up and never return; their lives lost on a distant battlefield. My stepfather had concerns about all of the boys that had gone through the troop and especially the boy leaders who had become patrol leaders and later assistant Scoutmasters. There were too many sad moments when we got the news that another former scout had died in the war.

War is Declared

Little time was lost in Washington D. C. in reacting to the attack; Congress was convened and President Roosevelt spoke to both houses.

Address to Congress
Requesting a Declaration of War with Japan
December 8, 1941 

“Mr. Vice President, and Mr. Speaker, and Members of the Senate and House of Representatives:

Yesterday, December 7, 1941 — a date which will live in infamy — the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

The United States was at peace with that Nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its Government and its Emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific. Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in the American Island of Oahu, the Japanese Ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to our Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. And while this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or of armed attack.

It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time the Japanese Government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. I regret to tell you that very many American lives have been lost. In addition American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.

Yesterday the Japanese Government also launched an attack against Malaya.
Last night Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong.
Last night Japanese forces attacked Guam.
Last night Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands.
Last night the Japanese attacked Wake Island. And this morning the Japanese attacked Midway Island.

Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday and today speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our Nation.

As Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense.

But always will our whole Nation remember the character of the onslaught against us.

No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory. I believe that I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us.

Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory, and our interests are in grave danger.

With confidence in our armed forces- with the unbounding determination of our people- we will gain the inevitable triumph- so help us God.

I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire.” 

Once the Japanese had attacked Pearl Harbor the United States responded on December 8th with a declaration of war on Japan; because of treaties between Japan, Germany, and Italy that meant we had declared war on all three nations. Below is a copy of the declaration of war on Japan.

Congressional Declaration of War on Japan

“December 8, 1941

JOINT RESOLUTION Declaring that a state of war exists between the Imperial Government of Japan and the Government and the people of the United States and making provisions to prosecute the same.

Whereas the Imperial Government of Japan has committed unprovoked acts of war against the Government and the people of the United States of America:

Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
That the state of war between the United States and the Imperial Government of Japan which has thus been thrust upon the United States is hereby formally declared;
and the President is hereby authorized and directed to employ the entire naval and military forces of the United States and the resources of the Government to carry on war against the Imperial Government of Japan; and, to bring the conflict to a successful termination, all of the resources of the country are hereby pledged by the Congress of the United States.

Approved, December 8, 1941, 4:10 p.m. E.S.T.”

This was a remarkable moment in the history of the United States. The country had been burdened by an economic downturn know as the “Great Depression” which had created many hardships on the American people. In addition the Central Plains had been ravaged by a drought that was so bad the whole area became known as the dust bowl. Having been raised in Houston, Texas I was indeed fortunate to have experienced little hardship from the depression or the drought.

Fortunately the drought was beginning to lift by the time the war started and many speculate that the Second World War was the catalyst that brought the United States out of the Great Depression.

A Time for Remembrance

Today, December 7, 2012, let us remember the great price that has been paid that we might continue as a free nation. The old saying, “Freedom is not Free” is as true today as it was on that fateful day in 1941. Sadly a second date that will live in infamy has been added to the history of this country and that is September 11, 2001. This is another vivid reminder that our freedoms must be defended or they will be lost.

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Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | November 30, 2012

The Election is History, What Next? Concluded, by David Bower

What Does the Future Hold?

The fact of the matter is only God knows what the future holds but what is most important is He knows what He has planned for the future. The future is not an accident waiting to happen but a carefully planned series of events that will be executed with care and precision by almighty God.

While the United States is, for most of us, the land of our birth and both loved and appreciated by each of us, we are compelled to acknowledge that it is not the center of the universe. The truth of the matter is it can come in only a distant second at best when compared to Israel in the eyes of our Creator God.

We have, nevertheless, enjoyed the blessings of our Creator God on this nation for a very long time but it appears that hand of blessing may have been withdrawn. When one of the two major political parties removes any reference to God from its platform it becomes very easy to see the direction this nation is taking; and when that party with its Godless platform wins the election it provides a strong indication of the thinking of the people. 

