Huntin with the Cuzzes

During the Christmas break, all of the clan was blessed to be able to get together and enjoy some good fellowship. We have a good family with plenty of love. One evening, Uncle Cooney and Cindy's two boys Parker(8) and Peyton(5) came over to go hunting with Umpie Mike (that's what TaTa (Taylor)called me when she was a baby, and it stuck).

So here we go. Me, Hayden, Hunter, Parker and Peyton all start walking toward the stand. As we walked by the pond and started to near the woods, Peyton started to cry. I asked him what was wrong and he simply said, "I want my daddy". Now why anyone would feel comforted by the presence of Cooney leaves me scratching my head, but hey, this is the boy's daddy. So I told Peyton that his daddy wasn't here, and I asked again about what was bothering him. He then explained to me that he was afraid of the woods. He told me, "There might be a King Cobra in there".

While I am trying to reassure him that everything was going to be fine, the other 3 boys shifted into counseling mode and started to help me out. Or so they thought! One tells Peyton, "There ain't no King Cobras. Just rattlesnakes and copperheads". Another chimes in, "There ain't no King Cobras, just rabbits, and deer, and bear". I highly recommend staying away from these boys if your ever standing on the edge of a bridge.

Finally, I am able to calm Peyton down. Not only did I convince him that my gun could take care of any King Cobras, but it could also take care of rattlesnakes, copperheads and bear.

We make it to the stand and all climb in. It was a little crowded, but not all that bad.

One thing I haven't mentioned, is that before we left the house I gave every boy a flashlight. I figured this would make each boy feel a little more comfortable walking home if it had gotten a little dark. I had no idea the flashlights would be the focal point of the hunt.

Now I don't know what it is in the male constitution that draws him to flashlights, but it is real. Men like flashlights. Boys like flashlights. We can't have too many. And they can't be too bright. Some believe a male's self-worth is measured by the brightness of his flashlight. If you don't believe it try this...give two men flashlights and I guarantee you they will see whose is brighter. See what I mean.

So here we sit. 1 man. 4 boys. 5 flashlights. All inside a 4 x 8 boxstand...8 foot off the ground. As the sun set, and daylight faded it must have looked like...Well. Did you ever see Close Encounters of the Third Kind? Do you remember the space ship with all of the lights flashing from every opening and portal?

Surely the wildlife behind my house felt as though they had been invaded by something from beyond our realm. They had never seen anything like this. Lights flashing. Condominium shaking. Whispered giggling. Repeated funneling.

Oh, just in case your wondering...we didn't see a deer.

Peace

Everyone from young children to Miss America contestants want world peace. I reckon that its not too bad of a desire. But, is world peace high on the Lord's current list of priorities? Some will be quick to rebut, quoting the Biblical record of the heavenly host' proclamation. The Bible declares...

Luke 2:8-14 8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

What should be noticed is that the heavenly host did not proclaim peace among men, but peace, goodwill toward men. This is peace and goodwill being extended from God toward men in the form of His Son, Jesus.

Consider also the words of Jesus.

Luke 12:51-53 51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: 52 For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. 53 The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

Learn From Wise Men

Matthew 2:9-11
9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

Very simple lesson...When the wise men had reached their destination, they rejoiced.

When they came into the presence of Jesus, they worshipped...there is a difference!

Clues to Help Redneck Readers Take a Quiz

Let's see if this helps.

Bubba = Giant Corporations who have mismanaged their business. I.E. Banks, Lending Institutions and Auto Manufacturers.
Jim Bob = American Taxpayer
Rosco = Federal Government
Leroy = IRS

What Do You Think?

When Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane did He fear what lied ahead of Him? If not, what did He feel, and what did His words mean?

Redneck Quiz

Bubba has a double-wide. Jim Bob has a single-wide. Bubba's been cooking chitlins. But now he is chasing Daisy (his girlfriend)round the pickup and forgets to turn the burner off. He burns his double-wide to the ground. Jim Bob wishes he could help Bubba, but its all he can do to make the payments on his single-wide. So Rosco, Bubba's buddy, gets Leroy to take money away from Jim Bob so Bubba can get back on his feet.

Who's the sorry dog Redneck? And why?

What Has Entered My Nose?

I'm sitting here eating Fritos Corn Chips. Anyone ever noticed how your dog sometimes smells like Fritos?

Please Don't Cry!!!

Yesterday, Dec. 8, 2008, my youngest son, Hunter, wanted to go hunting. My brain was exhausted from a draining day at school, but since Hayden had just recently killed his first deer, I figured little brother deserved his chance. But there is one glitch, Kim is not home, she is shopping in Shreveport. This is only a problem if Hayden doesn't want to go hunting with us. If Hayden doesn't want to go, we can't go. Inside, because of my being tired, I am quietly hoping he will say no. Hunter is excited. He is already getting ready. So I ask Hayden if he wants to go (Please say no. Please say no). He says yes. Man, my only excuse blown away. So we all get ready and walk to the woods (or forest as Hunter calls it).

The wind had been blowing hard all day and when we settled into the condo/deerstand, it hadn't let up. About 15 mph out of the south. All 3 of us got comfortable in our chairs. Hayden is sitting there writing a report for school. Hunter wants to hold the gun so he can look through the scope. I'm tired.

Hunter can't sit in his chair and have the necessary height needed to view the shooting lane through the scope. Here we go again. Numb legs. So I let him get on my lap and look through the scope. To the wildlife in the area it must have been an unusual site. The black piece of steel protruding from the hole in the big box. The barrel of the gun would have been practically unnoticeable if it hadn't been moving. And boy do I mean moving.

I'm not exactly sure what all he laid the cross hairs on, but I know that sometimes it was almost under the stand, then it would be straight up in the air, then to the left, then the right. Sometimes the barrel of that 243 was moving so fast it looked flexible (remember shaking the pencil in your hand so fast it looked like rubber). I tried to encourage him to be still, but at the same time if he doesn't kill anything I don't have to clean it. So shake it Hunter, Shake it.

Since the wind is blowing steady out of the south, I am focusing most of my attention toward the north. Remember the old rule of deer walking into the wind, not with it. It's about 5:00. Hayden has finished his report and he is now an extra set of eyes to try and spot the deer before they spot the rubber barrel sticking out of the side of the stand. And the wind. What a nightmare. To Hunter, every leaf that hit the ground was a deer.

Out of nowhere, Hayden whispers quietly but firmly,"Deer, Dad, Deer". And sure enough, standing right in the middle of our shooting lane is a deer. He is eating our corn, with his face away from us, and his posterior facing us. I grab the earmuffs and put them on Hunter. I look over at Hayden, and he has already put his earmuffs on, has them covered with his hands, and is crouched down as though someone has just hollered, "INCOMING".

