Grieving and Rejoicing!

  I just returned home after attending a funeral.   You will probably discover, as you grow older, that you attend more and more of these events.    I now find, to my consistent amazement,  that many of the funerals are for people who are (were) younger than I am. 

  As you grow older your perspective changes.   At age 20, those over 30 seem old; at 40 it is those over 60 who seem pretty ancient; at 60 those over 70: well, it goes on and on.

  The point is that we are all headed for the exit.   One day it  is “is” and the next day it could be “was.”   As in, “He (she) IS a pretty nice (rotten, crabby, generous–you name it) person” one day and then, suddenly, it is all past tense, as in “He (she) WAS a…(such and such) kind of person.”   Last week, in mentioning this friend to someone, I would have observed “Boy, he sure is a nice guy!”  Today, there’s a world of difference.

The funeral I attended today was a cause for grieving and also for rejoicing.   One reason is that the individual was a kind, loving, extremely generous, and very well-liked person.   The second, and more important reason, reminded me of something that the Apostle Paul said in his first letter to the church at Thessalonica (I Thess. 2:19)–”For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing?  Is it not even you in the presence of the Lord Jesus at His coming.”

(Whoops, you’re saying, now he’s gotten to preaching; I’m outa here!  Well, stick around a few minutes; there could be something here worth thinking about.)

Paul had some very encouraging words regarding his future and the future of other believers in Jesus Christ.  He said, “We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and present with the Lord” (2 Cor. 5:8).

I remember many years ago when a pastor came to our house and talked about personal faith in Jesus.   I brushed him off with some bromide about, “Well, I believe that truth is really whatever I decide to believe and if I’m sincere about it, I’ll be okay.”

It reminds me of the people who say confidently, “Well, there are no absolutes,” which, in itself, is an absolutely self-contradictory statement.    I feel like suggesting they go to the top  of a tall building and jump off.   They will  discover that the law of gravity has not been rescinded and they are absolutely sure to die.

Anyhow, the point is that, at the funeral of a person who has placed his or her trust in Jesus Christ for forgiveness of sins there is, with the sadness, cause for hope, joy and rejoicing.

The old question is: “Suppose you died today and stood before God and He said, ‘Why should I let you into my heaven?,’ what would you say?”   

If asked this, you might say, “Well, I don’t believe in God, or judgment; it is all a bunch of religious nonsense!   Hey, that can be your choice.   I think there is overwhelming evidence, it anyone will make the effort to examine it, that the Bible is totally trustworthy.   As for me, a hopeless sinner saved by grace, “I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep  what I have committed to Him until that Day” (2 Tim. 1:12). 

There are many absolutes in life  and one of them is the certainty that it will end.  “It is appointed unto every man once to die, and after this the judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27).  No one will argue with the first part of that statement; it is the second part that creates a problem.

 Well, if you ever happen to come to my funeral, which I hope will not be soon (God knows) you can rejoice because “I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that Day” (2 Tim. 1:12).

P.S.–Sorry, couldn’t help the preaching.  Watch this space. Next time some thoughts about global warming.  He won’t read them, but, if he did, they would probably not get cheers from Al (the ocean is at your door) Gore.

  

A ‘Manchurian Candidate’–Who Knows?

     A news item the other day reported how successful in fund-raising Barack Obama has been.   He is apparently ahead of all of the other Democratic presidential hopefuls.

It might be helpful to look at who Obama is, although the real Obama might be a closely guarded secret.    I do know that he talks a good talk, which usually seems to consist of rewrites of some of the more eloquent statements of former prominent politicians, without much real substance.

I do know that, as a state legislator in Illinois, his voting record was totally liberal, including “no” on prohibiting partial birth abortion, “no” on prohibiting state funding of abortion; “yes” on permitting purchase of 10 hypodermic needles without a prescription; “yes” in restoring the Illinois estate tax, etc.

A radio news report this morning said that the now first-term Senator is proposing sex education for kindergarten age children, and federal health care payment for all abortions.  Clearly, he is not a pro-life candidate.

But even more important is the question of “Who is he?”  He was born in Hawaii to a Muslim from Kenya and to
Ann Dunham, a professed atheist from Wichita, Kansas.  The two divorced when Osama was two years old and his father returned to Kenya.  His mother married Lolo Soetero, a Muslim from Indonesia.    The family moved to Indonesia when Obama was six years old.

At this very formative age he was enrolled in a Wahabi (Muslim) school in Jakarta.   Wahabism is a radical form of Islam that is followed by Muslims now engaged in jihad (holy war) against the western world.    Saudi Arabia, our ostensible friend, is ruled by Wahabis.   (I suspect their friendship would be greatly reduced, if not entirely absent, if they had not needed, and continue to need,  U.S. technology to extract the oil resources which have made them wealthy.)

Osama downplays his Muslim background and notes that he also attended a Catholic school for two years and has now joined a United Church of Christ congregation. 

It is interesting to note that Muhammad approved of deceit and lying, in fact any kind of conduct that, in his opinion, would advance the cause of Allah.    One of his followers decided it would be good to kill an individual who had spoken in opposition to Muhammad.   He was authorized by his leader to feign friendship, and ingratiate himself with this person in order to gain an opportunity to murder him. Which he did.  This happened on more than one occasion.

Islamic radicals overlook some of Muhammad’s more mild “revelations” in the Qur’an–in the earliest writings– and instead look to the more severe commands regarding treatment of enemies, which are in later “revelations.” 

This is excused on the principal of abrogation, in that the later revelations supercede those that were earlier.    The Qur’an states that Jews and Christians are accursed in several places.  “From those, too, who call themselves Christians, We did take a covenant, but they forgot a good part of the message that was sent them: so we estranged them, with enmity and hatred between one and the other, to the day of judgment” (Qur’an 5:12-16).