The Coming Change

While there is a movement with all of its associated plans and schemes to fundamentally change America there is an overriding reality which is so beautifully expressed in Psalms 2 the first four verses of which I include here, “Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One. “Let us break their chains,” they say, “and throw off their fetters.” The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.”

The Lord has placed our national leadership in their places as His servants to accomplish His will for this nation. Although there may be an abundance of man made plans, I think it most likely that all will be surprised by what actually happens; only the Lord knows what He will do and His plan is certain and unalterable.

As God’s children we are to respond to the unexpected in a manner that pleases the Father and honors the Son; our only option is the response of faith. One thing seems clear to me and that is the multitude of possible scenarios for the future. We are encompassed by known and unknown elements both domestically and internationally many of which could change life as we have known it in the United States.

An Uncertain World

This week I have received two distinctly different email forwards; one which suggests our nation is heading for civil war and one which says we are approaching a time of unparalleled national prosperity. Given a choice I would definitely lean toward the national prosperity option.

The reality of the situation is my preference doesn’t matter even a little bit and the writers of those two emails can only speculate on what may happen; only God knows with certainty what He has planned for us.  

The situation in the Middle East is volatile to say the least and poses the constant threat of breaking out into open warfare on a massive scale. War in the Middle East would profoundly affect the United States in ways we cannot even imagine. It appears it would be impossible for us to “sit this one out.”

Which of these unknowns will develop and begin to change things only God knows. Domestically there is economic uncertainty and the overt fiscal irresponsibility of our government. When one adds to that the energy crisis and our porous borders one’s imagination can be overwhelmed with possible destructive alternatives; the Lord has a rich collection of alternatives from which to choose, does He not?

Preparing for the Unexpected

When we consider the massive nature of events that could happen we must come to the conclusion there is little we can practically do to prepare for them. Trusting in ourselves is futile in the face of the powerful forces which are at play today.

Trusting the Lord may come easier when there are no clear alternatives; when it is evident any efforts on our part to lessen the impact of the coming change would be ineffectual. I’m reminded of the old adage, “When all else fails read the instructions.” It is sad that so often in life we follow that pattern of behavior.

The Bible is filled with directions on the successful assembly of the human life; directions that can be counted on to work and yet we seek out those directions only after trying everything else we think may work. 

I encourage you to seek the Bible’s directions for the times in which we live; the guidance you receive from the Bible will put you on the track to peace and inner joy. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to live by faith and enjoy the rich blessings of the Spirit led life.

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Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | November 16, 2012

The Election is History, What Next? by David Bower

A Disobedient Nation

What is the Christ honoring Christian perspective after the recent election? There are many Christians who are disappointed with the outcome of the November 7th election and are wondering where we go from here.

In my last blog, “The Election,” I emphasized certain Biblical realities that I felt were important and were being all too often overlooked. The single most significant reality was God’s hand in selecting the President of the United States.

The outcome of the election of November 7, 2012 was foreknown to God and precisely reflected His will in the composition of our national leadership. Although many Christians were disappointed by the outcome, God, in His infinite wisdom and knowledge, was neither disappointed nor surprised by the outcome but was, in fact, continuing to work all things after the counsel of His own will.

This recent election is nothing more than a symptom of the change that has happened to this nation. This change has been over a hundred years in the making and we are just watching the maturation of the fruit of this change.

Israel was in a similar position when Jeremiah was pleading God’s cause to a nation that had turned its back on God. History shows that after a certain period of time God’s patience can be exhausted with a nation. In Jeremiah 15:1-2 the LORD tells Jeremiah, “Then the LORD said to me: “Even if Moses and Samuel were to stand before me, my heart would not go out to this people. Send them away from my presence! Let them go! And if they ask you, ‘Where shall we go?’ tell them, ‘This is what the LORD says: “‘Those destined for death, to death; those for the sword, to the sword; those for starvation, to starvation; those for captivity, to captivity.'”

None need ask what the LORD really thought about Israel at that point; it was very clear that the LORD’s hand of judgment had fallen on that disobedient nation. Is the United States now at that point? I don’t know but I suspect that may be the case; there are a growing number of signs around the nation that would suggest we are there.  