I had been very adamant with the boys about taking only "good shots". We had repeatedly gone over where to aim. But this deer is not moving. All we see is butt. So I lean up to Hunter's ear and whisper, "I'm going to whistle at him. He will turn. Then you shoot him". He turns enough so that I can hear him whisper. He says "Sir?" So again I said, "I'm going to whistle at him. He will turn. Then you shoot him". He nodded. So I whistled. The deer turned. The gun went bang.

50 Yards. Broadside. The deer dropped in his tracks. As soon as he did, I ripped the earmuffs off of Hunter's head and said "You did it. You did it. You shot your first deer!" I gave him a high-five. Then things quickly changed. Hunter is looking through the opening in the stand and tears start to form in his eyes. He sees the deer still flopping somewhat. He's obviously in his latter stages of life, but this is Hunter's first time to see such a sight. I'm thinking "Great, I'm raising PETA boys". So we climb out of the stand. The deer is dead, but we go ahead and walk back to the house to get the four-wheeler before we walk over to the deer.

Great shot. Both lungs. A button buck. We come back and Hayden helps me drag the deer out to the four-wheeler. I ask Hunter if he wanted to help, it was then he informed me he didn't like to get blood from other "creatures" on him. So we take our pictures, and clean the deer. Finally, I figured it was time to talk to Hunter about his emotional display in the stand. I have heard of a lot of kids who feel guilty after they have killed something, so I figured he was just another one of the many. So I ask him, "Hunter, after you shot the deer, you saw the deer still moving, and it looked like you were fixing to cry. What was wrong?" He said, "Dad, when I saw him start moving, I thought he was going to get away." You know what, that's made many grown men cry.

Who Knew?

I started blogging at the behest of my junior brother-in-law. I jumped in with both feet and invested many valuable brain cells in an attempt to educated the throngs from the storehouse of knowledge resting atop my neck. My postings have been in-depth considerations of a myriad of subjects worthy of my effort and time. So I pondered and typed. I deliberated and typed. I waged on through my oft debilitating handicap with which I am cursed (a wondering mind). So I posted and waited. And waited. And then, someone would not only read my blog, but they would display great courage and respond. But for the most part, one maybe two responses per post. What a failure I have been.

I had no idea that a one sentence question would be the key to unlock the keyboards of my readers. I have grabbed the brass ring Cooney set before me. I have rekindled the fires of Camp's smoker's pit. I did it Cooney. I did it!!!

Just Wandering

Is it appropriate for preachers, Men of God, to be running around in shorts?

Something Else To Be Thankful For

If you are a PETA member, you may want to stop reading now. O.K. I warned you. I had a 2 man ladder stand in the woods behind my house. The purpose of this stand was to introduce my two boys to deer hunting. I am an avid hunter and wanted to give my boys the opportunity to blast a whitetail (I warned you PETA people). But sitting in this stand with an 11 year old and an 8 year old made me feel like i was sitting next to life-size bobble-head hunters. Bless their hearts, they can't sit still. So I realized that if these boys were going to have any realistic chance of killing a deer, they would have to be in a box stand. So daddy went to work.

One thing about these boy's daddy...he is not notorious for under-kill. I built a box stand. No, I built a luxury stand. No, I built a small apartment. The stand is 4' x 8'. (For those of you with a Louisiana Public School education, the ' symbol behind the numbers represents ft. Sorry, i forgot, ft. means feet) Anyway, the stand is 8 feet of the ground. The floor is insulated and then covered by a layer of foam matting (for noise reduction and comfort if anyone needs a nap). All of the walls and ceiling are also insulated. Inside the corner of the stand is a funnel. This funnel is connected to a hose which runs down into a 3' deep hole dug with a post-hole digger. (Do I really have to explain the purpose of the funnel?)

Since I was building this thing and cutting a shooting lane in the middle of deer season, I wasn't sure how much it would effect the deer. But, the bobble-head scenario certainly wasn't going to work, so I pressed on. I quit beating, banging, sawing and hammering on Sat. 11/22. Last night, 11/26, evening before Thanksgiving, both the boys and I are sitting in the stand. It's Hayden's turn. (For the sake of clarification, let me elaborate on the "it's your turn" method. I have two boys. So even though I may take both boys hunting, only one of them goes as the "shooter". The other is only there as a spectator. The next hunt it's the other boy's turn).

So there we sit. 5:10. No wind. About 55 degrees. Hayden tells me he saw a deer move to our left. I look and see nothing, but he is adamant that he saw one. The property to our left is not ours, so I am thinking if he did see one I hope it will cross the fence. About 3 minutes later, I hear them. Then I see them... 2 slickheads (non-hunters, that means no visible antlers). I already have Hayden sitting in my lap to give him a better angle for resting his gun (.243 single shot H&R) so I quickly put the earmuffs on him (Hayden can't stand loud noises).

The deer are moving in our direction. It looks like they are going to cross the fence and our shooting lane. I look over at Hunter and tell him, "don't move". I whisper in Hayden's ear, "get ready". Hayden rests his cheek on the comb of the rifle and appears to be looking through the scope. And out of nowhere, the first deer jumps the fence and darts across the shooting lane. Gone! The second deer jumps the fence and stops. Broad-side right in the middle of the lane. 25 yards away. I whisper in Hayden's ear "Shoot". Nothing happens. Again I whisper, "Shoot". I'm starting to think he won't do it, then...Bang!!! The deer runs off. I'm so in tune to watching Hayden, I didn't see the deer's reaction when he shot, so I ask Hayden, "did you hit him?" "Yeah", he replied "I think so". Then he proceeds to tell me that what I had told him was right...he said that when he pulled the trigger he didn't even notice the sound or kick of the gun.

So we all climb down from the stand. As soon as we climb down Hayden said, "Dad, my legs are still shaking, is that normal?" "It sure is", I assure him. It is dark enough that we need a flashlight to look for any visible sign of the deer being hit. We walk over to the spot where the deer was standing and I can see disrupted pine needles and leaves where the deer bolted away. We continue to look and Hunter exclaims, "Blood!" And sure enough, blood. The good kind. White and foamy. The sign of a good lung shot. And there he laid, only 20 yards away. A perfect shot. Heart and both lungs gone, thanks to a ballistic tip. A button buck. The antlers had just barely broken through the skin.

So we drag the deer out and Hayden said,"Dad feel my heart". And so I laid my hand on his chest and agreed that his heart was still racing.

Later that evening, after the pictures and the skinning, while sitting on the couch, Hayden said "Dad, now I have even something else to be thankful for". "Yes you do, Son... Yes you do".

The 4 M's

1. I wonder how Caleb is doing? I should call.
2. Veteran's Day is coming up. Thanks Dad.
3. My wife is asleep. Must be nice.
4. Why am I doing this I need to be working on my thesis.
5. This fan in the room is too loud.
6. I wonder if Michael is awake.
7. Why do we have hair on our knuckles?
8. Man, how can the Lord love me so much?
9. I am excited about school. Everyday. I love it.