Hamza Yusuf, an influential American convert to Islam, said in November 2004, regarding Islamic strategy for world domination: “There are times when you have to live like a sheep, in order to live in the future like a lion.”

I don’t know whether Barack Obama is ”a wolf in sheep’s clothing” or not.    But I do oppose his political voting record,  think he will bear careful watching. and shudder to think of what might happen if he gains a presidential nomination.   It would be interesting, if it was possible, to trace back to original sources, all of the millions of dollars in campaign funds that he has received. 
 

Helping the Enemy Shout for Joy

     I can almost hear them shouting “Whoopee!”–or however you say that in Arabic.    The Islamofascists who hate us, and would rejoice if they could kill us all, love to read headlines in U.S. newspapers like the one in USA TODAY  a couple of days ago.

It read: “Anti-war views on Iraq rise to record,” followed by a sub-head, “Poll: Bush approval drops to low of 29%”.   I can’t help but wonder how many more U.S. soldiers (and Iraqi citizens) have been killed because of the delight the U.S. media takes in broadcasting such reports.     They just encourage al-Qaeda to keep on making more bombs and murdering more people.

This is largely because our news media and Bush-hating liberal Congress members continue to support al-Qaeda’s  belief that, if they just  keep blowing people up, public opinion will turn against our efforts in Iraq and that we will soon “cut and run,”  leaving them to impose their will on the hapless populace–including: no rights or education for women,  absolute imposition of Islamic law–cutting off hands and heads, etc.–and whatever other horrors the Imams declare that Allah has decreed.

Do you know how the Taliban got Russia out of Afghanistan? (Unfortunately, in hindsight, with our help.)    They had all the time in the world, and convinced the Russians that staying simply was not worth it.   The Russians found themselves almost prisoners themsevles in the Afghan cities, and getting blown up and picked off by snipers when they ventured outside the cities.  Also, their helicopters were getting shot down by Sidewinder missiles–which we supplied to the muhajadeen fighters. 

We have better equipment and a skilled and determined military force, but our enemies think the same tactics will work again in Iraq and also in Afghanistan.   Thus, headlines like the one in USA TODAY, and other negative reports in our liberal media, give them great encouragement.

At least, the newspaper had the grace to mention some other negative polls relating to past presidents, including Truman in 1952 with a 22 per cent approval rating.   And he is now upheld in history as an outstanding president because he stuck with his convictions and declared: “The buck stops here”– at the president’s desk.   If President Bush, also a man of deep convictions, can stay the course, history will say the same about him.

I think we should get nervous about people with super high poll numbers.   Just think about Jesus!   If Gallup had been around then, Jesus would have had about zero percent in the polls.   All he had was 12 disciples, and one of them was a traitor.   And these disciples, preaching about the life, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus, literally “turned the world upside down.”

Do we really want to make a difference?   Perhaps we should examine how obedient we are to the Apostle Paul’s command that “supplications, prayers, intercessions and giving of thanks be made…for all who are in authority” (cf. I Timothy 2:1,2).   Supplications is a strong word!  How often does it describe our prayers?  

Do we pray expectantly, earnestly, consistently?   God does answer.  We can make a difference!  And we should, as hard as it may be, obey our Lord and “pray for our enemies” (cf. Matthew 5:43-45).

   

Timetables–Good and Bad!

Timetables are very useful.   It is good to know when the plane,  bus, or train is supposed to leave and when it is supposed to arrive.    Of course, there are often delays and unexpected changes, but without a timetable we would really be helpless when traveling.

But timetables can also be very bad, especially in a time of war.   Right now, we are in a war in Iraq.   The Democrats in Congress want to set a timetable for when we withdraw our military personnel.   I just heard today that another alleged Republican, Pete (Jellybone) Domenici, Senator from New Mexico, has joined the Democratic outcry for deadlines.

I can almost hear the rejoicing among the Islamofascists.   They have no specific timetables or deadlines, all they have is unremitting commitment to world Islamic domination–if it takes 50 or 100 years, it does not matter. It is all in Allah’s will–as long as they have explosives and a supply of virile young men with dreams of unlimited sex in Paradise, willing to blow up themselves and others to get there, the killing will continue.   They will be delighted with any withdrawal deadlines set by the Democrat-led Congress.

I heard a Focus on the Family radio program today which made me weep.   Three military widows were interviewed on the program.   Two had lost their husbands in Iraq and the other woman’s husband died of cancer after years of military service.

Just a few quotes from what they said: “The American public does not know how many 9/11’s have been stopped”… “the kids (in Iraq) are going to school, families have electricity”…”I don’t watch the mainstream media…”

One of the mothers helped send 600 soccer balls to children in Iraq.  They urged others who have lost loved ones to “Pray! Find a support group; stand tall!”     They spoke of their faith in God; their commitment to raise their children to be proud of their fathers, and were strongly supportive of the U.S. military effort. 

Speaking of terrorist delight at Congressional calls for withdrawal, I still think we should read and apply our Constitution.   In Article III, Section 3, Clause1,  Treason against the United States is clearly defined, as follows: “Treason against the United States shall consist only in levying War against them, OR IN ADHERING TO THEIR ENEMIES, GIVING THEM AID AND COMFORT” (emphasis added).

If those saying  “the war is lost,”   and making loud outcries for withdrawal, and the sooner the better, are not “giving aid and comfort” to our enemies then I’m a donkey’s hind hoof!

I’m thankful that there is a perfect timetable that supersedes all others.   We can read about it in the Bible.   We often wish it was more specific regarding dates, but we know that our Lord is very punctual.   “In the fulness of time” He sent His Son.  And again, in the completion of time as we know it, His Son will return. 

“Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Rev. 22:20)