“To demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to needy children around the world, and together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.” That’s the mission of Operation Christmas Child, an annual effort to help children around the world set to take place Nov. 15-22. Last year, more than 8 million children worldwide received shoe boxes full of gifts that delighted them. Watch the video below to learn more about getting involved.
During an interview with CNN’s Campbell Brown yesterday, Rev. Franklin Graham criticized Pentagon leaders for rescinding his invitation to speak at a National Day of Prayer service at the Pentagon and for pretending “everything is okay” if we cave in to the demands of a couple of people (i.e., Muslims).
Asked by Brown if he thought he would have been treated the same way if President George W. Bush was in charge, Reverend Graham said he didn’t think this would have happened under Bush, Bill Clinton or Jimmy Carter.
It’s not about candy and eggs. Instead, today is the day Christians like me believe Jesus Christ was resurrected from the dead, and 78 percent of Americans share that belief, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.
Other findings of the survey:
Eighty-five percent (85%) also think that the person known to history as Jesus Christ actually walked the earth 2,000 years ago; and
Nearly as many adults (81%) believe that Jesus was the son of God who came to Earth and died for our sins.
Set for release this fall, “2012″ stands to become yet another in a long line of forgettable, CGI-intensive doomsday movies that might be worth renting at the video store in a couple of months, but is hardly worth the $50 price tag of a popcorn-and-drinks-included family outing at the local cinema. For purposes of this blog, however, it serves a useful purpose in that the trailer for the movie asks the question, “How would the governments of our planet prepare six billion people for the end of the world?”
A few days ago, I asked one-time Baptist pastor and former employer of mine, Ron English, to share his thoughts about that question for this Sunday after-church post. He shared the following:
This movie poses an interesting and serious question.
First, this world system we enjoy (or tolerate) does not collectively believe in an end to the world as we know it. Second, Christians have a different slant. Since I am in that camp, I can speak to it.
Christians, who have some grasp of the Scriptures, believe that Jesus Christ will return for them. This is often called by a term not found in the Bible, the Rapture. The term simply means a snatching away or catching up of all believers — those alive at the time and those Christians who died in the faith over the long years.
Many believe this will signal the beginning of seven years of tribulation primarily for Israel, but other nations will, no doubt, join her. The first half of this period will be somewhat peaceful with some disruptions. Tensions will be mounting and fears will be realized in all of Israel. Remember, Israel is a tiny piece of real estate. The last half will be awful — perhaps the worst destruction of human life ever to hit the world. I am sure there will be some living then that might agree with the concept of “the end of the world.” I would think many in Israel will pray for just that.
The Scriptures teach that if God didn’t actually shorten the tribulation that no flesh would be spared. Certainly no Jews. Having read the last Book and the last chapters, we understand that God works things out. Israel is preserved as a nation and God establishes an earthly kingdom with Israel being the capitol and Jesus, the Christ, will be the King of all kings and He shall rule the entire world system from His earthly throne. He will rule with righteousness and power. This rule will, according to Scripture, be some 1000 thousand years in time. The world will enjoy peace and prosperity as it never has. At the end of the tribulation, Satan will be arrested by Jesus and cast into a dark dungeon where he will be held captive and have no influence in the world system being ruled by Christ.
At the end of this 1000 years of God’s reign on earth, the Devil will be released from his prison where he has been held in chains of darkness. Satan will be permitted to mount one last rebellion against God — against King Jesus and His people. Jesus will make short work of this evil monster and then the world as we know it and they know it then will end. Satan and his minions will be cast into the lake of fire and all rebellion will have been put away forever. The earth will be cleansed by fire. A new heaven and a new earth will be ushered in and Christ will rule for evermore.
So even the movies with their wild plots and graphic details have their root in truth, but rarely tell the whole story. Men and women are for the most part — I mean the great majority — are blinded to the truths as revealed clearly in Scripture. They are blinded by unbelief.
Ron, you hit the nail on the head!
To learn more about the future according to God’s Word, I encourage you to visit Ron’s web site, Salvation Links.
If your church needs help in delivering timeless truths to a high-tech generation, visit the web site of Fowler, Inc., the Norman, Okla.-based company multimedia solutions company Ron co-founded 17 years ago. [BMW trivia: I worked at Fowler for four years prior to moving to St. Louis.]
I’m not a fan of rap, but I like the content of the message being delivered by “Stiltz” and “Serious C” in the music video above by the Young Conservatives.
A dynamic duo of conservatism, the rappers describe themselves as having a devout mission aimed at spreading the love and logic surrounding true conservatism. The “More Info” section on YouTube explains further:
Young Cons is not attempting to force their religious beliefs onto anyone, but rather encourage discussion among the American youth. They do not claim to have all the right answers, but merely try to express their views through music. Their goal is not to pursue a rap career, but rather get young Americans involved in politics.
Young Conservatives is a group with a devout mission to spread the love and logic surrounding true conservatism. Our greatest enemy lies in the lack of understanding of the conservative movement. In a technological era driven fiercely by the main stream media, those who taut the true conservative message of individual responsibility, moral absolutes, and small government are slanted as intolerant, racist, “bible and gun clinging”, corporate fat cats who could not care less about the environment nor the well being of their fellow man.
Being Christian or conservative or a combination of the two is not viewed as popular in American Society. This group clearly proves otherwise.
I’m not a huge fan of rap, but I like the content of the message and hope it connects with people.
That headline, spawned by the results of a recent Harris Poll®, simply reflects the fact that President Barack Obama receives more frequent and favorable coverage in the news media than does the more-deserving Son of God, Jesus Christ.
Timing could have something to do with it, too. While Jesus Christ walked this earth some 2,000 years ago, President Obama is the political soup du jour.
Don’t lose hope. I predict that, by taking a look at some of the people who made the list in 2001 — namely former President Jimmy Carter and washed-up civil rights activists Jesse Jackson – and then dropped from it in 2009, you’ll get a glimpse into President Obama’s future. Let’s hope so anyway.
Today is a day set aside to remember the work of Martin Luther King Jr. It also marks the eve of Barack Obama’s inauguration as president of the United States. Rather than look at the work of the late civil rights leader on this day, I felt compelled to look at a famous observation made by the man for whom MLK was named and see how it applies to the next president.
In a post I published one year ago this week, I highlighted the following observation by 16th-Century protestant reformer Martin Luther:
“I’d rather be ruled by a competent Turk than an incompetent Christian.”
While few would argue that Obama fits the dictionary definition of a Turk (i.e., “a usually young dynamic person eager for change“), many wonder whether or not Obama fits the mold of a “competent” Turk. They cite the fact that Obama served less than one term in the U.S. Senate before being elected president of the United States and brings very little private-sector work experience to the White House.
On the flip side of the competence coin, many wonder whether or not Obama — the son of a Muslim from Kenya, a 20-year member of Chicago’s Trinity United Church of Christ and a man who once said he considered the controversial black liberation theology preacher Rev. Jeremiah Wright his mentor — is indeed a Christian. Moreover, they question whether or not he is a competent one.
Only God knows Obama’s heart and whether or not he is truly a follower of Jesus Christ. The only thing we can do at this time is pray that God uses Obama to do His will and do it well or, as Martin Luther might say, “competently.”