Our New President

Well, it's been about a month since my last posting and I was starting to hear rumors of widespread chaos and pandemonium by my plethora of readers. Please, cancel the marches and demonstrations...I'm still here.

I went to bed Tuesday...angry! I woke up Wednesday morning...angry! How? How in the world could we Americans have elected a man who has done so little to prove his love and loyalty to our country? I find nothing in this man which draws me to follow him as the leader of my country. What do people see? I know they want from him what he has promised, but what do they see in the man?

But then...somewhere during the day Wednesday something clicked within the walls of my cranium. What if...what if he gets saved? What if Barack Osama realizes that the religious ideals he has embraced are insufficient to merit God's marvelous salvation? What if our President-elect will one day stand before America and denounce his past alliances with the religions and ideologues of our day and profess his faith in Jesus as the Son of God who died for his sins? Can you imagine?

So the bitterness and anger have melted from my being. No, I don't have my head stuck in the sands on fairy-tale island. I know our country is in pitiful shape. I have children which I would love to raise in a truly God-fearing nation. But my friends, the election of this man did not knock one of the legs out from under God's throne. He is still there.

As for me, in my newly discovered serenity, I will pray for our country. I will pray for our president. I will pray for God's hand to lead him in his decisions. But ultimately, I will pray for his salvation. Can you imagine?

Cooney's 3 P's of Preachers

Cooney, I loved the 3 P's you shared with us about preachers. But I fear some may not understand. So I have taken the liberty to build on the foundation which you have laid.

I.Pot-bellied
As one spends much time in deep study and meditation, his legs begin to swell because of fluid retention brought on by a lack of circulation. This swelling eventually rises throughout the torso giving the appearance of obesity. The truth is preachers are not fat we just look that way because of years of study.

II.Poor
This is not a statement of financial status, but rather a state of pity. ie...that poor dog. It is not that the dog lacks money, but his state is so pitiful that it warrants sympathy. We preachers might warrant sympathy for a number of reasons.
A. After hearing a sermon......."that poor preacher"
B. After seeing me eat.........."that poor preacher"
C. After hearing me sing........"that poor preacher"

III. Penniless
No denying this one...we missionary baptist preachers are broke. I have often wondered why the Lord's churches don't do a better job of taking care of their pastors. Those who have devoted themselves to the ministry full time are at the complete mercy of the church. The church I pastor does a good job of taking care of me and my family. Could they do more? Absolutely! But then as my hackles get up over being under compensated, I always have one thought cross my mind ....................... Am I even worth what I'm getting now.

More m&m&m&m's

1. It's 1:20, I have too much to do and not enough time.
2. That was a loud truck that just drove down the road.
3. i should have paid more attention in typing class.
4. i wonder what Tayboo is doing?
5. What if Jesus comes back today?
6. Can a person drink too much coffee?
7. I have to go to the bathroom.
8. Is a Basset Hound ever really happy? How do you know?
9. If I had been bigger, could I have played college ball?
10. I'm glad I didn't. My body hurts enough as it is.

I'll Probably Regret This

I am sitting here laboring on my thesis. Man, 25,000 words is quite an undertaking for a simpleton such as myself. But, I shall prevail. My beautiful wife is not feeling well today, so my mind is somewhat preoccupied with her, thus producing an addled state of mind which has abandoned studies to pursue blogging. Oh the enervated man that I am.

Things are advancing well at the seminary. We students are quite indolent in our efforts and the instructors are very adamant in their expectations. So we have the usual debacle which causes teachers to bang their heads against the wall and leaves students wondering "whats the big deal?" God is good...so all is well.(Remember don't get those backwards)

I'm feeling a little bathetic.
Maybe it's time for the 4 M's (Mr Mike's Midday Musings)
1. Am I really doing best by sending my kid's to government schools?
2. Why has God been so good to me?
3. How does Uncle Cooney button the collar of his shirt?
4. People are worried about money, I couldn't care any less. Is something wrong with me?
5. How tall will my boys be?
6. I need to call my sisters.
7. My feet are going to sleep,perched on top of my desk.
8. I want a new laptop. No I don't.
9. Why are the bookcases in my office this color?
10. I miss my mom.

Now for those who need help understanding what the 4 M's are...let me explain. I have no idea how your mind works. I just hope that it does. I observe other people and I don't feel as though my mind works as does the norm. My attention span is as long as the interval between the flap of a hummingbird's wings. My thoughts run everywhere. I have trained it enough to be able to get things done, but while I am working on something I will have an enumerable number of little quick thought-bursts that will pop into my head. Most of the time I discard them and refocus on the task at hand, but I thought "why not have a little fun?" So occasionally I will post the 4 M's. These are the thought-bursts that pop into my head over a 3 minute period. These are not things that i am dwelling on, they just show up and then they leave. I hope no one ever gets offended. Just have a little fun at my expense. Man am I messed up.

The Antichrist

Who the “antichrist” will be has long been a subject notorious for producing a myriad of opinions. Although no absolute conclusion can be drawn as to who the “Man of sin” will be, ideas are varied. Speculations have run from Arnold Schwarzenegger to the Pope. Even though who the “antichrist” will be is speculative at best, almost all agree to his being futuristic in timing.

The objective being pursued in this writing is not an understanding of futuristic events, but a desire to better comprehend the present. Four out of the five times the word “antichrist” is used, it is in conjunction with verbs in the present tense, not in the future tense. Simply stated, this is not a reference to someone who is to come, but someone who had already come when the account was recorded. Certainly this flies in the face of most perceptions. Automatically upon hearing the term “antichrist” most people conjure thoughts of the manifestation of evil which shall rise up against the saints of God. Although the futuristic personification of evil is mentioned as “that antichrist” in 1 John 2:18, all other verses give consideration to someone, or something which is already working in the world today. The proper interpretation of Scripture forces one to look not at the end times, but rather to the present day in considering who, or what, this “antichrist” is.

In order to have a firm grasp on who, or what, the “antichrist” is, one needs to understand what the term means. The base of the word is the word “Christ” which means “anointed”. This word is used as a title for Jesus. Jesus is the anointed of God. “Anointed” means “to consecrate by unction, or by the use of oil”. Acts 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. This verse declares Jesus to be anointed by God. So one can easily see Jesus was declared by God to be purposed for a particular, spiritual objective. This purpose was revealed by Jesus himself when He declared “For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost (Matthew 18:11). This is the heart of the reason for Jesus coming to this earth. Mankind, in his lost condition, needed a redeemer. With Jesus as His name, and Christ as His title, one can see the Man and His purpose.