What About Christians?

We, as Christians, are commanded by God to practice and exhibit in our lives certain characteristics that are given to us for our own benefit. The first is the life of faith; it was by grace through faith that we were saved and it is by grace through faith that we should live all our lives.

The Bible makes it clear that whatsoever is not of faith is sin; the Bible also makes it clear that without faith it is impossible to please Him. Another point the Bible is very clear on is that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. If we need help determining the proper Christian perspective on anything we go to the Bible for guidance. Our lives come with a lifetime of assembly required and we ignore the manufacturer’s assembly instructions at our own peril. 

It is often a great temptation to try and understand what has happened and why it happened some particular way. I am all too often guilty of that and whereas it may on occasion seem to work, on many of the most important occasions in life there are no clear answers. This is why Proverbs 3:5-6 is so important to me, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Another command is found in Philippians 4:4 where we read, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Every day of our life is part of always and is a time to rejoice in the Lord; there is no time that we should not be rejoicing in the Lord. Circumstances will change for the better or worse but the Lord is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

The above is only a sampling of those things that should characterize our lives; the Bible is filled with examples. A brief summary would indicate the Christian should be living by faith, trusting in the Lord, and rejoicing in Him always.

The Lord desires the very best for His children and has provided the means whereby we might enjoy a maximized life as His children. The pattern for the Christian is the Spirit filled life which manifests the fruit of the Spirit as described in Galatians 5:22-25, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” Who could ask for anything more?

Next we will consider what the future may hold.

(Post script – The situation in Israel seems to be taking a turn toward increased hostilities; this may be the time to keep your eyes on developments there.)

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Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | November 7, 2012

The Election

 What is the Christian Perspective on the Election?

As citizens of the heavenly kingdom and ambassadors for Christ, how should we respond to the outcome of the 2012 election? First of all we should recognize our place as children of God’s royal family and ambassadors of the Lord Jesus Christ to the United States.

Secondly we should recognize the sovereign rule of our King, the Lord Jesus Christ, over the affairs of all men including most specifically the leaders of the United States. We must be constantly mindful that each and every one of those leaders has been placed in their positions of power by the express will of our King.

All are His servants placed in their positions of power to accomplish exactly what our Lord has determined beforehand must be done. Although they may not realize the truth of their situation it is, nevertheless, the reality which will be played out in their lives.

Whatsoever is Not of Faith is Sin!

My motivation for writing this blog is not the United States; it is you and your personal walk of faith. There has been a lot of moaning and groaning going on this morning in Christian circles about the outcome of yesterday’s election.

I must tell you that those of you who are doing that are sinning against God; you are living by sight and not by faith and that is sin. I have mentioned before the nature of government and pointed out as clearly as I could that those in positions of authority in government are specifically placed there by God to accomplish His will for each nation.

God Works All Things After the Counsel of His Own Will

In yesterday’s election we watched as God placed in positions of power and authority those He intended to have those places. Those elected are placed there by God in accordance with His divine will and our disputing or challenging His decisions in these matters is a direct challenge to God and that is most definitely sin against God.

Only God knows what will happen to those individuals and the United States but we can rest assured that God has a specific plan for each of them and this nation. Keeping in mind our positions as ambassadors we must view the situation with a certain objectivity.

It is clear from the Bible that the United States has no presence in the end times and, as the only remaining superpower, will have somehow disappeared from the world scene when the final drama plays out.

We, as ambassadors, have also been alerted to the fact that we will be taken out (by the Rapture) before real hostilities begin. How then should be respond to those events? By faith, of course, trusting in God and seeing His hand in all things. None of these things have caught God by surprise but have, in fact, been planned by Him from before the foundation of the world.

Our Responsibilities Before God

The Bible is filled with details on our responsibilities before God; how we should think, act, and speak. The first thing we should all do is to confess our sin to God as described in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” To the extent we have fretted about the election we have sinned against God.

The next thing that comes to mind is in Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Circumstances are very undependable but God is always the same and a never ending source of joy.

The last command I will mention here is Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

HAVE A GREAT DAY IN THE LORD!!!

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