Having a good understanding of the title of “Christ”, one now needs to turn to the prefix “anti”. Without a long discourse in linguistic considerations, one may still be able to appreciate the purpose of this prefix. “Anti” is used to show either an opposition to or a replacement of. For example, when a person is bitten by a poisonous snake, he is taken to the hospital and treated with an antivenin. This antivenin is simply “anti venom”. Its purpose is to offset the affects of the venom. So if this same principle is used, the “antichrist” is purposed to offset the affects of the Christ. The “antichrist”, or spirit of, is purposed to oppose or replace the Christ.

The object of the enemy is not to replace or oppose Jesus, just His being the Christ. One would find it a difficult task to discover religions which are Anti-Jesus. The vast majority of religions are quick to acknowledge Jesus as a man sent from God. Most will give Him due credit for being the Son of God, a miracle worker, a prophet, born of a virgin and a good man to pattern life after. But how many truly give Him credit for being the Christ? Not a Christ, but the Christ. He is the only one anointed by God to take away the sins of the world. John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. He is the only one anointed by God to keep them who are saved. 2 Timothy 2:12… for 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.

The man Jesus is much more than a miracle worker, He is the Christ. This is where the Father of lies has performed a masterful job. He has allowed, probably even promoted a world-wide acceptance of Jesus. Jesus is being preached from the over-whelming majority of pulpits today and it doesn’t bother the Devil one bit. No one is saved by believing Jesus is a good man, or a healer. What the Deceiver doesn’t want preached is the fact that Jesus is the Christ. If one truly believes that Jesus is the divinely anointed by God to take away the sins of the world, and if that same person believes there exist no other Christ, then that person is saved. John 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

By modern religions having allowed the name of Jesus to remain as their central theme, they are causing great difficulty for many of the saved to see the distinctions between the Truth and a lie. Modern religions are preaching Jesus + works = salvation. They are not preaching Jesus as the Christ. If He is the Christ, then there exists no other anointed. Nothing else can take away sin. The danger of what the Devil is doing is summed up in the “Christian Movement”. This movement idolizes Jesus, but not as the Christ. Anyone who believes in anything other than Jesus, and Jesus alone, as the source and maintainer of salvation is not a Christian. They may be a “Jesusite” but they are not a Christian. Most people in America claim to be Christians, but they are not. Many people in the Lord’s true churches today look to the religious in the community as “Christian Brethren”. They are not. Although they may carry the banner of Jesus, they have abandoned His being the Christ. If they truly believe He is the Christ, then they will gladly abandon their trusts in works. But they will not, because they are working under the spirit of the antichrist.

The following four verses are the only times the word “antichrist” is used in the Bible.
1 John 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
1 John 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist,
1 John 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
2 John 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

The common theme which is noticed through these verses, with the exception of the first, is the presence of the title of Jesus as the Christ. Do not be deceived. The Devil is not anti-Jesus, he is antichrist. He desires to eliminate the pure truth of the gospel. The truth which declares the only way of redemption is what the devil seeks to destroy.

May God empower His people to be able to differentiate between those who have embraced the man of Jesus, and those who have truly trusted Jesus as the Christ.

To Satisfy the BigUn

My Bro-in-law (Hebert not Reese) has been aggravating me about my lackadaisical attitude toward blogging. I am assuming that my loyal followers have met and appointed him as their spokesman. My most sincere apologies to the thousands of readers of this blog. I did not have a full grasp of the responsibility I was assuming when I started this thing. I thought it would be an outlet for the occasional gripe or an avenue I might take to publicly display my view from a newly-discovered soapbox. I had no idea that the blog-patrol was on duty and that I had violated one of their tenets. But as it has been said, ignorance is no excuse. So I humbly accept whatever penalties are deemed worthy of the crime. I do plead for leniency.

But, since I do have a responsibility to the masses who hang on my every word, I press forward with a renewed fervor. In this renewed spirit I have formed 5 personal goals to better myself as a professional blogger. The rules will hereafter be known as "Mike's Undeniable Declarations" or "MUD". These rules do have sequential significance in that the first is the most precious to my heart.

If I should ever falter to fulfill any of the following "Mike's Undeniable Declarations"... may MUD be cast in my face...may I eat MUD...may the clarity of my blogging waters forever look like MUD.

Mike's Undeniable Declarations...
1. Every Blog post must meet the standards set forth in the blogging manual "Blogging according to Uncle Cooney"
2. Every Blog must be worthy of reaching the intellectual plateau on which Uncle Michael resides.
3. Every Blog must be worthy of the Snide's opposition.
4. Every Blog must cause Lucious Louie to get out his pig poker.
5. Every Blog must have at least one grammatical bungle which is notorious enough to force a seminary English teacher to reconsider granting 1st year credit to a moron.

Is Alcoholics Anonymous Detrimental
To the
Cause of Christ?

In the United States, the average age that a young person begins to drink alcoholic beverages is 12. In the United States, there are approximately 14 million people who are addicted to alcohol. Considering these staggering numbers, it is obvious that something needs to be done. No reasonable person would think that this problem will ever “just go away”.

There are a number of programs and facilities designed to help the alcoholic deal with his addiction. These efforts are to be commended for the work they do in salvaging lives and families. Of all present-day groups, none is as well known as is Alcoholics Anonymous.

Bill, a New York stockbroker, and Dr Bob, an Akron surgeon, started this group in 1935. The group is notorious for the anonymity that its members maintain. The organization defines itself as “a voluntary, worldwide fellowship of men and women from all walks of life who meet together to attain and maintain sobriety. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for A.A. membership.”

This group has been crucial in assisting countless numbers to break free from the oppressive chains of alcoholism. The human vocabulary is incapable of expressing the gratitude that flows from the hearts of families whose loved ones have been liberated from their addiction. Certainly, no rational person can find fault with the victory over addiction.

Although no fault can be found with the effects on the physical man, Alcoholics Anonymous has a detrimental thread of spirituality that runs through every fiber of its program. This group does not in any way claim to be a church, spiritual organization or religion, but they give much consideration to the spiritual welfare of its members. They encourage every member to get in touch with God, whatever He is to them. The problem is this…no man can have a truly generic concept of God.

If a man believes in a Higher Power, then it is impossible for that same man not to have other beliefs. A believing man will have a belief about who his god is, what his god expects, and what his god disapproves of. A man who believes in a god will have opinions about death, heaven, hell and eternity.

An encouragement to generically believe in a god is to encourage one to form other opinions about his god. There is no possible harm in this process, unless…the baselessly formed opinions are wrong.

Alcoholics Anonymous has no declared basis upon which to build the spiritual lives of its members. It speaks in generalities without direction or distinctions. The only definitive authority on spiritual matters is the Word of God. The Bible is clear in its declarations concerning man’s need, God’s provision and eternal consequences.

Eternity is at stake. Any entity that perpetuates ideas contrary to the Bible cannot be considered neutral on spiritual things. The idea that a faith in “your own conception of God” is sufficient to generate a relationship with Him is heretical.

The following is a list of excerpts from Alcoholics Anonymous. Following each excerpt is the page number on which it can be found.

Read for yourself, and you will see much written about spiritual things, by a group that claims not to be spiritual. Now you determine whether or not Alcoholics Anonymous is detrimental to the cause of Christ.


• He looked straight at me. Simply, but smilingly, he said, "I've got religion." (page 9)
• They had told of a simple religious idea and a practical program of action. That was two months ago and the result was self-evident. It worked! (page 9)
• I had always believed in a Power greater that myself (page10)
• But my friend sat before me, and he made the pointblank declaration that God had done for him what he could not do for himself (page 11)
• My friend suggested what then seemed a novel idea. He said, "Why don't you choose your own conception of God?" (page 12)
• It was only a matter of being willing to believe in a Power greater than myself. Nothing more was required of me to make my beginning (page 12)
• Thus was I convinced that God is concerned with us humans when we want Him enough. At long last I saw, I felt, I believed. Scales of pride and prejudice fell from my eyes. A new world came into view. (page 12)
• There I humbly offered myself to God, as I then I understood Him, to do with me as He would. I placed myself unreservedly under His care and direction. I admitted for the first time that of myself I was nothing; that without Him I was lost. I ruthlessly faced my sins and became willing to have my new-found Friend take them away, root and branch. I have not had a drink since. (page 13)
• I was to test my thinking by the new God-consciousness within. Common sense would thus become uncommon sense. I was to sit quietly when in doubt, asking only for direction and strength to meet my problems as He would have me. Never was I to pray for myself, except as my requests bore on my usefulness to others. (page 13)
• My friend promised when these things were done I would enter upon a new relationship with my Creator; that I would have the elements of a way of living which answered all my problems. Belief in the power of God, plus enough willingness, honesty and humility to establish and maintain the new order of things, were the essential requirements. Simple, but not easy; a price had to be paid. It meant destruction of self-centeredness. I must turn in all things to the Father of Light who presides over us all. These were revolutionary and drastic proposals, but the moment I fully accepted them, the effect was electric. There was a sense of victory, followed by such a peace and serenity as I had never know (page 13-14)
• God comes to most men gradually, but His impact on me was sudden and profound. (page 14)
• The great fact is just this, and nothing less: That we have had deep and effective spiritual experiences* which have revolutionized our whole attitude toward life, toward our fellows and toward God's universe. The central fact of our lives today is the absolute certainty that our Creator has entered into our hearts and lives in a way which is indeed miraculous. He has commenced to accomplish those things for us which we could never do by ourselves. (page 25)
• We have no desire to convince anyone that there is only one way by which faith can be acquired. If what we have learned and felt and seen means anything at all, it means that all of us, whatever our race, creed, or color are the children of a living Creator with whom we may form a relationship upon simple and understandable terms as soon as we are willing and honest enough to try. (page 28)
• To be doomed to an alcoholic death or to live on a spiritual basis are not always easy alternatives to face. (page 44)
• But after a while we had to face the fact that we must find a spiritual basis of life or else. (page 44)
• Lack of power, that was our dilemma. we had to find a power by which we could live, and it had to be a Power greater than ourselves. Obviously. But where and how were we to find this Power? Well, that's exactly what this book is about. Its main object is to enable you to find a Power greater than yourself which will solve your problem. That means we have written a book which we believe to be spiritual as well as moral. And it means, of course, that we are going to talk about God. Here difficulty arises with agnostics. Many times we talk to a new man and watch his hope rise as we discuss his alcoholic problems and explain our fellowship. But his face falls when we speak of spiritual matters, especially when we mention God, for we have re-opened a subject which our man thought he had neatly evaded or entirely ignored. (page 45)
• Much to our relief, we discovered we did not need to consider another's conception of God. Our own conception, however inadequate, was sufficient to make the approach and to effect a contact with Him. As soon as we admitted the possible existence of a Creative Intelligence, a Spirit of the Universe underlying the totality of things, we began to be possessed of a new sense of power and direction, provided we took other simple steps. (page 46)
• When, therefore, we speak to you of God, we mean your own conception of God. (page 47)
• We needed to ask ourselves but one short question. --"Do I now believe, or am I even willing to believe, that there is a Power greater than myself?" As soon as a man can say that he does believe, or is willing to believe, we emphatically assure him that he is on his way. It has been repeatedly proven among us that upon this simple cornerstone a wonderfully effective spiritual structure can be built.* (page 47)
• In our personal stories you will find a wide variation in the way each teller approaches and conceives of the Power which is greater than himself. (page 50)
• On one proposition, however, these men and women are strikingly agreed. Every one of them has gained access to, and believe in, a Power greater than himself. This Power has in each case accomplished the miraculous, the humanly impossible. (page 50)
• When many hundreds of people are able to say that the consciousness of the Presence of God is today the most important fact of their lives, they present a powerful reason why one should have faith. (page 51)
• When we saw others solve their problems by a simple reliance upon the Spirit of the Universe, we had to stop doubting the power of God. Our ideas did not work. But the God idea did. (page 52)
• When we became alcoholics, crushed by a self-imposed crises we could not postpone or evade, we had to fearlessly face the proposition that either God is everything or else He is nothing. God either is or He isn't. What was our choice to be? (page 53)
• We finally saw that faith in some kind of God was a part of our make-up, just as much as the feeling we have for a friend. Sometimes we had to search fearlessly, but He was there. He was as much a fact as we were. We found the Great Reality deep down within us. (page 55)
• "Is it possible that all the religious people I have known are wrong?" While pondering the answer he felt as though he lived in hell. Then, like a thunderbolt, a great thought came. It crowded out all else: (page 56)
• This man recounts that he tumbled out of bed to his knees. In a few seconds he was overwhelmed by a conviction of the Presence of God. It poured over and through him with the certainty and majesty of a great tide at flood. The barriers he had built through the years were swept away. He stood in the Presence of Infinite Power and Love. He had stepped from bridge to shore. For the first time, he lived in conscious companionship with his Creator. (page 56)
• Remember that we deal with alcohol, cunning, baffling, powerful! Without help it is too much for us. But there is One who has all power that One is God. May you find Him now! (page 58-59)
• Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs. (page 60)
• This is the how and the why of it. First of all, we had to quit playing God. It didn't work. Next, we decided that hereafter in this drama of life, God was going to be our Director. He is the Principal; we are His agents. He is the Father, and we are His children. Most Good ideas are simple, and this concept was the keystone of the new and triumphant arch through which we passed to freedom. (page 62)
• When we sincerely took such a position, all sorts of remarkable things followed. We had a new Employer. Being all powerful, He provided what we needed, if we kept close to Him and performed His work well. (page 63)
• As we felt new power flow in, as we enjoyed peace of mind, as we discovered we could face life successfully, as we became conscious of His presence, we began to lose our fear of today, tomorrow or the hereafter. We were reborn. (page 63)
• We were now at Step Three. Many of us said to our Maker, as we understood Him: "God, I offer myself to Thee -- to build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way of life. May I do Thy will always!" We thought well before taking this step making sure we were ready; that we could at last abandon ourselves utterly to Him. (page 63)
• But with the alcoholic, whose hope is the maintenance and growth of a spiritual experience, this business of resentment is infinitely grave. We found that it is fatal. For when harboring such feeling we shut ourselves off from the sunlight of the Spirit. (page 66)
• We asked God to help us show them the same tolerance, pity, and patience that we would cheerfully grant a sick friend. When a person offended we said to ourselves, "This is a sick man. How can I be helpful to him? God save me from being angry. Thy will be done." (page 67)
• We cannot be helpful to all people, but at least God will show us how to take a kindly and tolerant view of each and every one. (page 67)
• Perhaps there is a better way, we think so. For we are now on a different basis of trusting and relying upon God. We trust infinite God rather than our finite selves. We are in the world to play the role He assigns. Just to the extent that we do as we think He would have us, and humbly rely on Him, does He enable us to match calamity with serenity. (page 68)
• We never apologize to anyone for depending upon our Creator. We can laugh at those who think spirituality the way of weakness. Paradoxically, it is the way of strength. The verdict of the ages is that faith means courage. All men of faith have courage. They trust their God. We never apologize for God. Instead we let Him demonstrate, through us, what He can do. We ask Him to remove our fear and direct our attention to what He would have us be. (page 68)
• If we are sorry for what we have done, and have the honest desire to let God take us to better things, we believe we will be forgiven and will have learned our lesson (page 70)
• In this book you read again and again that faith did for us what we could not do for ourselves. We hope you are convinced now that God can remove whatever self-will has blocked you off from Him. (page 70-71)
• We have been trying to get a new attitude, a new relationship with our Creator, and to discover the obstacles in our path. (page 72)
• Once we have taken this step, withholding nothing, we are delighted. We can look the world in the eye. We can be alone at perfect peace and ease. Our fears fall from us. We begin to feel the nearness of our Creator. We may have had certain spiritual beliefs, but now we begin to have a spiritual experience. The feeling that the drink problem has disappeared will often come strongly. We feel we are on the Broad Highway, walking hand in hand with the Spirit of the Universe. (page 75)
• We thank God from the bottom of our heart that we know Him better. (page 75)
• Are we now ready to let God remove from us all the things which we have admitted are objectionable? Can He now take them all, everyone? If we still cling to something we will not let go, we ask God to help us be willing. (page 76)
• When ready, we say something like this: "My Creator, I am now willing that you should have all of me, good and bad. I pray that you now remove from me every single defect of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to you and my fellows. Grant me strength, as I go out from here, to do your bidding. Amen." We have then completed Step Seven. (page 76)
• Our real purpose is to fit ourselves to be of maximum service to God and the people about us. (page 77)
• So we clean house with the family, asking each morning in meditation that our Creator show us the way of patience, tolerance, kindliness and love. (page 83)
• The spiritual life is not a theory. We have to live it. (page 83)
• We should be sensible, tactful, considerate and humble without being servile or scraping. As God's people we stand on our feet; we don't crawl before anyone. (page 83)
• We have entered the world of the Spirit. Our next function is to grow in understanding and effectiveness. This is not an overnight matter. It should continue for our lifetime. Continue to watch for selfishness, dishonesty, resentment, and fear. When these crop up, we ask God at once to remove them. (page 84)
• We will see that our new attitude toward liquor has been given us without any thought or effort on our part. It just comes! That is the miracle of it. We are not fighting it, neither are we avoiding temptation. We feel as though we had been placed in a position of neutrality safe and protected. We have not even sworn off. Instead, the problem has been removed. It does not exist for us. We are neither cocky nor are we afraid. That is how we react so long as we keep in fit spiritual condition. (page 85)
• It is easy to let up on the spiritual program of action and rest on our laurels. We are headed for trouble if we do, for alcohol is a subtle foe. We are not cured of alcoholism. What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition. Every day is a day when we must carry the vision of God's will into all of our activities. "How can I best serve Thee, Thy will (not mine) be done." These are thoughts which must go with us constantly. (page 85)
• Much has already been said about receiving strength, inspiration, and direction from Him who has all knowledge and power. If we have carefully followed directions, we have begun to sense the flow of His Spirit into us. To some extent we have become God-conscious. We have begun to develop this vital sixth sense. (page 85)
• Step Eleven suggests prayer and meditation. We shouldn't be shy on this matter of prayer. (page 85)
• After making our review we ask God's forgiveness and inquire what corrective measures should be taken. (page 86)
• Before we begin, we ask God to direct our thinking, especially asking that it be divorced from self-pity, dishonest or self-seeking motives. (page 86)
• Here we ask God for inspiration, an intuitive thought or a decision. (page 86)
• Being still inexperienced and having just made conscious contact with God, it is not probable that we are going to be inspired at all times. (page 87)
• We usually conclude the period of meditation with a prayer that we be shown all through the day what our next step is to be, that we be given whatever we need to take care of such problems. We ask especially for freedom from self-will, and are careful to make no request for ourselves only. We may ask for ourselves, however, if others will be helped. We are careful never to pray for our own selfish ends. Many of us have wasted a lot of time doing that and it doesn't work. You can easily see why. (page 87)
• If we belong to a religious denomination which requires a definite morning devotion, we attend to that also. If not members of religious bodies, we sometimes select and memorize a few set prayers which emphasize the principles we have been discussing. There are many helpful books also. Suggestions about these may be obtained from one's priest, minister, or rabbi. Be quick to see where religious people are right. Make use of what they offer. (page 87)
• We constantly remind ourselves we are no longer running the show, humbly saying to ourselves many times each day "Thy will be done." (page 87-88)
• We alcoholics are undisciplined. So we let God discipline us in the simple way we have just outlined. (page 88)
• . You will soon have you friend admitting he has many, if not all, of the traits of the alcoholic. If his own doctor is willing to tell him that he is alcoholic, so much the better. Even though your protege may not have entirely admitted his condition, he has become very curious to know how you got well. Let him ask you that question, if he will. Tell him exactly what happened to you. Stress the spiritual feature freely. If the man be agnostic or atheist, make it emphatic that he does not have to agree with your conception of God. He can choose any conception he likes, provided it makes sense to him. The main thing is that he be willing to believe in a Power greater than himself and that he live by spiritual principles. (page 92-93)
• Job or no job -- wife or no wife -- we simply do not stop drinking so long as we place dependence upon other people ahead of dependence on God. (page 98)
• Burn the idea into the consciousness of every man that he can get well regardless of anyone. The only condition is that he trust in God and clean house. (page 98)
• When we look back, we realize that the things which came to us when we put ourselves in God's hands were better than anything we could have planned. ( page 100)
• Your job now is to be at the place where you may be of maximum helpfulness to others, so never hesitate to go anywhere if you can be helpful. You should not hesitate to visit the most sordid spot on earth on such an errand. Keep on the firing line of life with these motives and God will keep you unharmed. ( page 102)
• Since this book was first published, A.A. has released thousands of alcoholics from asylums and hospitals of every kind. The majority have never returned. The power of God goes deep! (page 114)
• And now you know that he can stop if he will! Time after time, this apparent calamity has been a boon to us, for it opened up a path which led to the discovery of God. (page 116)
• We have elsewhere remarked how much better life is when lived on a spiritual plane. If God can solve the age-old riddle of alcoholism, He can solve your problems too. We wives found that, like everybody else, we were afflicted with pride, self-pity, vanity and all the things which go to make up the self-centered person; and we were not above selfishness or dishonesty. As our husbands began to apply spiritual principles in their lives, we began to see the desirability of doing so too. (page 116)
• At first, some of us did not believe we needed this help. We thought, on the whole, we were pretty good women, capable of being nicer if our husbands stopped drinking. But it was a silly idea that we were too good to need God. Now we try to put spiritual principles to work in every department of our lives. When we do that, we find it solves our problems too; the ensuing lack of fear, worry and hurt feelings is a wonderful thing. We urge you to try our program, for nothing will be so helpful to your husband as the radically changed attitude toward him which God will show you how to have. (page 116-117)
• If he gets drunk, don't blame yourself. God has either removed your husband's liquor problem or He has not. If not, it had better be found out right away. Then you and your husband can get right down to fundamentals. If a repetition is to be prevented, place the problem, along with everything else, in God's hands. (page 120)
• Many of us have experienced dad's elation. We have indulged in spiritual intoxication. Like a gaunt prospector, belt drawn in over the ounce of food, our pick struck gold. Joy at our release from a lifetime of frustration knew no bounds. Father feels he has struck something better than gold. For a time he may try to hug the new treasure to himself. He may not see at once that he has barely scratched a limitless lode which will pay dividends only if he mines it for the rest of his life and insists on giving away the entire product. (page 128-129)
• If the family cooperates, dad will soon see that he is suffering from a distortion of values. He will perceive that his spiritual growth is lopsided, that for an average man like himself, a spiritual life which does not include his family obligations may not be so perfect after all. If the family will appreciated that dad's current behavior is but a phase of his development, all will be well. In the midst of an understanding and sympathetic family, these vagaries of dad's spiritual infancy will quickly disappear. (page 129)
• The opposite may happen should the family condemn and criticize. Dad may feel that for years his drinking has placed him on the wrong side of every argument, but that now he has become a superior person with God on his side. (page 129)
• Those of us who have spent much time in the world of spiritual make-believe have eventually seen the childishness of it. This dream world has been replaced by a great sense of purpose, accompanied by a growing consciousness of the power of God in our lives. We have come to believe He would like us to keep our heads in the clouds with Him, but that our feet ought to be firmly planted on earth. That is where our fellow travelers are, and that is where our work must be done. These are the realities for us. We have found nothing incompatible between a powerful spiritual experience and a life of sane and happy usefulness. (page 130)
• On the third day the lawyer gave his life to the care and direction of his Creator, and said he was perfectly willing to do anything necessary. His wife came, scarcely daring to be hopeful, though she thought she saw something different about her husband already. He had begun to have a spiritual experience. (page 158)
• That afternoon he put on his clothes and walked from the hospital a free man. He entered a political campaign, making speeches, frequenting men's gathering places of all sorts, often staying up all night. He lost the race by only a narrow margin. But he had found God -- and in finding God had found himself. (page 158)
• Every few days this doctor suggests our approach to one of his patients. Understanding our work, he can do this with an eye to selecting those who are willing and able to recover on a spiritual basis. (page 162)
• Still you may say: "But I will not have the benefit of contact with you who wrote this book." We cannot be sure. God will determine that, so you must remember that your real reliance is always upon Him. He will show you how to create the fellowship you crave. (page 164)
• Our book is meant to be suggestive only. We realize we know only a little. God will constantly disclose more to you and to us. Ask Him in your morning meditation what you can do each day for the man who is still sick. The answers will come, if your own house is in order. But obviously you cannot transmit something you haven't got. See to it that your relationship with Him is right, and great events will come to pass for you and countless others. This is the Great Fact for us. (page 164)
• Abandon yourself to God as you understand God. Admit your faults to Him and to your fellows. Clear away the wreckage of your past. Give freely of what you find and join us. We shall be with you in the Fellowship of the Spirit, and you will surely meet some of us as you trudge the Road of Happy Destiny. (page 164)
• May God bless you and keep you -- until then. (164)

What If?

What do we do? I am not a “conspiracy theorist” but I do consider myself a “realist”. Often people would rather stick their heads into the sands of ignorance rather than face unpleasant realities. This is certainly not the course of action which will yield positive results. Even though our country likes to carry the “God Fearing Nation” banner and wave it when convenient, we are no where near truly being a nation that fears God.

We are killing unborn babies by the thousands. We not only condone homosexuality, but it is promoted as an “alternate lifestyle”. The Bible is being reviled and removed at every opportunity while the Koran is touted as a good book. People in power, including our President, have equalized Christians and Muslims. Allah has been unveiled, in claim, to be the same God as the God of Abraham. Do these things sound like the traits of a Bible believing, God fearing nation? Absolutely not! This is where the concern begins.

If we are not a people who look to God and His Word for guidance and answers, then to whom are we looking and from where are we getting our answers? It is my fear that we are no longer being led by God, but deceived by the devil. Intellectual giants now carry more moral authority than does the Bible. It is no longer what is best for the people, it is what is best for me. We have become individuals, not indivisible. We are looking out for number one, while all other numbers are being flushed down the social sewer of immorality and ungodliness.

The issues mentioned in this writing are not the only items of concern. These issues are also not an improbable collection of doomsdayism, but realistic ideas that some in power think would better our society. Are we to sit back and let our country sink to points unimaginable or stand up as representatives of God and do all we can to revert our course? Too often God’s people are content to sail on the “meek” ship, and end up at whatever port of ungodliness the ship determines to be the best. Those that steer our country have been put at the helm by you and I. We did it. We put them in power and now we must make certain that the ship is on the course that will honor and glorify our God. I am not yet declaring “mutiny”, but I do wander how long.

What can I do? We as God’s people are gentle-spirited and do not have the desire to cause waves in the ocean of life. We desire to live peaceably with all men. Often our soft voices do not carry the same amount of influence as those who scream and cry at the top of their lungs. These are the same ones who, when they are not satisfied, make it known by rioting and terrifying the innocent. Is this what we need to do? No, but our tongues are bloodied from having been bitten for too long. Meekness is not weakness. What is it going to take for God’s people to stand up and declare “No More!”

The ultimate concern that I have is for the future of the cause of Christ. It is very predictable if our nation continues down its current path of degradation, eventually tolerance for the truth will wear thin. Will there ever come a day in which God’s people will be forbidden to serve the Lord in our Country? The answer is very predictable…..Absolutely! If our Lord has not yet come back and our path is not deterred this unpleasant prediction will become a reality. How can it not? Is there any course than sin can take which does not eventually lead to an abandoning of all things Godly? We are definitely on a sin led course right now. How far it will go and how long it will last is up to us. Some will say “it has gone too far, and there is nothing we can do”. To these I say,” get ready to reap what you have sown”. With man it may be impossible…but not with God.

What if, the government of our country starts using tax dollars for the promotion of activities which God has condemned? How do you feel about helping to pay for activities that God has declared sinful? Out of one pocket you put money in the offering plate to help promote the cause of Christ. Out of the other pocket you are paying taxes which help to promote ungodliness. It is already happening. Federal tax money is already being used to help pay for abortions, promote the teaching of homosexuality as normal, and encouraging the unbiblical lifestyle of people being supported without having to work. Do we as God’s people need to quit paying our taxes? Well, that too is illegal and there are many positive dividends from the proper use of our tax dollars. But how much more can we take? How far does it go before God’s people declare it is no longer acceptable to break God’s laws with our money? I don’t know, but let us as God’s people pray that He will intervene before we have to.

What if, our government decides you no longer have the right to adequately equip yourself to protect your family from those who might do them harm? Whether or not one thinks this particular subject is appropriate in this arena is up to each, but I feel that it is. Some have said this is a mere political battle, and this type of law will never come to fruition in America. How wrong they were. In the aftermath of the hurricane in New Orleans, the Chief of Police not only declared that every private citizen in the city would have to turn in their guns, but the police force and national guard forcibly entered homes and by force took firearms from those desiring to protect their families and property. Let it be understood, I am a peaceful man, and in no way am I condoning unnecessary violence but, I am the man of my house and as a husband and father I have certain God ordained responsibilities. Not the least of which is to protect my family. God has never blessed cowardice. (Numbers 13:33, Judges 7:3, 1 Samuel 17:24, 2 Samuel 15:14, Psalm 78:9, Matthew 26:56) The Bible teaches us that if the Goodman of the house had been home, his house would not have been broken through. (Matthew 24:43, Luke 12:39) What exactly was the Goodman (head of the house) going to do? Whatever was necessary to protect that which had been given to him. The Bible says “And this know…”, there is no doubt that the Goodman would have protected his own. What will we, as God’s people, do if the day comes that our government tells us we no longer have the right to reasonably arm ourselves to protect our families? I don’t know, but let us pray that God intervenes, and that day never comes.

What if, our government mandates you must send your child to a public school, and this school is teaching doctrines in direct contrast to God’s Word? One might say “This is already being done”. The difference is this, right now you do not have to send your children to the schools operated by the government. You have the freedom to evaluate the situation and make whatever decision you feel is in your children’s best interest. You are the parents, and the responsibility to raise your children is yours. Most schools today do not rely on God’s Word as the final authority, but have turned to man’s knowledge for their perspective of what is true. This is sad, but at least we have options. What happens when we don’t? If they threaten penalties or imprisonment for parents who choose to keep their children from government education, what do we do? I don’t know, but let us pray that God intervenes and that day never comes.

What if, our government declares it to be against the law to physically discipline our children? Certainly it is no secret, that a large number of people now feel it is not in the best interest of children if they are whipped. Many have opted for alternate means of trying to curb the sin nature. Some feel that depriving a child of certain privileges is just as effective as spanking. Others feel they can reason with their children and help them to understand why their behavior is not acceptable. But what does the Bible teach us? Without a doubt, the Word of God is clear on this matter. Regardless of how one “feels” God has given us the best map to follow in modifying our children’s behavior. (Proverbs 10:13, Proverbs 13:24, Proverbs 22:15, Proverbs 23:13-14, Proverbs 29:15) What do we do, if one day disciplining our children in a Biblical fashion is declared illegal? What if the authorities have the power to take your children from you if you discipline according to the Word of God? I don’t know, but let us pray that God intervenes and that day never comes.

What if, our government demands that religious institutions can no longer be discriminatory in who is allowed to be a part of their membership? According to Noah Webster’s American Dictionary of The English Language 1828 the word discriminate means “to distinguish, to observe the difference between.” Is it wrong for a local New Testament church to have the freedom to determine who is, or is not, allowed to be a part of her membership? There are those who say it is. Some claim that it violates an individuals civil rights. Laws have already been passed that make it illegal for a business owner to refuse someone service because they are a homosexual. There have already been lawsuits against Baptist churches for refusing membership privileges to those who did not meet God’s standards. True churches answer to no one except Jesus Himself. He is the head of the church and His position outranks any government or civil authority. But if the day comes that the government dictates what we must do as the Lord’s churches, what are we going to do? I don’t know, but let us pray that God intervenes and that day never comes.

Without a doubt, there will be some who read an article such as this and consider the author to be nothing more than an anti-government fanatic who is advocating rebellion against the laws of the land. Nothing could be farther from the truth. The Bible is very clear in it’s directives that we as God’s people should subject ourselves to and pray for, those who have the rule over us. In should also be noticed that not one answer was giving to any of the questions which have been posed. The reality is this…I don’t have the answers. I don’t know what we should do, or when we should do it. I am not advocating the breaking of laws or the uprising against our government, but something has to be done. I do know this…there is absolutely no excuse for us as God’s ambassadors to be sitting idly by with our mouths shut. We have the instruction in God’s Word to try to live peaceably with all men, but we also have the responsibility to represent God and live according to His statutes. But what happens when the laws that we subject ourselves to, run contrary to the laws of God? I don’t know.

What then can we do? How can we, who are so small in number turn such a mighty vessel that has veered off its course? We can’t. But God can. Let God’s voice be heard through you. You are not the small, little, insignificant country churches…You are the representatives of the living God, and He has some things that need to be said. He needs people to boldly stand up and say, ”No More!” Will this cause all of our problems to disappear and allow us to live in a world of peace and harmony? No, but “the fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much”. Let’s see what God can do with what is left of this country. Let’s put it in his hands.

Getting Started

Well, here we go! Blogging...I am not certain what the buzz is all about, but I quess there is only one way to find out. My intention is to use this effort to enhance my understanding of the Word of God and better myself as His minister. "Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom" Proverbs 13:10. So come on preachers...help a brother out. I take advice on anything.